Guide to Taormina, Italy: Sicily's glamorous holiday haven
Taormina was already a chic Sicilian resort before The White Lotus. Since making its mass-market, on-screen debut in the second season of the hit HBO show, the hilltop town on the east coast of the Mediterranean’s largest island has risen in prominence. Travelers flock to Sicily’s most glamorous holiday haven each summer for a taste of la dolce vit...
Take the train to Certaldo for the perfect Tuscan getaway
There’s something not quite right, I realise, as my eyes scan the gelateria counter in Certaldo, a small Tuscan hilltop town. “Vanilla, strawberry, pistachio… onion?!” The server, who’s clearly seen this bemused reaction before, grins. “Si,” she exclaims proudly. “È delizioso. Solo qui!” Perhaps it’s “only here” for a reason – the gelato certainly...
School year 2025-26 in Italy: no phones, new conduct grades, updated exam
As Italy's new school year approaches, the academic calendar and classroom rules are experiencing meaningful updates. Kicking off the 2025-26 term, schools in the autonomous province of Bolzano will ring their first bell on September 8, closely followed by Trento, Piedmont, Veneto, and the Aosta Valley on September 10. A couple of days later, on Se...
Fascinating Animation Reveals the Inner Workings of the Colosseum in Ancient Rome
Big, complex venues and meticulously crafted entertainment are two things that may feel very modern, but somehow they aren't. At the Colosseum in Ancient Rome, dazzling shows and and epic fights took place, bringing the masses together. But don't be fooled by the looks of this landmark today. As an animated video by Deconstructed shows, based on th...
This Is the Most Important Etiquette Tip When Visiting Italy, According to a Longtime Resident
After more than 15 years of living in and traveling across Italy, I could write a whole book of travel advice, especially about visitor etiquette. But if I had to narrow it down to the one most important tip for being a better traveler in Italy, it would be two simple words. Dress nicely. Of course, that’s in addition to being polite, respectful an...
Aielli in Abruzzo unveils new mural: speranza - hope
A new mural titled “Speranza – Hope” was unveiled today in Aielli, the small mountain town in Abruzzo that has become internationally known as an open-air museum of street art. The work was created by American artist Michaela Levesque, originally from Connecticut, whose presence in the village was made possible through a prestigious partnership wit...
An Italian education: System includes compulsory public schools and some of the oldest colleges on earth
Italy is well known for having some of the oldest educational systems in the world with the oldest school, the University of Bologna, dating to 1088. Education in Italy is mandatory from 6 to 16 years of age and is separated into five stages: kindergarten (scuola dell’infanzia), primary school (scuola primaria or scuola elementare), lower secondary...
Want Italy's best food? Head to its national parks
Whenever we visit my husband's family in Calabria, at the tippy toe of Italy's boot, we invariably take the train; it beats the six-hour drive down an autostrada (motorway) full of lorries. But this time, we're taking the car since we'll be making a detour to a national park. For us, and for many Italians, that means one thing: we're bringing back...
Fendi Marks 100 Years of Italian Luxury, Craftsmanship and Innovation
As FENDI celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, the storied Roman house stands as a testament to what happens when heritage, innovation and family converge. What began as a small leather and fur workshop founded by Adele Casagrande Fendi and her husband, Edoardo, in 1925 has since grown into one of the most influential and storied maisons in f...
Milan leads the way of global walkability ranking cities
European cities dominate the global ranking for walkability, with 45 of the top 50 spots belonging to metropolitan areas across the continent – and Italy leads the way. A study published in Nature Cities analyzed the average walking times to reach key destinations – such as schools, hospitals, supermarkets, restaurants, and government offices – in...
Vicenza Hosts Italia-America Friendship Festival 2025: A Cultural Celebration of 70 Years of U.S.-Italy Relations with Art, Food, and Entertainment
In September 2025, the Italian city of Vicenza will host the inaugural Italia-America Friendship Festival, a vibrant three-day event celebrating the enduring cultural and historical ties between the United States and Italy. Scheduled from September 12 to 14, the festival will feature a rich array of activities designed to highlight the shared influ...
Italy: EU-US deal offers “clear framework” for transatlantic trade
The European Union and the United States have formalised their joint declaration on tariffs, following the political agreement reached on July 27 in Scotland between Ursula von der Leyen and Donald Trump. For Italy, the agreement avoids a trade war, provides certainty for businesses, and creates room for new exemptions—starting with the agri-food s...