Stylish, cultured, good humoured and volatile – Italy, with its golden light, stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage, has inspired poets and painters for centuries. Perhaps more than any other country, it has influenced the course of European development, particularly in culture and political thought.
The most important early settlers were the enigmatic Etruscans, who had [...]

British sleuth Sherlock Holmes will be the star of the fifth edition of the Ravenna Mystery and Noir Festival, September 27-October 7. The detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was chosen because this year marks the 120th anniversary of the publication of A Study in Scarlet, the first story featuring the iconic investigator and [...]

The ever amazing Roman sunset light was spreading gold powder on tall pine trees and huge marble balconies. Warm, orange sunlight shone on the microphones of the big stage on the terrace in Gianicolo, where the Maori Manala company was rehearsing one of the approximately 400 events which enlightened he 5th edition of ‘Notte Bianca’. [...]

Mantua’s 14th-century San Giorgio Castle has opened its doors to modern art for the
first time, with an exhibit celebrating the sculptures of Italian abstract artist Lucio Fontana. The castle, part of the Palazzo Ducale complex, once home to the Gonzaga ruling family of this northern Italian city, is displaying around 70 pieces of art by [...]

In one of his philosophical moments, Woody Allen is supposed to have once asked: Do we really know what we think we know, and if so, how do we know? At least 100,000 Italians are expected to ponder this and related questions at the weekend as they converge on the northern cities of Modena, Carpi [...]

Venice braced on Tuesday
for its annual dose of cinema glamour and razzamatazz amid
the final preparations for this year’s edition of the world’s
oldest film festival.
Carpenters bashed at the ceremonial backdrops, opening
night fireworks were carefully put in place and life-size
models of winged golden lions waited to be positioned on the
red carpet at the famed Lido.
Among the Hollywood [...]