In 1922, the Masua mining operations in Sardinia, which had been active ever since the early 1600s, had reached a peak of production. Zinc and lead were in high demand, and modernized mining methods meant that more ore was being extracted than ever before. Efficiency, however, was becoming a serious issue. At the time, transporting the zinc and lea...
READ MOREWith the ghosts of the Italian Renaissance looming in every shadow, with their spectacular feats of engineering and mastery of harmonic proportions, Florentine architects who’ve followed have barely stood a fighting chance to shine. But an abandoned 19th-century landmark has been given another shot. Set into a hillside above the Arno River in Flore...
READ MOREA simple “thank you, Vernazza” is not enough for all you have given me. From your first train station village views, your daily “Buongiorno” from all who crossed my path, your sunrises and sunsets, and the last sounds of the Ligurian Sea—my heart is full. I did not visit Vernazza for a couple of hours, or for a day, but for four glorious, amazing d...
READ MOREEmilia-Romagna is considered the gastronomic capital of Italy, and for good reason: it’s the region that gave the world such prized products as Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma and balsamic vinegar, among others. Emilia-Romagna has 25 food and wine museums, each dedicated to one of its specialties or to the region’s gastronomic culture. Her...
READ MOREWhen travel dreams take people to Europe, Italy is often their first stop. There’s something seductively charming about this country, its people and “la dolce vita.” I always feel at home in Italy, whether struggling onto a crowded bus in Rome, navigating the fun chaos of Naples, sipping a cocktail in a Venetian bar or sitting on the banister of Fl...
READ MORELocated on a strip of land in the extreme northwestern part of Sardinia, Stintino stretches out towards Asinara, almost touching it. Right there, exactly where it touches it, lies its masterpiece, La Pelosa: with its clear seabed and shallow waters for dozens of metres, weightless white sand and a dazzling, calm sea with waters in every shade of bl...
READ MORESome exams, you take in a place -- usually school. Other exams take you places -- sometimes magical ones. As they do every year, Ridge High School Italian language students sat for the National Italian Exam (NIE), sponsored by The American Association of Teachers of Italian (AATI). More than 5,500 students from across the country and Puerto Rico pa...
READ MOREFinding an oasis of calm in Manhattan is a tall order, but the Moxy Hotel Chelsea, nestled in New York’s Flower District, is that rare treat. With nods to Art Deco and Italian Futurism, this 349-room hotel, which opened in February, ushers you into a Roman idyll that compliments the offerings of the nearby NoMad and Ace Hotels. Occupying a new 35-s...
READ MOREThe European summer is well underway, and many tourists are flocking to Italy to soak up all the Belpaese has to offer under clear blue skies. Here are five Italian destinations worth visiting in summer, that offer an alternative to the typical tourist spots like Rome and Venice. Bologna, Emilia-RomagnaA foodie’s paradise and home to the world’s ol...
READ MOREFor our series on ten things you can do for free in Italy's most popular cities, we head to Bologna, Emilia-Romagna food-loving capital, which is attracting more and more fans every year. If you're on a budget, there's plenty you can do in Bologna, here are the top ten picks from our contributing editor Silvia Donati, who is a Bologna native. 1. Ba...
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