Ophelia, Herb-woman: Bringing Elizabethan England to Milan
Joan Field leads a double life (or maybe even a triple life). Her day job is that of herb-woman, out in the fields at dawn picking simples that she hawks in a basket to the country folk eager for natural remedies to treat all manner of illnesses. But she also moonlights as an actor, treading […]Read More
Affordable Milanese Style Décor
How to decorate your home with Milanese Style without breaking the bank Now that you live in Milan, you have probably started dressing and eating like a local, but have you applied your knowledge of Milanese style to your home? Even if you don’t live here, you can make your home more Italian with these […]Read More
Living in Italy is great, but it’s not always ‘la dolce vita’
Living in a new culture presents challenges and surprises. Mary Catherine Holcomb, writer, teacher and seasoned expat is now living in Milan, Italy. In this article, she shares her views and insights on her new culture with a touch of lighthearted humor. Living in Italy Aperitivos, flowing wine, beauty all around – you must be […]Read More
Under Milk Wood comes to Milan with a stunning performance to help Ukraine
Milan April 6, 2022- It was was a rare opportunity in Milan: the chance to see the incredible Guy Masterson-Mastroianni performing all 69 roles of Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood in a special charity performance for Ukraine at the Filodrammatici Theatre in Milan, thanks to Julia Holden and J Productions. Guy Masterson-Mastroianni was absolutely incredible, transforming himself physically […]Read More
A Quick Guide to Living in Milan, Italy
Milan, Italy, is often described as the world’s fashion capital. In addition to being home to many global clothing and luxury brands, such as Bulgari, Prada and Versace, it is also Italy’s central business hub and a significant European base for multinational corporations like Edison and Microsoft. Milan has prestigious universities such as Bocconi, Università […]Read More
Easy How-To Guide to Getting Married in Italy
Italy is one of the most popular locations for destination weddings. When planning your dream wedding, you want it to be perfect. Just imagine a lakeside wedding at Lake Como or an intimate gathering on a terrace looking out to the Amalfi Coast. However, Italy is known for its bureaucracy and the documents needed to […]Read More
The Octopus and the Wedding Proposal
“How did Salvatore propose?” a friend asked recently, referring to my Italian husband. When I told her that we’d decided to get married in Positano, she said that sounded breathtakingly romantic.Little did she know. When you grow up in the United States, you assume that a proposal will involve a man with a ring on […]Read More
Learn Something New in 2022
January is always a time for making new year resolutions. Unfortunately, following through on resolutions is often frustrating and discouraging. Too frequently, people set their goals based on what others expect of them but soon find that their determination quickly dwindles. This year, rather than making an empty promise like “lose weight” or “get in […]Read More
Speaking Dante a 24 Hour Reading of The Divine Comedy in Support of Refugees
24 hours. 100 cantos. Live in Florence. Streamed across the world. A once-in-a-lifetime live reading of The Divine Comedy marking the Dante 700 anniversary 13th-14th September 2021, Cinema la Compagnia, Florence, Italy and streamed online J. Productions, Milan in association with Cinema la Compagnia, Teatro della Pergola, the British Institute of Florence & The Florentine […]Read More
48 Hours in Verona
What better way is there, than to spend Valentine’s Day in Verona, Italy’s city of love? Begin the tour at Castelvecchio (corso Castelvecchio 2). This medieval castle with its brick exterior and turrets is a wonderful architectural gem which houses an incredible collection of Medieval and Renaissance art. During your visit, take some time for […]Read More
Italian Style Christmas
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! And although you may be far from home, make the most of the season with our tips on how to celebrate an Italian Style Christmas. Your beginner’s kit should include first and foremost a Nativity Scene or presepe. These are essential during the holiday season and in […]Read More
English Speakers Dis Mask Wearing Rules, Italian Speakers Obey
Italians are more likely to wear masks than Brits or Americans As the news of wearing a face covering in shops in England becomes mandatory from 24 July (with a fine of £100 for those who fail to comply) a new study shows that native English speakers are less likely to obey. A unique behavioral […]Read More
Maneuvering in the Italian Health Care System
Italians health care may not appear as efficient and well managed as other countries, but considering its comprehensiveness, low ‘out of pocket cost’ and overall quality, it probably should get more credit than it does. Even though Italians often complain about the Italian health care system, Italy ranks 2nd in the “World Health Organization ranking […]Read More
Tracy Roberts talks about new international crowdfunding project
With over 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and over 48 million visitors per year, who doesn’t love Italy? It is this passion for Italy that has prompted Tracy Roberts fellow expat living in Italy for 33 years and partners have launched LoveItaly! But what exactly is LoveItaly!? “We are a non-profit organization. We want to […]Read More
Italian Holidays
Moving to a new country has all sorts of novelties including a few new holidays to get used to. So before being the odd one racing to work on a day in which you could have stayed in bed, jot down these national holidays: January 1st– New Year’s Day or Capodanno January 6th– Epiphany or […]Read More
Sea bass baked in a salt crust – “Branzino al Sale”
Many of the recipes that Italian’s are most fond of are the simplest ones, like pasta al pomodoro e basilico (pasta with tomato sauce and basil), caprese di bufala (buffalo mozzarella topped with tomatoes) and carpaccio grana e rucola (thinly sliced raw meat with arugula salad and Parmesan cheese). In this recipe, you are going to learn […]Read More
48 Hours in Rome
Day 1 Rome is truly one of a kind. It is filled with incredible buildings and architecture, ancient ruins from the great Roman Empire, and some of the most important religious landmarks in the world. The most difficult part about a trip to Rome is narrowing down a list of the best things to see […]Read More
Cosmopolitan Identities
“In an era where global vision and cross-cultural competencies are critical to business success, multicultural upbringing can be far-reaching. Multilingual, highly-skilled and international experienced, they have unique skills and abilities that enable them to function more effectively in a global business environment.” Born in New York to parents of Chinese origin, Amie received her college […]Read More
History, wine and nature in a glass… or two!
