Computers Appreciate Art, Too: Italian Technology Preserves Artistic Artifacts
Want to restore your favorite painting? Come to Venice.
by Brian Alcamo
Italy’s arrival to the world of high tech took a little more time than other countries in the European Union. You could blame the tardiness on a laid-back Mediterranean lifestyle, but Spain’s tech boom would have you begging to differ. More likely, Italy’s startup scene has been slow-growing due to a lack of funding (which prevented the fledgling companies from scaling). It’s not only startups that have grown slowly, though. The culture surrounding digital life is taking a while to flesh out, as well. Even in recent years, the country has been “starting from scratch” in its attempt to build out its digital footprint, with only 10% of businesses selling their services online. Back in 2016, the country was lagging behind the rest of Europe. Thankfully in recent years, startups have been receiving more money, and Italy is ready to carve out a space for itself in Europe’s growing tech industry.
A Decentralized Center for Scientific Research
Serving as an academic backbone for the technological innovation taking place all over the Italian peninsula is the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT). Based in Genoa, this scientific research center has 11 partner locations all over Italy, and 2 other partnerships with MIT and Harvard.
A blog post from MIT’s Technology Review boasts that Italy still has a very active manufacturing economy that relies on nimble networks of small and mid-sized companies rather than larger monopolies. In fact, Italy is so ready to ride on its industrial prowess that it launched Industry 4.0 back in 2016. The initiative is in collaboration with Germany and France to promote digital standards of manufacturing.
While Italy might be playing catch up when it comes to promoting digital methods of work and connectivity, it was a center of innovation during a few periods of history (just tiny things, though, like Ancient Rome and the Renaissance). Merging its older troves of artifacts while embracing modern methods that will help the country succeed in the future.
Cultural Heritage Technologies Bridge the Gap Between Old and New
Cultural Heritage Technology has a huge presence in Venice, but is also making a name for itself in Rome. (Livia Hengel)
One particularly novel approach coming out of multidisciplinary efforts are Cultural Heritage Technologies. Cultural Heritage Technologies are the exact kind of technology that you’d expect to be flourishing in Italy. These technologies work to combine modern computing and machinery with the complex pieces of heritage, both tactile and esoteric, that make human culture so captivating to study and experience. Arianna Traviglia is the Coordinator of the IIT Centre for Cultural Heritage Technology. Her work is based at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, which offers a Masters Degree in Conservation Science and Technology for Cultural Heritage. Think of it as the 2020 equivalent of whatever Armie Hammer’s character was studying in Call Me By Your Name. The same amount of sculptures and statues, just more computers and coding.
The discipline combines aspects of art history, computer science, life sciences, humanities, and even robotics. The technology hopes to be used in restoring and digitizing the sometimes fragile artifacts of past civilizations. Here’s a link to a paper discussing machine learning in cultural heritage work if you’re looking to geek out. Many Italians are hopeful that digital technologies will help preserve and propagate their history. What better place to cultivate the science of cultural preservation than in a country with 50 UNESCO Cultural Heritage sites?
In a 2018 interview with Ca’ Foscari University’s news outlet, program coordinator Elisabetta Zendri describes some of the department’s projects, such as The Tintoretto project, which is a collaborative effort that aims to study “the ceiling teleri in the Chapter House of the Scuola [Scuola Grande San Rocco] and,” and analyzes “the influence of the environment on the stability of these extraordinary works.” She believes that material conservation will be a big part of the future. However, while high tech restorative efforts make the headlines most often, the culture of conservation much “switch from the concept of ‘restoration’ to the ones of ‘prevention’ and ‘maintenance.’”
A Bright Future
Italy may have been late to the high tech game, but it’s well on its way to standing with the rest of the world in terms of technological advancement. Just look at recent headlines for its contact tracing app, or Europe’s weather center’s move from London to Bologna. The country is even building an app that centralizes government documents and bills. In the meantime, we can dream of a future filled with robots that look like Renaissance statues.
Thanks for Reading!
Would you have your favorite painting restored with the help of a robot? Comment below, and be sure to share this post with your friends.
(Thumbnail Photo by Marco Secchi)
How To Make Crispeddi Cu Brocculu (Cauliflower Fritters)
There are so many more daily cuisine options from Italy than what you may already know…
When most Americans think of Italian cuisine, the idea of family-style pasta dishes set around a dinner table come to mind. While this scene is born mostly from our stereotype of Italian-American migrant families in the early 1900s, there is so much more to the daily cuisine options from Italy. One of the lesser known comes from Southern Italy called crispeddi cu brocculu.
Photo: Mangia Bedda
Crispeddi Cu Brocculu Recipe
This street-style favorite is sure to become a favorite as either a starter for your next family meal or as a side dish to the main course. We’ve dropped our favorite variation on the recipe courtesy of Mangia Bedda.
