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Italian Culture Italian Literature

The Life of Book Characters

Characters in books are often perceived as mere creations of an author, brought to life only by the words on a page. However, this view limits the true essence of what book characters represent. Books transcend the confines of their stories; they possess a life of their own, shaped by the interaction between the author’s […]

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Italian Literature

Something different: The Impact of Italian Literature in our Lives.

Italian literature is expansive, spanning from the days of ancient Rome to contemporary times, with countless writers capturing the essence of their eras, lives, and emotions. Literature isn’t merely a dry academic study; it’s an immersion into the depicted period, a study of language and its evolution, and an exploration of human beings. It’s the […]

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Italian cuisine Italian Culture

The relation between China and Italy: It is a long, very long relation!

The culinary relationship between Chinese and Italian food showcases fascinating contrasts and surprising similarities, among their distinct flavors, techniques, and ingredients from each culture. Chinese cuisine is renowned for its diverse flavors and cooking methods, such as stir-frying, steaming, and braising. Key ingredients include soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and a variety of vegetables and meats. […]

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Italian Culture Italian History

Giovanni da Verrazzano

Giovanni da Verrazzano was a great navigator, humanist, man of science, and man of action, primarily remembered as the first Westerner to explore the eastern coast of what is now the United States of America. Exactly 500 years ago, on April 17, 1524,  he set foot in what is now New York Bay. In the […]

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Italian History Italian Literature

“Off the Cuff”

Nowadays, we have the luxury of using computers, phones, and tablets to take notes wherever we go, with the internet accessible almost everywhere. However, in the era before the twentieth century, such conveniences were nonexistent, but there were removable cuffs. The phrase “off the cuff” is believed to have originated from the old practice of […]

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Italian History

Meet an Ancient Apothecary

From their beginnings, monasteries served as places of prayer, meditation, and industrious activity, and the apothecary monks were experts in the cultivation, preservation, and drying of herbs. In addition to gathering individuals dedicated to asceticism and divine contemplation, these monastic havens often provided temporary refuge to pilgrims and passing travelers. As a result, they housed […]

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Italian Culture Italian History

Napoli

Naples is one of the most famous cities in the world for its beauty, geographical location, intrinsic life, folklore, and hospitality of the people. The warmth of the sun and the people is reflected everywhere. It has been a land of conquest by numerous foreign dominations, and the one that left its deep mark was […]

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Italian Culture Italian History

Lucrezia Borgia

I will write here about the historical place of Lucrezia Borgia without going into the prejudice and gossip that surrounded her in her lifetime and beyond. Lucrezia was the daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, from a family that left a significant mark on the period between the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Rodrigo Borgia, as […]

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Italian cuisine Italian Culture

Valdostan Coffee

(Caffe alla Valdostana) I am from the Aosta Valley, and it seems right to talk to you about this particularity that is part of that region’s popular culture and tradition. In Europe, coffee spread between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and it is during this period that Valdostan-style coffee made its appearance. What makes this […]

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Italian cuisine Italian Culture

ACETO BALSAMICO DI MODENA: “Black Gold”

Modena’s renowned traditional balsamic vinegar is a treasured condiment with an intriguing past and ancient origins. The meticulous craftsmanship of its creation evolved in the Emilia-Romagna region, in particular the picturesque provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia, and have been passed down through countless generations. While historical documents do not offer precise details about the […]