ITALIA MIA, ITALY AND ITALIAN CULTURE

An English-language magazine about Italian culture, travel, people and products, written with an Italian perspective

Read our Latest Articles about Italy and Italian Culture

Gifts & Books

10 Italian Christmas Gifts for Friends I’d Be Happy to Give

I would choose an Italian Christmas gift for a friend by thinking about the moments we share. These ten ideas bring food, coffee, cooking, design, and a little time together into the decision.

Unexpected Italy: Stories from My Recent Travels

The Song I Heard on the Walls of Lucca

My grandfather came from Lucca, and every return to the city carries an unexplained sense of recognition. After browsing the men’s clothing shops on Via Fillungo, I climbed to the walls and heard a local guitarist working on a song that did not yet have a name.

Hotels & Stays

Italy’s Best Thermal Spa Towns: Where to Stay for Hot Springs and Wellness

From Lake Garda and the Maremma to Ischia and the Alps, choose the Italian thermal destination that fits your trip—and understand what your hotel booking includes.

Unexpected Italy: Stories from My Recent Travels

Rome and I Share the Same Birthday

Rome and I share April 21 as a birthday. During four nights with friends, the Vatican, Forum, Trastevere and intimate trattoria dinners revealed a city whose beauty can overwhelm without ever separating itself from ordinary life.

Unexpected Italy: Stories from My Recent Travels

Two Days in Bolsena: Between Friends and the Lake

A two-day visit to friends becomes an introduction to Bolsena’s volcanic lake, medieval fortress, Basilica of Santa Cristina and the smaller lakeside towns of Marta and Capodimonte.

Plan Your Trip

Why an eSIM Makes Traveling in Italy Easier: A Practical Guide to Staying Connected

A travel eSIM can put maps, tickets, messages, and bookings within reach as soon as you arrive in Italy. Here is how it works, when it makes financial sense, and what to check before buying.

Unexpected Italy: Stories from My Recent Travels

Apella: The Lunigiana Village That Became a Hotel

In the chestnut woods of Lunigiana, Apella has been revived through a scattered-hotel model. Its restored apartments, panoramic pool, bicycles and celebrated La Torre restaurant make the village a destination in itself, with Bagnone close enough for an easy excursion.

Unexpected Italy: Stories from My Recent Travels

From Viareggio to Fiumalbo: A Day Across the Apennines

A morning on the coast becomes an afternoon in a medieval mountain village on a day trip from Viareggio, through Bagni di Lucca and Abetone, to Fiumalbo.

Gifts & Books

10 Italy Travel Books Worth Packing or Reading Before You Go

Choose an Italy guidebook that fits your route, then find a travel memoir or collection of essays to bring the journey to life.

Gifts & Books

10 Italian Literary Classics to Read at Least Once

A reader-friendly route through ten Italian classics, with notes on translations, complete editions, and choosing your first book.

Unexpected Italy: Stories from My Recent Travels

The Sketch That Followed Me Through Pietrasanta

A coastal bike ride becomes an afternoon in Pietrasanta, with aperitivo, a walk among the square’s artworks, and a fictionalized chance encounter that changes the view.

Living in Italy

All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day in Italy: Traditions, Closures and What Travelers Should Know

November 1 is a national holiday in Italy; November 2 is a day of remembrance. Here is how both dates affect traditions, opening hours and travel plans.

Unexpected Italy: Stories from My Recent Travels

Five Nights Through the Hill Towns of Maremma

A first-person guide to five nights in southern Maremma, from Morellino wine country and Saturnia’s springs to a remarkable painting in Montemerano and the ancient paths below the tuff towns.

Italian Movies

Cinema Paradiso: Sicily, Memory and a Lifelong Love of Movies

Giuseppe Tornatore’s Cinema Paradiso brings together Sicily, childhood, friendship and the love of movies. Read about its story, awards, filming locations, different versions and viewing options.

Biographies

Lucio Dalla: The Voice of Bologna, “Caruso” and a Life Without Musical Borders

From Bologna’s jazz scene to “Caruso” and the Banana Republic concerts with Francesco De Gregori, Lucio Dalla followed a musical path entirely his own.

Unexpected Italy: Stories from My Recent Travels

The Deer That Met My Eyes Above Lake Garda

I went to a Lake Garda spa retreat with a friend for a relaxing break. In the mountains, an unexpected encounter with a deer gave me a peaceful sensation I had never felt before.

