Cremona in focus: a tale of music, history and timeless traditions
Cremona may not be as well known as other cities in Lombardia like Milan or Pavia, but it has a lot to offer to an attentive visitor. Never mind if you are into history, folklore, architecture, or food, the town has something for you. It was founded by the Romans in 218 BC and played a significant role during the Empire as a military and trading p...
The Viterbo Papal Palace: A Must-See Day Trip from Rome for Jubilee Year 2025
Rome may be the heart of the Jubilee Year celebrations, but just 90 minutes away lies a hidden gem steeped in religious history: Viterbo. Known as the “City of Popes,” this charming town in northern Lazio served as a papal refuge during turbulent times and played a pivotal role in shaping church traditions, including the papal conclave. With the ma...
Caffè Florian in Venice: The Oldest Café in Italy Where Your Seat Sets the Price of Your Coffee
“Location, location, location” is a timeless reminder of how crucial a property’s setting is to its value. Having lived in New York City, I’ve seen this principle in action. The view of the Hudson River would have added $1,000 to the cost of rent for my apartment, which had a view of a wall—even though both apartments were the same size and both on...
Isolation and hallucinatory bread: Portrait of an Italian island with just 100 inhabitants
Each summer, the remote Italian island of Alicudi attracts a slow drip of tourists looking to escape the trappings of modernity. There are no cars or even roads on the two-square-mile volcanic outcrop, though footpaths are traversable by donkey. And while cellphone coverage is now available in most places, many houses lack electricity and water. Fo...
Stories from the Southern Piedmontese Alps
A wall of rocks, a crown of not-so-snowy peaks piercing the sky, sometimes puncturing the clouds. This is what the Alps look like when you look at them from the plains: half menacing, half protective, definitely immovable and unbreakable. A clear border behind which, in my case, lies France. The mountains of southern Piedmont, those of the province...
When Exploring the Towns of Lake Como, Appetite Comes With Eating
The Melbourne-based travel writer Paul Manser has written for major newspapers and magazines that demand a sort of glossy sheen to stories. Real-world travels, and life in general, rarely reflect the glow of a mainstream travel story. Those tales may not make it into Manser’s typical outlets, though they did make into his book, “Life Plans on Dive...
Sergio Mattarella: ten years of quiet leadership
Ten years ago, on January 31, 2015, Sergio Mattarella was first elected President of the Italian Republic. Seven years later, he would be re-elected with even greater support and a higher profile. The role of the President of the Republic requires someone who unites, not divides, someone who keeps the delicate balances of democracy intact rather th...
Italian Ministry announces subjects for the 2025 maturità exam
The Italian Ministry of Education has announced the subjects for the second written exam of the 2025 Maturità. The Maturità exam, also known as the "esame di stato," is the final exam taken at the end of high school studies in Italy. It is a crucial step toward obtaining the high school diploma, which grants access to university or the workforce,...
Postcard from Lucca, One of Tuscany's Most Enchanting Cities
What is it about Tuscany that’s so endlessly appealing? I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve visited the region (seven in 2024 alone!). And it’s definitely a part of Italy that people—Italians and foreigners alike—love to explore. Last year, I wrote about how to make the most of a week in Tuscany based on a question from a reader and this we...
When in Rome … go where the Romans go, not the tourist crowds
One of the earliest European printed books was a tourist guide to Rome. Ranging from information on ancient ruins, fallen temples and classical bathhouses to the place where an emperor “saw a vision in the sky”, Mirabilia Urbis Romae (Marvels of the City of Rome) was written in Latin in the early 12th century. The popular text was reproduced in doz...
Traveling To Italy? Here's What To Expect For Breakfast
If you are traveling to Europe and appreciate a great breakfast, there are some countries where you'll love getting up in the morning to break your overnight fast. For example, the breakfast buffets in Scandinavia are noteworthy as are the full English breakfasts you can get in Britain. However, such feasts aren't available in every country. The ru...
Culture, nature, and identity: Agrigento's vision for 2025
When Agrigento was declared the Italian Capital of Culture for 2025 on May 25, 2023, the significance of the title and the preparations it required may not have been immediately clear. The journey since has been long and fraught with challenges, setbacks, and high hopes. The year 2024 brought severe droughts that exacerbated water shortages across...