Next Stop: Navy Pier! VIA Scholarships Pave the Way for Future Italian Wine Ambassadors
In a significant announcement, Les Dames d'Escoffier International (LDEI) and the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) have awarded two prestigious scholarships to deserving wine professionals, empowering them to attend the 33rd edition of the Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) Italian Wine Ambassador certification course. Scholarships have been aw...
Tasting History Through A Local Culinary Tour Of Palermo, Italy
We scheduled a culinary tour of Palermo for one of the first days after our arrival in Sicily. Avid food enthusiasts, we were eager to learn about the city’s famous street foods and decadent desserts. We also knew a culinary tour could serve as an introduction to the city’s history and culture. So we booked a full-day (5.5 hours) private tour of th...
Here’s how a Prince and a Cook invented Spaghetti alla Nerano
There is a seaside trattoria in Marina del Cantone, the beach of Nerano (in Campania), built under the auspices of the 17th-century chapel of Saint Anthony of Padua, with which it shares its walls. Towards the end of the 19th century, that small strip of pebbled beach served as a landing point and a place of rest for fishermen who docked their boat...
Love Sicily but not the crowds? Visit this Aeolian island instead
Hop on a hydrofoil from Milazzo, Sicily, and in less than two hours you’ll find yourself on the beautiful island of Salina. Stromboli's volcano stands tall on the distant horizon, and unlike Sicily, there are not many crowds of people. Locals whizz by on mopeds while only a few tourists relax at a sea cove on the side of the road. Salina is the sec...
Alfa Romeo Is Struggling in The US, But Thriving in Europe
When Stellantis published U.S. sales results for its Alfa Romeo brand for the first half of the year, the numbers didn’t look good. Through June, the Italian marque was down 34 percent, with all three models posting double-digit declines: Giulia (-32 percent), Stelvio (-40 percent), and Tonale (-28 percent). Combined, the three models generated onl...
Forecasting Through the Ages: Italy’s Contribution to Meteorology
From the skies of Jupiter to Earth-monitoring satellites, Italy’s relationship with meteorology spans centuries of observation, interpretation, and scientific innovation. Though often overshadowed by other nations in discussions of weather science, Italy has played a crucial and continuous role in the development of meteorological understanding, br...
How to Spend 5 Perfect Days on the Amalfi Coast
Sorrento and Salerno are just 50km apart. In between? One of the most iconic stretches of coastline in Italy and the world. The Amalfi Coast is a timeless summer classic drawing millions of visitors every year. Got less than a week? This practical Amalfi Coast travel guide covers all the must-see stops, the best places to stay, and what to do each...
Lego’s Italian Riviera, inspired by Cinque Terre, blends heritage and stereotype
LEGO has announced the launch of the new architectural Lego Ideas Italian Riviera set (21359), a detailed 3,251-piece model kit inspired by the charm of the Ligurian coast. The adult-focused set recreates the picturesque atmosphere of a Northwestern Italian fishing village, complete with colorful buildings perched along the coastline. The set featu...
Living in Catania: Sicily's underdog city
When people ask where most American expats live in Sicily, many will point to Palermo or the tourist towns. However, the underdog city of Catania has a significant, if less conspicuous, international community, partly thanks to the nearby NATO base. Sprawling along the Ionian coast at the foot of Mount Etna, this vital port city is considered by ma...
What Makes the American Overseas School of Rome a Standout
Some schools just have a feel to them. You notice it right away. When I visited the American Overseas School of Rome (AOSR), it didn’t feel like a place where students were just getting through the day. It felt alive. Kids were engaged, teachers were connected, and the whole campus gave off a sense of purpose. A first grader proudly walked me throu...
Italy is increasingly the land of bubbles. Here's how wine production has changed over the past ten years
The increasingly white-focused soul of Italian wine is being driven by sparkling wines, with regions showing a strong interest in the category and with denominations and Consortia promoting an expansion of sparkling production. Cultural trends leaning toward moderation, the ageing of older consumer groups, and the rise of new habits (starting with...
How Italian Producers Are Making Fruit & Vegetables Cool again for Gen Z
It starts with a bite: a cherry still warm from the tree, a tomato sliced open on a cutting board, its scent filling the room. This is the Italian food the world falls in love with—not just for its flavor, but for its feeling. Because here, food isn’t engineered or anonymous. Each fruit or vegetable carries a story, a dialect, a region. This biodiv...