Italy in Brief

Travel

Crowds on a low Lake Garda in February 2023

What to Know About the Drought in Italy (Yes, It’s Still Going On)

by alexa.ahern | Thu, 03/23/2023 - 07:20

Italy is parched. For the past 13 months, the country has been experiencing a historic drought, the worst in 70 years. It has produced startling images of…

Culture

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square, 2019

Habemus Podcast: Francis Reflects on 10 Years as Pope

by editorial | Tue, 03/14/2023 - 12:35

Habemus podcast. On March 13, to mark the 10th anniversary of the pontificate, Vatican News aired a special 9-minute “Popecast” with Francis — born Jorge…

Culture

A woman browses at a book fair held in the Mazzini Gallery in Genoa

Genoa Was Just Named the 2023 Italian Book Capital. Read On!

by editorial | Fri, 03/10/2023 - 14:00

As part of a national initiative to promote reading among the Italian public, the Ligurian port city of Genoa has been named Italian Book Capital 2023 by the…

Culture

Elly Schlein campaigning in Turin in February 2023

4 Things to Know About Elly Schlein, Face of Italy's Largest Opposition Party

by editorial | Thu, 03/09/2023 - 10:00

37-year-old Elly Schlein took home a surprise victory at last month’s primary for the new leadership of the struggling Partito Democratico (the center-left…

Culture

The Man Behind “‘O Sole Mio” is Getting His Own Museum in Naples

by editorial | Wed, 02/22/2023 - 11:38

The first national museum dedicated to Enrico Caruso — the Neapolitan voice behind the best-known version of “‘O Sole Mio” — will open this summer, in the year…

Culture

You Can Now Attend Live Performances at La Scala From Anywhere in the World

by editorial | Fri, 02/17/2023 - 10:14

Teatro alla Scala’s new streaming service is here, and it almost beats watching from the nosebleed seats. On Valentine’s Day 2023, the renowned Milan opera…

Culture

scaffolding at the restoration site of the florence baptistery mosaics

Why Now is the Time to Visit the Florence Baptistery (Yes, Even if You've Been)

by editorial | Wed, 02/15/2023 - 07:20

For the first time since the turn of the 20th century, the magnificent mosaics lining the cupola (dome) of the Romanesque-style Florence Baptistery are…

Culture

Where to Watch the Sanremo Festival From Outside Italy — And What to Expect

by editorial | Mon, 02/06/2023 - 08:21

Italy’s longest-running and most anticipated music contest, the Sanremo Festival, will host its 73rd edition from February 7 to 11. How the Sanremo Festival…

Life + Style

Sabato De Sarno, creative director of Gucci

A Neapolitan is Taking Over at Gucci, But the Fashion Giant Already Looks More Florentine

by editorial | Wed, 02/01/2023 - 12:38

On Saturday, Italian luxury fashion house Gucci announced that Naples-born designer Sabato De Sarno will assume the role of Creative Director. (“Sabato” means…

Culture

Italy Celebrates Repatriation of 60 Looted Artworks and Artifacts From the US

by editorial | Fri, 01/27/2023 - 02:47

Culture authorities, stakeholders and press gathered in Rome earlier this week to celebrate the repatriation to Italy from the United States of 60 looted…