Vicenza, a picturesque city in northeastern Italy, is renowned for its cultural richness and vibrant community life. Nestled in the heart of the Veneto region, Vicenza is a place where history seamlessly intertwines with modernity, creating a unique and dynamic environment. Known as the “City of Palladio,” the city is celebrated for its exquisite Renaissance architecture, which stands as a testament to the genius of Andrea Palladio. 

The cultural fabric of Vicenza is woven from its rich artistic heritage, lively social scene, and strong sense of community. The city’s historic center, with its elegant piazzas, bustling markets, and charming streets, offers a glimpse into the daily life of its residents. Vicenza’s vibrant public spaces, such as Piazza dei Signori, are the heart of social interaction, where locals gather to enjoy coffee, conversation, and various cultural events. 

The lifestyle in Vicenza is deeply rooted in its cultural traditions and community spirit. The city hosts numerous cultural events throughout the year, ranging from classical music concerts to contemporary art exhibitions. Vicenza’s Teatro Olimpico, one of the architectural marvels designed by Palladio, is a hub for the performing arts, offering a venue for theater productions, concerts, and other cultural activities. 

Teacher Elena Olivari, who is originally from Vicenza, provides an insider’s perspective on the city’s unique character and cultural life.

What makes your city unique? 

We were all very proud when in 1994 UNESCO inscribed “Vicenza, City of Palladio” on its list of World heritage site.  And in 1996, the site was expanded to include the Palladian villas outside the core area, and accordingly renamed “City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto”. 

Vicenza is a thriving and cosmopolitan city, with a rich history and culture, and many museums, art galleries, piazzas, villas, churches and elegant Renaissance palazzi. But it’s also known for a strong industry in the gold jewelry design. 

Andrea Palladio, World-famous Renaissance architect, is the symbol of the city of Vicenza (23 buildings and 24 Villas designed by Palladio). His work is extraordinary because it gives a certain vibe to the city. Everywhere you turn there is a palace or a building designed and built by him. The whole city center, inside the medieval walls, is mostly built in the 16th century and very corner is a wonder. All this was possible at the time with the help of the Valmarana family and their support for Andrea Palladio. 

That is how the city’s most beautiful buildings were erected. They were public men and men of letters who demonstrated humanitarian and social dedication in the places where they owned numerous villas and palaces. It was one of the most illustrious families in the city and even today, the progeny of the family is maintaining these buildings.  This is what makes Vicenza unique. 

What are the hidden gems of your city? 

Since Vicenza is quite small and not widely known as a tourist attraction, it is normal for us, who grew up there, to consider all the beautiful things in the city as hidden gems. Piazza dei Signori, the Museo Olimpico, the Villa Rotonda, and other magnificent palaces are all gems in their own way.

If you are looking for architecture, music, or art, it is all there on display. The city is a small Venice without the sea, and the influence of the Venetian era is clear. 

What is a traditional dish of your city? 

Baccalà alla vicentina, or ‘bacałà a ła vixentina‘ in Venetian dialect, is a traditional dish originating in Vicenza. It is made with stockfish (stoccafisso in Italian), onions, anchovies, milk, and a mature cheese such as Parmesan. Baccalà alla vicentina is considered one of the signature dishes of Vicenza. It is milky and creamy and is usually eaten with soft polenta or toasted bread. Yummy!

Why are the citizens of Vicenza called ‘Vicentini magnagati‘ (cat eaters)? 

Phonetics, ignored today but already known in the nineteenth century, play a role in this nickname. The phrase ‘you have eaten‘ in Venetian is pronounced ‘ti ga magnà‘, in Paduan ‘gheto magnà‘, while in Vicenza it was pronounced ‘gatu magnà‘. This probably gave rise to the nickname ‘magnagatu‘ or ‘magnagati‘ given the legends. Some songwriters created the Anonima Magnagati, using popular and folkloristic music based on the Vicenza dialect. 

What are the cultural traditions of your city? 

Museums, libraries, cultural institutes and producers, universities, theatrical and musical associations in the city have inaugurated permanent coordination, considering all the arts for the cultural development of the city. 

Vicenza and its province offer a rich program of cultural and leisure initiatives throughout the year. The theater, with its events, attracts people from all over Italy, and the traditional ‘Concerts in Villa‘ event is at the heart of the cultural activities organized by the Department of Venetian Culture and Identity. The villas and squares of the area serve as evocative backdrops for concerts, conferences, and debates. 

Music is an integral part of life in Vicenza, or at least it was for me. Many world-famous artists have played or directed at the Olympic theater and in the churches of Vicenza. I still have strong memories of these events and try to catch anything possible when I am there on vacation. 

