The siesta or riposo in Italian is said to have originated in Spain because of the hot Mediterranean climate. Most businesses and shops close for up to three hours so that the Italians can enjoy long, luxurious lunches and short soothing naps. As I come from a warm climate myself, I can certainly understand the need for a sleep away from the blazing heat of the afternoons, but the desire for a siesta in winter is beyond me!

I enjoy traveling by train in Europe – I often stay in one...

I found this news story kind of humorous. Not something you hear about everyday from the capital of Catholicism. But for those of us who believe in miracles, perhaps he had to ring the bell just to get some help.

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Italian astronomer Jean-Dominique (Giovanni Domenico)Cassini was one of the great scientific minds of his time. One of the first men to observe the Great Red Spot of Jupiter, Cassini also continued Galileo's work on measuring the gas giant. However Cassini is best known for his work with our solar system's second largest planet, Saturn.

Ten years ago a spacecraft was launced toward the Ringed Planet which pays homage to the great Italian astronomer. The Cassini-Huygens mission is...

The great composer, Puccini, described himself as a 'mighty hunter of wild birds, opera librettos and beautiful women'. He had affairs with many of his stars, including Rose Adler, and other renowned women like the English socialite Sybil Seligman, but his great love was apparently someone completely unknown, according to the film-maker, Paolo Benvenuti.

A lover of gambling and smoking from an early age, Puccini was regarded as a good-for-nothing by his Uncle Fortunato. However,...

Just when I think I have read everything on the Life in Italy website I find an article that grabs my attention. This morning I was reading a piece called: Italy's India: where the twain meet? It can be read here:

http://www.lifeinitaly.com/culture/india-italy.asp

I found the article very interesting considering that there is such a huge distance separating the two lands and yet there was cultural contact from very early on.

The modern Indian state of...