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Instantly Italy

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Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo!

12/24/2020

Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo
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It’s that time of the year, again!

We are getting ready to celebrate Christmas, the year is almost gone and it’s the perfect time to look back and reflect on what has happened this year.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Italian culture 4 Comments

Some Things My Students Like About Italy and Italians

07/30/2020

I have asked my students to list what for them are the best things about Italy and Italians and here are the results
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Blogging about beautiful Italian things is quite common, I know. 

The Internet is full of posts and articles about the beauty of Italy, its amazing lifestyle, all the things you should learn from the Italian way of life and so on.

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Filed Under: Italian culture 7 Comments

A Unique Italian Easter Celebration: The Good Friday Procession in Savona

04/09/2020

This post is about a unique Italian Easter celebration: The Good Friday procession in Savona
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This post has been fixed on my calendar since January.

Every three or four months, I sit down and brainstorm ideas about things I could write in my blog. I make a list of many things but only a few of them make it to the actual blog. Some of them become other things, some others just end up in the trash can, some others become blog posts.
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Italian Sayings That Come From American Movies and TV Series

02/20/2020

In this post, you'll find some of the most popular Italian sayings that come from American movies,
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You probably already know that foreign movies are dubbed, here in Italy.  

This is a horrible habit and one of the reasons why Italians have such a low command of English but we can’t help it. That’s how it has always been, how it is and probably it’s a tradition that will never change. I am sure the future will bring significant changes in Italian society but movies will always be dubbed.

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Filed Under: Italian culture, Italian language 2 Comments

Expats in Italy: An Interview With Tiffany Parks, A Writer Living in Rome, About Life in The City and Raising A Kid in Italy

03/21/2019

In this post, I chat with Tiffany Parks, author and travel writer living in Rome, about life in the city and raising kids in Italy

It’s time to chat with an expat again and I am over the moon with joy!

I have been interviewing expats for a while now – you can find all interviews linked at the bottom of this post – but I never get tired of doing it. I love it because I am a very curious person and I want to know everything about other people’s lives but also because every interview, even if my questions are more or less similar, is an opportunity to learn more about my culture and reflect about it. 

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Italian culture 5 Comments

How Italians Celebrate Carnival: Three Traditional and Unique Festivals in Italy

02/28/2019

Carnival is a quintessential Italian festivity. In this post, I tell you about three traditional and unique Carnival festivals in Italy that have very old origins.
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Carnival is a quintessential Italian festivity and there are a lot of festivals everywhere in the country at this time of the year.

Around mid-February, depending on when Carnival falls each year, every town – even the smallest one – celebrates Carnival. The most common way of doing it is having a parade with floats, music, and people wearing masks. People parade along the streets and then meet in the main city square for some frittelle (fritters) and drinks.

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Filed Under: Italian culture, Visiting Italy Leave a Comment

Can a city be described by some objects? 15 items (plus one) that represent Genoa

01/31/2019

Can a city be described by some objects? In this post, you'll find 15 items that represent the city of Genoa, Italy
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If you have been following me for a while, you may know how much I love Genoa and how hard I try to describe the city – and my region in general – from an authentic point of view. 

You may remember my most recent post about the city, where I gave you a list of reasons not to miss it when you come to Italy, the one about a food tour to discover its delicacies, or another one about the oldest confectionery shop in Italy, which is in Genoa.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Italian culture, Visiting Italy Leave a Comment

Do You Want To Be Happier? Live Life Like An Italian, Then!

01/03/2019

If you want to live a more relaxed and happier life, why don't you adopt some Italian lifestyle habits? In this post, you'll find some of them!
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The title of the post is intentionally exaggerated but I am sure that adopting some little Italian lifestyle habits can make your life if not happier definitely more relaxed.

No matter how I complain about Italian culture and lifestyle – we Italians always do it, every day – there are some traits of our culture that I really like and that I think can make life better, so I thought I might share them with you.

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Filed Under: Italian culture 6 Comments

Are You In Italy At Christmas? Here’s How You Can Spend Christmas Day Like Italians Do

12/19/2018

Are you going to spend Christmas in Italy? Why don't you celebrate like the Italians do? In this post, I give you some tips to enjoy this holiday in the Italian way.
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Being abroad for the Christmas holidays can be a weird experience.

If Christmas is not your thing, you are in heaven because you can avoid the traditional celebrations and the parties you don’t care about, without even needing an excuse. But if you like Christmas, you may feel a bit out of place.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Italian culture 4 Comments

Ferrania: A Now Forgotten Company That Has Made Italian History

11/29/2018

Many companies have played a big role in making Italian history. One of them, which is now quite forgotten, is Ferrania, a company producing film for cameras and cinema, and you'll find a bit of its history in this post
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For a while in my life, I have been part of Italian history without fully realizing it.

Speaking of work, I have lived two very different lives. Before doing what I currently do, which is running this website and working freelance as a translator, I have worked for some years in the corporate world.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Italian culture 2 Comments

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Ciao!

My name is Cinzia and Italy is the place I call home.

Books feed my soul, music fills my days and travelling makes my life richer. I am a day dreamer, tireless walker and believer in the power of little things.

I’ve created Instantly Italy to take you to Italy with me and explore together this crazy but “oh so lovely” country. Read More…

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