Category Archives: Italy

Fiocco Nascita: Italy’s Sweet Approach to Birth Announcements

If you wander through an Italian city or village, you might spot the occasional bow tied outside an apartment door. This ‘Fiocco Nascita’ is a birth announcement – letting the world outside know that a new little person has arrived. A birth ribbon tends to be pink or blue to indicate the arrival of a […]

Yes, Americans Need a “Visa” to Travel to Italy in 2025 – How to get it

Updated 21 March 2024. Starting in 2025, US citizens will need a (kind of) visa to visit Italy. Before anyone freaks out, the new rule is actually more of a visa waiver program than a visa requirement and will be known as European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS. I am American and I […]

5 Best Italian Cocktails

Italy is probably more often associated with wine, but there is also a long history of liqueurs (often bitter to help with digestion). As a result, there are fantastic combinations of bitters, sparkling wines, seasonal fruits, fresh herbs, to create mixers and garnishes for classic cocktails. While young Italians certainly go out for a night […]

The 7 most notable Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II Facts

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, Italy is iconic. It is the place to stop for a major instagram moment, but the historic structure has a storied past that includes films, untimely deaths, and hidden symbolism. Before you visit the glassed arcade, here are some of the coolest facts about this remarkable building: Age […]