First, You’ll Need These Ingredients:
1 small cauliflower head about 3 cups
2 large eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup water
1 tsp salt
vegetable or canola oil for frying
Photo: Mangia Bedda
How to Prepare
Separate the cauliflower into bite size florets and boil in salted water until tender, about 8 minutes. Drain, and set aside.
In a large bowl, beat the eggs. Add the water, flour, baking powder, and salt and stir until well combined. You are looking for the consistency of a pancake batter. Stir in the cauliflower chunks and toss to coat in the batter.
Cover the bottom of a large, wide skillet with enough oil to reach the depth of 1 cm (about 1/2 inch). When the oil is hot, drop heaping spoonfuls of batter into the pan. I fry six crispeddi at a time. You can place them close together as they will not stick together.
Fry until golden and crisp, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate covered in paper towels to soak up excess oil.
Serve hot.
These fritters are best eaten hot right out of the pan. However, if you have leftovers you can enjoy the next day by warming them in a 350F oven for about ten minutes. They will crisp up again.
Photo: Mangia Bedda
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about how to make How To Make Crispeddi Cu Brocculu! Itching to try this delectable treat in it’s home country? Our native instructors and culturally immersive group courses will ensure that getting your order in is facile! Click below to learn more.
Italian Culture - A Guide for Visitors
Thinking of making a trip to Italy, but don’t want to be the typical tourist?
Thinking of making a trip to Italy, but don’t want to be the typical ignorant tourist? Perhaps you’re wishing to be able to take in all of the sights and sounds to their fullest extent? While it’s obvious that becoming proficient in the language is the easiest way to improve your trip, having some insight into the overall history of the country will aid you in appreciating every site you plan to visit!
Language
The official language of the country is, you guessed it, Italian. About 90% of the country’s population speaks Italian as native language with many dialects including Sardinian, Friulian, Neapolitan, Sicilian, Ligurian, Piedmontese, Venetian, Calabrian, and Milanese. Other languages spoken by native Italians include Albanian, Bavarian, Catalan, Cimbrian, Corsican, Croatian, French, German, Greek, Slovenian and Walser.
Family and Religion
Family is an extremely important value within the Italian culture and family solidarity is focused on extended family rather than the immediate family of just a mom, dad and children. Most families in Italy also happen to be very religious with the major religion in Italy being Roman Catholicism. This seems pretty obvious considering that Vatican City is the hub of Roman Catholicism.
Roman Catholics and other Christians make up 80% of the population while Muslim, agnostic and atheist make up the other 20% according to the Central Intelligence Agency.
Art and Architecture
Italy is home to many classic architectural styles, including classical Roman, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical and is home to some of the most famous structures in the world, including the Colosseum and the Leaning Tower of Pisa to name a few. The concept of a basilica — which was originally used to describe an open public court building and evolved to mean a Catholic pilgrimage site was born in Italy.
Additionally, Opera has its roots in Italy and many famous operas including "Aida" and "La Traviata," and "Pagliacci" which are still performed in the native language to this day. In the world of fashion, Italy is home to some of the most famous fashion houses, including Armani, Gucci, Benetton, Versace and Prada to name a few.
Cuisine
Italian cuisine has influenced food culture around the world and is viewed as a form of art by many. Wine, cheese and pasta are important part of Italian meals. Pasta comes in a wide range of shapes, widths and lengths, including penne, spaghetti, linguine, fusilli and lasagna.
Wine is also a big part of Italian culture, and the country is home to some of the world's most famous vineyards., and in fact, the oldest traces of Italian wine were recently discovered in a cave near Sicily's southwest coast. Wine is produced in every region and is home to some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. Currently, Italy is the world's largest producer of wine.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our Italian Culture - A Guide for Visitors! What aspects of Italian culture would you like to learn more about? Join the conversation below!
5 Phrases You Need to Know If You’re Spending Time in Italy This Holiday Season
The holiday season is a hoot and a holler wherever you are, but if you’re lucky enough to find yourself in Italy from December to early January, get acquainted with the language of their favorite traditions.
By Brian Alcamo
Buone feste, ragazzi! The holiday season is a hoot and a holler wherever you are, but if you’re lucky enough to find yourself in Italy from December to early January, get acquainted with the language of their favorite traditions.
Panettone
Panettone is a sweet bread originally from Milan that can be embellished with fruit, nuts, or chocolate. It’s a super popular desert around the holidays. Since it’s a super popular desert, and since you’re in Italy, it’s also a super popular breakfast. All you have to do is dip it in your caffè (link to coffee article) while you say buongiorno.
La Vigilia di Natale
Source: http://www.grandvoyageitaly.com/piazza/feast-of-the-seven-fishes-on-christmas-eve-la-vigilia-di-natale
La Vigilia di Natale means Christmas Eve. Now, now, now. You might think I’m about to tell you about the wonders of a big Italian Christmas Eve dinner composed of exactly seven fish that each represent a Catholic sacrament. Unfortunately, this Christmas Eve “Feast of the Seven Fishes” is an Italian-American tradition. You’ll still find big Christmas Eve dinners all over the boot-shaped peninsula, but don’t expect to eat seven scrumptious swimmers plucked straight out of the Adriatic.
