Here's The Skinny on LGBTQIA+ Rights in Italy
Ever wondered what Italian law has to say about LGBTQIA+ individuals? Get the facts here!
by Brian Alcamo
Italy is known for so many fabulous things: historic artwork, breathtaking landscapes, and mouth-watering food being a few. What you may not think of when you hear the word “Italy,” though, is Queer rights. While Italy only legalized same-sex civil unions (not marriage) back in 2016, its history of queer rights and discrimination is rich and complex.
Back in 1805, the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy, the Kingdom of Naples, and other French client states in Europe adopted the Napoleonic Code which effectively legalized homosexuality. However, in 1815, Napoleon lost his grip on Italy and the previous monarchies were gradually restored along with their previous codes of law that banned homosexual activity.
In 1859, the Kingdom of Sardinia changed its laws to criminalize homosexual acts between men. As it so happens, the Kingdom of Sardinia is the Kingdom that spearheaded Italian unification (il Risorgimento). As it was unifying Italy, the Kingdom was also unifying Italy’s laws. When the system of law changed, homosexual acts between men became illegal throughout Italy. The only region where this law was not put into effect was in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, which avoided the law because the new government was taking into account “the particular characteristics of those that lived in the South.”
In 1889, homosexuality was decriminalized with the arrival of the Zanardelli Code, started by Justice Minister Giuseppe Zanardelli. As long as it did not involve violence or “public scandals,” homosexuality was not punishable by law. That being said, homosexuality was considered a “sin against religion or privacy.” The new code, while it did keep homosexuality out of the eyes of the law, also worked to create a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy when it came to being gay. Unwittingly, some cities still took advantage of the new legal gray area, with Venice turning into— dare we say it was “popping off” as— the European gay destination of choice.
This policy continued on in the 1930s when a new code was introduced alongside Italy’s new fascist regime. The new Rocco Code reinforced a “don’t ask, don’t tell” spirit surrounding homosexuality in Italy not out of a nascently inclusive agenda, but because Italian fascists wanted to deny the existence of gay people in the country. The code read that “It will not be punished because the vicious vice of homosexuality in Italy is not so widespread that it requires legal intervention.” This left persecution of homosexuality up to the Catholic Church.
“Where are they now?”
Despite this “out of sight, out of mind,” relationship that exists between queer people and the Italian government, some progress has been made since the turn of the millennium. In 2003, the entire country of Italy made discrimination based on sexual orientation illegal in compliance with EU guidelines. Tuscany became the first Italian region to successfully implement legislation that prohibits discrimination against homosexuals (in the domains of education, employment, public services, and accommodations). This legislation was challenged at the national level, and eventually the section of the law mentioning accommodations was removed while the rest of the legislation remained intact. Piedmont enacted a similar law in 2006. Same-sex civil unions were made legal in 2016.
The Catholic Church is still making life difficult for queer Italians. While protections against racial and religious discrimination have been codified, protections on the grounds of gender and sexual orientation have yet to be put into effect. A large force in this delay is the conservative political party Brothers of Italy which represents the country’s Catholic bishops.
Italian Vocabulary For Talking About Queer Rights
I diritti - Rights
Omosessuale - Homosexual
Arcigay - Italy’s biggest LGBTQIA+ activist group
Identità di genere - Gender identity
Orientamento sessuale - Sexual orientation
Back in 2020, a new law, known as the Zan Bill, was being cooked up by the Italian government to begin protecting people based on their gender and sexual orientation. A priest in Puglia, a region in Italy’s Mezzogiorno (the South) even held a vigil to pray that the law would fail. The law, was approved by Italy’s lower house of parliament back in early November of 2020. It saught to “integrate an existing law and extend protection to women, LBGTQ+ and people with disabilities from discrimination based on gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ableism.” Many people were not pleased.
While the Italian Senate continues to examine the Zan Bill, the Vatican has decided to voice some concerns, saying the bill attacks the Italian Catholic community’s freedom of beliefs. Whether the Zan Bill will pass in the Senate is still unknown, but make sure to check out some Italian news sites to brush up on your Italian and keep up with the latest happenings.
Thanks for Reading!
Were you surprised to learn about Italy’s Queer rights history? Comment below, and share this article with your Italy-loving friends.
Thumbnail photo by Luis Cortés.
Scopa: A Simple and Fun Italian Card Game
Discover a game that’s both easy to learn and easy to argue about.
by Brian Alcamo
Italy is a land of many national pleasures. Limoncello, opera, and tiramisu are just three examples of the myriad Italian treasures. But the country has cultural mainstays that go beyond globally recognizable exports. Italy is home to more than just highly refined handicrafts. In fact, this bel paese is home to not just one, but three, national card games. While they might not evoke the same cultural reverie as Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, giochi di carte (card games) have sustained their presence in Italy through the centuries.
Card games are a big part of Italian culture, and they’re a great way to spend more time around the dinner table after the eating is over. A few years ago, I was lucky enough to spend an evening with a friend’s host family in Florence. We played Scopa, an Italian card game, after dinner and before dessert. By the end of playing, my Italian was way better than it was during the meal. Without food in our mouths, we were able to have a more fulfilling conversation that wasn’t happening in between bouts of chewing.
Scopa, Italian for “broom,” is a fishing-style card game that involves “capturing” cards from the table by matching table cards with the cards in your hand. Along with Briscola and Tressette, Scopa is an Italian card classic. The game is fast-paced, easy to learn, and hard to master. It makes for a perfect night of relaxing with friends and family around a table. Read on to learn more!
