Experiences

Books About Italy: The Best Ones Published in 2020

A list of Italy-based books to give and get in 2020. Add these travelogues, cookbooks, and novels to your shopping cart.

Naples Says Goodbye to Diego Maradona

Naples and Napoli mourn the death of Diego Maradona, who passed away on 25 November 2020. Here are reactions, front pages, and videos of Maradona’s life.

9,036-piece Colosseum Is LEGO’s Largest Kit Ever

In a year that has had little to no travel and more time than usual spent at home, LEGO has unveiled its massive 9,036-piece Colosseum builder kit. The Colosseum is LEGO’s biggest building set yet, edging out the Millennium Falcon set which has 7,541 pieces. Once built, the LEGO Colosseum measures over 10.5” (27cm) high,…

The Triumph of Death: Mysterious Plague Painting in Palermo

Throughout the long, lonely months of our modern pandemic, I’ve been thinking about a dark and mysterious painting in Palermo known as “The Triumph of Death.” Known in Italian as Il Trionfo della Morte, the painting hangs in Palazzo Abatellis, a regional gallery in the Kalsa quarter of the Sicilian capital. Measuring 6 m x…

Damnatio Memoriae: How Ancient Romans Canceled Their Rivals

Damnatio Memoriae, a modern description of a common Roman practice, condemned unpopular leaders to oblivion. Here’s how that worked and what we can learn from it today.

‘Romulus’ TV Series a Dramatic Look at the Founding of Rome

Romulus is a 10-part tv series about Rome’s origin story told entirely in archaic Latin.

The Ancient Winds of Italy

To know Italy’s weather is to understand its winds.

Caravaggio Guide to Rome

There are few artists in history who inspire intrigue quite like Caravaggio. Here’s where to find his works in Rome.

When Ravenna Was the ‘Capital of Empire’

‘Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe’ is a comprehensive look at the history of Ravenna during its golden age.

Writing on the Wall: Birthplace of Tina Modotti in Udine

A look at Franco del Zotto Odorico’s art at the Tina Modotti house in Udine.

The True Cost of Italy’s €1 Homes [Video]

“If you buy a house for €1,” says a new homeowner from Belgium, “you can’t expect it will be beautiful. Impossible.”

These Italy-Themed Online Courses Look Awesome

Now is a great time to enhance your knowledge about Italian art and history. Consider these online courses and seminars.

Elena Ferrante’s New Novel and TV Series Coming Soon

The English version of Elena Ferrante’s latest novel The Lying Life of Adults is finally coming out on September 1. It’s available now for pre-order from both Amazon and Bookshop. Released in Italy in November 2019, the English version of La Vita Bugiarda Degli Adulti was originally set to come out in June of this…

Tuscany’s Wine Windows – An Architectural Curiosity Makes a Comeback

First used during the bubonic plague in the 17th century, Tuscany’s wine windows are reopening. Learn more about “buchette del vino” and where to find them.

Roman Quarantine, Remembered in Watercolor

Learn more about the Roman artist who lovingly chronicled the quarantine in watercolors.

Trevi Fountain: Origins and Traditions of Rome’s Most Famous Fountain

The history behind the Trevi Fountain, one of the most beautiful and best-known fountains in the world.

An Italian Artist for Every Italian Region [Map]

This Italian map is fun but certainly controversial. It is a map of each region in Italy represented by a painting or fresco by an artist of that region. Here’s the full map (click to zoom in). A list of the artworks and their creators follow. Alphabetical List of Italian Regions with Their Representative Artworks…

Raphael’s Loggia of Cupid and Psyche Now in Exquisite, Digital Detail

In addition to the many paintings that Raphael painted during his short life, the artist was also responsible for a roomful of frescoes in a Roman palace that is now known as the Villa Farnesina. From 1517-1518, Raphael and his workshop painted scenes from the fable of Cupid and Psyche on the vaulted ceiling of…