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Cars, motorcycles, and busses whiz at breakneck speed on the modern roadway that encircles this ancient town. Commerce is healthy here, just as it seems to always have been. Eyes divert, though, to a sea of emerald grass, a solid moat separating the road from a continuous stretch of forbearing massive walls – the acclaimed Mura di Lucca. Lucca’s wa...

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“Tuscany” and “wine” are almost synonymous at times, and in the collective imagination, it’s usually Chianti that springs to mind first. But up north, near the Ligurian border, winemaking traditions in the province of Lucca have been documented since at least the 15th century. Workers have been cultivating and collecting grapes since even before th...

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The protagonist of this new interview is one of the most important personalities among those who deal with Italian emigration abroad. Ilaria Del Bianco was President of UNAIE, the National Union of Immigrant and Emigrant Associations. She is a member of the Bureau of the Council of Tuscans Abroad, and President of the "Lucchesi nel mondo" Associati...

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Don’t get me wrong; I love being in Florence. As a volunteer archivist at one of Florence’s libraries, I am used to spending long weekends in this captivating city. Just walking around and drinking in the beauty of its architecture, art, and even shop windows have always given me great pleasure. But… deep down I’m a country girl also ready to escap...

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Land of artists and poets, green valleys and soft sandy beaches, also famous for its immense food and wine heritage. A list of good reasons to visit Tuscany would be basically endless. In every corner you can breathe a centuries-old history, which took place against the backdrop of a landscape that still today  enchants and amazes. To see Tuscany i...

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Is there any country on earth that wears its history as lightly as Italy? Roman ruins sit cheek by jowl with Renaissance palazzos, while modern skycrapers cast their long shadows over neoclassical cathedrals. But there are many more reasons why this is the fifth most visited country in the world – the rolling landscapes of Tuscany, the sandy beache...

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The Lucchesi Nel Mondo, Chicago Chapter, will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Oct. 16 at the Mazzini Verdi Club in Franklin Park. The black-tie optional event will feature cocktails at 6 p.m. and supper at 7:30 p.m., with entertainment provided by tenor Simon Lee Kyung, accordionist Joe Martino and DJ Il Menestrello. Special guests will be Ilaria...

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The Lucchesi Nel Mondo will honor Paul Ciminello and Lilia Leonardi Juarez as Man and Woman of the Year at their annual banquet on Aug. 28 at the Mazzini Verdi Club. The following profiles were provided by the organization. Paul Ciminello Paul Ciminello has been a member of the Lucchesi Nel Mondo Association for over 25 years.  Paul left his home o...

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Here's my guide to the perfect 10 day road trip from Milan to Rome, a popular tourist route. It's only a 6 hour drive from Milan to Rome. But this well-traveled route is dense with amazing must see medieval villages, ornate palazzos, Roman ruins, and sublime treasures of the Renaissance. There's plenty of great destinations to explore along the way...

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Italy must run in the blood, wine and water at 1415 W. 22nd Street in Oak Brook, Ilinois. The space that was formerly Tuscany has now been transformed to Lucca Osteria & Bar thanks to owner Steven Hartenstein. He obviously loves to talk to guests who patron his newly opened establishment as he looks them right in the eye when speaking to them. His...

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