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 […]
For those moments when you can’t be in Italy, podcasts provide a lifeline. Hearing directly from the country can be a welcome bit of escapism even when your next trip might be far off in the future. Voices from Italy and more can provide a virtual link right back to Bel Paese, and share some […]
Every single museum and cultural site in Italy has been closed since March 8th. Since then, the restrictions on movements within Italy have become much stricter. At the same time, the restrictions on coming into Italy also keep growing, with travel bans, flight cancellations, and airport closures. In Italy, we are all stuck inside and […]
Italy is so full of natural wonders that it is hard to know where to begin. Even after more than a decade of living in Rome, I feel like I am barely beginning to scratch the surface of things to see. However, the white, undulating Scala dei Turchi has been at the top of my […]
