It would be easier to list what Italy doesn’t have (Domino’s and afternoon cappucinos) than to list everything this iconic country has to offer. Some visitors come for the spectacular food and wine; others for the history, the romance, or the breathtaking coastlines.  It’s no surprise that travelers today are flocking to Italy at 70% higher rates t...

Umbria is a region both timeless and beautiful: with its rolling hills and ancient towns filled with art and history, it is a well-known and beloved holiday destination for Italians and non-Italians alike. Yet, beneath the surface of its medieval charm lies an unexpected surprise – a vibrant, thriving pulse of music, and not just any music, but jaz...

During a trip to Italy with two other couples, we rented a VRBO villa in Tuscany for the first week of our stay. Our house, Cappella Di Pancole, was located in the hill town of Castelnuovo Berardenga, about 50 miles from Florence and 10 miles from Siena. After touring both anchoring cities and exploring the bucolic towns and villages around Casteln...

What Claude Nobbs did for the Montreaux Jazz Festival has certainly been matched by the efforts and hard work of Pagnotta in Umbria. This year Pagnotta will be 90 and shows no signs of slowing down. He purchased his first jazz record in 1949 and in 1955 Pagnotta co-founded the Hot Club of Perugia bringing Louis Armstrong and Chet Baker to the club....

One of SPSCA's signature programs for our members is our Scholarship Program. Scholarships are awarded to study at the University for Foreigners (Università per Stranieri), the oldest and most prestigious Italian institution engaged in teaching Italian language and culture, located in the heart of historic Perugia. Students not only have an opportu...

Italy's culture ministry has announced the 10 finalists for the 2025 edition of the Italian Capital of Culture.  The shortlisted towns and cities vying for the title must present their bids to a jury appointed by the culture ministry in Rome on 20-21 March. The jury will then be tasked with recommending the most suitable candidate for the prestigio...

Italian wine producer Cantina Goccia has developed what it claims is the “world’s first” purpose-built filling machine for paper bottles. The facility, which is based at its Umbria winery, will initially fill 1,000 paper bottles per hour, with the opportunity to double capacity in the future.  Since Cantina Goccia launched its own paper-packaged wi...

December is time for nativity scenes, and among the most striking ones is the Massa Martana Ice Nativity, staged from Dec. 24 to Jan. 8, 2023 at the 19th Edition of Presepi d'Italia - National Nativity Exhibition. Made in the province of Perugia, the Ice Nativity will pay homage to one of the best-known works by the great Umbrian painter known as P...

More than two years in the making, the Migration Project, on display in Perugia, Italy, from Sept. 3- Oct. 9, 2022, welcomed 10 artists from two countries. The show brought together a mix of exceptional talent and artistic vision and attracted visitors from Perugia and abroad. Five US artists participated — Humaira Abid, Iole Alessandrini, Mary Cos...

Continuing our journey through the United States, we arrive in the northern part of the West Coast, in Washington State. We are a long way from Italy, but here too there are stories from the past, present and even the future that represent our country in its relationship with America. We talk about this with Elisabetta Valentini, Honorary Consul of...