Why Italians close their shutters in summer
It can look as though an Italian house has gone to sleep in the middle of a bright day. In reality, the shutters are often doing useful work.
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ITALY, LIKE A LOCAL
The small things
Italians simply know.
Practical notes for living in Italy and caring for a home here—seasons, habits and local codes that rarely make it into a travel guide.
OWN ITALY · 5 min read
Leaving your Italian country house for weeks?
An empty house does not stop responding to heat, cold, wind and rain. Before a long absence, locals tend to think in seasons rather than only in locks and keys.
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OWN ITALY · 4 min read
After a Piedmont thunderstorm
A summer storm can cross the hills quickly. Once it has passed and conditions are safe, a calm walk around the property can reveal what the wind and rain have changed.
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LIVE ITALY · 6 min read
The Italian breakfast: one country, many morning rituals
There is no single Italian breakfast. From Turin’s marocchino to Ligurian focaccia and Sicilian granita, every region brings its own character to the first ritual of the day.
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LIVE ITALY · 4 min read
The Italian bar: counter or table?
An Italian bar is breakfast stop, coffee ritual and neighbourhood meeting point. The first small decision is often whether to remain at the counter or sit down.
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LIVE ITALY · 6 min read
At the Italian table, there is always one more course
Alla carta or fixed menu, antipasto or ammazzacaffè: an Italian meal follows a rhythm of its own—and just when you think it is over, another invitation arrives.
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LIVE ITALY · 5 min read
Ferragosto: when Italy changes rhythm
The 15th of August is not simply another date in the calendar. It sits at the centre of the Italian summer and can reshape everyday plans around it.
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LIVE ITALY · 6 min read
Why WhatsApp often beats email in Italy
Formality and informality. A carefully written email can wait unanswered while one concise message receives a reply—and the choice between Lei and tu can change the tone of the relationship.
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LIVE ITALY · 6 min read
Mercato — the market in the piazza
Fruit, fish, flowers, clothes and conversation: the weekly market is not only where a town shops, but where it recognises itself.
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LIVE ITALY · 7 min read
Italian public holidays: when everyday life pauses
A supermarket may still be open while the bank, municipal office, tradesperson or delivery service is not. Understanding holidays, holiday eves and long weekends makes life in Italy much easier to organise.
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LIVE ITALY · 6 min read
The fourth element: Italy’s mysterious bathroom object
Beyond the washbasin, toilet and shower, Italian bathrooms often contain a fourth element. More useful than it first appears, knowing how to use it should never be a taboo.
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