Italy's Santa Maria Novella: The ancient perfume store you've never heard of
In an unassuming building on a quiet street, not far from the bustle of Florence's Santa Maria Novella train station, stands what is probably the world's oldest pharmacy and cosmetic shop. It's easy to walk right past the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, and I nearly do. The rather plain entrance gives no inkling of the ar...
Six bizarre health tips Italian grans swear by
Every culture around the world has its own unique knowledge systems developed by different communities over the centuries. Given the patchwork nature of its history, Italy is awash with traditional remedies, many of which are still thought to work. But why are these beliefs so popular? Are Italians more suspicious of conventional medicine?&nb...
Mediterranean plant ‘kills brain tumour cells
A Mediterranean plant belonging to the citrus family has been found to kill the malignant cells of the most common and incurable form of brain tumours, researchers of the Naples Second University (SUN) say. The pre-clinical study showed that a liquid extract of the plant Ruta graveolens can kill aggressive glioblastoma brain tumour malignant cells...
Top 5 Wines for Italian Fish Recipes
by Chiara Giovoni Ok, 21 June has passed, it is officially summer and the "Mediterranean diet" requires a shift towards fish recipes. If you have access to a sea-view terrace, so much the better. If, however, you are not skilled cooks and you have decided that your salvation for the holidays will be dining in a typical restaurant on your d...
There’s an underwater vegetable garden off the coast of Italy
by Claudia Baroncelli Sustainability is the key word of the challenging project, called Nemo's Garden, promoted and carried out byMastel Safety, an Italian company operating in the underwater field that created a submerged greenhouse in Noli (Savona) where they cultivate all types of vegetables: from basil and courgettes to salad and radis...
An Italian took the biggest picture of Mont Blanc
The world's biggest panoramic photograph, certified by the Guinness World Records, is the work of an Italian. The subject used by Filippo Blengini, an engineer and passionate photographer, are the peaks of Mont Blanc, immortalized in a huge 360° image, which would, if printed, be 100 m long by 30 m high. To comprehend the scale of this mam...
Why You Should Discover Italy’s Old Vine Wines
by Kerin O'Keefe Readers often ask me: what's your favorite wine? That's a tough question, because I love so many, from full-bodied Barolos to the elegant, almost ethereal reds from Mt. Etna, from mineral-driven Soaves to complex, savory Verdicchios. But one thing many of my top picks have in common is vine age, with wines made from old v...
Popular Italian menus lightening up
What ethnic cuisine do you feel like eating tonight? If you said Italian, then you're in the menu majority. Sixty-one percent of people polled by the National Restaurant Association said they choose Italian food at least once a month when dining out. While Italian-American classics such as cheese-laden lasagna are still popular, many menu...
Un po' di stranieri spiegano cosa li ha scioccati di più dell'Italia e della cultura italiana
Andare a vivere in un posto molto lontano da casa porta con sé una serie sforzi, tra cui quello di adattarsi alla cultura del paese ospitante. È di certo una cosa messa in conto, ma anche in un posto noto per la pizza, la moda e la tendenza a gesticolare eccessivamente può risultare un ostacolo difficile da superare. Quell'ostacolo viene c...
Il nuovo made in Italy e l’artigianato oltre la retorica
Sono appena rientrata dalla mia visita all'Università per Stranieri di Perugia dove sono stata visiting professor nel corso di laurea sulla Promozione dell'Italia all'estero. Un corso di laurea unico tra le università italiane. Questo programma, fondato dalla Rosanna Masiola, ricercatrice di studi anglo-americani e nel campo degli studi de...
Cilento e longevità: i primi risultati della ricerca italo-americana
Dall'America al Cilento per scoprire il segreto per vivere cent'anni in buona salute. L'Università di San Diego ha avviato una ricerca per individuare le variabili che permettono all'uomo di invecchiare bene. E per lo studio ha scelto proprio il Cilento, grande esempio di longevità, visto che sul suo territorio vivono più di trecento ultracentenari...
In Memory of Hon. Tina Anselmi
by Aileen Riotto Sirey Ph.D Italy lost a great stateswoman and our organization lost a dear friend on October 31, 2016. Tina Anselmi joined the resistance against the Nazis as a teenager after witnessing the hanging of young Italian partisans during World War II. She ultimately made history by becoming the very first woman Minister in...