La Befana
La Befana is Italy’s answer to all this Santa Clause (babbo natale) nonsense. She’s a witch who rides her broomstick over Italy on January 5th, the night before the Epiphany, to dole out gifts to all the well-behaved bambini. It’s pretty chic that La Befana takes Christmas Eve off for herself, since every witch needs to spend some of the holiday season relaxing with friends and family.
Cioccolata Calda
If you don’t want to dip your panettone in an espresso, try una cioccolata calda, or hot chocolate. In Italy, hot chocolate is typically made with melted chocolate instead of powder, so you’re in for a real treat.
Il Capodanno
Capodanno is how you say New Year’s Day. It’s a compound word meaning “leader of the year,” since capo is the italian word for “leader,” and anno means “year.” Il Capodanno is lovely, but if you’re more of a festaiolo (party animal), you may be more interested in La Vigilia di Capodanno. It’s celebrated similarly to how it’s celebrated in the US, with bonfires and fuoco d’artificio (fireworks), and is a whole lot of fun. When you wake up on capodanno, be sure to remember to wish your friends and family a buon anno (Happy New Years).
If you’re flying to Italy this holiday season, make sure you bring all the regular items on your your linguistic checklist: your sure-fire indicativo, your ever-necessary bagno, and your most apologetic scusa. In addition, make sure you bring these couple words with you in your carry on. And, if all else fails, don’t be afraid to simply employ your best “Panettone, per favore?”
Italian Blockchain Banking
Remember the great bitcoin craze of last year?
Italian Blockchain Banking
Remember the great bitcoin craze of last year? The technology behind it, blockchain, is seeing a resurgence in the banking sector, specifically in Italy with a new project that is set to launch next year.
The Italian Banking Association (ABI) will revisit the method of blockchain technology to run reconciliations beginning March 2020. This marks the first use of the blockchain among Italy’s banks and will integrate distributed ledger technology in interbank processes to improve the rate of speed at which settlements occur.
The move is part of the Spunta Project that aims to enact daily rather than monthly reconciliations. The Italian word “spunta” translates literally to check.
The latest round of tests reportedly began in February with participation from 18 banks, which together represent 78% of the Italian banking sector by number of employees.
Last October marked the successful completion of the 1st trial and validated the use of blockchain to assist in backed-up banking operations to reduce discrepancies between ledgers.
In February of this year, the Italian House of Representatives approved a bill defining blockchain, as well as the technical criteria that smart contracts will have to comply with in order to have legal validity.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about Italian Blockchain Banking! Do you think the use of this technology is going to improve the banking system in Italy? Join the conversation below!
Italian Tourism Overload
Italy is amongst the most visited counties in Europe when it comes to tourist destinations and for yet another year, Rome has placed at the top of Italy's cultural destinations…
Italian Tourism Overload
Italy is amongst the most visited counties in Europe when it comes to tourist destinations and for yet another year, Rome has placed at the top of Italy's cultural destinations. In 2018 alone 15.2 million tourists visited the home of the Vatican, Trevi Fountain, and the Colosseum. This represents an increase of 1.1 million tourists compared to the previous year and accounted for 64% of Rome's overnight visitors in 2018. The Colosseum alone attracted an average of 21,000 tourists a day in 2018.
One thing that happens to bewilder international visitors, however, is the city tax. In Rome, the authorities apply a city tax on all hotels which is charged and collected by your hotel. The tax requires a contribution of 4.00 Euros per person per night for 2 and 3 star hotels, 6.00 Euros per person per night for 4 star hotels and 7.00 Euros per person per night for 5 star hotels. While it may seem like an inconvenience, the Rome Tourist Tax is put toward maintenance and promotion of Rome in the tourism capacity. In 2016, the city of Rome raised €123 million from the tourist tax which has bolstered the wonderful tourist services and assistance, info points, and location materials.
Visitor numbers are only expected to keep growing, with 2019 set to be busier than ever for many of Italy's tourist hotspots and with it comes an added €41.3 billion to the Italian economy. This isn’t good news to everyone however, especially residents of these hotspots. Over-tourism in iconic Italian destinations has led to the introduction of measures like Venice charging an entry fee from this year, Florence recently banned snacking on its historic streets, and Rome has cracked down on obnoxious activities including pub crawls and cooling off in fountains. While the government has created initiatives such as the “Year of Villages” to get tourists off the beaten path, the best hope for well meaning travelers is that their counterparts continue to behave themselves.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the Italian Tourism Overload! the How else do you think the Italian government can help curb overcrowding in tourist hotspots? Join the conversation below!
