Imagine yourself underwater without breathing. How long could you last? Check the clock... seconds are passing in an extremely slow pace. Or to climb a mountain barefoot, no protection at all, just the steep wall, the heights, the dizziness, and your fingertips bleeding.

In the last two decades, specialised magazines including “Surfer” have been clueing in their readers on the possibility of practising surf in Italy. A global perspective may merely address the information as a “diversion for amateurs,” as none have ever heard about riding waves and surfboards on the Italian shores.

In the Eighties Australian astrophysicists were in a tizzy for what was about to become an incredible enterprise: the launch of the satellite “Starlab”.

The Clash, arguably one of the best rock bands ever, released their hit “Should I stay or should I go” in 1982. To go or to stay. Andare or Restare. The question is reminiscent of Hamlet’s existential ponderings, and continues to arise for thousands of Italian youngsters as they attempt to escape Italy’s current deteriorating economic situation.

Since the dawn of time, human beings have been longing to live a long and healthy life, and to crack the mysterious recipe capable of boosting our lifespan and staving off death. The good news is that science has finally revealed a few secrets. The so-called Mediterrean diet, combined with genetic factors and lifestyle is the elixir of life so much craved for.

Based in Epping, Arancini Art is a food company specialised in producing traditional Italian Arancini, Olive Ascolane (stuffed olives), and Supplì. It began from the idea of the Sicilian Riccardo Siligato and her wife Josanne, aiming to share their innate passion for the islander cuisine in Australia.

A natural talent for defining new and old spaces, Tommaso Spinzi is an Italian-born interior designer and owner of Melbourne-based company Spinzi Design. After ending his academic career with a Diploma in Surveying, Tommaso worked in the construction industry before moving to Lugano, Switzerland, to collaborate with a prestigious architect studio.

The Sicilian actor who found his fortune making bow ties out of fabric remnants Paolo Lolicata is the young creator of Lolicu, a project based on designing bow ties. Actor by profession, Paolo came to Melbourne to improve his English and follow his great grandfather’s footsteps. Captured by the charm of this city, here he is, 5 years later: a vintage artisan inspiring new original styles in town.

Today I am telling you the story of Katia and Sabrina, two inseparable sisters and highly skilled cheese makers that moved to Melbourne a couple of years ago to become heart and soul of La Formaggeria, a little artisan cheese shop placed in St Kilda.

Internationally acclaimed Italian author, Simonetta Agnello Hornby was a special guest at the Melbourne Writers Festival 2015 and participated in a special event at the Italian Culture Institute of Melbourne (IIC), which was centred around the topic of “Travel and Inward Journey”.

It was in 1945 – the year that marked the end of World War II – when, in a small town of Romagna, a thirty-nine year old man called Attilio Babbi made a bet on himself. Italy was in ruins and, against all odds, he set to make cones for ice cream.

John Casamento’s name would be well known to many newspaper and magazine readers across Melbourne as a result of his 52 years in photojournalism. His assignments have covered major news stories in politics, arts, sport, and those that headline from Mick Jagger to the late Pope, John Paul II.

Traditionally in Italy, the craft of pizza making has been the domain of men. No wonder the Italian word “pizzaiolo” only exists in the masculine form. It’s a language practice that needs to be amended because a woman has finally broken into one of the last male bastions with brilliant results.

The intention of this article is to bring attention to something that, in my humble opinion, is the most important, enduring aspect of the human experience: true friendship. That combination of unconditional love and affection that, according to an old Swedish proverb, doubles a joy and halves a sorrow.

I would like to acknowledge the Jadawadjali and the Wotjobaluk peoples as Traditional Owners of the Wimmera region, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present, and the Elders from other communities of Victoria.

The unique experience of six Australians visiting Italy with a whole family of tour operators

I miss it. I really miss that feeling of wandering around, as I used to do in my home country, stopping, as soon as I’d get peckish, for a quick bite & chat at one of my favourite street food traders, no matter the time. No need to sit down nor spend a fortune for a snack on the run that can easily turn into a main meal, and only for a couple of bucks!

Stefania Lucchetta, according to the leading magazine Wallpaper, is one of the “Top 20 reasons to be in Italy”. She is a talented young jewellery designer from Bassano del Grappa (Vicenza). Her works will be displayed at Bini Gallery in Melbourne, from 18th March to June 2016, in a solo show called “Jewels from the 21st Century”. Segmento caught up with the artist at the opening night for a brief chat.

When I first visited Il Melograno, an extremely cosy café and ice cream parlor located in Northcote, I was suddenly struck by the beauty of the place: its nature-inspired design made of wood and earth colors, the smiling faces of the staff, the cabinets full of delicious pastries, everything conveys a warm and friendly atmosphere with light aromatic notes of sugar and coffe.

James Liotta is a young Australian-Italian actor, performer and comedian that had drawn from his Italian heritage the tools of his trade. He had his first experience on stage when he was 8 years old taking part in one of his father’s community theatre productions and grew up refining his acting skills, however his professional career as a comedian started as a result of a friend’s suggestion.

A new way to enjoy fine Italian wines by the glass. Andrew De Angelis is the founder of TAP., a brand of “wine on tap” promoting a new concept to serve fine wines by the glass.

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF WEARING A NECKLACE MADE FROM BLOWN GLASS BUBBLES? OR SOME COLORFUL AUTUMN BLOOMS AS EARRINGS? PROBABLY NOT, UNLESS YOU POSSESS A HIGHLY ARTISTIC MIND, OR YOU HAVE VISITED THE BINI GALLERY.

Of the thousands of young Italians that every year ends up in Australia, most of them are destined to be let down. Personal dreams and expectations need to face a sad reality, getting trapped in the vicious circle of humble and casual jobs and no prospects. Hence, a huge army of waiters, dishwashers, farmers and so on, often with a degree.

Life can be drenched of delightful surprises if you only have the will and tenacity to look for them. Moments of pleasure in fact lie around the corner so just be open-minded and explore! Which lately is exactly what I have been doing in order to uncover the best story to tell you and make you happy.

The “presepe” or “presepio” (also known as Christmas Crib or Nativity Scene) had been for a very long time the only Christmas adornment of the Italian families, a humble and genuine way, deeply-rooted in our culture, to celebrate Jesus’s birth before the advent of Santa Claus and the decorated trees.