Traditions

Culture

The Name of the Game: Palio, Giostra or Balestra!

by Christine Webb | Fri, 08/09/2013 - 07:00

Since living in Italy I have become obsessed with any type of medieval game – Palio, Giostra or Balestra. The minute I hear the thump, thump of the drums I…

Culture

Buffalo Mozzarella: The Queen of Italian Mozzarella

by Gino De Blasio | Mon, 07/29/2013 - 10:18

“Still dripping from its brine and ready to be eaten, there and then.” A debut, if any of a food chain looking to make an impact; its purpose, to promote…

Culture

May 6th: The Swiss Guard Recruits Take their Oath of Loyalty to the Pope

by Natalie Aldern | Mon, 05/06/2013 - 10:46

Located within the heart of Rome sits the smallest country in the world. The population of Vatican City is a mere 831. Most of these residents are priests and…

Culture

Tuscan New Year in Pisa and Florence

by ITALY | Mon, 03/25/2013 - 06:39

Pisa and Florence celebrate the traditional New Year ceremony that marked the life of the Tuscan cities from the middle ages to the 18th century. This is…

Culture

Top Ten Italian Carnivals 2013

by Carol King | Fri, 02/01/2013 - 10:35

It’s carnival time in Italy and with it comes the promise merrymaking aided by good food, crazy costumes, spooky masks, spectacular processions of floats and…

Culture

A Christmas Living Nativity Scene In Sicily

by Carol King | Mon, 12/24/2012 - 09:58

Nativity scenes are popular in Italy and beyond, but the custom of holding a ‘presepe vivente’ (living crib), whereby people dress up as Mary, Jesus, the Three…

Culture

The Floating Nativity of Battaglia Terme

by Myra Robinson | Wed, 12/12/2012 - 10:17

Battaglia Terme these days is an unremarkable faded spa town on the fringes of the Euganean Hills in the Veneto. It had its early origins in the 12th and 13th…

Culture

Easter Traditions in Puglia

by Elizabeth Ganl… | Mon, 04/02/2012 - 05:29

Easter is a wonderful time to explore Italy. Perhaps the most important holiday of all, Easter (Pasqua) is celebrated for a full week, with rites starting on…

Travel

Something Cupid

by John Bensalhia | Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:25

Valentine's Day is nearly here, and has a special place in the heart of Italy. John Bensalhia matchmakes the history and traditions of Valentine's Day in Italy…

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