3 Must See European Year of Culture Heritage Events
Italy has plenty to offer for the European Year of Culture Heritage 2018 which is hosting 1,136 events as part of the EU-wide ceremony. We’ve listed the 3 events you absolutely MUST SEE if you plan on being in attendance.
3 Must See European Year of Culture Heritage Events
Italy has plenty to offer for the European Year of Culture Heritage 2018 which is hosting 1,136 events as part of the EU-wide ceremony. We’ve listed the 3 events you absolutely MUST SEE if you plan on being in attendance.
Chiaravalle Milanese
New Cultural Landscape is running until December 31st, 2018.
An interactive project that involves residents, city-users and tourists in a "performative event" geared at regenerating this area on the outskirts of Milan. Chiaravalle is the name Saint Bernard of Clairvaux gave to the area when he founded the Cistercian abbey in 1135. Before 1923, Chiaravalle was an autonomous comune, named Chiaravalle Milanese, and despite being annexed to Milan, Chiaravalle has maintained the character of an autonomous town. The park that embraces the district also separates it from the urban agglomeration of the city. This isolation is reinforced by the scarceness of public transportation to the centre of the district.
"In a 1100-inhabitant-village, Chiaravalle’s old school gym has been transformed into a community hub, which aspires to become the local community’s hybrid cultural space dedicated to the landscape. terzo paesaggio’s goal is to provide workshop, based on the monks’ ancient tradition of cantieri scuola and memorable experiences," say the organizers.
Palermo
Italian Capital of Culture 2018 is running until December 31st, 2018. The city of Palermo is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, that has played an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old. Palermo is located in the northwest of the island of Sicily, right by the Gulf of Palermo in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Palermo is hosting 132 concerts, 132 exhibitions and 12,151 programs by artists as part of its designation as Italian Capital of Culture 2018. Dance, photography, architecture, street art, lectures and so much more in the Sicilian capital.
Venice
Venice Time Machine is running until December 31st, 2018.
Venice is situated across a group of 118 small islands in northeastern Italy that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. and is renowned for it’s beautiful architecture and artwork. The lagoon and a part of the city are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
"The Venice Time Machine project, based on historical and cultural data from important archives and libraries and strengthened by advanced software and cutting-edge visualization methods, aims to build an interactive model of Venice and its social, economic and political environment during the centuries," according to MIBAC.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the 3 Must See European Year of Culture Heritage Events! Planning a trip to be in attendance? Our native instructors and culturally immersive group classes can help you get the most out of all of the wonderful cultural celebrations taking place in Italy this year. Click below to learn more.
An Italian Sabbatical
Airbnb will be recruiting 4 people to move to the village of Grottole in the region of Basilicata for a 3 month Italian sabbatical…
An Italian Sabbatical
The American owned home-share company, Airbnb has been hit with many controversies over the last few years surrounding the issue that it’s customers have turned once residential areas into tourist hotspots. Critics say that this model has driven up property values and in essence made it impossible for residents to continue living in areas they have called home for most of their lives. The company, however, is seeking to make amends with locals with a new project in the sultry south of Italy by recruiting 4 people to move to the village of Grottole in the region of Basilicata for a 3 month “Italian sabbatical”.
Photo: Airbnb
During this trip, the participants will become part of the fabric of the community and to help revive the village. Like many places in Italy, particularly in the south, Grottole suffers from chronic depopulation to the point that the current population is 300 and there are around 600 empty homes in the town. The chosen candidates will enjoy an all-expenses-paid stay in the village, where they will be responsible for helping a local NGO, Wonder Grottole, revitalize the community. In exchange, the candidates will be offered free accommodation, up to €900 in expenses per month & given the opportunity to enroll in cultural classes.
Dying towns and villages across Italy have come up with a variety of novel solutions to avoid extinction. Some have offered empty houses for sale for just one euro (as you may remember in our article ___, including the hilltop towns of Gangi and Sambuca in Sicily, on condition that newcomers spend substantial sums restoring the properties.
The deadline for applications to this exciting opportunity will be on February 17th 2019.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about how you can be paid to take An Italian Sabbatical! If you’re planning on applying, why not already have a head start with being able to communicate with your new potential home? Our culturally immersive group classes and native instructors can put you on the path to fluency faster than you may have every thought possible. Click below to learn more!
Fighting Fascism With Food
In Verona, foodie and street artist Pier Paolo Spinazzи has created a solution to hate propaganda…
Fighting Fascism With Food
The country that brought the world mozzarella cheese is also the birthplace to Mussolini’s fascism in the early 20th century. Neo-fascists still thrive in Italy today while using symbols of the past, including the Nazi Party swastika, to promote hate. In Verona, foodie and street artist, Pier Paolo Spinazzè, has created a solution to hate propaganda that has been on the rise by combining his longtime passions for food and art.
His subversive street art transforms divisive messages into culturally appropriate art almost everyone can get behind. Known as “Cibo,” which means food in Italian, he systematically covers swastikas and hate speech in Verona with paintings of food.
