I read this beautiful book, about a teacher in Northern Italy who seeks solitude in the forest to adjust her worldview after something terrible happens to her, and how she finds her way back to the 'ordinary' world. I found it a beautiful, accessible story. The author lives in the Netherlands and I had the opportunity to meet with her in […] More
Aart Heering
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In Alatri, we are welcomed by Roman legionaries rehearsing for the city's annual Passion Play, which is held on Good Friday. Their costumes come partly from Cinecittà, where they were used during the filming of Ben Hur, the 1959 blockbuster. Afterwards, we walk uphill through a few narrow streets to the Acropolis, […] More
Anyone who has been paying attention over the past few years on Spotify, TikTok, Instagram, or in the better clubs (insofar as they still exist) couldn't miss it: Italo disco is making a striking comeback. The synths are back, the bass lines are pumping again like they used to, and those typically melancholic, kitschy vocal lines? They are suddenly totally hip again. But […] More
We have now been living in our new place for exactly a month. Finally, that little house in the countryside in the south with a large plot of land. That is what we came to Italy for 4,5 years ago! Back then, however, we made the wrong choice by buying a house in a village. We went for the […] More
Aart Heering
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Anagni, Alatri, Veroli, and Ferentino are cities of over 20.000 inhabitants each in the province of Frosinone, 60–80 kilometers south of Rome. Their heyday lies long ago, in the (pre-)Roman Antiquity and the High Middle Ages. Subsequently, they were overshadowed by the omnipresent Rome, but that also had its advantages. The ancient centers have been barely disturbed […] More
It is the last week of February when we experience the first sunny day of the year in Sardinia. That is no exaggeration: in January, the island was battered by the heaviest rainfall in 65 years, according to La Nuova Sardegna. And the first three weeks of February were also particularly windy and wet. The […] More
This Is Italy
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Are you going on holiday to Italy? You can get by quite well with English, especially in the tourist areas. But speaking a few words of Italian will immediately make your trip more enjoyable. Italians greatly appreciate it when you make an effort to speak their language, even if it is just a little. Don't worry, before the holiday […] More
Anyone who visits an Italian campsite in the summer will quickly notice it. On the beach, by the pool, or at the campsite shop, a surprising amount of German is spoken. This is no coincidence. Germans have been the largest group of foreign tourists in Italy for years, and they are especially prominent at campsites. This has everything to do with […] More
Caroline Peet
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Before moving to Italy, I had resolved to master Italian. I had signed up for several Italian courses. These were all online, and I had stacks of books and syllabuses at home. Each time, I started a course with renewed enthusiasm, noticing that […] More
March 8th is International Women's Day again, a great opportunity to highlight 10 strong, contemporary Italian women. Disclaimer: I'm a book enthusiast, so that's somewhat reflected in my selection. The feminists are organized by birth year, so the more experienced authors go first. 1. Silvia Federici […] More
Italians often keep their pasta simple and serve a secondo on the side. In the Netherlands, we usually turn a pasta dish into a complete meal. If you fall into the latter category, then this recipe for farfalle with pesto and vegetables is perfect for you. A dish packed with flavor, vegetables, and vitamins! Want to […] More
Aart Heering
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Tramezzini. Everyone who's been to Italy has eaten them at some point, for breakfast, as a snack, or with a glass of wine as an aperitif. These elegant triangles, made from two slices of soft bread with a savory filling between them, are a household name in Italy. Self-respecting café owners prepare a generous supply every morning to offer their customers […] More
Steve Smulders
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The older Dutch among us will surely remember Pierre Janssen: the tall, thin art connoisseur who regularly told his TV audiences about all the things there were to enjoy in the fields of sculpture, painting, and other art. At one point, however, he offered a tip that I didn't expect from him at all […] More
The Meiland family is a real estate enthusiast. Just recently, we saw Martien, Erica, and the rest of the clan house-hunting in Italy for Chateau Meiland: La Dolce Vita. The result: a charming village house in Mornico Losana, northern Italy, nestled in the heart of the Oltrepò wine region […] More
Lucy Beker
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Italian author Elsa Morante's final book, Aracoeli, is available in Dutch for the first time, 43 years after its publication. This is interesting, as Elsa Morante is one of the most famous Italian writers of the twentieth century and received numerous literary awards during her lifetime. At the same time, it is therefore a […] More
This Is Italy
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Anyone driving south from Germany and Switzerland through the Gotthard Tunnel will immediately notice it: after the Alps, everything becomes softer. The colors warmer, the terraces fuller, the language more melodious. Welcome to the canton of Ticino (Tessin), the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. And within Ticino, there's one place that, without exaggeration, you'll find the most Italian […] More
It's been almost six years since the coronavirus pandemic broke out. The whole world was turned upside down; we had to work from home, wear face masks, and even faced a curfew. Not to mention the many people who ended up in the hospital with a coronavirus infection or who lost loved ones […] More
Winter in Italy surprises many travelers. Not only because of the weather, but also because of how Italians dress. Don't expect massive down jackets or sporty outdoor looks in the city. Even when it's cold, clothing remains part of Italian culture: well-groomed, thoughtful, and adapted to the environment. Anyone who travels to […] More
This Is Italy
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Since 2016, Gonnie and Jurgen Linssen have been welcoming guests to a former village school in Montefano, Le Marche. At La Vecchia Scuola, they offer five luxurious rooms, a swimming pool, and organize Italian evenings and packages. They harvest olive oil from their own olive grove. Gonnie is responsible for service, the rooms, communication, and everything […] More
Endive with olives and raisins is a delicious and healthy side dish, inspired by Southern Italian cuisine, where bitter greens are often combined with olives, raisins, and pine nuts. This recipe is similar to the traditional Neapolitan dish scarola alla napoletana, in which escarole (a type of curly endive) is prepared in a similar way. In the Netherlands, this vegetable is difficult […] More
Lottie Lomme
Mariska Kromhout
Elisabetta Cassino
Bertine Jobse