Category: Understanding the Culture & Customs of Italy

Customs and traditions are an important part of the Italian culture, which is why you can get a great cup of coffee anywhere, or there is a picture of a saint on your rental car. Many of Italy’s traditions are food-related, but there is also social etiquette to be followed and superstition to be reckoned with, so to avoid a brutta figura (looking like a fool) it’s a good idea to know more about protocol and culture in Italy.

Celebrations in Italy – Festival of San Sebastiano in Sicily

Posted In: Interesting Festivals & Events in Italy, Provocative People & Cool Places in Italy, Stories of Life in Tuscany & Sicily, Understanding the Culture & Customs of Italy

The festival of San Sebastiano in Sicily is a big deal – not to be missed for the colorful mix of religion and folklore – with stunning special effects that will blow your mind. Join the patron saint celebrations in Palazzolo Acreide and experience a festa you will not soon forget.

San Giuseppe Tavolata Tradition in Italy – Celebrate with Festival Breads in Sicily

Posted In: Interesting Festivals & Events in Italy, Italian Food Traditions & Recipes, Stories of Life in Tuscany & Sicily, Understanding the Culture & Customs of Italy

In Sicily, residents open their homes to visitors to view tables laden with a stunning variety of traditional sweets and intricate festival breads during the Tavolata di San Giuseppe.

San Giuseppe Food Auction – A Real Feast Day in Sicily

Posted In: Interesting Festivals & Events in Italy, Italian Food Traditions & Recipes, Stories of Life in Tuscany & Sicily, Understanding the Culture & Customs of Italy

What do whole cheeses, a live rooster and a trumpet have in common? Come to the food auction in celebration of San Giuseppe and find out what a real feast day is like in Santa Croce, Sicily.

Horses Decorated with Flowers at the Cavalcata di San Giuseppe Festival – Celebrate St. Joseph in Sicily

Posted In: Interesting Festivals & Events in Italy, Stories of Life in Tuscany & Sicily, Understanding the Culture & Customs of Italy

Horses decked out in elaborate flower-laden cloaks and headdresses, with necklaces of jangling bells, are the centerpiece for the sumptuous Cavalcata di San Giuseppe celebration in the town of Scicli in Sicily. The Festival of St. Joseph becomes a theatrical event during this unusual festa.

Free Museums during 2012 Culture Week in Italy

Posted In: Provocative People & Cool Places in Italy, Understanding the Culture & Customs of Italy

Enjoy free admission to museums and archeological sites all over Italy during the 14th annual Settimana della Cultura, the 2012 edition of Italian Culture Week

Shopping in Italy-The Lorenzi Knife & Kitchenware Shop

Posted In: Hiking & Walking Trails in Italy, Provocative People & Cool Places in Italy, Understanding the Culture & Customs of Italy

The historic Lorenzi shop in Bolzano is a family–run store with a great selection of quality kitchen goods, knives, and scissors. If you’ve got something to cut, they’ve got the tool, and their individual attention and friendly service are the essence of shopping in Italy.

Bastardoni-Big Bastards: Prickly Pears of Sicily

Posted In: Hiking & Walking Trails in Italy, Italian Food Traditions & Recipes, Understanding the Culture & Customs of Italy

When you hear vendors hollering “bastardoni” in Sicily, it’s the season for the prickly pears known as “big bastards.” Legend has it that this traditional food found in markets in Italy is the result of a feud.

Italy’s Referendum Repeals Nuclear Power Law

Posted In: Understanding the Culture & Customs of Italy

Italy’s positive referendum vote overturns government stance on nuclear power, water as a private utility and legitimate impediment.

Traditional Foods of Italy- Colomba Pasquale, Italian Easter Cake

Posted In: Italian Food Traditions & Recipes, Understanding the Culture & Customs of Italy

Colomba pasquale, an Italian Easter cake usually shaped like a dove, is one of the foods traditionally served at an Easter meal in Italy…and leftovers are great with cappuccino the next morning. Read on to learn how to make this delicious cake with a home-tested recipe.

Italian Festivals: St Joseph’s Day in Sicily – A Real Feast

Posted In: Interesting Festivals & Events in Italy, Italian Food Traditions & Recipes, Understanding the Culture & Customs of Italy

The Festa di San Giuseppe in Sicily is a feast day that honors St. Joseph, and it mainly centers around food. The tavolata – laden table – of sweets and festival breads, and a day-long food auction are part of the celebrations. Of course, I was there to bid.

Traditions in Italy–Chiacchiere, Carnevale Sweets

Posted In: Italian Food Traditions & Recipes, Understanding the Culture & Customs of Italy

Carnevale is celebrated all over Italy, and one of its traditions is eating fried sweets, like chiacchiere.

Regional of Foods of Italy – ‘Mpanatigghi Biscuits from Modica Sicily

Posted In: Italian Food Traditions & Recipes, Provocative People & Cool Places in Italy, Travel Notes from Tours in Italy, Understanding the Culture & Customs of Italy

‘Mpanatigghi are a sweet biscuit from the town of Modica, Sicily with a long history dating back to the 16th century, and contain a surprise ingredient, most unusual for sweets in Italy.