He, like the neo-fascists, repeats symbols with his work becoming so well-known that followers inform him whenever there is a new sighting of Neo-fascist graffitti.
For Spinazzè, even the most recognizable Italian dishes symbolize unity through diversity. For instance, A caprese salad of mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, & olive oil is an international project and a “message that cuisine is open to the world,” he says. “The basil comes from India, the oil from Syria, the mozzarella is Italian, and tomatoes originate in Colombia.”
Cibo’s street art is admired for its style and the substantive underpinnings. On his Facebook page, a fan recently wrote, “You are a hero.”
We hope you’ve enjoyed Fighting Fascism With Food! What are your thoughts on Cibo’s attempts to fight the rise of Neo-fascist graffiti? Join the conversation below!
Monopolizing Music
Italian song rights collecting organization, SIAE has been ordered to seek out and resolve monopoly-related issues by Italy’s Competition Authority to end market distortion tactics…
Monopolizing Music
Italian song rights collecting organization, SIAE has been ordered to seek out and resolve monopoly-related issues by Italy’s Competition Authority to end market distortion tactics.
Collective licensing (where music rights owners license as one through a collecting society) always raises monopoly concerns. How those monopoly concerns are dealt with by copyright or competition law varies hugely from country to country. In the U.S., the 2 largest rights holders: BMI and ASCAP are regulated, while in the UK collective licensing is subject to the intervention of the copyright tribunal. In most European countries, however, regulation of licensing has traditionally been much less formal and severe.
The European Union has sought to make the European collecting societies more competitive, both in terms of recruiting members and licensing rights. Responding to those moves within the EU, Italy changed its laws last year to encourage more competition in the licensing market. This has created a dispute between SIAE and two newer licensing organizations called Soundreef and Innovaetica.
SIAE is charged with having used tactics to prohibit songwriters to choose additional organizations to represent them. Because of this, the ICA has demanded that the SIAE not only immediately comply but also pay a fine of 1000 euros.
SIAE has responded by stating that it would evaluate the Competition Authority’s order until they are confident that the organization was compliant with the laws in place despite the regulator’s demands.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about how the Italian Competition Authority is keeping SIAE from Monopolizing Music! Do you think this course of action will help aid Italian musicians in finding a royalty collector that works for them? Join the conversation below!
Valuing Versace
U.S. based fashion giant Michael Kors will gain a massive acquisition of the Italy's famous fashion house, Versace, for $2.1 billion later this year…
Valuing Versace
U.S.-based fashion giant, Michael Kors, will gain a massive acquisition of the Italy's famous fashion house, Versace, for $2.1 billion later this year.
For those new to the world of high-fashion, Versace, is an Italian luxury fashion company that was founded by Gianni Versace in 1978. The main collection of the brand is Versace, which produces upmarket Italian-made ready-to-wear and leather accessories.
Interestingly enough, The Versace logo is the head of Medusa, a Greek mythological figure. The logo came from the floor of ruins in Rome that the Versace siblings played in as children, and Gianni Versace chose Medusa as the logo because she made people fall in love with her and they had no way back, thus hoping his company would have the same effect on people.
Michael Kors has made no secret of its ambition to grow its portfolio of high-end brands after acquiring the UK-based shoe brand, Jimmy Choo, for $1.2 billion last year. As part of the deal, however, the Versace family will keep a role in certain aspects of the company.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about how Michael Kors has gained a massive asset by Valuing Versace! What are your thoughts on the merge of these two fashion giants? Join the conversation below
A Brief History of Pasta
”Pasta" is Italian for paste, referring to the combination of flour and water that now come in over 600 different shapes that are produced worldwide…
A Brief History of Pasta
As the cold season continues to roll in, we wanted to highlight a favorite comfort food that has spanned internationally for hundreds of years: Pasta.
If you somehow have not ever heard of this decadent entree, ”pasta" is Italian for paste, referring to the combination of flour and water that form over 600 different edible shapes worldwide and is usually eaten with different types of sauces or tossed with oil, herbs and spices (the exception being layered flat sheets like lasagna, which is baked and tubes and pillows which are stuffed).
It is a matter of much controversy with regards to the origin of this well-loved comfort food. One theory is that Marco Polo brought pasta back to Italy on his return from travels in China. This theory is however rejected by nationalistic Italians who claim that Marco Polo returned in 1295 but in 1279, a Genoese soldier listed in the inventory of his estate a basket of dried pasta. Another theory is that the origin of pasta dates back to an archeological find of Etruscan tombs. Carvings on some of the stucco reliefs in the tombs depicted a knife, board, flour sack and an iron pin which was interpreted that these instruments were used to make pasta.
