https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Italy in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Italy's known for having a generous number of public holidays, but Good Friday isn't among them. Here's why. https://www.thelocal.it/20210401/why-is-good-friday-not-a-holiday-in-italy Thu, 01 Apr 2021 15:56:58 +0200 why-is-good-friday-not-a-holiday-in-italy Milder weather is not the only thing you can expect in springtime in Italy, as 'la primavera' ushers in some welcome changes to everyday life. https://www.thelocal.it/20230329/eight-signs-that-spring-has-arrived-in-italy Wed, 29 Mar 2023 09:38:24 +0200 eight-signs-that-spring-has-arrived-in-italy Everything you need to know about Italy’s musical event of the year, from who’s competing to how it works. https://www.thelocal.it/20260217/an-essential-guide-to-italys-sanremo-music-festival Tue, 17 Feb 2026 11:35:49 +0100 an-essential-guide-to-italys-sanremo-music-festival Unlucky for some, but not for Italians. Here's why this ominous date isn't a cause for concern here in Italy – but Friday the 17th is. https://www.thelocal.it/20220513/why-friday-13th-isnt-an-unlucky-date-in-italy Fri, 13 May 2022 11:54:35 +0200 why-friday-13th-isnt-an-unlucky-date-in-italy February 14th is famous the world over as Valentine’s Day – or as it’s known in Italian, 'la festa di San Valentino'. But where did the idea of a day dedicated to lovers come from? And was Saint Valentine himself really Italian? https://www.thelocal.it/20220214/where-does-valentines-day-come-from Mon, 14 Feb 2022 10:09:18 +0100 where-does-valentines-day-come-from Understanding how Italy's media differs from that in your home country can help explain everything from dinner table debates to political discourse. https://www.thelocal.it/20251219/six-things-to-know-about-how-the-italian-media-works Fri, 19 Dec 2025 11:50:26 +0100 six-things-to-know-about-how-the-italian-media-works Italy has modified its national anthem for the first time in decades, dropping a single word that Italians have been singing for generations but which never appeared in the original 1847 text. https://www.thelocal.it/20251224/why-italy-has-quietly-changed-one-word-of-its-national-anthem Wed, 24 Dec 2025 13:36:09 +0100 why-italy-has-quietly-changed-one-word-of-its-national-anthem Italian road rules require motorists in parts of the country to fit their vehicles with winter tires by November 15th. Here are the requirements (and penalties) for the cold season. https://www.thelocal.it/20221103/what-are-italys-rules-on-switching-to-winter-tires Thu, 03 Nov 2022 15:59:34 +0100 what-are-italys-rules-on-switching-to-winter-tires Italy's coffee culture is admired around the world, but it can be hard for foreigners to navigate its rules and norms. Here’s what you need to know to get your caffeine fix ‘all’italiana’. https://www.thelocal.it/20211119/where-when-and-how-to-drink-coffee-like-an-italian Fri, 19 Nov 2021 16:03:42 +0100 where-when-and-how-to-drink-coffee-like-an-italian You've probably heard that Italians are habitually late. But is this always true – and how late are we talking? https://www.thelocal.it/20230222/explained-how-late-is-it-usual-to-be-in-italy-really Wed, 22 Feb 2023 18:01:31 +0100 explained-how-late-is-it-usual-to-be-in-italy-really Many Italian greetings are popular even outside of Italy. But do you know the unwritten social rules around when and how to use them? https://www.thelocal.it/20230921/buongiorno-buonasera-buonanotte-when-and-how-to-use-them Thu, 21 Sep 2023 18:58:20 +0200 buongiorno-buonasera-buonanotte-when-and-how-to-use-them A cornerstone of Italian culture, the 'tabaccheria' is used for much more than just buying cigarettes. From paying bills to purchasing bus tickets, here are just some of the services offered at the tobacconist's. https://www.thelocal.it/20220418/why-the-tabaccheria-is-essential-to-life-in-italy-even-if-you-dont-smoke Mon, 18 Apr 2022 15:42:22 +0200 why-the-tabaccheria-is-essential-to-life-in-italy-even-if-you-dont-smoke If you're spending the autumn months in Italy this year, you'll want to familiarise yourself with some key Italian words and phrases. From warm clothes to food festivals and seasonal produce, we've got you covered. https://www.thelocal.it/20230928/the-essential-vocabulary-youll-need-for-an-italian-autumn Thu, 28 Sep 2023 18:09:05 +0200 the-essential-vocabulary-youll-need-for-an-italian-autumn While it's often translated as merely the start of a new school year or the end of a holiday, this word has a deeper cultural significance. https://www.thelocal.it/20230901/why-il-rientro-means-so-much-more-in-italy-than-a-new-school-year Fri, 01 Sep 2023 15:02:19 +0200 why-il-rientro-means-so-much-more-in-italy-than-a-new-school-year There are some Italian words that don't quite translate to English – and which reveal some interesting things about Italy and its culture. https://www.thelocal.it/20250819/7-untranslatable-italian-words-that-tell-us-something-about-italy Tue, 19 Aug 2025 18:23:24 +0200 7-untranslatable-italian-words-that-tell-us-something-about-italy You may have seen their names dozens of times, but how much do you know about the people Italy’s streets are named after? From politicians to inventors, here's a look at some of the figures behind the country’s ‘vie’. https://www.thelocal.it/20240911/the-people-and-stories-behind-some-of-italys-common-street-names Wed, 11 Sep 2024 18:34:20 +0200 the-people-and-stories-behind-some-of-italys-common-street-names Summer holidays in Italy mean workplaces emptying for weeks on end, a flood of 'out of office' replies from colleagues and clients, and deserted cities. But why is the long break so ingrained in Italian society? https://www.thelocal.it/20240704/why-do-italians-take-such-long-summer-holidays Thu, 04 Jul 2024 16:37:12 +0200 why-do-italians-take-such-long-summer-holidays Summer is in full swing in Italy, bringing scorching temperatures and long, sun-soaked days. To make the most of your time in the country, do as the locals do. https://www.thelocal.it/20250805/the-italian-summer-habits-all-foreigners-should-adopt Tue, 05 Aug 2025 18:04:39 +0200 the-italian-summer-habits-all-foreigners-should-adopt More than just a rest stop, the 'autogrill' is an Italian institution inseparably linked with the idea of driving in the country. https://www.thelocal.it/20230712/autogrill-six-essential-things-to-know-about-italys-service-stations Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:09:19 +0200 autogrill-six-essential-things-to-know-about-italys-service-stations The summer holidays are important everywhere, but Italy takes the tradition of 'le vacanze estive' particularly seriously. https://www.thelocal.it/20220801/the-7-signs-that-august-has-arrived-in-italy Mon, 01 Aug 2022 14:12:39 +0200 the-7-signs-that-august-has-arrived-in-italy