Local La Bella Vita: The Italian Way

To whoever invented The Italian Way, you are awesome and you read my mind. I downloaded your app last week and I ADORE it. 

For those who are not familiar with The Italian Way, it is an iPad app available in the App Store that allows users to search for Italian-inspired locales in cities across the United States, ensuring its users have a slice of la bella vita. Whether you are exploring your own neighborhood or venturing across the country, an Italian-filled life is at your fingertips. 

The app's intro gets users ready to experience Italian culture in the US!

Select your city and discover new Italian locales!

Create an itinerary of places to visit in your chosen city.
From gelato stands to a passeggiata in a park, a small part of Italy is present everywhere. 

I cannot wait to explore some new gelato stands, pizzerias and parks in Chicago. 

Allow The Italian Way to help you live la bella vita and celebrate Italian culture!

Facciamo shopping!

Let's go shopping!

Italy is a fashion mecca, filled with fabulous finds for every style and budget. With the plethora of stores, stalls and street markets available to visitors, one can easily go wild in the centro commerciale. As traveling gets pricey, I will provide tips on how to prioritize when shopping and make suggestions on items to purchase in Italy.

General shopping tips: 
Visit stores unique to the area. Shop small businesses in the towns you visit - you'll find one of a kind treasures that are truly worth it!

Check out Italian brands...at which the masses shop. As mentioned in a previous post, Oviesse, Massimo Dutti, Class, Intimissimi and Oysho - some of my favorite Italian brands that won't break the bank!

Make purchases that are easy to pack. Post offices in Italy can get chaotic, so try to stay away from shipping items home. If you find something fabulous, however, go for it!

If you want to splurge on a designer item, do it in Europe. Non E.U. citizens get the vatted tax back!

Some of my favorite Italian finds via Polyvore! 

Must-have Italian items
Leather goods - Italy is known for high quality leather items. Luckily if you visit, you can get them for slightly less than in the U.S. (no import tax)

Jewelry - From upscale jewelry stores to street markets, nice jewelry in Italy is anywhere. I have various items that look fancier than they are!

Home decor - From wine glasses to wall art to table decor, Italian street markets have amazing finds that are easy to pack in suitcases. If you tell a merchant you are traveling, they will package the items so they stay safe in your luggage!

Food and beverage - I suggest checking the U.S. Customs website before making any purchases, but you are able to bring certain food and drink items back!

Souvenirs - Be sure to commemorate your trip with some sort of cheesy trinket! I really love the leather  bracelets branded with each major city name - they are stylish and a wonderful memento. You can find them at stalls in large piazzas throughout destinations such as Venice, Rome, Naples and Florence.

Buon shopping! 

24 Hours in Rome

Piazza, Piazza!

Italy is filled with piazzas, or plazas. Used as meeting areas, performance arenas or markets, they are the central part of life. Rome has 24 piazzas, including: 

• Piazza del Popolo
• Piazza Navona
• Piazza di Spagna 
• Piazza di San Macuto
• Piazza della Repubblica 
• Campo de Fiori
• Piazza della Minerva
• Piazza della Rotonda
• Piazza Venezia 
• St. Peter's Square

Piazza di San Macuto

Every piazza has its own personality. 

Piazza Venezia is filled with tourists, near the Roman Ruins, Wedding Cake building and the Coliseum. Campo dei Fiori is the hub for students and young people from around the world. 

Piazza Navona is a stage with performers dancing while visitors dine at out door restaurants and artists sell their work during markets. 

For laid back enjoyment, visit Piazza di Spagna at night. It can be a tourist trap during the day but is the essence of Italian lifestyle in the evening. 

Always pay attention to happenings in the piazze for a full Italian experience! 

Cannoli, a Classic Italian Dessert

Cannoli. In my opinion, this sweet treat is the epitome of Italian culture. Although its structure and details very by region, the basic makeup and deliciousness stays the same. 

Originally from Sicily, cannoli are found all over Italy and are a staple in Italian American restaurants. Crisp, cylinder shaped dough filled with sugary ricotta. Sometimes chocolate chips or pistachio are mixed in the filling. 

Cannoli filling at my house!

There are variants on the traditional Sicilian cannoli. My Nonna makes them by forming the dough as a cone and filling it with whipped vanilla pudding. In Rome, cannoli are adorned with fruit preserves. 

Photo credit: historyandwomen.com

A bakery near my home even sells cannoli cakes. Not just cake with cannoli flavoring, but a giant cannoli shell with smaller ones inside! This treat takes a variety of forms, from broken apart shells dipped in filling, chocolate dipped shells, minis or extra large cannoli. 

Travel tip: be sure to try a cannoli in every part of Italy you visit and compare them. 

It's important to note that when ordering in Italian, one cannoli is a cannolo. However, they are so delicious you will not be able to eat just one! 

Packing for Italy 101

Packing for Italy was rough. I had to fit clothes, toiletries, books and magazines, my laptop and "American" items for my family friends and meet the suitcase weight limit. To make this chore a little easier, I compiled some lessons and tips I learned during my study abroad experience. 

• You do not need as much clothing as you think. I wish I packed less because after making purchases abroad, it was a struggle to fit everything in when returning to the U.S. My recommendation is to pack for three weeks and do laundry. 
• Duct tape your shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste and body wash so it doesn't open and explode during your flights/train rides & put them in plastic bags. 
• Bring a smaller suitcase with clothing and necessities in it as a carry-on, just in case something goes wrong with luggage. 
• Ladies, heels are not cobblestone street friendly. Wedges & flats work. 
• Ladies & gentlemen: be sure to have one long pair of pants and a sweater or long sleeve shirt for visiting churches. 
• Don't forget a converter for chargers, blow dryers or hot styling tools. 