In Naples, commercial pasta making took off when King Ferdinand II hired an engineer who devised a system of using a machine to knead and cut the dough. Naples soon became Italy's center of pasta. Macaroni and cheese was a popular dish in America during the Civil War, but it wasn't until the large scale Italian migration to America that pasta as we know it today became widespread. The history of ravioli may be the most interesting of the bunch. The earliest records of ravioli appear in the preserved letters of Francesco di Marco in the 14th century. The city of Cremona claims to have created ravioli, but Genoa insists that the word ravioli comes from their dialect word for pasta, rabiole, which means "something of little value" and referred to the practice of poor sailors who suffered leftovers into pasta to be eaten for another meal.
So the heated debate continues down the ages paralleling pasta's continued development. Regardless, though, as to who did what and when, more importantly the world now enjoys pasta, and it has evolved without a doubt through the creativity and inventiveness of many including Italians who have embraced it as their own with the creation of shapes, sauces and processes.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning A Brief History of Pasta! What is your favorite type of the famous Italian export? Join the conversation below!
Confiscating Counterfeits
As millions of Italians begin to plan out travel routes, they may want to think twice about where they stop to refuel the vehicles…
Confiscating Counterfeits
A massive operation by the Guardia di Finanza (the Italian law enforcement agency under the authority of the Minister of Economy and Finance) found that 1 in 5 gas stations that were examined on Italy's roadsides are "illegal.” As millions of Italians begin to plan out travel routes, they may want to think twice about where they stop to refuel the vehicles. At 1,379 of the gas stations that were checked on Italy's roads, 500,000 liters of gasoline were confiscated for being fake.
Unfortunately, this seems to be a sign of a larger trend of tourist and traveller-targeted fraud. More than half of the vacation rentals investigated have not paid tax on their earnings or registered with the relevant authorities, according to Italy's Guardia di Finanza with landlords in the regions of Puglia, Tuscany and Lazio being the worst offenders.
In the town of Taormina, the Guardia di Finanza identified several B&Bs that had no record of existing while the owners made €130,000 without paying any tax and more than 2,000 commercial businesses had no license. Alarmingly, this means that just over 2,000 workers were paid under the table. In Verona, the operation even uncovered a criminal organization dedicated to employing illegal workers that were subjected to inhumane work schedules and barely livable wages. The criminal business even involved doctors who issued fake medical certificates and employees from Italy's social security and welfare institute INPS who falsified documents.
As expected, the criminal ring also includes an element of narcotic trade. Nearly 600 suspects were stopped at various ports attempting to smuggle drugs, weapons and counterfeit cigarettes, resulting in 23 tons of various illegal narcotics being seized since mid-June 2018. A total of 9 million counterfeit goods were also seized over the summer with an average of 200,000 pieces removed from the market each day.
We hope you've enjoyed Confiscating Counterfeits! Be sure to check out more articles from our culture blog to keep your Italian cultural knowledge up to date and avoid scams such as these!
Reforming The Labor Market
A series of reforms in recent years has opened up Italy’s labor market, and in early July the government introduced even more legislation…
Reforming The Labor Market
A series of reforms in recent years has liberalized Italy’s labor market and in early July as the government has introduced new legislation that will change how business is to be conducted.
The “dignity decree” aims to limit the popularity of short-term job contracts of companies shipping jobs overseas and simplifies a good number of fiscal rules. Businesses, however, have pushed back as labor unions have offered mild praise. The reform is the first bit of legislation by the month-old government and is the brainchild of Mr. Di Maio, minister of economic development and labor.
Confindustria, Italy’s main business lobby, has decried the law, stating that firms are “paying the price of an endless electoral race.” On the upside, it reintroduces an obligation on firms to justify their renewal.
Michel Martone, a professor at Rome’s LUISS University and former vice-minister of labour, suggests that the fiscal and anti-gambling reforms are spot on, but penalizing firms that move and the use of fixed-term contracts might discourage firms from hiring and investing in Italy. Unemployment stands at 10.7%, the lowest level since 2012 but still the third-highest rate in Europe; youth unemployment is at 31.9%.
It seems that reconciling the government’s split in opinion may then prove an endeavor more treacherous than the Palio di Siena.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about how the Italian government is Reforming The Labor Market! Do you think these new reforms will help or hurt the market? Join the conversation below and let us know!
The World's Oldest Olive Oil
Olive oil was being produced in the region nearly 4,000 years ago thus pushing the timeline of the production of olive oil in Italy 700 years earlier than previously believed…
The World's Oldest Olive Oil
Not only is olive oil at the heart of almost every dish that comes from Italy (or the Mediterranean region in general), in the Roman era, it was so important that it was collected as part of provincial taxes. Recently though, the question has become about exactly when Italians began extracting olive oil. A study of pottery fragments recovered from an archaeological site in Castelluccio shows that oil was being produced in the region nearly 4,000 years ago, thus pushing the timeline of the production of olive oil in Italy 700 years earlier than previously believed according to Anne Ewbank at Atlas Obscura.
