Italian word for the week: Pesto

Pesto (n.m.) Pesto. The word pesto comes from the Italian ‘pestare’, meaning ‘to pound, or crush’, or indeed to ‘pestle’, and is of course also cognate to our noun ‘pestle’ (Italian: ‘pestello’, Latin: ‘pistillum’) – so there is absolutely no need to ever again get confused about which is the pestle and which is the […]

Award wins for Italia magazine

Italia magazine is delighted to have had won two different awards at the Italian National Tourist Board awards evening. The event was celebrating journalism and guide books covering Italy that were published throughout 2013 and the awards evening took place on Tuesday 11th February at Getti restaurant in London. Adrian Mourby’s 48 hours in Busetto, […]

The Art of Pasta Review

Look no further for authentic Italian pasta recipes than Lucio Galletto’s and David Dale’s The Art of Pasta… From the culinary luminaries who brought Lucio’s Italian Restaurant to Australia comes this new guide to making and cooking pasta. The Art of Pasta is filled with 160 authentic recipes, complemented by elegant artwork and photography. The […]

Italian White Wine: Gavi

Known for its majestic red wines, Piedmont is often overlooked when it comes to Italian white wines. But why? Paul Pettengale introduces you to the surprise hit of Gavi… The people of Piedmont are fiercely passionate about their region. And with good reason. Even though the north western area is cooler than the country?s southern […]

Olive Review: Italia!’s Top Picks

We review an assortment of Italian olives to find the best variety and flavour Much of the landscape in Italy has been shaped by olive groves, making it one of the defining characteristics of the country. Indeed, the Mediterranean as a whole has had a long love affair with these humble fruits. The four main […]

Italian Events Calendar: February

February is carnival time across Italy, which means an array of celebrations to suit all tastes and ages. You can get messy in Ivrea, get romantic in Verona or get singing in Sanremo ? plus religious days and food festivals galore? Venice Carnival 26 January-12 February Venice, Veneto Embrace the elaborate masks of this dramatic […]

Italy Events Calendar: June

June is a month full of events just waiting to be explored, with traditional Saint’s days, music festivals, summer athletics and local food extravaganzas… FESTA DELLA REPUBBLICA 2 June Throughout Italy This date marks the day that the Italian population voted to become a republic, ousting the monarchs of the House of Savoy. This took […]

Pesto Review: Italia!’s Top Picks

With such a multitude of classic pestos adorning the supermarket shelves, it’s important to choose the best for your store cupboard. Here are our favourites… Simple and versatile, the humble jar of pesto is a staple ingredient of Italian cooking. It originated in Genoa, the capital city of Liguria in northern Italy, and has since […]

Events in Italy: July

A very musical month awaits you if happen to take your trip during July, with jazz and blues festivals around the country, but there is also the infamous Palio. Take a look at our monthly highlights to see what Italy has in store for you this summer… PALIO DI SIENA 2 July Siena, Tuscany This […]