From the Rubble of Atlases, a Colossus Will Rise
Of all the punishments chronicled in Greek mythology, none were as heavy-handed as the one that Zeus meted out to Atlas. Having led the Titans in their losing battle with the Olympian gods for control of the heavens, Atlas was condemned to bear the sky aloft for eternity. And of all the temples built during the ancient Greek empire, none enlisted m...
Five things to see in Erice absolutely
Like so many Sicilian town, Erice passed from one invader to another leaving their architectural calling cards and their cultural footprints. Often covered in its own personal cloud, Erice is a wonderfully preserved Medieval town, just above Trapani, offering the most breath-taking views and a palpable sense of history. Here five places must-see in...
Hidden Gems In Italy: Small Towns And Secret Places Well Off The Beaten Path
Travel brings out the pioneer in us all, makes us long to be the first to discover someplace new. But can you still find places around the world like that, even places like Italy where tourists just can’t seem to get enough? Absolutely! We do it all the time as slow travelers. We’re always in search of the hidden gems in Italy, the lesser-known rou...
7 Magical Places To See in Abruzzo
We can never write enough about Abruzzo and its many beautiful places. Save these ideas for your next trip! Rocca Calascio Standing atop a hill at 1,460 meters (4,790 ft) above sea level, the 13th-century Rocca Calascio is the highest fortress in the Apennines, the mountain chain that runs through the length of Italy.
Lambrusco: Your Fresh Fall Wine
In the wake of a pandemic, social and racial unrest to say nothing over an upcoming election, few people have felt much like popping the bubbly this year. The United States may be divided, but there’s one thing many of us can agree on: we need a little lift these days. Enter Lambrusco—in my mind, the perfect wine for the times. Weighty enough to ha...
Le Pasquinate: Sortilegio (Pasquino conjures Cola Rienzi)
At the foot of Rome’s Capitoline Hill, by the staircase leading to the Piazza del Campidoglio, seat of the city government since the Middle Ages, a statue of a hooded man waving a sword commemorates a crime. On this spot seven centuries ago, a mob murdered Nicola di Rienzo. Known to history as Cola Rienzi, Last of the Tribunes, this charismatic you...
Pollenzo, Italy: A Small Town in the Piedmont Region Offers a Feast of Flavors
It’s no secret that Italians love their cuisine and even live for it. With the global pandemic putting a big dent in our ability to travel abroad, I’m dreaming of all the delicious Italian food I am missing. What I wouldn’t give for a plate of bucatini all’Amatriciana topped with freshly grated pecorino Romano at a noisy trattoria in Testaccio. Som...
Cascata Grande di Isola del Liri
CELEBRATED IN PAINTINGS BY JACOB Philipp Hackert in 1777 and by Bidault in 1790 (a painting currently on display at Paris’ Louvre Museum), the Cascata Grande defines the urban plan of the small town of Isola Liri. The town is just one hour east of Rome in the historical region of Ciociaria. The Liri river splits in two and drops 88 feet (27 meters)...
An Age-Old Rivalry: Piadina Romagnola Versus Crescia Marchigiana
The debate continues: Is the piadina romagnola the oldest and tastiest flatbread recipe in the region? Or is it the crescia marchigiana? Let’s discuss. Among the challenges of hometown pride that so define our country, the biggest debates in Italy tend to center around food – and that includes the rivalry between the piadina romagnola and the cresc...
Our Virtual Tour of Italy Continues in the North
Italian winemakers have a storied history of developing grapes that are symbiotic with their climate and soil conditions. The characteristics of each grape have been tailored to the land and to the local cuisine – and vice versa. Until recently, many Italian wine producers were more interested in quantity than quality; American consumers were more...
Studying in Italy during the pandemic: ISU student experienced life abroad during the COVID-19 outbreak
A senior environmental geoscience major has has no regrets while studying abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jordan Kemp arrived in Florence, Italy, on Jan. 29, though she had been traveling around Europe for several weeks prior to landing. Before the shutdowns began in Italy, Kemp was volunteering at a local elementary school and middle school t...
This Alfa Romeo “Mazda MX-5 Edition” Is a Different Kind of Italian Job
There are many people out there who believe that Mazda and Alfa Romeo have a lot in common when it comes to the design of their cars, so a product that they would create together is something which for them pretty much makes sense. Instagram artist Andras Veres is one of them, as he thinks the similarities between Alfa Romeo and Mazda from a design...