Though Verdone has made some of Italy's most successful comedies, laughter is hard work.

Figlia d'arte, Comencini comes from a movie-making family, but her style is all her own.

Moira Egan's life story includes poetry, funny glasses and an "accidental" husband —though not in that order.

Author and former Vatican tour guide Roy Doliner sees the Sistine Chapel as few have seen it before.

Rabbi Barbara Aiello has linked her vivid Jewish present with Calabria's hidden Jewish past.

"These days Belli would write about the kids on their motorini... He’d write about mobile phones and the Internet."

A young Scotsman's journey south led to a lifelong love of Italian cuisine.

Andrea Bargnani is the first Italian to reap the full benefits of basketball globalization.

"A writer’s job," says Lee, "is to comment on what’s around, to tell stories."

"The problem is with Italian journalists who tend to love all things foreign. It’s a provincial attitude."

"We're talking about a spiritual sensibility here, not religious dogma. A universal compassion has to do with consciousness..."