Culture

What to Expect in Bergamo and Brescia, 2023 Italian Capitals of Culture

by Italy Magazine Staff | Wed, 12/21/2022 - 12:24

Bergamo and Brescia — neighboring cities in Lombardy that were at the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic back in early 2020 — are on the brink of a major…

Culture

Men parade with torches at the 'Ndocciata ritual in Agnone, Molise

You've Probably Never Heard of These Christmas Customs in Italy (No, Really)

by Amy Gulick | Mon, 12/19/2022 - 11:20

While Italy’s cast of Christmas characters includes some very familiar figures — Babbo Natale (Santa), naturally, and La Befana, the frumpy Christmas…

Culture

Interior of the synagogue of Siena, Italy

Shining a Light on the Hidden History of Jews in Siena

by Julie James | Fri, 12/16/2022 - 14:07

The first time I visited the Jewish ghetto in Siena was by accident. I’d just stumbled my way out of the Palazzo Pubblico — the civic seat of the Sienese…

Culture

What the Return of the Palio di Siena Means to Locals

by Annalisa Coppo… | Wed, 08/10/2022 - 09:56

Imagine it’s July 2, 2022, and you happen to be in Siena. Screams echo and tears well up in the eyes of people around you. Faces appear almost deformed by…

Culture

Sometimes the heat's too much, even at the beach. Photo via Timo Wagner on Unsplash

Useful Italian Phrases for Surviving a Heat Wave

by porticando | Fri, 07/15/2022 - 06:15

Italy is traditionally associated with a mild Mediterranean climate, warmth and “soft” sunshine. But let’s face it: at the peak of summer, sometimes this…

Culture

Step Inside the Real Mona Lisa’s Florence

by Laura Morelli | Thu, 04/14/2022 - 00:27

Nearly everyone on the globe recognizes the woman in Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, whether or not they have seen the iconic portrait in person in the Louvre.…

Culture

On International Women’s Day, a Tribute to 5 Influential Italian Women

by Silvia Donati | Tue, 03/08/2022 - 03:53

Ed. March 8, 2024: This archival article is being re-shared on International Women’s Day to mark the occasion. To reflect the specific moment in time in which…

Culture

Where to Explore the Jewish Heritage of Ferrara

by Silvia Donati | Wed, 01/26/2022 - 05:42

To mark the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, January 27, we take a stroll through Jewish Ferrara, a city with one…

Culture

What’s the Deal with Italy’s Cannabis Shops?

by Jamie Mackay | Tue, 08/13/2019 - 00:56

You’ve probably spotted them around the stations and high streets of the peninsula’s major cities. Easily recognizable by their blown-up hemp leaves, tie-dye…

Lifestyle

Rocco Petrone, director of the Apollo program at NASA

Revisiting the Life of Rocco Petrone, the Italian-American Who Took Us to the Moon

by Silvia Donati | Tue, 07/30/2019 - 10:15

Ed., Oct. 5, 2024: This article was originally published in 2019 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. We are revisiting it now in…