Italian language tips, culture deep dives, and everything you need to fall in love with Italy.
What You Need to Know: Useful Information When winter blankets the jagged peaks of Trentino-Alto Adige and South Tyrol in deep snow, life shifts indoors to the absolute heart of the mountain home: the Stube. Pronounced “shtu-beh”, this traditional room is the ultimate expression of Alpine hospitality and architectural ingenuity. Historically, the Stube was the […]
What You Need to Know: Useful Information Most visitors to the stunning Lombard city of Bergamo hop aboard the iconic, 120-year-old funicular railway to travel from the modern Lower Town (Città Bassa) to the soaring, medieval Upper Town (Città Alta). But if you want to skip the standard tourist queues and experience the city like […]
What You Need to Know: Useful Information When you think of Italy, your mind might jump to historic marble piazzas or rolling hillsides. But every summer, the Renaissance city of Mantua (Mantova) in eastern Lombardy hosts an exotic natural phenomenon that looks like it belongs in Southeast Asia. On the waters of Lago Superiore (Upper […]
What You Need to Know: Useful Information When autumn rolls into the northeastern shores of Lake Como, the crisp alpine air carries a distinct, comforting scent: woodsmoke and roasted chestnuts. The city of Lecco, spectacularly framed by the dramatic, jagged limestone peaks of the Prealps and the deep blue waters of the lake, serves as […]
What You Need to Know: Useful Information When people think of Milan, they usually picture towering Gothic cathedrals, high-end fashion boutiques, and bustling modern skyscrapers. But look a little closer, and you will find a historic waterfront neighborhood that feels entirely different. Welcome to the Navigli, Milan’s ancient network of interconnected artificial canals. Dating back […]
What You Need to Know: Useful Information If you have ever enjoyed a piece of torrone – the classic, nutty Italian nougat – during the holidays, you have the elegant city of Cremona to thank. Nestled along the banks of the Po River in southern Lombardy, Cremona is a place where sensory wonders collide. It […]
What You Need to Know: Useful Information While the massive crowds flock to Lake Como and Lake Garda, Lombardy hides a quieter, equally enchanting body of water: Lake Iseo (Lago d’Iseo). Straddling the border between the provinces of Bergamo and Brescia, this 25-square-mile gem is a sanctuary of calm, crystal-clear waters flanked by soaring mountains […]
What You Need to Know: Useful Information Forget the luxury speedboats and swanky lakeside villas for a moment. To truly experience the magic of Lake Como, you need to lace up your hiking boots and step onto the Sentiero del Viandante (The Wayfarer’s Trail). Tracing the rugged eastern shore of the lake in Lombardy, this […]
What You Need to Know: Useful Information Tucked away in northern Lombardy just an hour outside of Milan, the rugged Brembana Valley (Val Brembana) feels like a world lost in time. Sculpted by the rushing waters of the Brembo River and framed by the dramatic, jagged peaks of the Orobie Alps, this valley is a […]
What You Need to Know: Useful Information While Milan dominates the world’s runways, global high fashion quietly owes its luxury to a small, breathtaking city nestled at the base of the Alps. Welcome to Biella, the undisputed capital of high-quality textile manufacturing. For centuries, this Piedmontese hidden gem has produced the softest, finest wool and […]
What You Need to Know: Useful Information Long before the modern Italian aperitivo trend swept the globe, farmers in the rolling hills of Piedmont had already perfected the art of the late-afternoon feast. It is called the Merenda Sinoira, in the local dialect. The name blends merenda (snack) with sinoira (derived from sena, the dialect […]
What You Need to Know: Useful Information Beneath the rolling, vineyard-covered hills of Monferrato lies a secret world hidden right under the feet of local winemakers. Literally translating to “little hell” or “underground place” in the regional dialect, an infernot is a hand-carved subterranean cellar chiseled directly out of a unique, ancient marine sandstone known […]
