Close

On a brisk spring morning in Rimini, I stood in a hushed cathedral with 11 other hikers, waiting for a bishop’s blessing. Ahead lay days of strenuous trekking through Italy’s mountainous Emilia-Romagna region to the Sanctuary of La Verna, a Franciscan monastery in Tuscany. Together we would climb and descend for 75 miles on paths, some rugged and s...

221

  Art Nouveau Week 2025: Celebrating Italy’s Belle Époque The best bread award in Italy this year goes to Sicily Protecting workers from extreme heat: Italy's new workplace safety protocol ORACLE: Italy’s mission to extract oxygen from moon dust The Italian cities where life and work feel most rewarding DOP Tourism: a new model for travelling in It...

228

The European Cultural Routes are cross-border journeys that help travelers explore how Europeans have lived and interacted since ancient times. The concept was launched by the Council of Europe in 1987. One of the latest additions to this network is Saint Francis’ Ways: European Route of Franciscan Heritage, which has now been officially r...

339

  The 800th anniversary of the Cantico delle creature 19 green flags awarded for sustainability in the Italian alpine region in 2025 World color day in Italy: a celebration of color and creativity Italy’s push for electric mobility: progress and challenges Italians and their pets: trends, costs, and the growing pet economy 70th edition of the David...

287

In December 1223, Saint Francis of Assisi introduced the first live Nativity scene in Greccio (Lazio), to make the story of Jesus Christ's birth more tangible for the local populace. This marked the beginning of a tradition that has endured for over 800 years, transforming Greccio into a significant pilgrimage site, especially during the Christmas...

311

The pilgrimage town of Assisi in Italy's central Umbria region lights up at Christmas to mark the 800th anniversary of St Francis's best-known text, the Canticle of the Creatures. Assisi celebrates the milestone anniversary by illuminating the façades of its monuments and streets as part of the Natale ad Assisi programme, with hundreds of events in...

383

Every year on October 4th, Catholics worldwide celebrate the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, a beloved figure known for his profound connection to nature, dedication to humility and a steadfast commitment to serving the poor. For Italian Americans, the day holds special significance, as St. Francis is not only the patron saint of animals and th...

439

Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, better known as Saint Francis of Assisi, is popular in name. He is most well-known within Roman Catholicism, but his fame and reverence extend far and wide. Saint Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and the environment. He was also a lover of peace and worked hard to achieve it. The veneration of this...

476