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.
Surnames and their Meanings Delving into the research of surnames, also known as last names or family names, is an exciting way to learn more about your family history. When researching Italian surnames, you will quickly find that each family name in Italy was formed for a particular purpose. Italy […]
San Gennaro: A Traditional Catholic Neapolitan Feast If you go to Naples on September 19th you will find the city celebrating its patron saint, San Gennaro, a bishop and a martyr from Pozzuoli, canonized by the Catholic Church. The feast of San Gennaro involves prayer, processions and celebrations, and is usually based around […]
The Popular Card Games Origin Milan is the birth place of the Tarot, where it originated in the 15th century as the game of Tarocchi. Ordinary playing cards were already in existence, having been introduced to Europe from the Middle East by crusaders in the 14th century. But Tarocchi added […]
In 1833, Jean Baptiste Gonzalve de Nervo described the Carretti Siciliani as “small carts, mostly painted in blue, with images of the Virgin Mary or some other saints on the side panels,” led by a horse “usually covered in a caparison heavily decorated with leather tassels and golden studs.” Some […]
Matthew Fox. Ph. WCM1111 on flickr (flic.kr/p/deiAs) For the most part Matthew Fox will remembered as Dr. Jack Shepard in one of the most successful and followed TV series ever made: “Lost“. The 6 season series was a global phenomenon, and an incredible production for the cast to be associated with […]
Leonardo DiCaprio started his career very young as a member of the cast of Growing Pains: it was clear since the beginning he was destined to stardom. His film career started to take an important shift with movies such as What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and The Quick and the Dead, where […]
Many of America’s most beautiful buildings are a result of the creativity and tireless efforts of Italian American architects. Who can forget the influence that Mario Joseph Ciampi had on buildings and public spaces in the San Francisco’s Bay area? Or the genius of Romaldo Giurgola, instrumental in the designs […]
Sofia Coppola. Ph. George Biard on wikicommons When Sofia Coppola got married for the second time she chose a place that was quite significant, a clear message of just how much her family and its history has played an important role in the writer/director’s life. For her wedding […]
New York’s Little Italy (WillVision Photography/Flickr) National Italian American Foundation NIAF has been working closely with the national government in Washington DC for the well being of the Italian American community for more than 30 years. The foundation offers grants and scholarships to Italian American students, supports the teaching of […]
Brittany Murphy – Ph. Rob & Jules on wikimedia Many will remember Brittany Murphy from her tragic death, and the equally shocking passing of her husband not long after in similar circumstances. Still, fans of Brittany Murphy know that the actress also left behind a different kind of […]