Italian design: Italian Coffee. Strong, black, hot ... and sustainable
A Made in Italy of great significance is that concerning the production of Food Service Equipment, that is, machinery for professional kitchens and laboratories. This is an Italian excellence that we export all over the world and which sees our companies in a leading position internationally. Our country's Food Service Equipment turnover, according...
Italian wine: The Custoza Grape from the Glacial Hills Near Lake Garda
The Custoza grape is a native white grape from the Veneto region in northeastern Italy. Per the Consorzio Tutela Vino Custoza’s site, the Custoza grape is “delicate, floral and fruity aromas with slightly aromatic herbs….recognizable for its freshness”. As the wines made from this grape ages they take on riper fruit notes, with savory characterist...
Italian good news: Blue Economy startups, a business worth 143 billion in Italy
According to Assonautica data, in Italy, the sea economy is worth 143 billion, which is equivalent to 8.9 % of GDP. There are 228,000 companies operating in the sector, with 914,000 people working in the sector, allowing a picture of a thriving situation for the Italian Blue Economy. The business is capable of generating a lot of wealth thanks to t...
Italian gardens and parks: Villa Cimbrone, Ravello
Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, quaint town in the province of Salerno, is a historic building built on a rocky promontory overlooking the Amalfi Coast and largely occupied by an extensive park decorated with statues, antiques, fountains, caves and culminating in a belvedere. It draws the origins of its name from the rocky ridge on which it stands, once...
What's up with WTI: Editorial # 168
Dear friends, What a month! So many things, so many friends, so many events! It always happens in October, but this year has been extraordinary! It actually started at the end of September, when in Florence I had the honor of representing We the Italians and the Italian American community at the Made in Italy event organized by Maurizio Mancianti,...
Italian land and nature: The Garden of Ninfa
The Garden of Ninfa (Giardino di Ninfa), built on the ruins of the medieval town of Ninfa in the Pontine Marshes (Agro Pontino), has been classified by the New York Times as one of the most beautiful and romantic gardens in the world. Declared a Natural Monument by the Lazio Region, the garden, given the delicate environmental balance, may only be...
Italian cuisine: Baked Pasta with Eggplant and Caciocavallo
October is National Italian American Heritage Month and National Pasta Month. One of the most iconic dishes of the Italian-American table is baked pasta. As the weather turns cooler, this Southern Italian recipe is the crowning glory of any Sunday Supper table. The recipe is from my Mediterranean Lifestyle for Dummies book, and is a perfect example...
Italian sport: Thomas Ceccon, the Italian shark
Since the arrival of the new millennium, Italian swimming has exploded at the world level. Throughout the last century, Italy had never achieved great results in international competitions, or at least only on a few occasions. Since the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, Italian swimmers have been winning relentlessly, and legendary champions such as Massi...
Italian books: Telephone Tales
Telephone Tales (Favole al Telefono) is a book published in 1962 and written by Gianni Rodari (1920-1980). He was a writer, a journalist, and a teacher in an elementary school, whose main focus has always been childhood literature. As a matter of fact, “his books combine the happiness of fantastic and humorous invention with pedagogical intent”. Gi...
Italian little Italies: Gerace, the Cliff on which the Sparrow-hawk came to rest
You can reach Gerace along State Road 111, about 10 Km. from Locri. As the town is made up of different plateaux linked by good roads, it is recommended to visit on foot in order to enjoy better its numerous architectural gems. You can begin your visit from the “Borgo Maggiore”, where the ancient town gate of the “Varvara” and the pottery master’s...
Italian handcrafts: Murano Glass
The first evidence of glassmaking activities in Venice dates back to 982 A.D., but it was in 1200 that the glassworks first became concentrated in Murano, creating refined products that were far removed from the rougher items produced by other European manufacturers. Towards the year 1000, under the Venetian Republic, known as la Serenissima, all t...
Italian report: Tech Scaleup Italy 2023
The “cool factor” surrounding startups is largely gone (finally!). We need to start looking at startups as a backbone of our economy. The first immediate question is how large is Tech Scaleup Italy? What is its actual contribution to GDP and employment? As of December 2022, Italy is home to 557 mature tech companies, able to raise $7.3B in capital...