With all of Italy in a nation-wide lockdown until May 3rd, and all religious services suspended, this has been a strange Easter. We heard the church bells start early this morning in Rome, though the mass would be celebrated without the faithful. The Pope live-streamed his Urbi et Orbi Easter message from an undecorated St. […]
Category Archives: Italy
The last place I visited before Italy went into a full national lockdown was Venice. I love the city and was so lucky to be there in the quiet of late January. One of the things of my Venetian bucket list is to take a class from Row Venice, a female-run non-profit of all women […]
The kitchen can be a place to turn to for comfort. Perhaps there is a trusted family recipe that always brightens your day, or maybe it is the place you go when you want to find new ways to nourish yourself and your family. If you need a little company, these are the best Italian […]
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 […]
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 […]
When you don’t speak the local language or even if you are simply new to a place, it can be hard to know where to turn for the news. Luckily, it is absolutely possible to find reliable English language news about Italy to follow while you are here, or as a way to keep in […]








