December is a month were the sacred and the pagan mingle, showing how our country’s traditions come from a very distant past, before Christianity rooted.
Heritage
ITALIAN HERITAGE
The Italian Heritage section on Life in Italy is a collection of articles that teach us about the cultural heritage in Italy. Everything from traditions, such as carnivals, food, art, architecture, and music.
Discover the Italian heritage that includes more than 2000 years of history, and everything that’s still reminding us of these past centuries. The famous buildings such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon, or the Teatro di Taormina, through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the New Ages, and the past century. Traditions are very important to Italians, and they pass over their collective and family traditions through the generations.
That’s how history and heritage are treated with respect and are kept alive in Italy.
Roman Inventions that Shaped Modern Life
Famous Roman inventions of ancient times are among the first things that come to mind when discussing our ancient history: just to name a few, aqueducts, concrete that withstood the passing of time, and a vast network of roads that connected — and still connects — many parts of Italy […]
Michelangelo’s David and his legally protected image
About a year ago, a ruling of the tribunale di Firenze divided Italy in two, when a groundbreaking legal case concerning Michelangelo‘s David image rights reshaped the discourse on cultural preservation and commercialization. Italy’s court system ruled in favor of the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence, reaffirming that the museum must […]
“Masserie:” traditional Italian homes with a modern real estate appeal
Masserie are traditional homes unique to southern Italy, deeply connected to the country’s rich agricultural history and architectural ingenuity. Originally built as fortified farmhouses, these sprawling estates are now prized for their rustic appeal and unique style, making them a sought-after asset in today’s real estate market. Let’s discover together […]
“Case di ringhiera,” the symbol of Italy’s economic boom
If you have been to Milan and Turin, especially if you had the chance to visit people in their homes there, you may be familiar with case di ringhiera, those traditional four to six storey-high buidlings, with a court in the middle and balconies running all along their façades. Common […]
How to Find Your Italian Ancestors – A Step-by-Step Guide
Tracing your family’s roots back to Italy can be an incredibly rewarding journey, filled with discovery, connection, and a deeper understanding of your heritage. However, the task may seem daunting at first glance. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the process of uncovering your Italian ancestors, from gathering […]
La Dolce Vita
A Time When Italian Influences Affected America’s taste for Glamour During the 1950s and ’60s, what America wore, what its citizens drove, and how they looked, was, in a large part, dictated by Italy’s trend setters, which included fashion designers, film directors and auto makers. If it originated in Italy, […]
Researching Your Family Tree
Doing your own genealogical research can be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences you can have. With each layer uncovered, with each relative pulled from the forgotten past you discover another piece of your own personal puzzle. The rewards of researching your Italian family tree do not stop […]
Venetian masks tradition: the real beauty of Carnevale
The Coronavirus might have hit the city of bridges and canals, but it didn’t hit its spirit. Carnival 2021 is a go, even in this pandemic uncertainty. It might come as a surprise, but Venice isn’t giving up on its colorful celebrations. It’s just doing it differently. Venetian Carnival & […]
The story of Frank Lentini, the man with 3 legs
An exceptional man with expceptional features.