As they say, life’s too short to drink bad wine, which is a perfect reason for visiting Val Tidone! Just an hour’s drive south of Milan will put you in the center of a landscape that is characterized by endless waves of vineyard creating glorious panoramas. The terroir of the Val Tidone is perfect for […]Read More
The Venice Carnival
When thinking of the Carnival, two cities stand out from the rest of the world, Venice and Rio. Given the cold temperatures in Italy since the start of 2016, my pick would definitely be Rio, but as I live in Milan with my wife and two small children, let’s talk about a more realistic travel option, […]Read More
Is an Overseas Assignment Right for You?
The allure of an overseas assignment can be very appealing to some individuals, especially for certain destinations that are very sought after, such as London. However, it is wise to note, that some of the most unsuccessful relocations from the US, for example, are into the UK – this may seem strange, but many people […]Read More
Independence Day Message from Sri Lanka Consul General
“our heartfelt appreciation for the Government and people of Italy for their generous support and goodwill …” It gives me great pleasure to convey my warm greetings and sincere best wishes to the Sri Lankan expatriate community in the Regions of Lombardy, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Piedmont, Trentino Alto Adige, Valle d’ Aosta and Veneto […]Read More
The Italian Bureaucracy Shuffle
After almost 17 years in Italy, I certainly can’t say I’ve “gone native.” However, there are times that I realize just how second nature certain things have become in my day-to-day life here. I had this realization recently when speaking with an American friend who had just relocated to Italy. She was expressing frustration with […]Read More
Movember in Italy
Movember the Month formerly known as November is back in Italy in numbers. For 30 days your moustache turns you into a walking, talking billboard for men’s health. In 2015 over 700,000 between moustache growing men (MO Bros) and daughters, sisters, girlfriends, wives (MO Sistas) were the catalyst for Billions of conversations on men’s health […]Read More
The Stages of Cultural Adjustment (Part 3 of 3)
In part two of the series, we left off discussing stage three of cultural adjustment, adaptation, in which you were beginning to reach a place of understanding and acceptance of your new culture, and you found yourself feeling more like the person you were back in your home country, but with a new twist. As […]Read More
The Stages of Cultural Adjustment (Part 2 of 3)
In part one, we left off discussing stage two of the process of cultural adjustment, in which you were experiencing full-blown culture shock and all the frustrations and challenges that go with it. Again, this can be the most difficult stage of adapting to a new culture and the time in which it is most […]Read More
The Stages of Cultural Adjustment (Part 1 of 3)
When thinking about and planning to move to a new country, the number of logistical preparations to take care of can seem endless. Especially if you are moving not just by yourself, but with a partner and children in tow. Sorting out housing, schools, cars, documents – documents! – and much more, add up to […]Read More
Dual-culture parenting… who controls the A/C
Dual-culture parenting boils down to priorities, values and who controls the A/C Salvatore’s fathering was dependent on two all-important remote controls, each kept in a separate pocket of his velour dressing gown. When you marry a Southern Italian man, you’ve got to be ready for major differences in childrearing. In the early years of our […]Read More
Intercultural Relationships: When They Don’t Work Out
You fell madly in love with an Italian man, someone who wasn’t like anyone else you had ever met. You quickly realized you could see yourself with this person in a permanent way. You decided you were willing – happy – to leave your own life behind and move across the world to be with […]Read More
Who was Mr. Marino?
Where did the name Palazzo Marino came from? Here is the story… Right in front of the Teatro alla Scala you can see an important building – now hosting the headquarters of Milan’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor… and obviously all the other people who work with them. This is Palazzo Marino; named after its old owner, […]Read More
