New archaeological museum contains original marble map from Ancient Rome
Rome authorities this month opened a new archaeological park and museum in the shadow of the Colosseum that features an original marble map of Ancient Rome that visitors can literally walk over. The opening of the Archaeological Park of the Celio and the new Museum of the Forma Urbis is part of a bigger project to develop the hilly area around the...
From “I Do” to “I Don't”: How 50 Years of Divorce Changed Italy's Relationship with Marriage
In 1970, the Italian Parliament offered its people a right that may have once seemed unthinkable for the seat of the Catholic church, the very right that caused Henry VIII to depart from the church in 1534 and create the Church of England: the right to divorce. On December 1st, the bill, first introduced in 1965, was approved 319-286, per New York...
Italy's airports surpass pre-COVID passenger levels in 2024
In 2024, Italian airport traffic reached a new record, with 219,078,618 passengers passing through national airports, marking an 11.1% increase compared to 2023. This figure not only highlights a significant post-pandemic recovery but also surpasses pre-COVID levels, restoring traffic distribution to 2019 values: two-thirds of travelers opted for...
OSDIA Delegation Meets with Lombardy President to Strengthen Ties with Regional Leadership
From January 12-17, OSDIA National President Michael G. Polo and SIF President Joseph Sciame traveled to Milan, Italy for a series of meetings with government and business leaders to strengthen organizational ties to the region, and to confirm Lombardy as the official Region of Celebration during this year's NELA Gala in Washington, D.C. One such m...
Honors 2025: the "Civil Exemplars" recognized by President Mattarella
President Sergio Mattarella of the Italian Republic has awarded thirty-one Orders of Merit of the Italian Republic to citizens who have distinguished themselves in promoting dialogue among peoples, combating gender violence, fostering ethical entrepreneurship, demonstrating active commitment despite disabilities, assisting incarcerated individuals,...
Agreenet: an Italian startup using fungi to combat food waste and extend produce freshness
An Italian startup from Turin is tackling one of the most persistent problems in the global food industry: food waste. Agreenet has developed a groundbreaking solution to reduce the environmental impact of discarded produce. The startup focuses on transforming food waste, particularly fruit and vegetables, into sustainable and valuable products by...
The European Central Bank chooses Leonardo’s designs for new 100-euro banknotes
The European Central Bank (ECB) has announced that the new 100-euro banknotes, which are set to be released in the near future, will feature designs inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s famous works. This decision marks a significant step in the ECB's effort to refresh the euro’s banknote series, with the 100-euro bill being one of the first to incorpo...
A CO2-eating bacteria found in the sea near Sicily
A groundbreaking discovery has emerged from the Mediterranean waters off the coast of Sicily: scientists have identified a bacteria capable of consuming carbon dioxide (CO2). This could have significant implications for the fight against climate change. Researchers from the University of Palermo, in collaboration with international partners, stumbl...
Trieste and the new golden road
All roads lead to Rome, the old saying goes. But in Italy’s twenty-first-century strategic ambitions, the roads now converge on a rather different city: Trieste. The city and the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) are pivotal to Italy’s future, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni declared during her keynote address at the Med Dialogue in November....
The fashion entrepreneur who invented Baci Perugina: a short journey through the streets of Perugia
The meeting point is in Perugia’s historic centre, at the corner of Via dei Cartolari and Via Alessi, in front of the elegant Palazzo Ansidei di Catrano. One’s imagination immediately drifts to the luxurious life of Luisa Spagnoli, a pioneering entrepreneur in the food and fashion sectors. She became wealthy, but she started in the basement of that...
Want to Prioritize Your Mental Health in 2025? Start With a Passeggiata.
Italian vacations with my father were a highlight of my early teens. Our typical destination was his hometown of Aradeo, a sleepy comune in the province of Lecce in Puglia. We’d spend days jumping into the sea and evenings eating pizza, while nighttime was dedicated to wandering the cobbled streets along with the rest of the town, from curious todd...
80th anniversary of women's right to vote in Italy: a milestone in the fight for gender equality
February 1st, 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of women’s right to vote in Italy. This historic moment dates back to 1945 when, following the end of World War II, the country restructured its political system. Prior to that, Italy had a long history of denying women voting rights, even though the feminist movement was gaining traction in the early...