rivista

Rivista is an Italian term that refers to a periodical publication, typically a magazine or journal issued on a regular schedule such as weekly, monthly, or quarterly. In everyday Italian, a rivista can cover a wide range of content, including news, culture, science, and entertainment, and may target general readers or specific professional audiences. The plural form is riviste.

The word also appears in Italian grammar as the feminine singular past participle of the verb rivedere, meaning revised or reviewed. In this sense, phrases such as la rivista è stata rivista indicate that a publication or document has been revised or updated. This usage is distinct from the journalistic sense and is common in editorial or archival contexts.

Historically, magazines and journals emerged in Europe as vehicles for literature, science, politics, and culture, expanding literacy and public discourse. In Italy, riviste have played a role in shaping public opinion and intellectual life, with publications ranging from literary almanacs to scientific reviews. During the 19th and 20th centuries, many Italian riviste specialized in topics such as politics, philosophy, and the arts, while others pursued broad popular interests. With the advent of the digital era, many riviste now offer online editions, digital archives, and open access content, in addition to traditional print formats.

Types of riviste include consumer magazines, trade publications, and scholarly journals (riviste accademiche or scientifiche). The term is widely used in Italian to describe both general-interest periodicals and professional or academic publications. In cross-cultural contexts, similar terms include the English “magazine” and the French “revue,” while the cognate Spanish term is revista.