Towering Pandoro and Panettone cakes may reign supreme in Italy at Christmas, but Easter is all about the sweet known as Colomba di Pasqua. The cake takes its name from its shape – baked in the form of a dove, or colomba in Italian. The symbol of peace, as well as a sign of spring, […]
Sitting at home while Italy is struggling can make us feel helpless. If you have been wondering about how to help or where to make a donation to Italy, I have put together this list of organizations and initiatives. There are many many ways to support Italy in the future, particularly by planning a trip […]
2020 marks 500 years since the death of Rennaissance genius Raphael. After years of planning, Rome was set to mark the anniversary with a landmark exhibit of Raphael in Rome. This is the largest-ever exhibit of Raphael anywhere in the world, but it was sadly opened for just a few days before all cultural institutions […]
Italy has been locked down for more than two weeks as the staggering death toll from the novel virus continues to rise. In the first days, Italians sang from their balconies in solidarity but things are much quieter now as the reality of the awful situation settles over the nation and the world. I don’t […]
This is Day 16 of lockdown in Italy and we are feeling worn down by the constant bad news from all over the world, but particularly here. We are comforted to see more people in more countries taking this seriously but we are also horrified by the number of cases and deaths that seems to […]
Films have always offered a kind of escapism. From vintage classics to modern cinema marvels, movies about Rome can transport you to the Eternal City from anywhere in the world. Not only is Rome ridiculously picturesque, but the city also has a long tradition with filmmaking. It has been the set of some of Italy’s […]
File this under things you learn during a lockdown: The word “quarantine” comes from the Italian word quaranta – forty. It is a term that was initially used to refer to ships that were kept at sea to ensure that there was no disease aboard. The policy of “quarantine” was first used in Venice in […]
As we enter our 12th day of a full national lockdown, the bad news seems to have become a part of our regular lives. We are hoping this changes soon, but we still can’t leave our homes unless we are going out briefly for food, medicine, or a medical appointment. The European Union has closed […]