Conservators from the Archaeological Museum of Siracusa pieced together some 400 fragments found at the site to rebuild a 3.5 foot jar and restored two basins separated by an internal septum as well as a large terracotta cooking plate. Using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, the team discovered traces of oleic and linoleic acid which are present in the chemical makeup of olive oil. Further testing aided them in determining the actual age of the oil.
Daniel Dawson of Olive Oil Times has written that storage jars dating back to the 12th and 11th century BCE in southern Italy’s Cosenza and Lecce previously held the record for holding the oldest traces of olive oil in Italy, and while the oil is a signature of Italy, it’s only half as old as the world’s earliest extra virgin which was uncovered in 2014 in Israel.
While the olive oil that was once stored in these containers is long gone(& would be rancid even if it did survive to this day), it’s still possible to taste some olives from the Bronze Age. An olive tree in Bethlehem is believed to be 4,000 to 5,000 years old and the Olive Tree of Vouves in Crete is believed to be 2,000 to 3,000 years old.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about The World's Oldest Olive Oil! Would you be willing to travel across the world to taste the olives produced by a 5,000 year old olive tree? Join the conversation below!
Exploring Eataly
Ever dreamed of what it would look like if the folks at the Food Network were given a theme park? If so, you are in luck.
Exploring Eataly
Ever dreamed of what it would look like if the folks at the Food Network were given a theme park? If so, you are in luck.
Located a half hour outside of Bologna, Italy FICO Eataly World is open to the public and is dubbed by many in the media as the “Disney World of food.”
There’s a dairy plant and outdoor livestock stalls along with a mini-plot of forest land that’s home to truffle dogs who show guests how they can sniff out truffles. There are also department store-like fixtures selling state-of-the-art kitchenware, an indoor sports area, a kids playground, an interactive hydroponics plant and 34 factories (including an Italian craft brewery and a flour and rice mill).
Photo: LIfeGate
On top of all of this, of course, is the food! The cuisine at FICO Italy World is dedicated to the best of what Italy has to offer. Some of the courses include a mortadella panini featuring ham made on-site, speared chunks of Parmigiano cheese aged up to 72 months, aged balsamic vinegar from Modena and Reggio Emilia. In addition to the main offerings in the food court, smaller stands offer less known delicacies like lampredotto (cow stomach stuffed in a panino) and gelato machine manufacturer, Carpigiani, offers tastes of the decadent Italian treat.
The Italian food theme park was first envisioned in 2012 by the Agri-Food Center of Bologna and in 2014, they partnered with the founder of Eataly, Oscar Farinetti, to create FICO Eataly World.
FICO — meaning “fig” and slang for “cool” in Italian — technically stands for Fabbrica Italiana Contadina (Italian Farming Factory), and the project is the culmination of efforts by private investors ranging from industrial producers, frozen food companies, milk producers, and government regulated agri-food consortiums.
The complex spans nearly 25 acres (you can even rent a bike to get around) where, In addition to all the food, drink, and spectacle, six educational rides called “carousels” can be enjoyed. These rides show the human relationship with agriculture by the themes of fire, earth, sea, animals, soil to bottle, and the future of food. For Eataly World , the main goal is to serve as a crossroads of food and sustainability that illustrates how Italian products known the world-over are made.
We hope you've enjoyed learning how Italian foodies are Exploring Eataly! Planning a trip to take part in the attractions offered at the "Disney World of food?" Our culturally immersive classes taught by native instructors will ensure that you are able to get the most out of your adventure! Click below to learn more.
10 Amusing Italian Idiomatic Expressions
We were thrown into the lion's den once and we loved it! Would you?
10 Amusing Italian Idiomatic Expressions
Have you ever been to Italy? If so, you may have heard a few phrases during your travels that caught you off guard. You might have been asked to 'get another pair of sleeves,' or to 'get a crab,' or somebody you encountered may have wished to have been eaten by a wolf. These humorous idiomatic expressions are used quite often in Italian and it may have gotten you to question - "What does it mean? And what is this obsession with animals?" Idioms are a reflection of the cultural traditions, values, and customs. In English, something can happen "once in a blue moon", but in Italian, it happens "every time the Pope dies." Italians will be impressed by your language skills if you can use their expressions in the right context. Dive into the world of Italian idiomatic expressions with us and sound more like a native Italian speaker. Divertiti!
1. In bocca al lupo
In the mouth of the wolf. Italians have a funny way of wishing you luck, and that is by inviting you to get eaten by a wolf. The other person must respond ‘Crepi il lupo’ (‘The wolf shall die’). So... Break a leg or get devoured by a wolf ?
2. Un altro paio di maniche:
Another pair of sleeves. This expression is used as a comparison when the second term is greater than the first. For example, 'saying something is easy, doing it is another pair of sleeves’. It is thought that the expression refers to Mediaeval times, when women’s clothing had replaceable sleeves.
