Italy's Ancient 'Land Of Wine' Is A Gorgeous, Underrated Region With Vineyards, Cellars, And Historic Estates
When the ancient Greeks descended from their tall trireme decks and onto the shores of Southern Italy, they saw the unrivaled viticulture of Calabria and dubbed its sun-soaked shores the perennial "land of wine." Over the millennia, Dionysus's slice of the Coast of the Gods has been superseded in the world of wine by Northwest Italy's famous, elega...
Ischia: The Italian Isle where locals cook in volcanic sand
I'm wandering through the village of Sant'Angelo on the Italian island of Ischia, searching for the footpath that will take me to the volcanic fumaroles on the isle's southern shore – and towards one of Italy's most unique meals. A shopkeeper points me to a stone staircase snaking up from an alleyway that climbs over the cliffs and mountains. The...
These 2 Italian Regions Produce The Most Olive Oil
Behind Spain, Italy is the second-largest global olive oil producer. For centuries, olive trees have thrived in the climate of the Mediterranean. Italy and the areas of former Ancient Rome have been growing olive trees since antiquity, dating as far back as 4,000 B.C. It's no wonder that Italian olive oil is a prized commodity all around the world....
Paolo Sorrentino’s Buzzy Drama ‘La Grazia’ Gets U.S. Release Date
Italian director Paolo Sorrentino’s La Grazia, widely hailed as a return to form for the 2013 Oscar winner, has locked down its theatrical release date in North American cinemas. Mubi will open La Grazia in theaters on Dec. 5, teeing up a potential Oscars campaign for its inimitable Italian star, Toni Servillo. La Grazia opened the 82nd Venice Film...
I’ve Lived in Italy for Over 40 Years—These Are the Most Beautiful Islands No One Talks About
Everyone's heard of Sicily, Sardinia, and fashionable Capri, but when it comes to enchanting islands, Italy has much more to offer than the usual headline acts. And few people realize that the country's coastline is actually peppered with over 350 idyllic islands, from picture-perfect Favignana to car-free Panarea to rugged Marettimo. Some islands...
Puglia emerges as Italy’s new property hotspot
According to JamesEdition, a portal for foreign buyers seeking homes over £500,000, buyer inquiries in Puglia grew by 62 per cent last year, compared to just 1.2 per cent in Tuscany. This surge in interest has prompted major real estate agencies to establish a presence in the region, with Coldwell Banker opening seven offices since 2022 and Engel...
The Shroud of Turin: Relic, Forgery, or Something in Between?
Today, we’re exploring a centuries-old cold case: a linen cloth, almost four meters long, carrying the faint imprint of a man. Some see in it the burial shroud of Jesus, others a brilliantly executed medieval forgery. For centuries, it has stirred faith, skepticism, and curiosity in equal measure. Today, the Shroud of Turin remains one of the most...
The numbers of Italian cinema and audiovisual 2024
Presented during the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, the new report “The Numbers of Italian Cinema and Audiovisual 2024” offers a detailed overview of a sector that continues to grow in cultural and economic significance. The findings show that 2024 was a year of consolidation for Italian cinema and the broader audiovisual industry - a per...
Parma welcomes Benjamin Cremaschi – a rising Italian American star
Benjamin Cremaschi’s move to Parma has been making waves in both Italy and the United States, not only because of his talent on the field, but also because of what he represents. Born in Miami in 2005, Cremaschi grew up in a bilingual, bicultural household with deep ties to Italy. His family heritage traces back to the northern regions of the count...
Living in Turin: life between the Alps and the arcades
The capital of the Piedmont region is a place of understated elegance, a city of royal palaces and grand arcades that also served as the engine room of Italy's industrial heyday. As Italy’s fourth-largest city, with a population of just under 900,000, Turin, or Torino, has all the amenities of a major urban centre but without the chaotic energy of...
How Italy Turned Roadside Dining Into An On-The-Go Foodie Institution
When you're hungry on a road trip in the United States, your options for nourishment aren't always stellar. While you may be lucky to find a diner or a roadside BBQ stand, you're more likely to come across a typical fast food chain or even a gas station supermarket filled with shelf-stable snacks and sad, soggy sandwiches. Italy, however, does not...
How Genova became globe’s basil capital
Basil is so ubiquitous in Italian cuisine one might think it has been used in recipes forever. Instead, the culinary virtues of this tantalizing plant were discovered only 200 years ago. Although basil has been around since ancient times, it was mostly used as an ornamental or curative herb. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed it was toxic and a...