Italian Movies

Bicycle Thieves (1948): The Italian Film That Made a Stolen Bicycle Matter to the World

A stolen bicycle puts one family’s future at risk in Vittorio De Sica’s landmark of Italian neorealism. Here is why the film still matters and where to watch it.

Unexpected Italy: Stories from My Recent Travels

Portovenere: Where the Road Ends at the Gulf of Poets

At the end of Portovenere, the striped Church of San Pietro stands directly above the Ligurian Sea. This personal journey through the Gulf of Poets explores a less hurried alternative to the Cinque Terre, along with the real history and enduring legends of Byron, Shelley and the writers drawn to this coast.

Italian Movies

8½ (Otto e mezzo): Fellini Turns a Creative Crisis into Cinema

A director cannot find his next film, and Fellini turns his crisis into one of cinema’s most inventive stories. Here is a guide to 8½, from its cast and awards to where you can watch or buy it.

Biographies

Renato Zero: The Singer Who Turned Difference into an Italian Institution

From Rome’s Piper club to the Zerolandia tent and decades of arena shows, Renato Zero built a singular Italian career. Explore the music, friendships and performances behind the legend.

Unexpected Italy: Stories from My Recent Travels

The Road Through the Maremma to Saturnia

Three friends leave the Tuscan coast after Follonica, cross the open landscape of the Maremma and stay at Agriturismo Il Torrione before experiencing the thermal pools of Saturnia.

Unexpected Italy: Stories from My Recent Travels

The Little Fish That Changed My Swim in Puglia

I expected clear water and good food during five nights on Puglia’s Ionian coast. I did not expect the little fish in the sea to become one of my favorite memories.

Fashion

Milan Fashion Week September 2026: The Shows, Designers, Trends and News That Defined the Week

A complete post-show report from Milan Fashion Week, covering the final program, leading collections, designer changes, celebrity guests, emerging talent and the strongest Spring/Summer 2027 trends.

Unexpected Italy: Stories from My Recent Travels

Getting Lost in Genoa Was the Best Part

After visiting the Genoa Aquarium with a friend, I followed the old streets toward San Lorenzo and took a wrong turn. What followed—a small shop, a plate of farinata and a local conversation—showed me a Genoa I would have missed on the direct route.

BOOK YOUR FLIGHT, HOTEL, CAR IN ITALY WITH EXPEDIA

Discover Italy with Italia Mia

Italia Mia is an online magazine about Italy, Italian culture and everyday Italian life. Whether you are planning a journey, researching your Italian heritage, considering a move or simply fascinated by the country, you will find practical information and original articles written for an international audience.

Plan Your Journey Through Italy

Explore our Italy travel guides for inspiring destinations, suggested itineraries, transportation advice, hotels, museums and practical planning tips. Our Italian regions section travels across all 20 regions—from celebrated destinations such as Tuscany, Sicily, Puglia and Veneto to less familiar corners of Abruzzo, Molise, Basilicata and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. We look beyond the famous landmarks to introduce historic towns, beaches, mountain landscapes, archaeological sites and local traditions. Whether you want to travel through Italy by train, plan a road trip or choose the best base for a longer stay, Italia Mia can help you experience the country more confidently.

Experience Italian Culture, Food and Creativity

Italy’s identity has been shaped by centuries of art, architecture, cinema, music, literature and craftsmanship. Our Italian culture articles explore these subjects through accessible guides, detailed biographies and stories about the people and ideas that influenced Italy and the wider world. Discover the masters of Italian art, the directors and actors of Italian cinema, the traditions of Italian music and the regional dishes featured in our Italian food and cuisine section.

Living in Italy

Italy is not only a destination—it is also home. Our practical guides to living in Italy cover visas, residency, employment, healthcare, housing, taxes, retirement, bureaucracy and the real cost of everyday life. They are designed for expats, retirees, dual citizens, digital nomads and anyone considering a permanent or temporary move. You can also meet the artists, filmmakers, musicians, writers and public figures who have shaped the country in our collection of Italian biographies.

Italy Today and the Best of Made in Italy

Follow Italian news in English for selected headlines, useful context and links to authoritative sources. For Italian design, fashion and craftsmanship, browse our Italian shopping guides featuring established brands and distinctive products made or designed in Italy. From ancient Rome to contemporary Italian life, Italia Mia brings together the destinations, traditions, people and ideas that make Italy endlessly fascinating. Benvenuti—welcome to Italia Mia.