The Bari Grandmothers Who Have Made Pasta in the Street for 200 Years
In the narrow streets of Bari Vecchia, elderly women make orecchiette pasta by hand each day, keeping Italy’s oldest pasta tradition alive. Discover the grandmothers of Puglia.
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.
What Every Italian Is Actually Saying When They Move Their Hands
You’re standing at a bar in Naples. Two men at the counter are going at it — hands flying, voices
The Italian Town That Spends Three Days Throwing Oranges at Strangers
Discover Ivrea’s Battle of the Oranges — Italy’s wildest Carnevale tradition where 500 tonnes of fruit become weapons and an entire town fights back.
The Real Reason Italy Has a Different Pasta Shape for Every Region
Italy has over 350 distinct pasta shapes. Not variations of the same thing — actual, named, fiercely defended shapes that
The Handmade Landscape Behind Cinque Terre — and the Race to Keep It Standing
Cinque Terre’s famous views didn’t happen by chance. Discover the 1,000-year story of dry-stone terraces that built Italy’s most photographed coastline — and the race to save them.
What Italian Immigrants Packed for America — and Never Let Go
More than four million Italians crossed the Atlantic between 1880 and 1924. What they packed in their trunks — medals, photographs, seeds, recipes — reveals everything about who they were and why the bond with Italy never broke.
Milan’s Best-Kept Secret Is a Canal District Leonardo da Vinci Designed
Discover the secret canal district Leonardo da Vinci helped design in Milan. The Navigli comes alive every evening with aperitivo, markets, and music — and most visitors never find it.
Why Italy Has Over 300 Different Versions of the Same Bitter Drink
From medieval monastery recipes to 300 regional varieties — Italian amaro is the bitter drink Italians reach for after every meal. Discover the tradition behind it.
Why Every Great Artist in 15th-Century Florence Worked for the Same Family
In 15th-century Florence, almost every great painter, sculptor, and architect had the same patron. Botticelli. Michelangelo. Brunelleschi. Leonardo da Vinci.
The Pastry Naples Invented Inside a Convent — and Has Never Stopped Making
Sfogliatella was born in a Naples convent and became the city’s most beloved pastry. Discover the story behind every flaky, shell-shaped bite.
The Italian Evening Ritual That Tourists Always Notice but Never Understand
It happens in every Italian town, every evening, without fail. Just as the heat fades from the cobblestones, the piazza
Why Roman Gladiators Were Treated Like Celebrities — Not Slaves
Roman gladiators were often volunteers, fed like athletes, and worshipped like celebrities. The truth behind their lives is more surprising than any film.
Why Italian Nonnas Start Sunday Ragù Before the Family Wakes Up
In Italian homes, Sunday does not begin with silence. It begins with the sound of a pot being set on
The Italian Words for Moments English Cannot Describe
Italian has words for moments English cannot name — from the drowsy abbiocco after lunch to the ring a glass leaves on a wooden table. Here are six untranslatable Italian words and what they reveal about Italian life.
The Italian Flatbread That Poets Wrote About — and Street Vendors Still Cook Today
The piadina romagnola has been feeding Emilia-Romagna’s people for over 700 years. Discover the story behind Italy’s most beloved flatbread.
Why Italy Invented Opera — and Has Never Stopped Taking It Personally
Why Italy invented opera and still takes it personally — from La Scala’s ferocious gallery critics to 15,000 candles in Verona’s Roman Arena.
Why the Sea Inside Capri’s Hidden Cave Glows Electric Blue
Step inside Capri’s Blue Grotto and the laws of light seem to break. The sea beneath your boat doesn’t shimmer
Why Every Italian Town Stops at 1pm — and Refuses to Feel Bad About It
Every Italian town shuts at 1pm for the pausa pranzo. Behind those closed shutters, something far more important than shopping is happening.
The Medieval Villages Italy Walked Away From Are Its Best-Kept Secret
Discover Italy’s borghi — ancient medieval villages that were abandoned after the war and are now captivating travellers from across the world.
The Part of Italy That Feels Nothing Like Italy — And Loves It That Way
South Tyrol is the Italian region where German is the first language, strudel outranks pasta, and the Dolomites rise above it all. Discover Italy’s most surprising corner.
The Tuscan Town They Called the Manhattan of the Middle Ages
San Gimignano’s medieval towers were built for power, not beauty. Discover the remarkable family rivalries behind Tuscany’s most striking skyline.