Italian Living

Lifestyle

Open air movie theatre at Villa Bardini overlooking Florence, Italy

The Best Season in Italy is Outdoor Cinema Season — And It’s Almost Here

by Chris Carra | Fri, 05/15/2026 - 09:47

Cinema all’aperto — open-air cinema — is as integral to Italian summer as a frosty cup of granita. There are few better ways to pass the time on a balmy…

Lifestyle

An exhibitor's stall at an antiques market in Bologna, Italy, 2026

An Insider’s Guide to Scoring Big at the Flea Markets and Antique Fairs of Italy

by Toni DeBella | Mon, 05/04/2026 - 12:01

Italy’s many charming antique fairs and flea markets have long drawn collectors and enthusiasts eager to uncover rare vintage finds. Igor Honkanen, a veteran…

Lifestyle

Ludovica Rubbini toasts with guests at Genesis, September 2023 / Photo: Chantal Arnts

How to Host a Cozy Dinner Party, the Cortina Way

by Mary Gray | Sun, 02/01/2026 - 16:00

When winter is long and the world feels heavy, there’s no balm quite like a home-cooked dinner in good company. Ludovica Rubbini would know. Originally…

Lifestyle

7 Classic Italian Soft Drinks to Enjoy During Dry January

by Toni DeBella | Sun, 01/18/2026 - 04:55

More Italians are embracing the UK-born “Dry January” phenomenon — a post-holiday commitment to one month of alcohol abstinence — with public figures like…

Lifestyle

After Picking Grapes by Moonlight in Italy, I’m a Nocturnal Wine Convert

by Liz Shemaria | Fri, 10/03/2025 - 16:14

A cluster of green grapes, bound for my white plastic bucket, landed gingerly in my gloved hand. I tugged on it to finish the job and extract it from the vine…

Lifestyle

The Beach Hater’s Guide to Enjoying August in Italy

by Toni DeBella | Fri, 08/01/2025 - 12:40

Ferragosto, or August 15, is the peak of summer vacation season in Italy and a revered public holiday. But the slower summer mood is hardly confined to…

Lifestyle

Secondhand Shoppers and Vintage Addicts Will Love These Fairs and Markets in Italy

by Toni DeBella | Sat, 04/12/2025 - 11:00

When I’m stateside, there’s no weekend pastime I enjoy quite like rifling through a good rummage sale. But the garage, yard, tag or “car boot” sales of…

Lifestyle

I Live in Small-Town Italy. Here’s My Unfiltered Take on Netflix’s “La Dolce Villa.”

by Toni DeBella | Thu, 02/20/2025 - 13:18

If you’re looking for a feel-good rom-com set in Tuscany, I might suggest sticking with the classics rather than straining your way through Netflix’s La Dolce…

Lifestyle

4 Board Games That Promote a Positive Image of Italy

by Toni DeBella | Tue, 02/11/2025 - 03:14

Board games aren’t the sort of entertainment people tend to get up in arms about — but in Italy, certain themes are never child’s play.When the board game…

Lifestyle

Families walking in Rome's Villa Doria Pamphili park / Photo: Daniele COSSU via Shutterstock

Want to Prioritize Your Mental Health? Start With a Passeggiata.

by Chris Carra | Fri, 01/24/2025 - 12:45

Italian vacations with my father were a highlight of my early teens. Our typical destination was his hometown of Aradeo, a sleepy comune in the province of…