Vicenza’s Jewels

Located in the Veneto area of northeastern Italy is the city of Vicenza. It is well known for the refined architecture of Andrea Palladio, who worked in the 16th century. The Basilica Palladiana and the Palazzo Chiericati, which is now a museum, are two examples. The indoor Teatro Olimpico is located nearby and was also […]

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Movies & Cooking

I watched the movie Julie &Julia the 2009 American biographical comedy, starring Meryl Streep, Amy Adams. I actually watched it more than once because Meryl Streep deserves an Oscar for that role in Julie & Julia – chapeau! I was inspired by Julie Powell to cook, well not all 524 recipes in a year, but […]

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Macchiaioli

Pronunciation: /mak.kjaˈjɔ.le/ Les Macchiaioli, des Impressionistes Italiens? I recently had the pleasure of visiting an exposition dedicated to the Macchiaoli, a group of painters from the 1800s who hold a special place in my heart. Art historians have often noted the similarities between the Macchiaioli and the Impressionists, as both groups sought to capture the […]

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Three Tomatoes Make a Lunch

As the sun shines brighter and the days grow longer, the supermarket shelves are bursting with vibrant new produce. Springtime is a magical season that inspires us to get creative with our lunches. With so many colorful fruits and vegetables to choose from, it’s easy to create healthy and delicious meals.For example, you can use […]

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Strawberries Season

Strawberries are one of my favorite spring fruits. They are not only deliciously sweet, but also packed with essential vitamins and nutrients. What’s not to love about these juicy and flavorful berries? I recently purchased a generous amount of Basilicata strawberries, known for their exceptional quality and flavor in Italy.While I enjoy them with whipped […]

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Rainy Days at Last

After a long hiatus, I have returned to this place to write my stories on this rainy day. I had to dust off a few cobwebs first. Life can take you away from your passions, but it’s important to come back to them. It feels good to get back to healthy habits, even after a […]

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The Spare(s)

With so much talking about Prince Harry’s book these days, it just came to mind that life for the “Spare(s)” has been historically tricky, if not dramatic. Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, may consider himself lucky to have dropped his Royal duties for a life of tranquillity. Not everybody was so lucky. MAXIMILIAN I […]

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Pretty GINA

Luigia Lollobrigida 1927-2023 Signora Luigia Lollobrigida, known as Gina Lollobrigida, became famous through her films and is still considered one of the essential divas; hers is the star number 2628 among those on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In the 1990s she fully resumed her activity as a sculptor, which she had neglected for the […]

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Savory and Healthy Pies

I always make quiches, or savory pies, because they are easy to do, they last a few days, are good hot, warm and the day after, and they are versatile. Beautiful, good, very simple to do! The savory pie with zucchini is just perfect to pull out on all those occasions when we want to […]

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Happy New Year (?)

I actually could do with an old year as long as it is good! We are growing warily to the arrival of a new year lately. Too many treacherous events have taken place since 2020. The weather is bleak, which does not help us to look positively to the days ahead. The war in Ukraine […]

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Sicily—Another Italy

Dive into Sicily Where a sea of art, culture and nature will seduce you. Sicily is the biggest Italian island, a triangle in the Mediterranean! A predominantly hilly and mountainous area, with its wonderful sea and rich cities with their own charm. Sicily is a postcard island characterised by the indelible signs of the peoples […]

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Italian Politics

What happened in Italy? We had the best Prime Minister ever, and then the Government fell. How was that possible? Mario Draghi, (former ECB chief who saved the Eurozone with that historic “whatever it takes and believe me, it will be enough”), resigned after the leaders of the right wing parties withdraw their support to […]

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