Italy Chronicles | facts, Italian news in English, & expat life in Italy

Another Earthquake in Milan Today

January 27, 2012 By Alex Roe Leave a Comment

After the earth moved briefly in Milan, Italy on Wednesday, another, slightly stronger earthquake happened today, Friday at 3:53pm - 5.4 on the Richter scale. Wednesday's earthquake was around 5.0 on the Richter scale.Wednesday's quake, which I felt, did not feel as not as strong as today's quake which felt to me as if it lasted a little longer than the one which hit at the two days ago. One report I've read says the tremor lasted 15 seconds. Wednesday's tremor lasted around 10 seconds or so.Trains running close to the epicenter near Corniglio in the Parma area of northern Italy … More >>

Strega – Benevento’s Bewitching Italian Liqueur

January 26, 2012 By Alex Roe Leave a Comment

Did you know that Benevento down in Italy's south was once the annual general meeting location for all the witches in the whole wide world? Probably not, although this was once the case, or so the legend goes. There must have been a few Harriet … More >>

Earthquake in Milan Today

January 25, 2012 By Alex Roe Leave a Comment

There was a very brief earthquake in Milan, Italy today at around 09:06 am. I know, I felt it. I was outside on our balcony when the plants started shuddering, the balcony itself shuddered too and I heard tiny pieces of debris fall off the walls … More >>

The Fiat 500: An Italian Design Classic

January 25, 2012 By Paolo Feroleto 7 Comments

In this edition of my Italian Design Classics series, I am going to take a fast-track look at an undisputed icon of Italian design: the Fiat 500.Here's the 500 story, from its conception to the re-launched contemporary version of this Fiat … More >>

Sicily is Mafia

January 24, 2012 By Alex Roe 3 Comments

Actually, it isn't, but that is the stereotype which affects Italy's southern island. Some would blame the Godfather movies for engraving this image on Sicily.It is true that organized crime is a problem in Sicily, but that does not make all … More >>

Italy Strikes

January 23, 2012 By Alex Roe 4 Comments

Italy's Prime Minister Mario Monti is in full liberalization swing. I know that Monti does not like the term "liberalization" applied to what he and his government are trying to do - maybe "normalization" is a more appropriate term, in that what … More >>

Paul Critchley is coming to Milan

January 23, 2012 By Alex Roe Leave a Comment

Bodach of About Abruzzo would like to tell you something about an English artist resident in Italy. Over to you Bodach.I’ll understand completely if your immediate reaction is something like: Who is Paul Critchley and why is he going to … More >>