italy roundtable
Writer’s Block, Italian Style
This is what happens when you have writer’s block and you are supposed to write about Italy.
The Roman Spring of Tennessee Williams
In the late winter/early spring of 1948, American playwright Tennessee Williams arrived in Rome in need of a change of scenery. Williams, of course, is known for his writing set in the American South, including “A Streetcar Named Desire” (written in 1947) and “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof” (1955), both of which earned him Pulitzer…
The 7 Hills of Rome: What Are They and What Can You See?
Rome is a city of many hills. But the seven hills of Rome are the original hills on which the ancient city was founded.
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.
The Art of Nobel Winner Dario Fo
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…
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…
Braving the Elements: A Rare Snowfall in Rome
Over the past weekend, Rome got pelted with eight inches of snow, the largest single snowfall in the capital since 1986. The rare snowfall prompted the closure of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill, and other tourist attractions. Many businesses had to close because workers were unable to access public transportation or get their…
Marble Run: Shopping for Traditional Marbled Products in Italy
Marble, either as a substance or a style, runs through three different artisan crafts that are famous in Italy.
