This Tuscan startup sold all its olive oil in the U.S. Then came Trump's tariffs
On the steep hills of southern Tuscany, Romain Piro has spent the past two decades harvesting fruit from his silvery olive trees and turning it into olive oil. In 2019, he convinced his sister, Marie-Charlotte Piro, to go into business with him. The siblings started shipping their small-batch bottles to the United States, where olive oil is in high...
It’s canning season, when tradition meets ingenuity
Each summer, a quiet but determined ritual returns across Italian kitchens, from North to South: the making of conserve and marmellate. Far from being a nostalgic custom, this is a practical response to seasonality and abundance: if gardens, fruit trees, and markets overflow with ripe tomatoes, figs, cherries, peaches, and plums, we don’t waste any...
7 days in and around Genoa: an experience rich in history, nature and hidden gems
Liguria’s Riviera holds a subtle charm, shaped by contrasts and harmonies: sea and mountains brushing against each other, villages perched above the blue, hills lined with olive trees, and glimpses that seem frozen in time. In particular, Genoa and its surroundings are a patchwork of art, history, and nature. From the heart of the city, with the P...
A night of wishes under the stars in Italy’s most beautiful villages
Italy’s hidden villages will light up on Sunday, August 10, 2025, as dozens of small towns take part in the annual "Borgo dei Desideri" — the Village of Wishes — in celebration of the Night of San Lorenzo. From sunset through the early morning hours, this nationwide event invites visitors to slow down, reflect, and express their personal hopes unde...
From Kentucky to Scanno: a wedding, a twin house, and a tribute to Italian roots
A remarkable connection across continents: in Kentucky, an Italian American entrepreneur has recreated a near-identical replica of Scanno’s historic Palazzo Di Rienzo — while his daughter married in the very Italian village where her family roots began. Phil Tarullo, whose family hails from Scanno in Abruzzo, commissioned a detailed architectural c...
CGIE challenges new Italian citizenship bill over rights and retroactive limits
After carefully reviewing the concerns voiced by Italian communities around the world—many of whom feel unsettled and confused by the newly proposed rules regarding citizenship by descent—the General Council of Italians Abroad (CGIE) has issued its required and official opinion on the draft citizenship law. The Council strongly criticizes the intro...
Cakes, quilts and history: U.S. Army Garrison Italy chaplains celebrate their 250th anniversary
Battlefields that once had muskets and bayonets now have AI and drones, but one thing has not changed – the need for Soldiers to practice their faith. For 250 years, U.S. Army chaplains have been there for the troops, a fact discussed July 29 during a lunchtime banquet held at U.S. Army Garrison Italy’s chapel on Caserma Ederle. "Chaplains will alw...
Director Francis Ford Coppola doing 'fine' after cardiac procedure in Rome
Francis Ford Coppola, the acclaimed American director of "The Godfather" movies and "Apocalypse Now," underwent a non-emergency cardiac procedure in a Rome hospital and is doing fine, he and a U.S.-based representative said on Tuesday. "Mr. Coppola went in for a scheduled update procedure" performed by renowned Italian-born cardiologist Dr. Andrea...
Europe’s highest alpine brewery is in Italy (and it produces unique beers)
No bottles, no distribution, and zero online sales. To taste Ga.Beer, you have to hike up to the Rifugio Lavarella, in the heart of the Dolomites, over two thousand metres above sea level on the Fanes plateau in South Tyrol. It’s here that Gábor Sogorka, the hut’s cook and now also its brewer, founded a small alpine brewery — the highest in Europe...
Healthcare in Italy for expats: guide to the SSN & private cover
Moving to a new country always comes with a lengthy to-do list, and sorting out healthcare is often near the top. When the destination is Italy, a place with a certain reputation for paperwork and bureaucracy, this task can feel particularly daunting. Understanding the options for health insurance in Italy for foreigners is fundamental to settling...
How Versilia Keeps the Spirit of Italian Villeggiatura Alive
In the soft Tuscan dawn, before the beach umbrellas unfurl, an old man steps onto the sand of Viareggio as he has every summer for decades. The air carries the salsedine—that distinctive mix of salt and sea breeze—and the promise of another sunny day identical to countless ones before. There is a saying in Italy: stessa spiaggia, stesso mare—“same...
The overlooked region in Italy with 'Maldives-like' beaches that's perfect for food lovers
If you're yearning for the warmth of the sun on your skin, there's a hidden gem in Italy that offers sandy beaches, crystal clear seas and breathtaking beauty in abundance. Puglia, located on Italy's southeast coast, is famed for its sprawling coastline, charming whitewashed villages and exquisite food and wine. Beyond the bustling summer season, i...