March is here, and hopefully this means a warm-up soon so we can begin to thaw out. March is a time to prepare for the beauty that will blossom all around us. The Orchid exhibit runs through Sunday, March 17 at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens and March 8 is International Women’s Day!
Each month, my staff and I try to bring you the latest in news and content from here AND from Italy. We are always looking for writers to share their experiences. If you are interested in writing for us please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can write for every issue, or just one! To learn more about this, please email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
La Gazzetta is also online! We encourage you to purchase your subscription today. Please visit our website at www.lagazzettaitaliana.com. We appreciate your feedback. Until then, stay warm and hopefully we will see a taste of spring before too long! In tribute to International Women’s day please enjoy this article on Santa Pressede by Lee Laurino from March 2020.

Italy is more than museums and monuments. Exploring off the typical tourist paths can lead to many surprises and opportunities to meet and interact with the people who live in the city or town you are visiting. Rome is no exception. Away from the traffic and city noise you can find a local street market, a park where locals chat while watching children play or just blend into the daily life of the neighborhood.

Walking away from the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore on Via Merulana, take the short parallel street Via di Santa. You will come across the Basilica di Santa Prassede. Look closely as the side entrance is easy to miss.   

Since many Italian churches welcome visitors during the hours they are open, I followed a few locals and visitors inside expecting the usual rows of seats and dark alcoves along the sides. I was greeted by the gleam of thousands of mosaic pieces. I craned my neck to try to see everything. There was no tour guide at the entrance, but I purchased, on the honor system, a brochure within the church.  

The Interior reminded me of the mosaic work in Santa Maria Trastevere in Rome. It was impossible to estimate the number of tiles used in even one picture, let alone the entire ceiling. The stunning pictorials and patterns instead of frescoes or oil paintings is a startling change from other churches in the city.

Santa Prassede offers a unique experience off the beaten paths of Rome. On your next visit, take some time to enjoy the glittering mosaics in each of its chapels, the details on the ceiling and how the clarity of the figures change as you walk closer. It will be a truly unforgettable sight.

Interior of church Basilica di Santa Prassede