Susan Gravely, like so many others, fell in love with Italy at first visit. “I was enamored by the colors and the smells. I loved the gardens and fruit trees. I loved the gentleness of people and their enjoyment for life and living,” she said of her first trip to the Amalfi coast, with her…

ROME—Novak Djokovic sees a bit of himself in Holger Rune. The 20-year-old Rune is solid in nearly every area: A great mover and super fit physically, he’s strong off both his forehand and backhand, has good hands and is an aggressive returner. Perhaps that’s why Rune has now recorded two victories over Djokovic in little…

Petra Kvitova has withdrawn from next week’s Italian Open with an injury to her right foot, she said on social media on Saturday. The Czech world number 10, who won the Miami Open last month, added that she hopes to recover in time for the second Grand Slam of the year at the French Open….

A couple bought an Italian townhouse at an auction with a starting bid of one euro (US$1.10) and has managed to transform it into a stunning $250,000 Renaissance-style palazzo. The council in Sambuca di Sicilia auctioned 16 abandoned homes in the sun-drenched mountain village of Sicilia with prices starting at a symbolic one euro. In January…

If I had to choose a favorite comfort food, I would nominate the meatball. Every cuisine seems to have a version of a meatball, whether it’s a truly meaty meatball packed with ground beef, pork, or poultry; a pescatarian-friendly fish ball or patty; or a vegetarian version jumbled together with beans or legumes. No matter…

Don’t underestimate the open-faced sandwich. As simple as they may sound, these topless sandwiches are often a refreshing and decorative reflection of the season and their cuisine. They range from sleek and minimal to rustic and hearty, with flourishes that reflect their culture. The ingredients vary widely, from salads and spreads to cold meats and…

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.—An Italian astronaut joined a Russian cosmonaut in a rare spacewalking show of unity Thursday, as tensions over Ukraine continued to ricochet back home. Italy’s Samantha Cristoforetti teamed up with Russia’s Oleg Artemyev to work on the International Space Station’s newest robot arm. The 37-foot (11-meter) mechanical limb—contributed by the European Space Agency—rocketed…

The name translates to “spring pasta” from Italian, so forgive me for assuming that pasta primavera was a classic springtime Italian dish. But while primavera sounds classy, it turns out the dish was invented in Nova Scotia during the summer of 1975. The bottom line is that we can prepare cheesy noodles with vegetables any…

In the time of food influencers, social media trends, and fast-paced digital consumption, I often find myself leafing through old cookbooks with yellowed pages and no photos, brimming with the wise advice of past food writers. One of my favorite cookbook authors, Ada Boni, provides timeless inspiration with her “Il Talismano della Felicità” (“The Talisman…

The literal translation of saltimbocca is “jump in the mouth”—yes, that is really what they do once the plate is placed in front of you. You’ll eat them in a single bite; they are irresistible. The simple dish of veal cutlets, prosciutto, and sage is believed to hail from Brescia, but now is a fixture…