The Sunday Morning Ritual That Still Defines Every Italian Family
Every Sunday in Italy, kitchens fill with the smell of slow-cooked ragù. Discover why this centuries-old ritual still defines Italian family life.
Places to visit
Italy is a country full of history, culture and outstanding natural beauty. Some must-visit places include the romantic city of Venice with its famous gondolas and canals, the capital city Rome, home to ancient ruins like the Colosseum and the Vatican City. Florence is famous for its Renaissance art and architecture. The Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre are renowned for their stunning coastal scenery. Other notable places include the fashionable city of Milan, the picturesque region of Tuscany, the historic city of Pompeii and the beautiful islands of Sicily and Sardinia. Beyond cities and landscapes, Italy is also known for its delicious cuisine and world-class wines.
– Venice: Known for its romantic ambiance, iconic gondolas, and beautiful canals.
– Rome: The capital city is home to ancient ruins like the Colosseum and the Vatican City.
– Florence: Famous for its Renaissance art and architecture.
– Amalfi Coast: Renowned for its stunning coastal scenery.
– Cinque Terre: Another area known for remarkable coastal views.
– Milan: A fashionable city, known as a global hub for design and fashion.
– Tuscany: A picturesque region with rolling hills, vineyards and historic towns.
– Pompeii: An ancient city with well-preserved ruins from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
– Sicily: The largest island in the Mediterranean sea, known for its rich history and diverse architecture.
– Sardinia: A beautiful island with stunning beaches and clear blue waters.
– Italian Cuisine: Famous for its delicious food like pizza, pasta, gelato, and many regional specialties.
– Italian Wines: Italy is one of the largest wine producers in the world, with famous varieties like Chianti, Prosecco, and Barolo.
The Italian Street Theatre That Invented the Clown and the Villain
Discover Commedia dell’arte — the Italian street theatre born in Renaissance market squares that gave the world Harlequin, the clown, and the pantomime villain.
Why Every Italian Wipes Their Plate Clean — and Why Chefs Secretly Love It
Fare la scarpetta is the Italian art of wiping your plate clean with bread — and learning why reveals everything about how Italians truly feel about food.
The Breakfast Ritual That Confuses Every Non-Italian — Until They Try It
Discover focaccia genovese — the Ligurian bread tradition that gave Italy its most surprising breakfast ritual, and why Genoese bakers have made it the same way for five centuries.
The Italian Island That Inspired Il Postino and Still Looks Exactly the Same
Procida is the smallest island in the Bay of Naples — painted in clashing colours that somehow work, famous from a beloved film, and still almost entirely undiscovered by tourists.
Why Roman Gladiators Were Better Fed Than Most Romans Around Them
Gladiators in ancient Rome ate better than most citizens, had doctors on call, and many chose the life voluntarily. Here is the surprising truth behind the Hollywood myth.
Why Italian Truffle Hunters Guard Their Secrets More Closely Than Gold
Every October, hunters disappear into the fog-draped hills of Piedmont before sunrise. The art of Italian truffle hunting is ancient, secretive, and fiercely guarded — here is why.
Why Italians Never Feel Guilty About Sitting Still and Doing Nothing
Discover dolce far niente — the Italian art of doing absolutely nothing. Why Italians never feel guilty about sitting still, and what it teaches us all.
Why Two Italian Cities Have Been Fighting Over Tiramisu for 50 Years
Every Italian knows tiramisu. But ask where it came from, and you will start an argument that has lasted 50
The Florentine Leather Secret That Most Tourists Walk Right Past
Florence’s leather craft tradition hides behind tourist stalls. Find the real Florentine leather workshops and learn how to spot genuine quality.
Why Italians Can Have a Full Conversation Without Saying a Word
Italian hand gestures are a second language — discover what each movement really means and why Italians couldn’t talk without them.
The Ancient Terraces That Keep Cinque Terre From Falling Into the Sea
The Cinque Terre terraces span 6,700km of dry-stone walls built by hand over centuries to hold five cliffside villages above the Ligurian Sea.
Why Florence Explodes a Cart Full of Fireworks Every Easter Sunday
Florence explodes a cart full of fireworks in Piazza del Duomo every Easter Sunday. Here is the 900-year story behind the Scoppio del Carro — one of Italy’s most spectacular Easter traditions.
The Spreadable Sausage From Italy’s Poorest Region That Changed How the World Eats
‘Nduja is now on menus worldwide, but this fiery Calabrian sausage was born from poverty. Discover the story behind Italy’s most talked-about ingredient.
The Horse Race That Has Divided Siena Into Rivals for Seven Centuries
The Palio di Siena is more than a horse race. Twice a year, seventeen neighbourhoods fight for glory in a medieval ritual 700 years in the making.
The Household Rules Every Italian Knows — and Foreigners Break
Italian household superstitions still observed today — bread upside down, hats on beds, touching iron — each with a history older than you think.
The Evening Walk That Has Kept Italian Towns Alive for Centuries
Every evening across Italy, a quiet ritual unfolds. It has no agenda, no destination, and no price. The passeggiata is the ancient habit that keeps Italian communities human — and it is still happening right now.
Why Italian-Americans Have Kept Traditions Their Cousins in Italy Have Long Forgotten
Italian-Americans have preserved traditions from 19th-century southern Italy that modern Italians barely recognise. Here is why the diaspora kept old Italy alive.
The Italian Cheese That Started as Kitchen Scraps and Became World Famous
Burrata was invented in 1956 by a Pugliese farmer who needed to use up leftover mozzarella scraps during a snowstorm. Discover how that accident created the world’s creamiest cheese and why the original still beats every imitation.
How a Spider Bite Gave Birth to Italy’s Most Beloved Folk Dance
The tarantella didn’t begin as a celebration. Discover how Italy’s most famous folk dance grew from a strange medical crisis in the villages of southern Puglia.
The Ancient Fishing Machines Still Clinging to Italy’s Most Dramatic Coastline
Discover the trabocchi of Abruzzo — ancient wooden fishing structures on Italy’s most dramatic coastline, now a coastal cycling trail and restaurant experience.