Retiring in Italy pros and cons: 2025 guide for expats
When you picture your golden years, does an image of sipping espresso in a historic Italian piazza come to mind? Many retirees dream of living out their later years in luxury, and Italy offers some of the best retirement opportunities in the world. Italy’s cities (and even some of its more rural communities) have become highly sought-after retireme...
Sperlinga: a Medieval stronghold frozen in time
Tucked away in the province of Enna, between the Nebrodi and Madonie mountains in the heart of inland Sicily, lies a village that borders Gangi (in the province of Palermo) and Nicosia (in the province of Enna). Its name is Sperlinga, home to fewer than 700 residents. The name – Sperrënga in Gallo-Sicilian and Spilliňga in Sicilian – derives from t...
Is Sicily the New Frontier for Mango Exportation?
Agriculture in Sicily is changing its face: mango and avocado are the new fruits of Southern Italy. Traditional crops such as citrus fruits, prickly pears, vineyards, olive trees, cereals, and ancient grains must contend with global warming and the extreme events it brings, drought and water scarcity, even the emergence of pests unknown until a few...
Study in Rome: a down-to-earth guide to unis, costs & life
There’s nowhere quite like Rome for a student adventure, where ancient ruins and buzzing piazzas set the scene for daily life. From soaking up lectures at the legendary Sapienza University of Rome to joining a lively crowd of international students, you’ll soon notice how the city has a knack for combining old-school charm with modern energy. Stud...
The underrated Italian seaside town that's as pretty as Venice or Lake Como
With its deep blue sea, green mountain backdrop and elegant hotels and villas, this forgotten little seaside town on the Italian Riviera can certainly give big tourist hitters like Venice and Lake Como a run for their money. But instead of being flooded with foreign tourists in the summer, the small historic town of Rapello is more popular with It...
This Protected Italian Bread Can Only Be Made With Ingredients From Puglia
Italy is known for its fantastic food, from pastas to pizzas and everything in between. Some food items are so revered that they are actually protected products. These products are designated DOP (Denominazione di Origine Protteta) or PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), and can include Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (along with more than 30 other ty...
Ferrari unveils Hypersail project led by Soldini
Ferrari announced its entry into the world of sailing on Wednesday with a Hypersail project led by Italian yachtsman Giovanni Soldini that it said would blend racing tradition with technological innovation. The world's first 100-foot monohull ocean racing yacht with a foil on the keel has been designed by French naval architect Guillaume Verdier an...
Parma – Italy's Little Paris
There’s a different feel in Parma, that town in Emilia-Romagna noted for such culinary masterpieces as Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma. Traveling northern Italy’s 2,000-year-old Via Emilia, Parma sits as a distinguished jewel midway between Milan and Bologna. These days, the Via’s original Roman name has been traded for a more utilitari...
Does La Dolce Vita still exists? Discovering the myth that made Italy ( and what it means today)
La Dolce Vita, literally translated ad sweet life, is one of the most famous expressions referring to Italy, it evokes romance, elegance and luxury, it is clear the reference to the film La Dolce Vita by the great director Federico Fellini, one of the most famous in the history of cinema set in Rome; but have you ever wondered what exactly the term...
Italian “ghost town” revived by stunning street art that’s now an Instagram hit
An Italian “ghost town” is now attracting thousands of tourists and reversed its demise – by commissioning artists to paint more than 140 Instagramable murals on the sites of shops and homes. Stornara, in the Puglia region, once known for producing wheat and olives began to decline as less babies were born and young people left for jobs in big citi...
Living in Trento: life on the doorstep of the Dolomites
Tucked away in the far north of Italy, Trento is a small city with big personality and just the right mix of Alpine air, Italian flair, and a relaxed pace. With a population hovering around 120,000, it’s a place where you’re never far from snow-capped peaks, vineyards, or a lively piazza for your morning caffè. Unlike the chaos of Milan or Rome, he...
This Tranquil Italian Town Is the Perfect Dupe for Venice—With Similar Canals, Footbridges, and Boat Tours but Fewer Visitors
Venice is a bucket list destination for many, but as the city buckles under the crushing weight of overtourism, savvy travelers are beginning to look for alternatives. Enter Comacchio, a small town less than two hours away in Italy’s Emilia Romagna region. Located where the Po River Delta meets the Adriatic Coast, Comacchio is sometimes called the...