The Taste Of Change: Why Gelato is Italy’s Latest Cultural Star
Gelato, like pasta or caffè, is one of those things so firmly embedded in cultural imagination that writing about it risks feeling redundant. Everyone has their favorite flavor, their go-to shop, their memory of a cone melting too fast under a summer sun. And yet, something is happening in Italy that’s pushing gelato beyond its familiar place in t...
Sorano: the enchanting Tuscan Tuff-Carved village
In the province of Grosseto, in the green Maremma, Sorano is a small village built on top of a tuff cliff. This village, along with other picturesque medieval towns built into the tuff, preserves essential evidence of the Etruscan civilisation. Strolling through its alleys, one breathes history, among ancient buildings and the mysterious Etruscan h...
An Italian mirror at the heart of the world’s largest telescope
The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), currently under construction in Chile’s Atacama Desert, is poised to become the most powerful optical telescope ever built. At the core of this groundbreaking scientific instrument is a major achievement of Italian engineering: the M4 adaptive mirror, designed and produced by Microgate, a high-tech company based...
Archaeologists mindblown by secret tunnels found beneath Italian castle. Da Vinci had drawn them 500 yrs ago
The truth behind the centuries-old legend associated with one of Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches has finally been uncovered. The legendary fifteenth-century polymath sketched hidden tunnels beneath Sforza Castle, once counted among the few largest citadels in Europe. Even though construction of the medieval site began in 1358, it was constructed by Fr...
Italy prepares for an (almost) perfect harvest. 45 million hectolitres expected
A harvest of 45 million hectolitres with a quality ranging from good to excellent. These are the Coldiretti predictions for the 2025 vintage, with harvesting already underway in Sicily and expected to finish no earlier than November with the Nerello grapes. In such a delicate phase, the quantity might pose a challenge (last year saw 44 million hect...
The Bezos effect: Why more and more Americans are getting married in Europe
Italy is increasingly becoming the destination of choice for American couples tying the knot, with tens of thousands opting for a European celebration. Among them, James Atkinson and Samantha Fortino recently marked their wedding in Florence on July 24. Their Tuscan experience included a vineyard tour and a pasta-making class with family and friend...
Ambassador Tilman J. Fertitta Presents American Art Collection at his New Home, Villa Taverna
U.S. Ambassador to Italy Tilman J. Fertitta has brought a deeply personal touch to his new residence, beginning with the curated art collection now on display at his home, Villa Taverna. Working closely with Gary Tinterow, Director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Ambassador Fertitta personally selected works by iconic American artists such as...
Molise looks to the future: Termoli's cultural challenge
Walking through the narrow lanes of Termoli’s borgo antico, the medieval promontory felt unusually quiet this mid-spring: laundry snapped in the Adriatic breeze, pastel walls stood in silence, and the beauty of the moment was mostly denoted by its emptiness. This scene, delicately captured by the Financial Times, set the stage for a bold cultural r...
A weekend in Monreale: a perfect gateway in the very heart of Sicily
You’ve finally planned your dream vacation in the stunning Sicily - sunshine, sea, delicious food, and, most importantly, a deep dive into the culture and centuries-old history of this magnificent island. But beyond the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, the crystal-clear waters of Favignana, the silhouettes of the Aeolian Islands on the horizon,...
Italy aims to boost food and wine tourism by creating new professional roles
Food and wine tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Italy’s travel industry, but it faces a major hurdle: the lack of skilled professionals to support its expansion. In response, leading industry organizations have developed a strategic framework to guide the future of this booming segment. The result is a newly published white pa...
"Sulfur road" begins filming in Sicily by Italian American director Michael Cavalieri
The quiet Sicilian town of Valguarnera has become the unlikely setting for a powerful American film project that shines a light on a piece of history too often overlooked. The movie, titled Sulfur Road, tells the story of young boys—known as carusi—who were forced to work in Sicily’s sulfur mines in the early 1900s. The film explores their s...
Italian households among Europe’s wealthiest: low debt and real estate still key
In 2024, the total net wealth of households across Europe reached €70.2 trillion, marking a 4.4% increase from the previous year. Italian families hold about 16% of that amount, placing them third in Europe behind Germany and France. A large portion of Italian household wealth comes from owning residential real estate. Additionally, Italian familie...