Berlusconi: Vado avanti.
Written by admin on 7 October, 2009 – 11:53 pm -Posted in News & Weather | 2 Comments »
Great Italian Television
Written by admin on 3 October, 2009 – 4:00 pm -
Great Italian television – strange words to hear together, especially these days. This month I will lose all my television channels as the move to digital begins. But I have not bought a digibox. Why? Well Italian television is quite poor. There are only a few programmes throughout the week that are actually worth watching.
Having said that, occasionally there are some great television films “made in Italy” and ten of these, in collaboration with La Gazzetta dello Sport, are being released on dvd. The collana begins with probably the best film I have seen whilst living in Italy – Giovanni Falcone, l’uomo che sfidò Cosa Nostra. I have been unable to find this film in any shop and I don’t think it has been repeated (they tend repeat only the same few things). This is definitely and opportunity not to miss.
Available weekly from Tuesday 6 October.
Posted in Entertainment | No Comments »
Is English corrupting the Italian language?
Written by admin on 29 September, 2009 – 9:30 pm -
It’s time for another guest blog. Ainsley Okoro has written a very interesting and amusing article about how the Italian language is being corrupted through the overuse of English words. I thoroughly enjoyed it and trust you will too.
Brits don’t do foreign languages very well – which might explain why they spent centuries making sure everyone else learnt English.
So as a 40-something-year-old Brit, the four years I spent trying to master Italian were a struggle. Frankly, I half-wished that way-back-when we had made Il Bel Paese part of the British Empire as well.
Continue reading …
Posted in Language | 3 Comments »
Santa Maria Nuova
Written by admin on 22 September, 2009 – 10:45 am -
The 2009 Palio di Asti was won by Santa Maria Nuova. It is the fifth time in the history of the event that they have been victorious (they recently had back-to-back wins in 2005 and 2006). Tele Cupole, Piedmont’s regional television channel, showed the event live but had to leave before the climax as there were too many false starts (at least three)!
Posted in Entertainment, History, Travel | 6 Comments »
The Oldest Palio in Italy
Written by admin on 17 September, 2009 – 9:17 am -
A Palio, an annual historic contest between the neighbourhoods of a town usually involving horseracing or other medieval sports, is literally the silk banner awarded to the winner of the contest.
The most famous Palio in Italy is that of Siena which is held every 2nd July and 16 August. It dates back to 1644. However, Italy’s oldest palio is that of Asti, Piedmont, and dates back to 1275. It takes place on the third Sunday of September and comprises of 21 competing Rioni or neighbourhoods. About 1200 locals, including the famous Sbandieratori or flag-wavers, parade through the streets in medieval costume and a bareback horse race takes place in Piazza Alfieri in front of a large crowd (ticket holders only). After three preliminary heats and a display by the Sbandieratori the final race is run and the Palio awarded. Last year the winning rione was San Lazzaro, who, as tradition dictates, have been celebrating for the whole year!
Posted in Entertainment, History, Travel | 4 Comments »
Corri sotto le torri
Written by admin on 10 September, 2009 – 6:38 pm -
What do I like most about Italy? Now that’s a difficult question. I’ve thought about it quite a bit recently. Obviously there’s the food, the weather, the history, the people and so on. But maybe, for me anyway, it’s that there’s always something going on at the weekend. Mercatini, sagre, feste, fiere, mostre, gare, sfilate, rievocazioni storiche. The list goes on. It’s quite easy to find something to do, even in small towns.
I’ve been in Italy for nearly four years now but last Sunday was the first time I took part in a fun run (even though I enjoy running around Turin alone). Le corri sotto le torri (Run Under the Towers) was only in it’s second edition – an 8km ‘race’ around the beautiful city of Alba in Piedmont.
Posted in General | 1 Comment »
italyitalia.com
Written by admin on 4 September, 2009 – 10:14 pm -
I recently discovered this Italian travel website which I feel would be very useful to many of my readers. It’s definitely worth checking out and has both an Italian and an English version. Stefanie D’Angelo explains more about the site:
ItalyItalia.com is a fast growing Italian travel portal who offers the possibility to deepen your knowledge on Italy. Every region has a section filled with articles and travel guides, with the purpose to inform and help our visitors to organize the perfect vacation. For example, if you are going to Campania and you want to learn more about the region. Instead of going out to buy a travel guide you go to our Campania section and there you will find travel guides and articles on the Amalfi Coast, Capri, Ischia and much more.
ItalyItalia.com also have a careful selection of hotels, with the possibility to book directly online in a fast and easy way. We are currently concentrated in the Southern Italy.
What is our purpose with ItalyItalia.com? Italy is a magnificent country, from the amazing history of Rome, to the impressive art heritage in Florence. We want to help our visitors discover the best Italy has to offer. Our staff of Italian and foreign journalists has undertaken to update the contents of the portal to provide an information service that is always varied and to help you fulfill your dreams.
Visit ItalyItalia.com for the latest and up to date information on travel to and within Italy.
Links
Campania section
Amalfi
Ischia
Rome
Florence
Posted in Culture, Travel | 2 Comments »
Milan Evolves
Written by admin on 31 August, 2009 – 7:07 am -
Milan is currently hosting an exhibition dedicated to Charles Darwin exactly 200 years after the birth of this great scientist and 150 years after the publication of On the Origin of Species. Having already proved popular in New York, Boston, Toronto, London, São Paul, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, Aukland, Lisbon and Rome, Darwin 1809-2009 “weaves together the history, narrative and scientific analysis of nature with the philosophy of science and experimental research” and the Italian version provides previously unseen material, not included in the first American edition.
Learn about the young Darwin, his fascination with beetles, his 5 year voyage around the world aboard The Beagle. Read copies of his notes, visit a reconstruction of his study, and even see a live iguana and poisonous tree frogs.
Speaking from personal experience the exhibition is definitely worth a visit. However, as there is a vast amount of information to be absorbed, be prepared for a lot of reading. I spent over 3 hours on this journey of discovery.
After Milan the exhibitions moves to the Castello Normanno-Svevo in Bari where it will run from November until March of next year.
Darwin 1809-2009
4 June-25 October 2009
Rotonda della Besana
Via Besana Enrico, 15
20122 Milan
www.darwin2009.it
Opening Hours
Tuesday to Sunday 9.30-19.30
Monday 14.30-19.30
Thursday 9.30-22.30
Tickets
Full price: €8
Concessions: €6.50
Posted in Exhibitions | 1 Comment »
A Step Back in Time
Written by admin on 23 August, 2009 – 7:19 pm -
This year I spent my annual holiday back in Great Britain, visiting my parents. What a shock I was in for. I thought I would be escaping the Italians for a couple of weeks. Not so. I found that the Romans are still keeping things under control!
Posted in Food & Drink, History, Travel | 3 Comments »
When in Rome…
Written by admin on 5 August, 2009 – 7:27 pm -
August is the traditional month for the Italians to take their famous feria. Work generally stops in most of the country and people go off on holiday, usually to the seaside or visiting relatives. Some adventurous Italians even go abroad!
I too need a short break (I am visiting my parents back in Blighty) so their will be no posts on the Cappuccino Experience whilst I am away. Normal service will resume again the week beginning 24th August.
I hope you all have a good holiday wherever you go. Buona vacanza a tutti.
Posted in General | 2 Comments »
