Italy On Our Radar is Live in Italy Magazine’s curated editorial series highlighting cultural stories, experiences, and moments shaping Italy today — both at home and abroad. Rather than listing press releases, this column reflects a selective editorial lens, focusing on relevance, authenticity, and meaningful connections to Italian identity.
Lombardia Ahead of Milano Cortina: A New Culinary Moment in Milan
As Milano Cortina 2026 approaches, Milan is increasingly positioned not only as a host city, but as a cultural gateway to northern Italy. A recent event at Casa Baglioni Milan reflected this shift through an intimate exploration of hospitality and gastronomy in the Brera district.
Conceived as a one-night editorial moment rather than a traditional launch, the evening explored the dialogue between city and mountains, aligning Milanese elegance with alpine influence. The setting underscored Casa Baglioni’s identity as a small, design-forward property, envisioned as a private residence rather than a grand hotel.
The event also marked the introduction of a new culinary chapter at the hotel’s Michelin-starred Sadler Restaurant, signaling how Milan’s dining landscape continues to evolve in step with the broader cultural attention surrounding the Winter Games.
Lombardia Named 2026 Region of Honor
That regional focus was reinforced with the announcement that Lombardia has been named the 2026 Region of Honor by the National Italian American Foundation. The designation recognizes the region’s cultural depth, economic influence, and long-standing ties between Italy and the United States.
From Milan’s leadership in fashion, finance, and design to Lombard traditions rooted in craftsmanship and food culture, the recognition highlights a region defined by balance between heritage and innovation. The timing is significant. Milan will host the Opening Ceremony of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in February, placing Lombardia at the symbolic center of a global moment.
For travelers and cultural observers alike, the designation reinforces why Lombardia continues to shape Italy’s international narrative well beyond the Games themselves.
Italian Design in Motion: A Trophy That Tells a Bigger Story
Italian design and craftsmanship will take center stage in Florida this February with the unveiling of a new winners’ trophy for the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida. Designed by Pininfarina and hand-crafted in Murano by Barovier&Toso, the trophy is conceived as a sculptural object rather than a conventional award.
The piece translates automotive principles such as precision, motion, and balance into Venetian crystal, subtly evoking the silhouette of a car in motion. Produced in only three unique examples, the trophy functions as a collectible design object and a symbolic bridge between Italy’s automotive heritage and its evolving global presence.
With the centenary of the original 1000 Miglia approaching in 2027, the Florida edition serves as a reminder that Italian design continues to travel as a living language, shaped by material, memory, and intention.
Modena’s Black Gold, Told Through Its People
In Emilia-Romagna, the story of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is increasingly being told through the people who protect it. The Consortium for the Protection of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena DOP has launched a new initiative pairing product protection with cultural storytelling and tourism development.
Developed in collaboration with Unexpected Italy, the project centers on family histories, daily rituals, and community networks rather than production techniques alone. More than fifty vinegar producers were visited as part of a listening-based research process.
The result will be a digital guide highlighting producers who welcome visitors, alongside itineraries connecting food, seasonality, and short supply chains. It reflects a broader shift toward travel experiences rooted in respect, depth, and human connection.
Pizza as Cultural Dialogue in India
Italian culture is also finding resonance far from home. In January, brothers Simone and Alessio Zullo brought the tradition of Neapolitan pizza into the City Palace of Udaipur during Italian Culinary Culture Week, hosted in collaboration with the HRH Group of Hotels.
Rather than a culinary demonstration, the experience was framed as cultural dialogue. Pizza was presented as heritage, ritual, and shared memory, communicated through gesture and craft rather than branding or spectacle. The initiative received formal recognition from the House of Mewar, underscoring the cultural and human value of the exchange.
In moments like this, Italian cuisine becomes a bridge between histories, reinforcing how food traditions can carry meaning well beyond geography.
Contemporary Italy: Interactive Art in Pisa
In Pisa, a new exhibition invites visitors to engage with Italian creativity through participation rather than observation. Shout It Out, now on view at AORTA Social Art Gallery, presents the work of Italian street artist Laben in a format that blends physical installation with immersive virtual reality.
Visitors enter a digital environment where movement mirrors the artist’s gestures, activating emotional responses tied to creation itself. Rooted in research on endorphin-based art experiences, the exhibition reflects a broader shift in contemporary Italian culture toward sensory engagement and collective expression.
On view through mid-February, the show offers another lens on Italy today — experimental, participatory, and firmly grounded in the present moment.
Editorial Note
Italy on Our Radar is part of Live in Italy Magazine’s commitment to independent, thoughtful cultural journalism. As an editorial-led publication, we collaborate selectively with destinations, institutions, and brands that share our focus on authenticity, regional identity, and meaningful Italian travel experiences.
Organizations interested in supporting this kind of storytelling — or in exploring in-depth editorial opportunities — are welcome to reach out directly to the editor at lisa @ liveinitalymag.com.
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