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 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.

Italian Movies

L’avventura: The Mystery That Changed Italian Cinema

Michelangelo Antonioni begins L’avventura with a disappearance, then turns a mystery into a searching portrait of desire, guilt, and isolation.

Unexpected Italy: Stories from My Recent Travels

A Day in Verona Beyond the Balcony

A day on foot with two friends reveals a Verona that is more convincing than its romantic reputation: Roman stone, medieval squares, the Adige and the quieter moments between major attractions.

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.

Biographies

Dario Fo: A Century of Theatre, Satire and Life with Franca Rame

One hundred years after Dario Fo’s birth, his fearless theatre still speaks to the present. Follow his life, landmark plays and enduring creative partnership with Franca Rame.

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.

Gifts & Books

Children’s Books

Find an Italian children’s book for every stage of reading, from colorful picture books to imaginative stories and chapter-book adventures.

Unexpected Italy: Stories from My Recent Travels

Umbria Between Friends and Stone Cities

Traveling through Umbria by car with Cristian, I stayed at UNICA Assisi, shared dinner with friends on a terrace near Perugia, and spent the next day discovering the very different characters of Gubbio and Assisi.

Gifts & Books

10 Italian Novels to Read Next

From Elena Ferrante and Umberto Eco to Andrea Camilleri and Paolo Cognetti, these ten Italian novels offer a starting point for every kind of reader.

People

The Richest Italian Singers, Actors and TV Personalities

From Maria De Filippi and Gerry Scotti to Vasco Rossi, Andrea Bocelli, Roberto Benigni and Laura Pausini, we examine the fortunes behind some of Italy's biggest entertainment names — and explain why celebrity net-worth estimates are often misleading.

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.

Gifts & Books

10 Essential Books for Understanding Italian History

A reading path through Italy’s past: ten books that explain its regions, rulers, national unification, and modern political life.

Italian Movies

Divorce Italian Style: Pietro Germi’s Brilliant Comedy of Marriage, Murder and Hypocrisy

Marcello Mastroianni turns a murderous Sicilian baron into an unforgettable comic character in Pietro Germi’s satire of marriage, honor and hypocrisy.

Unexpected Italy: Stories from My Recent Travels

Two Days in Padova: Giotto and the City Beyond the Chapel

A two-day visit to Padova with three friends begins with Giotto’s extraordinary Scrovegni Chapel and continues through arcaded streets, market squares, the university quarter, the Basilica of Saint Anthony and Prato della Valle.

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

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.

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

Santa Margherita Ligure: A Day That Needed No Itinerary

I drove to Santa Margherita Ligure for a day of good food and time by the sea. The harbour, the centre and a slow afternoon made an itinerary unnecessary.

Unexpected Italy: Stories from My Recent Travels

A Venetian Memory: Venice, Murano and the Magic of Glass

A nostalgic journey through Venice and Murano with a friend, staying on the Lido, getting lost in Venice, visiting the Cenedese glass foundry, and bringing home two beautiful pieces of Murano glass.

Italian Movies

Life Is Beautiful: Roberto Benigni’s Story of Love, Sacrifice and Survival

Roberto Benigni’s Life Is Beautiful combines romance, comedy and tragedy in a story of parental love. Read about its cast, awards, historical debate and viewing options.

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.

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

The Conversation on the Devil’s Bridge: A Day in Garfagnana

On the way to Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, a brief conversation on the Devil’s Bridge became as memorable as our stop for traditional food in town.

Unexpected Italy: Stories from My Recent Travels

The Naples We Found Beyond the Grotta di Seiano

A long gallery through the Posillipo hillside led us to one of the most memorable places a local friend showed us in Naples: the ruins of a Roman villa overlooking the coast.

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.