Speak Italia! The Domino’s effect

Takeaway Hawaiian Pizza

In this edition of our bilingual feature, Tom Alberto Bull reports on the rise and – in hindsight at least, inevitable – fall of the Domino’s pizza chain in Italy, home of the handmade pizza KEY WORDS Useful Italian words and phrases to add to your vocabulary Cotta (cotto) alla perfezione Cooked to perfection Prosciutto […]

Italian Word for the Week: ‘Latte’

Italian Latte meaning milk

‘Latte’ seems like a fairly simple Italian word, but there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye… Latte (pl. latti) meaning ‘milk’. In English, we understand it to mean a delicious steamy coffee, but in Italian ‘latte‘ simply means ‘milk’. So, to avoid being handed a glass of the white stuff, ensure you […]

Over the bridge to San Polo

Rialto Bridge Venice San Polo

Adrian Mourby takes us on another of his guided walks around Venice with a visit to San Polo, the cradle of the city   San Polo can claim to be where the modern archipelago of Venice began in the 9th century. While the administration of this great trading empire developed in the lower-lying sestiere of […]

Italian Word for the Week: ‘Culaccino’

culaccino italian word meaning water ring-on table

‘Culaccino’ is an Italian word which sums up an irritating party phenomenon. We teach you the meaning of this word and how to use it… We all know this stain. The unsightly ring left on a wooden table when someone doesn’t use a coaster for their cold drink. It’s infuriating. Well, did you know that […]

The A-Z of Florence

A-Z of Florence Landscape

The capital of Italy’s Tuscany region is home to many interesting secrets… Florence has so much history and culture to offer. Here’s our A-Z of all things Florence. ARNO The river that flows through central Florence begins at Monte Falterona in the Apennines and flows 241km from there to the Ligurian Sea. BOTTICELLI The prolific […]

An at-a-glance guide to Florence in Winter

Florence in Winter

Winter is a great time to visit Florence, and you will see the city in a new light – though if it does happen to snow while you’re there, you’ve been very lucky! You might not find an excuse to stop for a gelato quite as often, but you will avoid the worst of the […]

Lemon ice cream

Lemon Ice cream italian recipe

Gelato al limone Mario Matassa shares his recipe for this refreshing lemon ice cream Whoever said ‘you can’t have your cake and eat it’? On a hot summer’s evening, it can be hard to decide whether to end a meal with a either a refreshing sorbetto or an iced digestivo. With this recipe, you can […]

Nonna’s peppers with nodini

Nonna's Italian grilled peppers

Peperonata alla nonna con nodini Mario Matassa shares his nonna’s popular summer recipe. This dish was often made for an evening meal, over the dying embers of a lunchtime grill. The sweetness of this Italian grilled peppers dish is complemented well by hot chilli peppers, while creamy nodini adds a cooling finish to the meal. […]

48 Hours in Varese

Varese Estense Palace and gardens

Val Nicastro visits the “Garden City” north of Milan that is, among other things, home to a palace that one Italian poet described as “Little Versailles” With an enchanting old town, unmatched natural beauty and plenty to explore, Varese and its surroundings are one of Lombardy’s best-kept secrets. Only one hour’s drive from Milan and […]

Take part in the renovation of ancient Italian villages

stone hut in salento, puglia. ITS Italy rennovation

ITS ITALY has now launched ITS LENDING, a new lending crowdfunding platform to preserve years’ worth of heritage and make a profitable investment while doing so.   Famous for its culture and exquisite food, Italy attracts thousands of tourists every year. Many daydream about buying a romantic property at the heart of an ancient village […]