Picture Milan: Italy’s no-nonsense industrial capital. Sure, it’s got art and apericene aplenty. But probe nearly any transplant to the city about why they moved there, and work opportunities will trump whimsy every time. Enter Porta Ticinese, the shabby-chic district offering an antidote to all that pragmatism. This week, Faith Katunga takes us through some highlights of this quietly bohemian quartiere. 

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Feeling nostalgic for pre-pandemic summers? Us, too. That’s why we dusted off this piece from our archives on the captivating Conero Riviera. If you get bored with too much R & R — or would simply prefer your beach-bumming with a side of outdoor excursions and cultural sightseeing — you’ll want to check out this stretch of coast, just south of Ancona.

Are temperatures tolerable wherever you are? Here in Florence, fa un caldo bestiale (it’s boiling hot — or, more literally, the heat is “beast-like!”) Work on mastering more colorful turns of phrase like this in the week’s Italian language lesson, which covers essential vocabulary for a heat wave. 

And finally, our dual language piece this week is one to be savored: a handy guide to what makes authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano indeed worth all the hype.  

Buon weekend and happy reading!

-Mary Gray, Managing Editor