Mark Hinshaw

Mark Hinshaw is a retired architect and city planner who lived in Seattle for more than 40 years. For 12 years he had a regular column on architecture for The Seattle Times and later was a frequent contributor to Crosscut. He now lives in a small hill town in Italy.

The More Things Change: Reasons Not to Fear Italy’s New Rightwing Government

Italy’s cultural composition still essentially echoes the plethora of kingdoms, duchies, city-states, and protectorates that carved up the peninsula for many hundreds of years following the fall of the Roman Empire.

Nano Nano: A Lesson in Italian Economics

'Nanoeconomics.' This is a system of economics centered around small transactions between individuals — often by people who know each other."

Shopping for Food in Italy: Buy It Today, Eat It by Tomorrow

"You buy just enough to eat for two days and then go out again for more."

Rising Violence and Racism Against Migrants in Italy

"All countries and cultures possess a capacity for racism, and Italy is no exception."

Beating the Heat: Water Fans

If you introduce water to blowing air, the temperature can drop by 10-15 degrees.

Venice: The Biennale Is Back

"Compared with previous biennales, this 59th edition of the international art exhibition seems marked by both a greater somberness and an elevated spirt."

What Italy Learned: Lessons from a Time of Senseless Violence

The rampant gun violence in America is incomprehensible from a European perspective, especially since it is occurring in a country at peace and not at war.

Italy — The Music Returns

"The music is back. Audiences are eagerly returning."

Travel Tips from an Expat in Italy

"High on most people’s list are three cities: Rome, Venice, and Florence."

Italy: Arts of, by, and for the People

Cities see their role as making culture widely available to everyone without imposing stiff ticket prices.

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