The museums to be visited in Turin: an inestimable heritage of art and culture
As well as being a productive pole of great importance for the country, Turin is an artistic and cultural centre that will leave you breathless. In fact, in its territory there are numerous museums and cultural institutions, as well as galleries, libraries, archives and cultural production centres. Turin is a city of great charm, with a very Italia...
Who Is Venetian?
Many among the dwindling tribe of residents of the city of Venice take great pride in calling themselves Venetians, inheritors of a proud legacy, stewards of traditions and of ways of life that exist only in La Serenissima. But who has a right to consider themselves Venetian? Any past concepts limiting “real Venetians” to those born there or even t...
A Stroll Along the Roman Forum
The Roman Forum was for centuries the center of Rome’s public life. All important social and political events took place here, from elections to public speeches, from triumphal processions to criminal trials, from gladiatorial matches to commercial affairs. Known by the citizens of the time as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum (meaning piazza,...
Italians make breakthrough in leukemia research
An Italian team has made a breakthrough in leukemia research raising fresh hope of treating the blood cancer better. The team has shown the effectiveness of treatment with lab-engineered cells dubbed CARCIK on acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children and adults. Using the new cells, six out of seven treated patients showed a complete disappea...
Italian curiosities: why do we say Italians are a nation of saints, explorers and poets?
Ah, l’Italia! Paese di Santi, navigatori e poeti! Have you ever asked yourself why, historically, the people of Italy are seen as such? It seems to be particularly apt this time of the year, the fact that — according to legends — the first to utter this popular line was none other than Cristoforo Colombo. However history says differently, as it was...
The gorgeous destinations that have a special place in Italians' hearts
It’s no secret that the entire country of Italy is full of wonders and treasures – from the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world (a ranking shared with China) to breathtaking natural landscapes. And the FAI, the Italian National Trust, has a census meant specifically to rank all of Italy’s wonders according to the place they h...
True season is underway in Northern Italy and it's a whole lot o fungus
It's autumn in Piedmont and in the town of Roddi, not far from Italy's famous UNESCO winemaking region of Barolo, truffle season is underway. Beyond the grapevines, "trifolao" Gianni Monchiero, and his dogs, Lady and Vicky set o to search for these elusive little tubers. The most prized for its distinct earthy and musky scent is the pale yellow Alb...
Rome watchlist: films to see before your trip
The Eternal City was born for the Silver Screen. Its wealth of history, vibrant art and stunning skyline make it the perfect backdrop for films, whether they’re ecclesiastical dramas in the Vatican or Roman epics in the shadows of the Forum. Here are some of the best films set in Rome to get you excited for your next trip (or just pass a Friday nig...
Life at Full Throttle: Trip to explore Italian roots proves to be a step back in time
My husband and I planned our first trip to Italy quite a few years ago. We wanted to see all the touristy spots, such as Rome, Florence, and Venice. At the time, I had family in Italy that I had never met, and Bill encouraged me to try to contact a cousin in Italy with whom I was a childhood pen pal. The last contact I’d had with Franco was back in...
Visiting Italy was worth the risk – the Vatican has never been more splendid
The Vatican City is now on the UK's quarantine list announced by Grant Shapps yesterday afternoon. I was there at the time, savouring the once inconceivable pleasure of having the Vatican Museums almost to myself. In the Pinacoteca picture gallery I sat alone admiring the larger than life tapestries made from Raphael’s cartoons, Leonardo da Vinci’s...
È uscito il volume del Centro Altreitalie: "Il mondo si allontana? Il COVID-19 e le nuove migrazioni italiane"
È uscito il volume del Centro Altreitalie, Il mondo si allontana? Il COVID-19 e le nuove migrazioni italiane, Maddalena Tirabassi e Alvise Del Pra’, Prefazione di Piero Bassetti, Torino, Accademia University Press. I primi mesi della pandemia vengono esaminati attraverso il racconto dei protagonisti delle nuove migrazioni con 30 interviste e un que...
Returning to Bologna, Post-Lockdown
Last week, I returned to Bologna’s historic center for the first time since the end of February. Bologna is my hometown and I live in the suburbs and, in normal times, I may go to the center once a week or, in normal tourist season, more often to run my tours. In normal times, it’s a regular experience I don’t give much thought to; in Covid times,...