The Italian Town Where Real People Become Chess Pieces Every Two Years
Discover Marostica, the medieval Italian town that stages a living chess game with 600 costumed residents every two years — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Why Herculaneum Is the Roman Ruin You Should Visit Before Pompeii
Discover Herculaneum: the Roman city buried by Vesuvius that’s better preserved than Pompeii, with intact wood, scrolls, and food still in pots — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Why Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati Were All Born in the Same Italian Farmland
Discover why Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati all came from one small corner of Italy — and why the Motor Valley in Emilia-Romagna is worth a detour — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Why Italian Restaurants Have Four Different Names — and Why It Matters
Why Italian restaurants have four different names — ristorante, trattoria, osteria, and bar — and what the unwritten rules mean for your trip — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
The Island Venice Imprisoned to Guard Its Most Precious Secret
Discover how Venice moved every glassmaker to Murano in 1291 — and what happened to those who tried to leave with its secrets — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
The Medieval Shipyard That Made Venice the Most Feared Power on Earth
How Venice built the world’s first industrial assembly line and turned it into an empire — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
The Town Above the Amalfi Coast That Never Quite Lets You Go
Ravello sits 365 metres above the Amalfi Coast — quieter, more beautiful, and utterly unforgettable. Here’s why it belongs on every Italy itinerary — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Italian Surnames of Abruzzo – Origins, Meanings and Heritage
Discover the most common Italian surnames from Abruzzo, their origins and meanings, emigration history, and how to trace your Abruzzese family roots.
Authentic Italian Carbonara Recipe: The Roman Classic
Make authentic Italian carbonara recipe the Roman way — no cream, just guanciale, eggs, Pecorino Romano, and black pepper. Simple and delicious.
The Italian Island Between Sicily and Africa That Nobody Puts on Their Itinerary
Discover Pantelleria — the volcanic island between Sicily and Tunisia where vines lie flat, capers perfume the air, and tourists are still rare — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
How Italian Immigrants Turned Poverty Food Into America’s Favourite Cuisine
Spaghetti and meatballs, chicken parmigiana, garlic bread — these feel Italian to millions. The real story of how immigrants invented them is far more moving — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
The Italian City That Planned Its Streets in 1492 and Still Looks the Same
Discover Ferrara, Italy’s best-preserved Renaissance city, planned in 1492 by Ercole d’Este. UNESCO-listed, crowd-free, and 45 minutes from Bologna — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
What Daily Life in Pompeii Really Looked Like Before Vesuvius
Discover what daily life in Pompeii looked like in 79 AD — graffiti, fast food stalls, and homes frozen in time — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
The Amalfi Coast: Italy’s Most Dramatic Drive
The Amalfi Coast runs for 50km along the Sorrentine Peninsula in Campania. Here is what to expect: the best towns to visit, when to go, how to get around, and what to eat.
The Tiny Italian Valley That Made Prosecco Famous the World Over
Discover the UNESCO-listed hills of Valdobbiadene and how this tiny Italian valley created the world’s most popular sparkling wine — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Italian Surnames of Tuscany: What Your Name Reveals About Your Roots
Discover the origins and meanings of common Italian surnames from Tuscany — from Medici to Rossi, find out if your name traces back to this iconic region — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Italian Surnames of Campania: What Your Name Reveals About Your Roots
Discover the most common Italian surnames from Campania, from Esposito to Caruso, and what they reveal about your family’s heritage — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Lake Como Italy Guide: Everything You Need to Plan Your Visit
Your complete Lake Como Italy guide: best towns to stay, top attractions, ferry tips, how to reach it from the US, and the best time to visit.
Why Catania Is the Sicilian City Most Visitors Miss — and Shouldn’t
Discover Catania, Sicily’s baroque city built from volcanic lava at the foot of Mount Etna — a stunning, underrated destination — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Why Abruzzo Orders Its Favourite Food One Hundred at a Time
Discover arrosticini, the ancient Abruzzo lamb skewer tradition born from shepherd life — and why locals always order them by the hundred — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.
Why Southern Tuscany Is the Secret the Rest of Italy Keeps
Discover the Maremma: Tuscany’s wild south, with ancient hilltop villages carved from rock, free hot springs, and Italy’s last cowboys — plus get weekly Italy stories free in our newsletter.