3. Prendere lucciole per lanterne:
To mistake fireflies with lanterns. This saying is used to suggest an easily visible mistake or to refer to a person who is not really intuitive. So if you ever hear ‘Luigi mistakes fireflies with lanterns’, you know Luigi is not that quick.
4. A piede libero:
On a free foot. This refers to people who are on bail awaiting sentencing. In fact, this expression was used in Mediaeval times when prisoners were forced to have their feet cuffed. It can also refer to to an escaped prisoner who is now ‘a piede libero’.
5. Essere nella fossa dei leoni:
To be in the ditch with lions. Here is another unhappy expression involving ferocious animals trying to kill men. This expression is used when someone is in a very difficult and inconvenient situation, and dates back to the Roman Empire when punishment could also consist of getting eaten by lions.
6. Prendere un granchio:
To catch a crab. This means that the end result of something is a lot lower than expected. It can also mean that you have made a big mistake. If you are a fisherman and you are hoping to catch a fish, you’ll probably be disappointed to catch a crab!
7. Patti chiari, amicizia lunga:
Clear conditions, long friendship. This expression is used to refer to an open and honest conversation, in which all parties involved can establish an agreement that will keep the friendship/relationship going strong. For example, if you organise a dinner for friends, you could tell them to bring the wine, because..’clear conditions, long friendship!’
8. Rendere pane per focaccia:
To give bread for focaccia. As everyone know Italians are serious about their culinary traditions and they like to mention them in any context. In fact, ‘rendere pane per focaccia’ means that you respond to an offence with an equally or even stronger offence than the one you have received.
9. Ogni morte di papa:
Every time the Pope dies. This saying may sound really strange, but it does make sense. Italians use this expression to refer to something that happens with very little frequency, so if you are in Rome and you are wondering how often roads get redone, the answer is ‘Every time the Pope dies!’
10. Saltare di palo in frasca:
To jump from a post to a pile of branches means to jump from one topic to another without there being any connection between the two. In English you would use the expression of ‘going on a tangent’.
We hope you enjoyed reading 10 Amusing Italian Idiomatic Expressions! These Italian expressions really reflect the true culture of Italians from the past into the present. Have other Italian idioms you want to add to the list? Don't forget to add them in the comments' section below. Looking for more Italian language & culture? Check out our Italian Group Classes and Private Lessons at JP Linguistics taught by native instructors. Grazie mille!
Three Italian Dances and Their (Bizarre) Histories
These traditional dances are well-preserved in smaller towns such as Regio and have made their impact on the world.
Three Italian Dances and Their (Bizarre) Histories
As we are reaching the peak of summer, some of us are still planning their vacation to the wonderful land of Italy. Best known for its wonderful landscapes, delicious olive oils, wines, deserts and pastas, Italy has an incredible history and a culture of traditions that are rooted in beliefs worth debating. Some traditions are often overlooked which is why it is difficult to find historical dances in big cities such as Rome, Milan, or even Venice; but it is quite common in smaller communities in southern part of the country. As you may know, true immersion comes in smaller communities with cultural secrets & traditions being well-preserved in smaller towns such as Regio, for example. We would like to take you back in time to these forgotten dances that fueled today's culture. Enjoy!
1. Tarantella
Tarantella is a type of dance typical of the Southern regions of the country. It comes from the word "tarantula," yes, the large spider that all of us are really afraid of! The dance was used to recreate the movements of a person who had been bit by the spider. People belived that you could get rid of the venom by dancing it off. It would look like something like this:
Tarantella - Dance
2. Pizzica
Pizzica is a dance which originated in Apulia. It's direct translation today is "itch, sting, bite" As "Tarantella", this is dance is also linked to a "tarantula". This time, this dance was a tool for the population to help a person who had been bitten. When a person had been bitten by a spider, there would be a shock that only this dance was supposed to help them get out of. This dance inspired freedom and liberation for all and it looked like this:
Pizzica Dance in the medieval town of Morro D'Alba - Marche region Italy
3. Saltarello
The Saltarello is a form of "Tarantella" dance that can be found in regions such as Abruzzo, lazio, and Marche. This is a couples dance that makes it one of oldest dances in Italy. The dance is named after the verbe 'saltare' ("to jump") because it is composed of a lot of jumping around which inspired a French dance (Le pas de Brabant) and a Spanish dance (Alta Danza). It looked something like this:
Saltarello, a popular Renaissance dance, is performed by professional dancers.
We hope you enjoyed reading Three Italian Dances and Their (Bizarre) Histories. These magical Italian dances, which were originally created in aims of healing wounded people, are yet another reason why you should visit Italy and take part in the cultural history of this wonderful country. Have other Italian dances you want to add to the list? Don't forget to add it in the comments' section below. Looking for more Italian language and culture? Check out our Italian Group Classes & Private Lessons at JP Linguistics taught by native instructors. Grazie mille!