In summary, Vicenza is a city where the past and present coexist in perfect harmony, offering a lifestyle that is rich in culture, tradition, and community. Whether you are exploring its historical sites, enjoying its culinary delights, or participating in its vibrant cultural events, Vicenza provides an enriching experience that captures the heart and soul of Italian life.

Italy is one of the countries where each region is recognizable and unique because of its own traditions, customs, and typical food.  

Beyond that, Southern Italy cities are well known to be very different compared to other cities in the country.  

For instance, don’t expect everyone to speak English. Unlike many parts of Europe where everyone speaks English, in Southern Italy, English is not very common. Southern Italians speak in a dialect that is very difficult to understand even for most Italian speakers. That’s why at Istituto Italiano Scuola we believe it’s important to seize the opportunity to learn some practical Italian phrases to help you start a conversation with the locals. 

But don’t worry about messing up when speaking, because the locals in the South will make sure you feel welcomed and taken care of through copious generosity and friendliness.  

Furthermore, what makes Southern Italy so beautiful is that it’s surrounded by medieval mountain top towns with tiny streets that may or may not accommodate a car. Plus, you may also stumble upon a castle or an ancient church everywhere you go.  

Thanks to this cultural, linguistic, and landscaping diversity, we interviewed our teacher Valerio Mirarchi who is native from Catanzaro, a city located in the Calabria region of Southern Italy.  

What makes your city unique?  

Catanzaro is unique for several reasons. Firstly, it is perched on 3 hills overlooking the Ionian Sea, offering stunning panoramic views of the coastline. This picturesque setting gives the city a distinctive charm. Additionally, Catanzaro is often referred to as the “City of the Two Seas” because it is located between the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas, making it a strategic and historically significant location. 

What are the hidden gems of your city? 

Catanzaro offers a wide variety of attractions and sites. For those who are interested in historical structures, you may want to walk and admire the Viadotto Bisantis (or Fiumarella bridge), the greatest concrete arch bridge ever built in Italy. It’s an important connecting route between the center of Catanzaro to the Strada dei Due Mari, and either side of the bridge reveals a fantastic scenic view for visitors. 

For those who are interested in nature, you may want to visit Cascata Campanaro Zagarise, a great waterfall with only a short walk to arrive. It is a truly stunning and wonderful spot in the middle of mountain forests. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the area.
 

What are the cultural traditions of your city? 

Catanzaro, like much of Calabria, has a rich cultural heritage. Some of its traditions include “Tarantella Dance,” the traditional Southern Italian dance often performed at celebrations and festivals in Catanzaro. The city also celebrates various religious festivals with processions and events dedicated to patron saints. The most famous one is, “A Naca.” It involves the procession of a life-sized, wooden representation of the body of Christ in a glass casket, accompanied by somber processions and hymns, typically held during Holy Week leading up to Easter. It is a solemn and deeply symbolic event that draws locals and visitors alike to witness this elaborate and emotional display of devotion. 

What is a traditional dish of your city? 

One of the most famous traditional dishes of Catanzaro and the Calabria region is Morzeddu. Morzeddu is a hearty dish made from lamb or pork meat and innards, often prepared by slowly cooking the meat with a rich tomato sauce, onions, and a variety of herbs and spices. The result is a tender, flavorful, and aromatic dish that is a true taste of Calabria’s culinary heritage. It is a favorite during special occasions and family gatherings, reflecting the region’s love for hearty, slow-cooked dishes. Morzeddu showcases the Calabrian tradition of using simple yet delicious ingredients to create a memorable dining experience. 

Catanzaro’s unique location, hidden gems, cultural traditions, and delicious cuisine make it a fascinating destination for those interested in exploring the culture and history of Calabria. 

At the Istituto Italiano Scuola we believe that the Italian countryside is a paradise that offers opportunities to relax in the middle of nature, while tasting delicious local food and wines.  

And in fact, the countryside of Italy is scattered with picturesque places: noble villas with beautiful gardens, vacation farms called “agriturismo” where you can stuff yourself up with genuine and self-produced food, perched villages dominating hilly landscapes, and forests where to hike.  

We believe that if you’re not looking forward to the Italian countryside, you will surely miss a lot in your trips to Italy. It may not be as famous as the biggest tourists’ cities but, it sure has exquisite beauty that cities do not have.  

