San Gimignano and Volterra are two Tuscan hill towns, physically close to each other, but very different. You might consider travelling first to Volterra and then on to San Gimignano, planning to arrive there about 5 PM. San Gimignano hosts a LOT of tourists during the day but most of […]
A spot by McDonald’s caused much debate in Italy back in 2015. In the spot a family is at a pizzeria; while waiting for the parents – who look very much undecided – to make their choice, the waiter asks their child which pizza he would like to have. To it, he promptly replies “A Happy Meal”. The camera […]
Just two fiddles in a case. That’s how an old friend described the rare Cremonese violins he had just seen on their way from one recital to another. Together, they are worth in the low 8 figures, so I can’t help wondering what their maker, Guarneri del Gesù, a solitary, ailing man […]
Italy: A Music Lover’s Paradise The first time I stayed in Rome for an extended visit, I had the opportunity to hang out with an American expat who had an apartment in Trastevere. The neighborhood there was very working-class and family-oriented, and the multi-storied apartment building wrapped around a courtyard. […]
Agrigento is located in the region of Sicily and was once one of the great cities of the ancient world. Founded in the 6th century BC as a Greek colony known as Akragas, the city was added to the UNESCO World Heritage site list in 1997 thanks to its rich archeological remains. Many ancient […]
The European Capital of Culture for 2019.
It’s time to get into shape: this is the thought of millions of Italians right now, after almost a month of over indulgence. Let’s say that the Italian diet isn’t really similar to others. The famous Italian Mediterranean diet is quiet different but still successfull all around the world. Alas, […]
When it comes to food, Italians are proud of their roots. They would unlikely renounce to their typical dishes and favor them above all other types of food. Even when they are abroad, many Italians like to head to Italian restaurants even if, most times, these prove to be rather disappointing. Yet, the […]
Before the end of World War II and the fall of Mussolini’s Fascist regime, a different genre of Italian cinema emerged called Neorealism. The movement began in 1942 and took off in 1943. When the war ended, Italy found itself on its knees, after years or war, economic depression and hardship: […]
The town of Assisi will forever be associated with its most famous son, Saint Francis, the founder of the Franciscan order and patron of Italy. A town located in the Umbria region of Italy in the province of Perugia, Assisi is also the birthplace of Saint Clare and Saint Gabriel of Our […]
