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Raphael died in Rome 500 years ago today. Rome was to have been the focal point in the global celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the death of the High Renaissance artist and architect Raphael, hosting an "unprecedented" exhibition, the greatest Raphael show the world had ever seen. The Raphael exhibition saw a boom in the purchase of pre-sale...

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Carbonara, one of the signature dishes of Roman cuisine, will still be celebrated with the annual #CarbonaraDay on Monday 6 April, despite Italy's Covid-19 emergency. The difference with the 2020 edition, however, is that the action moves from restaurants to social networks in a virtual marathon dedicated to the much-loved Roman dish, according to...

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Across Italy, music has been connecting people as 60 million have been confined to their homes. At the end of the first week of the national lockdown, an initiative was launched in Rome which touched the whole country. Brass collective Fanfaroma’s Flash Mob Sonoro urged people to “open the windows, step out onto the balcony and play together”. Some...

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The three colours of the Italian flag, green, white and red have been appearing on monuments all over Italy, as well as abroad, to support the country during its COVID-19 crisis. In Rome three key monuments are lit up at night, the government's offices at Palazzo Chigi, the Senate and the Campidoglio, the centre of Rome's city government. They will...

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Doctors and nurses at the Casalpalocco hospital on Rome's outskirts mill silently around coronavirus patients lying motionless on their beds surrounded by machines monitoring their vital signs. Medical staff adhere to strict security protocols. Each is clad from head to foot in a hooded white protective suit, hands ensconced in latex gloves while a...

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Films have always offered a kind of escapism. From vintage classics to modern cinema marvels, movies about Rome can transport you to the Eternal City from anywhere in the world.  Not only is Rome ridiculously picturesque, but the city also has a long tradition with filmmaking. It has been the set of some of Italy’s most celebrated classic films as...

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Rome’s Stadio Olimpico will be silent this weekend. It was to have been the setting for Italy’s Six Nations match against England but this was called off as a result of the coronavirus outbreak and as part of a wider cancellation of all top-level sport in the country. Sixty years ago, the Italians were making ready to welcome the world to the Olymp...

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As the coronavirus emergency is keeping us all at home, it is still possible to travel virtually to Italy and visit some of its outstanding museums, from the comfort and safety of your couch at home. Here are four that make their collections and rooms available online, with special initiatives in place specifically during these times of lockdown, w...

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On 14 March, Italians stood on their balconies and applauded Italy’s doctors, nurses and medical professionals. Italians honoured the brave men and women, who continue to fight to save Italy from the devastating COVID-19 virus, but that’s not where it stops. Taxi companies were already formulating plans to give free rides to anyone who needed to re...

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Ciao from Rome to all the friends of We the Italians. In three weeks, everything has changed here in Italy. We are in lockdown. The explosion of the coronavirus has disrupted the lives of all of us, and the fear is that this thing will last a long time and will spread, indeed it is already spreading, everywhere. These are very, very difficult days,...

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