Mountains Are Born from The Graves of Oceans

Water that tastes of vanished oceans, flowing toward a sea that inherited the dreams of Tethys. The green stones of Monviso are not alone in their exile.

[Continued from "The Stone Heart of Italy"]

 

The Stone Heart of Italy

From the hills above Turin, from the ancient terraces of Biella, even on the clearest days, from the distant spires of Milan, one mountain alone commands the western horizon.

Not the highest peak in the Alps—that honor belongs to Mont Blanc—but the most imperious, the most solitary, the most impossible to ignore.

The Great Cornetto Divide: A Morning Ritual That Maps Italy's Soul

 There's a moment every morning in Italy when the country reveals one of its most charming contradictions.

The Devil of Piedmont

For many of us, Italy is sun-drenched piazzas, the gentle clink of wine glasses, and the slow, sweet rhythm of days that have unfolded the same way for centuries. It’s a romantic vision, but

But Italy, like any ancient place, is a palimpsest. Layers of beauty are written over layers of blood and iron.

Following Water: Along Italy's Most Romantic Canal

There's something magical about discovering this gem of Italian engineering that has been quietly doing its job for over a century.

When the Italian Night Comes Alive (and Tries to Eat You)

 Okay, fellow night owls and adventurers, let's talk about Italian nightlife.

A Secret Germanic Tribe That Hid in Italy's Mountains

 That's like finding a Viking who still worshiped Thor during the Renaissance. So I went full Indiana Jones to uncover their story… and it's wilder than Game of Thrones.

Theodolinda Cycle (scene No. 10) by ZAVATTARI, Franceschino

My Two-Day Coastal Caper: Sun, Storms, and "Viking Skin" Woes

A h, the siren call of the Ligurian Sea! Fresh off a train from Biella, I recently embarked on a two-day “vacation” to Savona and Genoa Quinto al Mare. The goal? A relaxing seaside escape, a chance to swap my usual scenery for something a bit more… oceanic.

Lost in Time: A Medieval City That Looks Like a Fairytale

There's something truly special about that city — the way it holds its history so close, making visitors feel like they're walking through living stories rather than just looking at old buildings.

Adventures in the Alps: Discovery, Height Limits, and Hidden Charm

Life’s most incredible adventures often come by chance, and my recent trip through the breathtaking Alps was no exception.

Colle del Nivolet

Is Italy Still Worth Visiting — Or Are We Just Obsessed With Its Past?

Is Italy overrated or just not listening? We keep visiting the same old places, but maybe the real Italy is hiding somewhere else. There’s more to Italy than clichés and crowded sights.

The Ancient Secrets of Two Aosta Valley's Castles

Forget the crowded canals of Venice or the endless queues of Florence. There’s a quieter, more ancient Italy waiting to be discovered, nestled deep in the northwestern Alps: the Aosta Valley

An Authentic Italy Vacation

Rebecca asked me to write this post since I’m an expat in Italy, I’ve lived for 30 years here, and I face the same problems as everyone (post written with a bit of a smile)

However, I’m passionate about history, other curiosities, the beauty of nature, and

The Silent Witness of Monza: A Son's Grief Amidst Royal Tragedy

 Visiting Monza offers a chance to step beyond the well-trodden tourist paths and encounter a site that invites reflection on the complex interplay of personal loss and political upheaval.

For travelers venturing beyond the iconic Colosseum and the romantic canals of Venice, Italy holds quieter, yet equally poignant, historical sites. One such place is the Royal Villa of Monza, nestled in the verdant landscape near Milan.

Where Africa and Europe Had Once Clashed

 Sunday, almost the first sunny day this year, I went with a friend to Lake Viverone and I remembered the story of this marvelous zone that not everybody knows. 

Lake Viverone

A Slice of Naples in Biella: the Perfect Pizza

As you know, I lived in the Campagna region (with the capital Naples) for 22 years and learned some of their traditions, which I took with me when I moved to Biella. Here is one of my “rituals.”

As the train gently meanders into Biella, the surrounding mountains—rising majestically to 2,600 meters (ca. 8,530 ft)—seem to embrace the town in a silent, protective hug.

In The Rain In The Alps

What could be less pleasant than spending your holiday in Italy in the pouring rain? But the Alps are always beautiful, and rain makes them more special in contrast to the everyday sunny mood.

A Silence of Stone: Giovanni Fieschi at the Castle of Saint-Germain

 Those were hard times, and neither side was made of “saints”. Iblet de Challant had a reputation as a hard and pragmatic man, not “courteous” to enemies. Giovanni Fieschi was not an innocent victim.

The Lifeblood and Fury of Nature

 Mountain Rivers in the Biella region are the main arteries of human history, from the dawn of time to the present day, even though we are much more advanced than our ancestors in antiquity.