Culture & Living

Best Places to Live in Italy: The Quality of Life Index 2018

The latest rankings of the best places to live in Italy.

The Iconic Landscape of Val d’Orcia, Tuscany

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, the hills, valleys, and trees of the Val d’Orcia “exemplify the beauty of well-managed Renaissance agricultural landscapes.”

Italofile Shop

Extra Palio in Siena Will Commemorate 100th Anniversary of the End of WWI

An Extra Palio – Palio Straordinario – will be run in Siena on 20 October 2018.

20-Minute Crash Course on Ancient Roman History [Video]

Learn about ancient Rome in XX minutes – that’s 20 minutes, Roman style!

Porcini Mushrooms: How Italians Ease Into Autumn

Some time between beach season and boot season, porcini mushrooms begin to arrive in the market, at road stands, and on menus. Though they are available almost year round, porcini are one of the true harbingers of autumn in Italy, their nutty flavor and mossy smell pulling diners away from the beach and into the cozy embrace of the woods.

Become a Bookseller in Florence

Here’s a business opportunity for book lovers with an itch to live and work in one of the most beautiful cities in Italy.

Anthony Bourdain Dined Only Here

It’s been a few days since the world learned that Anthony Bourdain passed away. The news hit me hard and I wrote a post on my other blog. I also posted his “No Reservations” Rome episode on this site’s Facebook page. Beyond that, I didn’t feel like adding to the avalanche of remembrances. Until now….

Living in Rome: Delighting in the Details [Video]

People often ask me what it’s like living in Rome. And it’s hard to give an answer that pleases everyone. There is the breathtaking beauty (the Colosseum, Saint Peter’s, a narrow alley in Centro, the fashionable people), as well as daily reminders of Rome’s unique character (nasoni fountains, commuting priests and nuns, ruins big and…

Mille Miglia Vintage Car Race

The Mille Miglia, a vintage car race that makes a loop from Brescia to Rome each May, has been on my radar for almost a decade. This year, I finally got to see the spectacle as the cars paraded down Rome’s Via Veneto. Of course, I took photos…and some videos, too: The original Mille Miglia…

The Rise and Fall of Rome Found in Layers of Arctic Ice

A new study shows how scientists can learn about Ancient Rome from layers of Arctic ice.

Photo: Teatro Marcello, Rome

Walking daily among or near ruins, such as the Teatro Marcello, is one of the reasons why people fall in love with Rome. The Theater of Marcellus or Teatro Marcello, was inaugurated in 12 BCE by Emperor Augustus and named for his nephew Marcus Marcellus. It served as an arena for drama performances, city celebrations,…

Mimosas for sale for International Women's Day (La Festa delle Donne)

La Festa Delle Donne – International Women’s Day in Italy

Italy celebrates International Women’s Day – La Festa delle Donne – with mimosas and a free museum day.

Snow in Rome – Roma Sotto La Neve [Photos]

I’m not much of a winter person. That’s one reason I like Rome so much. It rarely snows here. The last time was in 2012 – six years ago. Despite that, I have always wanted to see Rome with a dusting of snow. This morning, I got my wish and then some. The snow started…