Voghera is an example of this. It is the main town of the Oltrepo’ Pavese, a geographical area in the province of Pavia that gets its name to its location, in the south of the Po River, the longest river in Italy. Voghera is the native town of our teacher Jimmy. Visitors approaching Voghera pass through an extensive region of cultivated countryside and an uninterrupted set of historic villages and castles, the atmosphere that you breathe here today is still medieval. 

From the interview below you can get some more interesting facts about this town. 

• What makes your city unique? 
  Voghera is a small town, with approximately 40 thousand citizens, but despite that is very renowned in Northern Italy as its geographic position makes it an important railroad junction. On top of that, Voghera is also known for being a wine and industrial center.  

• What are the hidden gems of your city?
  Voghera’s city center is characterized by buildings of historical interest such as churches and castles. Voghera’s most important and most significant church is the Duomo. The cathedral preserves inside gold brocades and precious furnishings. In addition, there are many fine sculptural and ancient pictorial works. Furthermore, very few people know that Voghera is the birthplace of the fashion designer Valentino. 

• What are the cultural traditions of your city?
  The city of Voghera holds its patronal festival, referred to as “La Sensia” (the name in the local dialect), which is the oldest event in Lombardy every year. In its early days, it was a very important moment of the year as it was an opportunity for people to meet foreigners and discover new products from faraway places. Originating as a large livestock market and later becoming primarily an agricultural fair, today it is one of the most modern fairs for those in the industry, as well as a city-wide celebration that hosts many food stands and an amusement park with different rides and rollercoasters. 

• What is a traditional dish of your city?
  The most traditional dish of Voghera is the “Zuppa di Voghera”. It is a cake prepared using two layers of sponge cake, which are later filled with pastry cream, custard, and coffee, then covered again with custard and decorated with chocolate. It might sound like a simple cake, but the traditional recipe is a secret that runs in the local families and with time this recipe was refined to the point that making the real traditional Zuppa di Voghera requires a long and elaborate process. Words can’t describe the taste of it, there’s only one way to discover its goodness and that’s trying it! 

Are you curious enough to plan a trip here? Our school believes that what Jimmy told us it’s the truly gem of an authentic educational experience in your Italian experience.  

At Istituto Italiano Scuola we believe that travel is a pure form of education because you learn another culture while having the full experience of it.  

Before traveling to another country, learn about its history, customs and some handy phrases and words to help you interact with the locals. But, more than that, a great way to get an authentic feel for the culture is to get in contact with someone who has visited the country before, or better yet, lived there. You can search on the Internet looking for everything you want to know about that country, but you can’t have the real sense of the country is.  

A native can give you an idea of the culture from a local’s perspective, useful advice, or where to find the “hidden gems” in the city, even though it could be a small town.  

There are famous cities in Italy, like Rome and Firenze, but let’s focus more on the countryside, those that better represent the Italian reality and culture.  

For these reasons, we interviewed our teacher, Barbara, to speak about Mondovì, her native town situated between Langhe hills and the foot of the Alps.  

• What makes Mondovì unique? 

Like many medieval towns, Mondovì’s old center is on top of a hill. From there, you can enjoy a unique view from the Ligurian Alps to the Matterhorn (called Cervino in Italian), at the border with Switzerland. 

•  What are the ‘hidden gems’ in your city? 

Mondovì is the Italian capital of hot air balloons. The microclimate of the area creates ideal conditions that allows the hot air balloons to fly safely and easily control landing. If you want to learn how to “drive” a hot air balloon, or if you want to enjoy a ride, come over to Mondovì the first week of January for the annual festival, that showcases balloons from all over the world. 

• What are the cultural traditions of your city? 

Every year in February, the ‘Moro’ and his court, ‘rules’ the town for the week of Carnival. Legend says that the captain of the Moors fell in love with the most beautiful lady of Mondovì and for this reason, he decided to save the town. Every year, for Carnival, the ‘Moro’ and the ‘Bela Monregaleisa’ parade in the streets of Mondovì followed by their court of musicians and ladies in waiting. 

• What is a traditional dish of your city? 

Mondovì is near the site of the University of Gastronomic Sciences, the birthplace of the Slow Food Movement. Typical dishes are ravioli al plin, bagna cauda, vitello tonnato, and raw meat with white truffle. There is a specific treat for Mondovì: “Monregalesi al rhum,” – chocolate candies filled with rhum. Delicious!  

Through the words of Barbara, you already get some interesting facts about Mondovì. But you can get more, going there and having the whole experience by yourself or with your family.   

Because we believe that language, travel, and social and cultural gatherings are the core of our experiential learning programs, you can’t miss the opportunity to go through realities like Mondovì.