Blog: Discover Italy

Feast of Santa Lucia December 13 After the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the next important celebration during the Christmas season is the Feast of Santa Lucia (St. Lucy) on December 13th. Santa Lucia lived in the late 200’s AD in Syracuse, Sicily in Italy during a time when being a Christian was a criminal offense in the Roman Empire. From an early age, Lucia devoted her life to Christ and to serving the poor.  One day, Lucia had attracted the attention of a pagan Roman officia …

Christmas Markets in Italy Last year my daughters and I were in Italy for the Christmas season and one of our favorite activities was attending the Christmas Markets. Our favorite market was in Florence. Located in the square in front of Santa Croce, we felt like we were transported to a Medieval Christmas wonderland. There were handcrafted items from all over Europe. My daughter purchased a lovely scarf from Romania; we snacked on delectable chocolate from Switzerland, sausages from Germany and …

Manarola Nativity - Largest Lighted Nativity in The World Manarola, Italy is home to the world’s largest, lighted nativity scene. Manarola is a picturesque village located on the Italian Riviera, in part of the famous Cinque Terre (Five Lands) in the Liguria region of Northern Italy. The nativity was the brainchild of local resident Mario Andreoli, a retired railway worker, who began the project in 1976 and continued enhancing his nativity until his death in 2022. The e …

The Holy House of Loreto In a little village in Italy, resides three walls which according to ancient sources are part of the Cave of Nazareth where the Blessed Virgin Mary was born, lived and received the Annunciation from the Angel Gabriel. Tradition states that this Holy House was transported by Angels from Nazareth to Loreto. Near the Adriatic Sea, Loreto is a picturesque hill town of some 10,000 inhabitants located in the central Italian region known as the Marches. It is famous throughout …

The Christmas Season in Italy Last year, my family and I spent the Christmas season in Italy which turned out to be a truly memorable experience! Italy is one of the most beautiful places in the world, but it takes on an even more enchanting appeal as it becomes draped in the spirit of Christmas. Unlike America, where Christmas is centered around commercialization and Santa Claus, the Italians celebrate the real meaning of Christmas – the celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas …

Feast of the Seven Fish Christmas Eve Dinner This Christmas season celebrate the Italian-American tradition of the “Feast of the Seven Fish”, a delicious seven-course seafood only feast served on Christmas Eve. Despite its popularity with Americans, most Italians do not even know about the tradition. So how did this tradition start? The tradition of eating fish on Christmas Eve dates to the long-standing Catholic tradition of the “vigilia”, a day of fasting that ends with …

St. Francis of Assisi and the First Nativity St. Francis of Assisi (1181 – 1226) is one of the most beloved saints of the Catholic Church. He is known for his deep devotion to Christ, his love of animals and nature, his dedication and compassion for the poor and marginalized, and his foundational role in the Franciscan Order. But did you know that St. Francis is also responsible for creating the first nativity? In 1223, St. Francis was making his way back home to Assisi from a trip to Rome …

Lesser Known Italian Recipes There is nothing like Italian food!  I don’t think I have ever had a dish that I did not love – well, except that pigeon dish I had in Tuscany. We are all familiar with Spaghetti alla Carbonara, Lasagna, Fettucine Alfredo, Osso Bucco and Ravioli, but I went exploring to try and find some lesser known Italian dishes.  Bagna Càuda: This traditional Italian appetizer is a warm dip featuring garlic and anchovies, typically served with b …

Favorite Italian Fig Recipes Fall is here and I am so excited because it is finally fig harvesting time! I have been watching with anticipation as the fruit on my fig tree is now large enough to harvest. And I better hurry before the bees more in to devour all the fruit before I do. If you do not have a fig tree growing in your yard, I strongly suggest you plant one. They are one of the easiest fruit trees to grow and the bounty of fruit they produce is extraordinary! I always joke that when the …

Celebrating All Saints Day in Italy November 1st is one of the most important religious and national holidays in Italy. Known as Le Festa di Ognissanti, or in England All Saints Day, this is a day to commemorate all the saints of the Roman Catholic Church, both known and unknown, who have attained a glorious place in heaven. Today in Italy shop, schools and businesses will be closed as Italians gather to remember the holy saints in heaven. This is a day of celebration where Italians gather with …