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La Bella Vita is our regular look at the real culture of Italy – from language to cuisine, manners to art. This newsletter is published weekly and you can receive it directly to your inbox, by going to newsletter preferences in ‘My Account’ or following the instructions in the newsletter box below.
As winter starts to creep in in Italy, many in the country may instinctively favour hunkering down in the warmth of their own homes instead of wandering outdoors.
But, while the weather may be gloomier and the nights longer, there’s much to look forward to in Italy in November.
From a world-famous chocolate festival in Perugia to a sprawling three-week jazz festival in Rome and centuries-old Madonna della Salute celebrations in the heart of Venice, we rounded up ten of the best events to attend next month.
What’s on in Italy: 10 events not to miss this November
Whether you’ve just started out on your path to proficiency or have a bit more experience under your belt, if you speak at least some Italian, there’s a good chance you’re using ‘foreign’ words too – likely without knowing it.
Like most contemporary languages, modern Italian was born out of centuries of interactions with other nations and cultures, and the range of foreign influences on its vocabulary reflects the country’s rich history.
Here are ten Italian words which have their roots in foreign languages – from English and German to Spanish and Arabic.
Ten Italian words that come from other languages
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Pasta is the cornerstone of Italian cuisine and, quite famously, Italians can’t get enough of it (hence the popularity of the adage Toglietemi tutto ma non la pasta!, or ‘Take everything away from me except pasta’).
But Italians aren’t the only ones consuming the high-carb food on a regular basis as pasta has long become a beloved staple of people’s diets in countless countries all over the world, so much so that there’s even an international event celebrating it every year.
First brought into existence in 1995 during a World Pasta Congress held in Rome, the Giornata Mondiale della Pasta virtually unites pasta lovers from all corners of the world every October 25th.
As fans of the food, including us at The Local, celebrate World Pasta Day, we rounded up ten facts you may not know about Italy’s best-loved export.
Ten surprising pasta facts in honour of Italy’s favourite food
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