Italy’s Padel boom: a sport on the rise alongside Tennis
While Italy’s tennis champions continue to dominate on the global stage, there’s another sport closely related to tennis that’s experiencing explosive growth within the country: padel. As Rome hosts the Italy Major—one of the four most important tournaments in the world—the International Padel Federation’s research center has released a st...
Aperti per Voi sotto le Stelle 2025: a nighttime journey through Italian beauty
A weekend to discover the wonders of Italy by the light of the setting sun: Aperti per Voi sotto le Stelle returns from June 13 to 15. This special initiative by the Touring Club Italiano exceptionally opens the doors of over 100 remarkable sites across the country during evening hours—many of them rarely, if ever, open to the public. It’s a unique...
Martin Scorsese in Taormina on His Sicilian Heritage: Growing up ‘I Was Really Living in a Sicilian Village. It Just Happened to Be Downtown Manhattan’
Roots and religion are very much on the mind of Martin Scorsese as the Oscar-winning director is being honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Taormina Film Festival in Sicily, where he has family roots. Scorsese, 82, is back in Sicily after he last travelled to the Italian island in October 2024 to start shooting a doc that takes its cue...
Desimone Hall Dedication & Watch Party
Saturday June 21st, 2025 - 11am - Casa Italiana – Italian Cultural Center, 13028 First Ave. S. - Burien, WA. We will officially dedicate the room upstairs at Casa. Members of the Desimone Family & the the Honorary Consul will cut the ribbon to signify opening of the Giuseppe & Assunta Desimone Hall The ribbon cutting will be followed by a watch par...
Italian American Congressmen need your voice to advance legislation for Smithsonian Museum
A bipartisan bill (H.R. 1102) — introduced by U.S. Congressmen Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Michael Rulli (R-OH) — would establish a planning commission to explore the feasibility of developing a Smithsonian Museum of Italian American History in Washington, D.C. on the National Mall. Securing enough House votes to pass the bill and green-light the feasibi...
Festa della Repubblica celebrated in North Carolina
On May 30th, CCI-NC and Opera Carolina hosted our annual Festa della Repubblica celebration in remembrance of Italy's historic vote to become a republic. The evening featured Italian cuisine, operatic performances, and engaging conversations, all celebrating Italian culture and community in Charlotte. A silent auction with donations from Italian bu...
This popular Italian restaurant from New York is now open at Miami Worldcenter
The latest culinary addition to the downtown Miami Worldcenter is now open for your (pasta) pleasure. Founded in 1995 by Fabio Granato and Vittorio Assaf in New York City, Serafina Italian restaurant is now taking reservations at the sprawling 27-acre downtown development. The new restaurant joins other new concepts like Earls from Vancouver, which...
An Oral History of Valentino Garavani's Fashion Empire
“I always wanted to make women beautiful,” Valentino Garavani once said. He certainly achieved that goal, dressing everyone from Nan Kemper and Nancy Reagan to Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez in ultra-feminine gowns, often lacy, red, or floral—or all three at once. Born in Rome in the 1930s, Valentino opened his first atelier in 1957 and quickly...
The journey continues for rock legend Steve Augeri
From 1977-1987, the rock band Journey emerged as one of the most popular and commercially successful musical acts in history. “Don’t Stop Believin,’” “Open Arms,” “Faithfully” and several other of the band’s megahits have become anthems in the live music world, cherished by the young and young-at-heart alike. But when Journey’s popular lead singer,...
Is Naples the Genuine Italian “City of Magic”? Mystical Tales and Art in the City of Parthenope
Forget about Turin, Italy’s so-called “city of magic.” Instead, focus on Naples. The intriguing book “Partenope degli spiriti” (Rome: Viella, 2024), edited by Francesco Paolo de Ceglia, persuasively argues that Naples is the heart of Italian miracles, spiritualism, and esotericism. This volume explores the city’s rich spiritual heritage and wonders...
The Best Italian Subs In Seattle, Ranked
Seattle has plenty of great sandwiches, and is particularly stocked in the bánh mì department—but stellar Italian subs are a bit harder to find. We're here to help by ranking these beautiful displays of nitrate-zapped pork and provolone. Before we begin, some ground rules: these are cold cut-based creations only—eggplant parm and meatball heroes ne...
The Rome less travelled? I visited the super-popular Italian capital, full of iconic sights, to explore its quieter corners
The swift current of late-morning foot traffic is moving steadily over the cobblestones of Via dei Condotti. It streams down the iconic Spanish Steps, then flows past all the glamorous storefronts along one of Rome’s most famous shopping streets. You know the names: Prada, Valentino, Gucci. But my tour guide Dario Cortese, steering us around in a g...