Photo credit: social.eli.ubc.ca

Hope these tips help! If you have any other tips, I would love to hear. 

Buon viaggio!

Moda Italiana

Fashion is a major part of Italian culture. Italians love to look good and uphold "la bella figura." Milan is known as one of the world's fashion capitals, but Rome is also home to couture and affordable finds. 

The Via Condotti is one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world and located directly across from Piazza Spagna in the middle of the city. If you are searching for a Prada wallet or Louis Vuitton shoes, head right over to the Via Condotti. 

A view of the Via Condotti from the Spanish Steps!

If you are on a smaller budget, like I was when studying abroad, summer sale season is your best friend. Sales, or saldi are usually 50-75% discounts. Some key stores to visit in La Citta Eterna are: 

• Massimo Dutti
• Oviesse
• Oysho
• Zara 
• Class
• Intimissimi

Massimo Dutti, Zara and Oysho are all located in Galleria Alberto Sordi, a beautiful, air conditioned mall in the heart of Rome. The galleria also has two cafes where you can enjoy a snack, an espresso or a glass of wine. 

Galleria Alberto Sordi, also an air conditioned escape from the Roman heat!

Class and Intimissimi are free standing stores with various locations in the historic district. In addition to these stores, tons of small businesses in every Roman neighborhood have beautiful, unique finds for any budget. 

Glassy & Colorful: Murano, Italy

Growing up, everyone in my close extended family had glass gondolas in their homes, even my Irish paternal grandparents. Only through reviewing information from a video in Italian class did I realize these decorations were Murano glass!

Murano glass is a skilled craft using a "lamping" technique.
Glassmakers are highly regarded in Venetian society.


Although Murano glass is a luxury, it is also tourist trend found in many major cities. You can purchase small trinkets made from the glass from street vendors and gift shops. I was able to purchase some Murano glass bracelets in Venice and Verona for 4-5 euro.

Polyvore Link to Image Sources: http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=81390386

The highest quality Murano glass is still found in Venice. In piazza San Marco, you are able to walk through negozi that sell glass animal statues, chandeliers, plates, clocks and fine jewelry. 

My suggestion: walk through, but don't touch! These pieces do run thousands of euro. 

If you aren't able to hop on a plane right now, but want a piece of la bella vita, the following vendors sell Murano glass items: 

Pandora
Italian Glass Connection
Forzieri
John Lewis
Kathy Kuo Home
1stdibs.com

Rue La La occasionally has jewelry deals that include Murano glass as well!

Current Events in Italy: How to Stay Connected

It is important to understand global current events, especially when traveling abroad. Although Italy was the first country I visited overseas, anecdotes from my peers and professionals lead me to believe that cultural awareness is important even for the leisure traveler.

When visiting abroad, understanding how the country's political, economic and social structures is important. You can connect with the sights and history on a new level, and forge positive relations with locals, ending any tourist stereotypes they may have.

As an aspiring communication and digital marketing professional, I am a student of the news. My favorite way to stay tuned to Italian news and global events is through Twitter. Some of my go-to resources are:

• @RachelDonadio - Rachel Donadio, The New York Times' Rome Bureau Chief, reports on current affairs in my favorite country. I really enjoyed her constant updates during events such as the Italian elections and Conclave and NYT articles about Italy, Greece and the Vatican. 

• @AJEnglish - Al Jazeera, originally an Arabic news channel, has a site in English and is present on various social media platforms. It is great for a general world news, politics and of course, calcio updates! 

• @la_stampa - La Stampa, one of the largest Italian newspapers, has an English portion online. They only tweet in Italian, but what a great way to get some language practice!! 

I am working on Twitter lists for Italy travel resources and World News and will post those soon! Stay tuned for short posts on the social, political and economic happenings in Italia.

Gelato

This post is worthy of a one-word title because the topic is so great.

Gelato is the single greatest culinary experience in Italy. While cooking styles vary by region and city, gelato stays the same. For the most part. Not all gelato is created equal, but they come close. 

For only a few euros, you can immerse yourself in total happiness. Combine flavors, add some "crema" or fruit, eat it in a cup, cone or on a Belgian waffle. True Italian gelato is a reason in and of itself to visit the country. 

Photo Credit: gelateriaoldbridge.com

Five weeks in Rome certainly taught me that some gelaterie are better than others. My rule of thumb when choosing which sweet wonderland to fork over your Euros to is to try to pick a small business. The chain shops are more expensive and you do not get more for your money. 

My favorite gelateria in Rome? 

Old Bridge Gelateria. 

If you ever go to Rome, write this down and go there. Located next to Vatican City, this shop offers delicious flavors, large quantities and low prices. My go-to combo? Stracciatella e Ricotta con crema. 

I visited many gelaterie in other Roman cities. In my family's hometown, Marostica, we visited the shop near the piazza and I had a delicious Cioccolato. Florence was home to some magnificent gelato and waffle combos. A town near Bari had a gelateria with karaoke at night! 

Aside from how delicious ice cream's Italian counterpart is, gelaterie are a gathering place for visitors and locals alike. Many of these businesses sell crepes with Nutella, wine and apertivi and are open until early morning. 

There are few places in the U.S. that emulate the atmosphere and quality of true Italian gelato, so savor it during your visit!