Charnel houses, witches and castles: 6 chilling places to discover in Lombardy
Kicking off the new season of the Wednesday Addams series on Netflix, which has achieved great success with its dark aesthetic and gothic charm: for the occasion, we have selected six places in Lombardy that seem to have come straight out of an episode of the Addams family. Ruined castles, charnel houses decorated with skulls, abandoned villas shro...
Retiring in Italy: how a Seattle couple embraced spontaneity and found paradise
It takes a special kind of person to embrace change, whether large or small – someone adventurous, flexible and patient. But a change on the scale undertaken by Mark Hinshaw, a former Seattle architect and urban planner, might be considered off the charts. In 2017, Hinshaw quit his job, sold his Pioneer Square condo, and together with his wife, Sav...
San Bernardino alle Ossa: the Bone Church in Milan
If you’re looking for a truly unusual and evocative place in Milan, the Church of San Bernardino alle Ossa will surprise you. Famous for its crypt decorated with human bones, it offers an extraordinary experience. In this article, you’ll discover its fascinating history, the mysterious legends linked to the ossuary, the rich Baroque art inside, and...
How Italian street teachers are fighting the Camorra
In Naples, the organization Maestri di Strada helps marginalized youth. In neighborhoods where crime gangs recruit young members, the group works to prevent school drop-outs and criminality while improving young people's prospects. Maestri di Strada was founded in the early 2000s by former teacher Cesare Moreno. With its team of teachers, youth wor...
Legendary Television Presenter Pippo Baudo Dead at 89
Italian television icon Pippo Baudo passed away at the age of 89 on Saturday evening in Rome. The announcement was made by his lawyer and close friend, Giorgio Assumma, who confirmed that Baudo’s death was the result of a heart attack. Born Giuseppe “Pippo” Baudo in Militello in Val di Catania on June 7, 1936, he enjoyed a 60-year-long, successful...
This Is How To "Listen To Your Pasta" & Cook It Perfectly Every Time (Trust Me, I'm Italian)
No matter what kind of pasta dish you’re making, from pasta salad to a classic spaghetti carbonara, overcooking your pasta is the easiest way to ruin your meal. You may have heard of the term “al dente”, which literally translates as “to the tooth” in Italian. It’s the best descriptor of perfectly-cooked pasta, and everyone agrees that al dente pas...
Life in Ginostra, Stromboli: Sicily’s Off-Grid Paradise
Italy is well known for its ability to slow the hands of time. But in Ginostra, a 40-person village at the foot of an almost constantly erupting volcano, time doesn’t just move slowly, it seems to have stepped away altogether. On the southern flank of Stromboli—one of the Aeolian archipelago’s seven volcanic islands and among the most active volcan...
An Italian sleek heating revolution through graphene-infused paint
A breakthrough in sustainable heating is emerging from Italy. Researchers at BeDimensional, a spin-off of the Graphene Labs at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), have developed a graphene-based paint that transforms interior surfaces into heating elements. This inventive solution offers a sleek, minimalist alternative to bulky radiators. Th...
Bibbiena: the gem of Casentino to visit if you love photography
In the evocative landscapes of Casentino, Bibbiena is a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Tuscany, just a short distance from the historic city of Arezzo. Known as the city of photography, thanks to its famous Festival this town offers a perfect blend of art, nature, and tradition—a wonderful mix of Tuscany vibes. With an authentic atmosphere, bre...
Jewish Ferrara, 10 places to know
Ferrara is the custodian of an extraordinarily rich and complex Jewish history, which has its roots in the 13th century and continues to leave an indelible mark on the city’s urban and cultural fabric. The Jewish presence in Ferrara has been continuously attested since the Middle Ages, and its Jewish community is still one of the oldest and most in...
SMEG: the Italian brand behind the world’s most stylish kitchen appliances
I was recently in my stepbrother’s kitchen and saw one of those vintage‑style SMEG fridges in bright red. It looked like a 1950s appliance brought into the present – curved doors, bold chrome handle, and an unmistakable retro feel. “A wedding gift,” he reminded me, “20 years and it’s still going strong!” SMEG is, in fact, known for its iconic retro...
What’s in the Sardinian Blue Zone Diet? 10 Foods for a Longer, Healthier Life
In the early 2000s, researchers Michel Poulain and Gianni Pes identified something remarkable: a cluster of mountain villages in Sardinia’s Ogliastra and Barbagia regions where people routinely live past 100. This unexpected discovery placed Sardinia on the global map as one of the world’s original Blue Zones: regions known for extraordinary longev...