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 There was worrying news on Wednesday for superstitious Italians. https://www.thelocal.it/20201217/bad-omen-dismay-in-italy-as-blood-of-naples-saint-fails-to-liquefy Thu, 17 Dec 2020 12:01:54 +0100 bad-omen-dismay-in-italy-as-blood-of-naples-saint-fails-to-liquefy Juicy prawns are a central part of a traditional Christmas feast in many parts of Italy, and for many Italians, sucking on the freshly removed head is the very best part. https://www.thelocal.it/20201217/why-you-shouldnt-suck-prawn-heads-during-an-italian-christmas-feast Thu, 17 Dec 2020 11:37:24 +0100 why-you-shouldnt-suck-prawn-heads-during-an-italian-christmas-feast One of the world's largest nativity scenes lights up the hilltop town of Manarola in Italy's famed Cinque Terre, joined this year by a statue honouring medics fighting the coronavirus crisis. https://www.thelocal.it/20201215/in-photos-magical-nativity-scene-lights-up-italys-cinque-terre-coast Tue, 15 Dec 2020 15:38:21 +0100 in-photos-magical-nativity-scene-lights-up-italys-cinque-terre-coast The Italian government has applied for traditional Italian espresso coffee to be added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. But not everyone is convinced it's a good idea. https://www.thelocal.it/20191212/why-italy-wants-its-coffee-to-get-unesco-heritage-status Thu, 12 Dec 2019 11:03:52 +0100 why-italy-wants-its-coffee-to-get-unesco-heritage-status Each September, a small village in the Italian Alps hosts what might just be the world's biggest party for chimney sweeps. But why? https://www.thelocal.it/20190903/in-photos-italy-chimney-sweep-festival-spazzacamini Tue, 03 Sep 2019 15:00:04 +0200 in-photos-italy-chimney-sweep-festival-spazzacamini For a Sunday lunch tradition that goes back centuries, head into the mountains north of Lake Como to find Italy's unique 'crotti' – natural grottoes serving hearty local fare. https://www.thelocal.it/20190419/weekend-wanderlust-centuries-of-italian-hospitality-in-chiavennas-mountain-inns Fri, 19 Apr 2019 15:28:29 +0200 weekend-wanderlust-centuries-of-italian-hospitality-in-chiavennas-mountain-inns You might imagine an Italian Easter revolves around going to mass, exchanging chocolate eggs and sitting down to roast lamb. But there's more to it than that. https://www.thelocal.it/20170413/eight-oddly-eggciting-easter-tradition-from-italy Thu, 13 Apr 2017 17:00:51 +0200 eight-oddly-eggciting-easter-tradition-from-italy March 20th was officially the first day of spring - but what does the new season typically bring to Italy? Expect to see delicious food at your local market, foreigners shedding layers of clothing while Italians merely reach for their sunglasses, and a healthy dose of quirky local festivals. Here are six tell-tale signs of an Italian spring. https://www.thelocal.it/20190325/unmistakable-signs-that-spring-is-on-its-way-in-italy Mon, 25 Mar 2019 12:47:48 +0100 unmistakable-signs-that-spring-is-on-its-way-in-italy Italy's iconic Baci chocolates are now available covered in ruby-tinted cocoa. https://www.thelocal.it/20180911/iconic-perugina-chocolate-kisses-turn-pink-for-limited-edition Tue, 11 Sep 2018 14:30:45 +0200 iconic-perugina-chocolate-kisses-turn-pink-for-limited-edition When Audrey Fielding first came to Puglia, she was expecting "a barren landscape", based on what she's heard and read. Instead, she found vibrant towns, chatty locals, a rich culture and delicious food that kept her coming back year after year. https://www.thelocal.it/20170324/why-the-beauty-music-and-people-of-salento-keep-me-coming-back-for-more Fri, 24 Mar 2017 09:01:57 +0100 why-the-beauty-music-and-people-of-salento-keep-me-coming-back-for-more Every May 1st, the town of Cocullo in Abruzzo carries out a slithery ritual: the Festa dei Serpari or Serpent Festival, which sees locals parade the streets with scores of specially caught snakes. https://www.thelocal.it/20180502/pictures-italy-snake-festival-cocullo Wed, 02 May 2018 12:52:53 +0200 pictures-italy-snake-festival-cocullo Twenty thousand revellers, wearing masks and colourful period costumes, packed into St Mark's Square on Sunday for the "flight of the angel" marking the traditional opening of the Carnival of Venice. https://www.thelocal.it/20180205/in-pictures-flight-of-the-angel-launches-venice-carnival Mon, 05 Feb 2018 09:45:32 +0100 in-pictures-flight-of-the-angel-launches-venice-carnival The Venice Carnival kicked off in typically extravagant style on Saturday, as thousands of visitors to the lagoon city joined locals in the annual festival. Here are some of the most stunning photos of the spectacular show. https://www.thelocal.it/20180129/in-pictures-venices-spectacular-carnival-2018 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 11:08:56 +0100 in-pictures-venices-spectacular-carnival-2018 Siena's Palio is a twice-annual festival that sees the Tuscan city's various districts compete in a medieval-themed bareback horse race. Dating back to the sixth century, this is one of Siena's most important traditions and thousands of locals and tourists gather in the central piazza to watch it unfold. https://www.thelocal.it/20170703/pictures-siena-palio-italys-historic-horse-race-tradition-festival Mon, 03 Jul 2017 11:30:36 +0200 pictures-siena-palio-italys-historic-horse-race-tradition-festival The Easter weekend saw a variety of celebrations take place all around Italy, from religious festivals to curious rural traditions. Here's a look at some of the most spectacular. https://www.thelocal.it/20170418/a-map-of-the-most-famous-easter-celebrations Tue, 18 Apr 2017 14:03:27 +0200 a-map-of-the-most-famous-easter-celebrations Thousands of people poured onto the cobblestone streets of a northern Italian town on Sunday to throw oranges at a makeshift monarchy, a tradition dating back more than 150 years. https://www.thelocal.it/20170227/annual-orange-fight-gets-underway-in-ivrea-carnival Mon, 27 Feb 2017 09:53:09 +0100 annual-orange-fight-gets-underway-in-ivrea-carnival Tens of thousands of revellers in masks and period costume packed St Mark's Square on Sunday for the "flight of the angel", the traditional opening of the Venice Carnival. https://www.thelocal.it/20170220/in-pictures-flying-angel-kicks-off-venice-carnival Mon, 20 Feb 2017 10:08:13 +0100 in-pictures-flying-angel-kicks-off-venice-carnival What's in a name? From 'mule testicles' to 'priest-stranglers', Italy is full of tasty foods with confusingly off-putting names. Here are ten of the most revolting-sounding dishes which we promise are nicer than the names suggest. https://www.thelocal.it/20170217/ten-italian-foods-with-disgusting-names Fri, 17 Feb 2017 09:44:27 +0100 ten-italian-foods-with-disgusting-names The Carnival of Venice, which each year draws thousands of revellers dressed in masks and period costume, got under way in the iconic Italian city on Saturday with a stunning show staged on its famous canals. https://www.thelocal.it/20170214/venice-carnival-opened-spectacular-fashion-canal-show-masks Tue, 14 Feb 2017 11:10:50 +0100 venice-carnival-opened-spectacular-fashion-canal-show-masks Who better to ask to be the godparent to your child than the son of a genuine Sicilian mafia godfather? https://www.thelocal.it/20170203/mafia-godfathers-son-made-godparent Fri, 03 Feb 2017 09:42:22 +0100 mafia-godfathers-son-made-godparent