Category Archives: Life in Italy

Italy’s January 6 Holiday: The Epiphany and La Befana

The Christmas season doesn’t really end until Italy’s January 6 holiday – L’epifania, or the Epiphany. But more colloquially, Italy’s January 6 holiday is known as La Befana. The Epiphany is a religious holiday which has become a national holiday in Italy. That means that businesses, schools and governments offices will all close to observe […]

L’Immacolata: Italy’s December 8th Holiday for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

December 8th is a public holiday in Italy, known locally as L’Immacolata. The holiday celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Businesses, schools and government office all close in order to honor the Virgin Mary (la Madonna), the mother of Jesus who is thought to be free from sin according to Catholic tradition. In Rome, […]

A Hassle-Free Guide to Find an Apartment in Rome

The single most difficult thing I had to do before moving to Italy was not the visa or the application to graduate school – it was finding an apartment in Rome. Trying to understand the rental market and move into your dream home is difficult in any new city. However, that challenge can be made […]

How to Register for the Italian Health System (SSN)

Italy is one of the healthiest countries in the world, with an average life expectancy that far outranks some of its neighbors. While no system is perfect, part of the reason that Italy is super healthy has to do with its national healthcare system. Known as the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN), the national health service […]