Italian culture and history: The hidden genius of Genoa’s alleyways, the caruggi
The caruggi (the term likely derives from the Latin word quadrivium, meaning a crossroads of four streets, referring to the maze-like layout) are the narrow alleyways of Genoa’s historic center—an intricate labyrinth where different cultures, languages, and aromas have coexisted for centuries. These stone corridors are so tight that you can touch b...
IT and US: Angelica Moresco. My Story
I’ve always loved golf, even when I didn’t realize it. I grew up in Caldogno, Italy, a little town near Vicenza and started playing the game with my parents at age 7. From the moment I hit that first shot, which I still vividly remember, I’ve tried to get better. I always tried to hit the ball farther. I always tried to hit the ball straighter. I w...
Italian wine: Campania, a land of ancient vines and modern wine excellence
Campania, in Southern Italy, is a region with one of the oldest winemaking heritages in the world. Its wine tradition stretches back thousands of years, beginning even before the Romans, and is deeply rooted in the land and culture. Today, this region is gaining increasing recognition for producing high-quality wines from both red and white grape v...
Italian historical trademarks: Balletto di Roma
The Balletto di Roma company was founded in 1960 through the artistic partnership of two icons of Italian dance, Franca Bartolomei and Walter Zappolini. Since its inception, the company has been dedicated to producing and promoting original Italian dance across Europe and around the world. Its repertoire today is rooted in tradition yet open to inn...
Italian economy: Risk is human. Between Italy and the US, new leadership to govern artificial intelligence
The encounter between Europe’s humanistic tradition and the pragmatic mindset of the United States has, over time, given rise to leadership models that combine vision with practicality, innovation with responsibility. Today, in the age of artificial intelligence, this convergence is not just beneficial—it’s essential. That may sound like a bold cla...
Italian traditions: The Calabrian tarantella, a living folk tradition
The tarantella calabrese, sometimes called tirantella or in the past u sonu, is a term that encompasses various traditional dance and music styles found throughout the Calabria region of southern Italy. While it shares a name with other southern Italian tarantellas, the Calabrian version is distinct—especially in its rhythm and performance style. U...
Italian cuisine: Maccheroni Pugliesi with Sundried Red Pesto and Burrata
Let’s face it, even the most avid cooks among us need some quick-fix recipes in the summertime. This artisan pasta dish which combines the flavors of Puglia and Liguria is one that I turn to all season long. In fact, we even put it on the menu at Divino Ristorante Enoteca in Washington, DC where I am currently acting as the brand ambassador. So wha...
Italian entertainment: Farewell to Pierino, the Italian harmless rebel in a school smock
Alvaro Vitali, one of the most recognizable faces of Italy’s “commedia sexy all’italiana” in the 1970s and ’80s, has died at the age of 75. Best known for his iconic portrayal of Pierino, the mischievous schoolboy character from a series of risqué comedies, Vitali appeared in over 150 films during his career. It’s incredibly hard to explain the Pie...
Italian curiosities: From Lucca to the world, the combustion engine
The spark that helped ignite the modern world came not from Detroit or Berlin, but from Lucca—a charming Tuscan city better known for its medieval walls than for its revolutionary inventions. In 1853, two Italian visionaries, Eugenio Barsanti and Felice Matteucci, patented what is now recognized as the first internal combustion engine. Though their...
ICA: Acquiring citizenship by residency via an Italian parent or grandparent
Following recent changes to the Italian Citizenship law that took effect on May 24, 2025, many individuals who now find themselves ineligible to apply for Italian citizenship by descent are looking for alternate routes of acquiring Italian citizenship. In fact, this new legislation allows those with Italian ancestry to the second degree (parent or...
What's up with WTI: Editorial # 188
Dear friends, Even this month, there have been many things that have kept us at We the Italians busy. Let’s start with the big news: We the Italians: the surveys. It is a new tool to further enhance our role as a platform for listening to and discussing the interests and opinions of this community. We’ve launched an observatory dedicated to this mi...
Italian entertainment: Pino Daniele, the heart and soul of contemporary Naples
Neapolitan music has an extraordinary history, filled with melodies, lyrics, and masterpieces of the musical world. Naples is a city where emotions play a central role, and they have often been expressed through popular songs that are part of its history and are still sung and played today by both the young and the old. But this music dates back ma...