Trallalero: a polyphonic portrait of working-class Genoa.
Trallalero is a highly distinctive form of polyphonic singing that originated in Genoa, Italy, known for its complex harmonies and unique use of vocal techniques. Traditionally performed by male ensembles, trallalero features a complex arrangement of different vocal parts. The name itself comes from the syllabic “tra-la-le-ro,” a playful, rhythmic...
The Off-the-Radar Italian Road Trip We Almost Want to Keep to Ourselves
There is nothing quite like standing eye to eye with the Temple of Hera at Tavole Palatine, a 6th-century BCE Greek temple in the Basilicata countryside. In front of me are 15 massive Doric columns and a bunch of brush, and the only noise is the whir of occasional cars passing along the strada statale. I feel as if I’ve walked onto a set from Clash...
How one Jewish woman fought the Nazis — and helped found a new Italian republic
On Nov. 9, 1943, 22-year-old Teresa Mattei watched a train full of fellow Florentines pull out of Santa Maria Novella Station, bound for Auschwitz. On the train was Teresa’s former classmate Lascan, who was arrested with her family, and another friend Uzielli, who, Teresa recalled, “had a voice like an angel.” Few could have imagined the grim reali...
Mondeghili: Milan's hearty meatballs… with a long story to tell
Who doesn’t love meatballs? Fried, in tomato sauce, on top of pasta, or on their own, they are the ultimate comfort food. Used to the deliciousness of my own grandmother’s polpette al sugo, a staple of my childhood — which I attempt to make often, even though they quite never hit the spot as much as those nonna made — I was surprised to learn, whil...
From Italy to everywhere: How Caprese salad became global favorite
Caprese salad, with its simple yet vibrant combination of tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, has transcended its Italian roots to become a global culinary icon. Celebrated for its fresh ingredients and the way it captures the essence of Italian cuisine, its journey from local specialty to international favorite highlights how food can serve as a cult...
Bologna's leaning tower to be stabilised by late 2028, mayor says
A leaning medieval tower in the centre of Bologna that was cordoned off due to the risk of its collapse is expected to be stabilised and restored by late 2028, the northern Italian city's mayor said on Tuesday. Like the more famous Tower of Pisa, the 12th-century Garisenda tower has leaned for centuries, as the ground on which it was built gave way...
The Odyssey in Sicily: the filming locations of the new movie by Christopher Nolan
Filming began this spring for The Odyssey, the new film by the British director Christopher Nolan. And the chosen set couldn’t be more spectacular: our stunning Sicily. Part of it – in addition to Morocco, the United Kingdom, and of course Greece – include Favignana and the Aeolian Islands. And at the end of March, with a bit of luck, Zendaya, Mat...
Italian Producer Andrea Iervolino, “Hollywood Envoy” Mel Gibson Unveil Italy-U.S. Film Treaty Proposal
Italian producer Andrea Iervolino (Modì, Three Days on the Wing of Madness) unveiled a proposal for a U.S.–Italy co-production treaty on Tuesday that they said was agreed with Mel Gibson, President Trump‘s “special ambassador” to Hollywood, and is designed to “serve as a ‘pilot project’ for the development of similar treaties between the USA and al...
Diamante, Calabria – City of Murals, Citron and Peperoncino
On the west coast of Calabria, along the Tyrrhenian Sea, the historic village of Diamante provides the backdrop for an open-air museum of several hundred murals painted on the buildings that line the narrow streets. The artwork varies from religious to secular, traditional to contemporary to abstract, showcasing a worldwide assemblage of artists. I...
A Noah’s Ark for Taste: How Slow Food Is Saving Italy’s Foods from Extinction
These days, life moves fast—and our food traditions are struggling to keep up. The flavors that once tied us to places, people, and memories are getting harder to find, lost in a haze fueled by disconcertingly identical supermarket aisles, the lure of (packaged) convenience, and, as always, climate change. As these foods disappear from our tables,...
When a year has up to 14 months: the exception of the Italian economy
Did you know that in some cases in Italy, there aren’t just twelve monthly salary payments per year? Before Christmas, many employees also receive the “tredicesima”, a 13th month’s pay. But it doesn’t stop there: some Italians also receive “la quattordicesima”, a 14th month’s pay halfway through the year, an example of "deferred compensation" grant...
The Dolomites host the world’s first and only underground fruit refrigeration facility
In the Rio Maggiore Mine, within the cavities created by the extraction of Dolomite rock, in the province of Trento in Trentino Alto Adige, the apple producer Melinda has created the world’s first and only underground fruit refrigeration facility, with a controlled atmosphere and a constant temperature throughout the seasons. It is a true natural r...