Tag: featured

  • Remembering the Battle of Montecassino

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    About an hour and a half south of Rome lies Montecassino, an enormous Benedictine monastery whose environs witnessed a very costly battle of World War II.

    Written by

    Melanie Renzulli
    Polish Cemetery at Montecassino

  • Important Dates in Italian History for the Curious Traveler

    A short primer on a few of the dates you will encounter while meandering the streets and squares of Italy.

    Written by

    Melanie Renzulli
    Piazza XX Settembre in Genoa

  • The Art of Nobel Winner Dario Fo

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    Calling Italian playwright Dario Fo a “Renaissance” man would probably irk him given his long history of questioning authority and mocking the status quo. But Fo, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1997 (one of six Italians to have won the literature prize) proves he is worthy of this nickname with the new…

    Written by

    Melanie Renzulli
    Dario Fo "Earthquake in L'Aquila"

  • Rooted in Italy: The World’s First Botanical Gardens

    It has been said (too many times) that all roads lead to Rome. But did you know that you could trace botanical medicine and even the environmental movement to 16th century Italy? It was here in the city of Pisa (1544) then Padua (1545) that the world’s first botanical gardens were set up. This month’s…

    Written by

    Melanie Renzulli
    Orto Botanico di Padova