The secret of Piazza Castello in Turin: Columbus’s lucky finger
Among Turin’s many hidden delights, hardly anyone is aware that in Piazza Castello - just steps from the Royal Library - there lies a small yet fascinating superstition blending history, tradition, and a hint of the esoteric. The star of this curious ritual is a bas-relief portrait of Christopher Columbus, which over time has become a popular urban...
Italy’s digital twin of the soil: a living map for the future
Italy is preparing to launch an ambitious project that will create a full digital twin of its soil and terrain. The initiative combines advanced aerial laser scanning, satellite imaging, and artificial intelligence to build a highly detailed three-dimensional model of the country’s land surface. Once complete, this virtual replica will serve as a p...
The poet’s sanctuary: inside d’Annunzio’s Priory
Gabriele d'Annunzio always nurtured a great love for the houses he inhabited; this feeling is particularly intense for his last home, the Priory, the beating soul of the monumental complex that is the Vittoriale. The Commander furnished it, in fact, with great care and particular attention, transforming the rooms according to his inner vision. The...
Puglia Off The Beaten Path: 6 Experiences You Can’t Miss
Puglia isn’t just any other region in southern Italy. Puglia is a feeling. It’s the morning light reflecting on gentle waves lapping onto the shore line. The quiet rhythm of hands shaping fresh pasta. The songs that echo through village piazzas during local festivals. If you want to discover Puglia off the beaten path, you’ll discover that the Ital...
Melanzane Mania: Italy’s beloved eggplant dishes
Eggplants, or as Italians call them, melanzane, have long been a beloved ingredient in Italy’s summer kitchens. Originating from India and Southeast Asia, they were introduced to the Mediterranean through the Arab invasions during the Middle Ages, and their versatility and ability to thrive in the hot Mediterranean climate made them a staple ingred...
In the Marche region are the only cloistered nuns who produce craft beer
Immersed in the tranquillity of the hills of Sassoferrato, the Società Agricola delle Monache (Nuns’ Agricultural Company), connected to the monastery of Sant’Anna in Bastia Umbra, was created as a project that intertwines monastic life with the care of the land and the production of food. The community of nuns that manages this enterprise keeps b...
Top 7 villages to visit on Lake Garda in 2025
Planning a trip to Lake Garda, Italy's largest and most scenic lake? From charming medieval streets to waterfront promenades, the villages surrounding Lake Garda are among the most beautiful in Northern Italy. Whether you're visiting in summer or during the quieter seasons, here are seven unmissable villages you should explore on your next Lake Gar...
Marco Belinelli announces retirement
Marco Belinelli, 39, has officially announced his retirement from professional basketball, ending a career that spanned over 20 years. In an emotional statement, Belinelli said, “I gave it my heart. Every piece of me. Every single day. Basketball gave me everything… and I gave it everything I had.” Belinelli began his professional journey with Virt...
Italy overtakes UK in GDP per capita for the first time in two decades
For the first time since 2001, Italy has surpassed the United Kingdom in terms of GDP per capita - a notable shift that speaks volumes. According to recent data, Italy’s GDP per person has edged slightly ahead of the UK’s, bringing an unexpected economic twist after more than two decades of British dominance. In 2024, Italy’s GDP per capita reached...
Cruise travel: 15 million tourists expected in Italy in 2025
The Italian cruise industry is poised to continue its robust rebound. The forecast for 2025 confirms the momentum already noted during 2024, driven by sustained high demand. Leading the national cruise ports is Civitavecchia, projected to welcome 3.6 million passengers. Trailing behind are Naples with an anticipated 2.1 million and Genoa with aroun...
Italy’s exceptional – yet often overlooked – innovative potential
Italy has a long and remarkable history of technological innovation, yet paradoxically, this is not one of the first qualities typically associated with the Bel Paese. We are a nation of inventors and creative minds, but this solid legacy is rarely acknowledged, despite our contribution to a vast array of inventions that have changed the world. Fro...
A guide to Gallura, Sardinia’s historic northeast coast
Gallura is where Sardinia lets its wild side run riot. In the island’s northeast, boulder-scattered hills and dense forests of holm oak, olive, pine and myrtle trees roll down to a coast that makes you gasp out loud. Castaway coves, wave-whipped promontories and dune-flanked sands ease into the gloriously blue Strait of Bonifacio. The Maddalena isl...