culture

A Crash Course in Local Aperitivo Culture

Limoncello used to be strictly a post-meal thing on the Amalfi Coast — something you sipped neat after dinner, not before. Then, in the early 2010s, a few bars started mixing it with Prosecco and still water, and a regional classic was born. That shift reshaped how locals and visitors alike approach the pre-dinner hours along this coastline. By 2015, the Amalfi Spritz appeared on 42% of coastal bar menus surveyed by the Associazione Ristoratori della Costiera Amalfitana, up from

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Navigating Dietary Restrictions Without Missing Out on the Food

I walked into a bakery in Rome, ready to explain my gluten-free situation with the careful Italian I’d rehearsed. Before I could get a word out, the woman behind the counter pointed to a display case with a hand-lettered sign reading “Senza glutine” and asked if I wanted the regular or the gluten-free version of the morning pastry. That moment caught me off guard — in a good way. Italy, it turns out, is one of the most accommodating countries

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Markets Worth a Morning Detour on Any Itinerary

The Mercato Comunale in Amalfi doesn’t look like much from the outside. It’s near the bus station, and the entrance is easy to miss. But that’s exactly the kind of place I’ve learned to look for. Because the markets that locals actually use — the ones where they buy their Friday fish and Saturday cheese — are the ones that tell you the most about a place. And on the Amalfi Coast, a morning spent at a market is worth

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Coffee Rituals That Take Some Getting Used To

I ordered a cappuccino at a bar in Sorrento around 2 PM my first week in Italy. The barista didn’t say anything, but the look he gave me said everything. That was my introduction to the unwritten rules of Italian coffee culture — rules that make perfect sense once you understand them but can catch any traveler off guard. Roughly 90 percent of Italian households own a moka pot, according to a 2010 Bialetti study. – travelshelper.com Emily’s Take Italian

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Meeting the Farmers Behind the Produce on Your Plate

The Amalfi Coast’s terraced farming system was added to the FAO’s Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems list in August 2025, after nearly ten years of advocacy led by architect Giorgia De Pasquale. For the families who have worked these slopes for generations, the designation confirmed what they already knew — this place grows food unlike anywhere else. And the best part? You can actually meet the people who make it happen. A tribute to those who, with sacrifice and passion,

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A Digestivo Tradition That Ends Every Meal on a High Note

I first noticed the pattern on a warm evening in Positano. The plates had been cleared, the table was scattered with espresso cups, and instead of bringing the bill, our waiter returned with a small tray of chilled glasses and a bottle of bright yellow liqueur. No one asked. It just arrived. That little pour of limoncello — sweet, cold, and bracingly citrusy — turned the end of dinner into its own quiet ceremony. And honestly, it changed how I

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Cetara Still Smells Like Anchovies and That’s Exactly the Point

I stepped off the bus onto the SS163 and the first thing I registered was the smell. Not the floral perfume of lemons that hangs over most of the Amalfi Coast. Something saltier. Sharper. Anchovies. Cetara makes no apologies for what it is — a working fishing village where colatura di alici has been pressed from fermented anchovies for centuries. In 2020, that amber liquid earned EU protected designation of origin status, legally tying it to this single stretch of

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Matera’s Cave Homes: From Shame to Capital of Culture

I’m standing on a stone balcony carved into the side of a ravine, looking across at a city that was once called “the shame of Italy.” The sun is setting behind the cathedral on the Civita ridge, and the entire Sassi district glows the color of warm honey. Matera’s cave dwellings — the Sassi — are among the longest continuously inhabited settlements on Earth, with human presence here dating back to the Neolithic period. This guide is for anyone wondering

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Italy’s Sanremo: A Week of Music and Culture

Sanremo, a city on the Italian Riviera, hosts a major cultural event each February: the Sanremo Music Festival. This long-running contest, which began in 1951, showcases new Italian songs and has become Italy’s largest television show, deeply embedded in the nation’s cultural fabric. Emily’s Take Think of Sanremo as more than just a song competition; it’s a week-long celebration of Italian creativity, entertainment, and identity, all unfolding in a beautiful coastal setting. It’s an event you can dip in and

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Bergamo and Brescia: Italy’s Joint Culture Capitals

Italy’s Lombardy region is home to two historic cities, Bergamo and Brescia, that are sharing the title of Italian Capital of Culture for 2023. This joint designation highlights their resilience after being severely impacted by the early days of the pandemic. Both cities are eager to showcase their rich cultural heritage and attract visitors, aiming to boost tourism after a difficult period. Bergamo and Brescia are Italy’s first joint Capital of Culture. The collaboration between Bergamo and Brescia is particularly

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