Ski slopes and fresh powder are probably not the first things that spring to mind when thinking about about a getaway to Italy. However, the distribution of winter resorts throughout the country is impressive enough to shock those who base their idea of Italy's terrain upon repeat viewings of Sergio Leone's 'spaghetti Westerns.' It may not have the reputation of the French Alps, yet the considerable landmass of Italy - 116,347 square miles all told - is able to support over 100 ski areas and resorts.

At least 40% of Italy's terrain is mountainous, with topographic maps showing the massive Apennine range extending to almost the full length of the Italian peninsula. Winter sports enthusiasts are therefore spoiled for choice here whether they reside in the north of Italy or in Sicily, and should have no trouble finding outlets for skiing, snowboarding, and other activities requiring the aid of snowfall and cold temperatures. As such, it should come as less of a surprise that Italy fields a national men's ice hockey team with a number of respectable finishes (in spite of their regularly having to contend with the impassable forces of Eastern and Northern Europe.)   more ...

Many famous locations on the globe have been, for better or worse, reduced in the public mind to a single defining feature or concept. If we were to play a simple word association game with famous global destinations, we might get, say, simple reductions like "beach" for Miami, "cowboy" for Texas, or "mafia" for Sicily. Ever since novelist Mario Puzo got the ball rolling in the late 1960s, Sicily - and the U.S. delegation of the mafia to come from there - has been practically fused in the public imagination to the image of sharply dressed, quick-tempered, ruthless underworld operatives who either greet you with a 'kiss of death' or by leaving a severed horse's head in your bed. It's a captivating image, to be sure, but is it relevant at all for the present day?

Who is Really the Most Dangerous Group in Italy?

The mafia has been historically most active in both rural and urban portions of western Sicily, also hosting a kind of coordinating committee in and around the Palermo region (significantly, this 'belly of the beast' has also been the center of anti-mafia activism).   more ...

In recent years, Italy has seemed to outside observers like a country in constant, chaotic flux, with the recent governmental transition being major proof of this. The recent chaotic general election in the country, which generated no fewer than five inconclusive ballots, finally ended on April 20 with the re-election of Giorgio Napolitano.

However, it is not the indecisiveness and / or apathy of the electorate which is the problem, so much as the economic situation which may be exacerbated by lack of confidence in whatever governmental coalition Napolitano manages to form. The Economist reports that the country is staring down a debt of €2 trillion, prompting worries throughout the continent of a here-we-go-again bailout plan similar to those affecting Greece and Cyprus.   more ...

In a similar vein to the rest of the world, Italy is experiencing challenging times during the current economic climate, with regards to employment opportunities and the financial crisis. Unemployment is at an all-time high and the recovery has been slow for the country.

Expats will be interested to hear that the North has far more opportunities for work than the South, although every area differs. Despite the recent global recession, there are a number of employment avenues available in Italy for both locals and expats, if you know where to look and target your search appropriately.

When moving to Italy (or beforehand), it is wise to contact as many prospective employers as possible to open up options and opportunities. Recruitment companies usually advertise and deal with executive positions, key personnel and management roles which are often highly paid; whereas local employment offices tend to offer manual work (jobs in retail or construction) which are lower paid but more readily available (immediate starts etc.).   more ...

by Amy Lucinda

An article on Italian food. Where on earth do I start?! The country that's famous for passion, fashion and food. And probably fashionable food made with passion.

Now, I could just write a list of adjectives to describe Italian food, which basically all mean ‘amazing’. But as effective as that may be at getting the message across, it's not all that interesting.

So, I have decided to simply write about the experiences that I have had with Italian food, here in sunny Puglia.

Before I came to Italy, I had visions of amazing home cooked pasta dishes; tasty fresh pizza and incredible gelato (see how the adjectives come in?). Well, I wasn't at all disappointed with what I discovered, because it was pretty much exactly as I'd imagined. No, better. Because I discovered a whole load of other wonderful culinary creations along the way.   more ...