Italian Decks of Cards
Before you play Scopa, you have to make sure you have the right deck of cards. Decks of cards, or mazzi di carte, are a little bit different in Italy. For starters, these decks typically only have 40 cards. They eschew the 11, 12, and 13 values of Jack, Queen, and King for suits that end at 10.
Speaking of suits, very few Italian decks of cards use suits that are “Italian” in origin. Most in the North use French suits, and most in the South use Spanish suits. Italian suits are only prominent in the Northeast of the country around Veneto. In a typical 40-card Southern Italian deck: 4 suits: spade (swords), coppe (cups), ori/denari (coins), and bastoni (batons). Italian and Spanish suited share the same names, but use different pictures. Each region uses its own special set of cards.
Your cards probably won’t be this antique, but it’s worth aspiring to this level of authenticity anyway.
In cities north of and including Florence, most players use French cards. French cards are the 52-deck playing cards that most Americans and Brits are used to using. To adhere to the game play of Italian card games, players remove 3 cards from each suit, paring the 52-card deck down to a 40-card one. The Italian names of French suits are: Cuori (Hearts), Quadri (Diamonds, directly translated as “squares”), Fiori (Clubs directly translated as “flowers”), and Picche (Spades, literally "Pikes").
Unless you own an Italian deck of cards already, you’ll probably have to take out cards from a pack you already own. Once you’ve gotten yourself a Scopa-appropriate deck, it’s time to play!
Playing
Scopa is played for points. At the beginning of each game, players must agree on the winning number of points. A common goal score is 21.
To start, the dealer gives each player 3 cards (face-down) and places 4 cards (face-up) in the middle. Players try to capture cards from the face-up cards in the middle. They can either make a direct match, or (even better) match the value of one of their cards with the sum of multiple cards on the table. For example, if there are two cards on the table that add up to 8, and a player has an 8, that player can take both cards to create a match.
If you take all 4 cards on your turn, congratulations! You get 1 point for a successful scopa. Once everyone runs out of cards, the dealer deals players three new ones. A hand ends when the deck of cards runs out. This is when you score points.
Don’t be fooled by the game’s simple rules! Things can get competitive.
Scoring
1 point for each scopa
The player with the most cards gets 1 point. In the case of a tie, no one gets points.
The player with the most diamond (or coin) cards gets 1 point. In the case of a tie, no one gets points.
The player with the 7 of diamonds (Il Settebello) gets 1 point. In the case of a tie, no one gets points.
The player with the best primiera (prime) scores 1 point. A primiera is a set of 4 cards, one from each suit. If you don’t have one card from each suit, you’re not eligible to score a primiera. A primiera can be scored in multiple ways. Two common ways are whoever has the most 7s and who has the highest score based on a hard-to-remember chart that you can find here.
If no one has enough points to win, gameplay continues, and the deck is shuffled and dealt again. Play until one player has enough points to score.
Play With Friends!
Scopa is a fun and easy-to-learn card game that will keep you and your friends up into the wee hours of the night. Modify the rules as you see fit, and maybe even buy one of those beautiful Italian decks of cards to upgrade your game. Don’t forget to practice your Italian around the table as you play!
What’s your favorite card game? Comment below, and share this post with a friend.
(Thumbnail photo by Inês Ferreira)
A Food Tour of Italy's Twenty Regions
There’s only one word to sum-up Italian food: variety
As we’ve mentioned before, Italian culture is not the same throughout the country. More often than not, it is defined on the town-level more than anything else. We unfortunately don’t have the resources to talk about the culinary variation of every single Italian paesino, so we’ll be walking you through a food tour of Italy’s regions instead.
Italy has twenty regions, all of which exercise a certain amount of political authority within their borders. Most of these regions have cultures dating back to before Italy was unified, and belonged to various empires and city-states over the course of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Regions like Veneto and Liguria were the home bases of maritime empires, while almost all of southern Italy was once part of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies. All of these political differences and slight variations in regional geographies mean that the culinary experience from one region to another can be quite different. Let’s check out some examples!
Northern Italy (Italia Settentrionale)
Piemonte
If you’ve ever heard of Fiat, you should know where Piemonte is. The region, including its largest city Torino, is a hotbed of Italian industry. Located in the northeast along the French-Italian border, Piemonte’s food culture is defined by a more buttery palate. To get a taste of this region, try eating some vitello tonnato. This dish takes surf and turf to a whole new level. It’s veal cutlets covered in a tuna-based sauce that infuses neighboring Ligurian capers and anchovies into a memorable meal.
Valle d’Aosta
This semi-francophone region is an Alpine wonderland. Try the zuppa della valpelline, which is a bread-based soup made with kale, fontina cheese, butter, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. The hearty soup will keep you warm as you endure the chilling temperatures while exploring the breathtaking landscape.
Trentino-Alto Adige
A region with a very Germanic past and present, Trentino-Alto Adige is a bilingual region on the Austrian border. A key dish here is the canederli di fegato, which are croquette-like dough balls cooked with seasonal vegetables.
Lombardia
Lombardia is in central Northern Italy. Home to fashion capital Milan, this region boasts the largest and wealthiest metropolitan area in Italy. To get a taste of what it has to offer, try yourself some risotto alla milanese. It’s made of beef stock, bone marrow, white wine, and parmesan. Its beautiful, signature yellow color comes from saffron.
Veneto
Veneto, in Italy’s northeast, has a bit of an independent streak. Once the site of the maritime Venetian Empire (and modern-day Venice, to boot), the cuisine of Veneto has been influenced by the myriad products bustling in and out of its seaport. Combined with the Austrian influence to the North and the inland cuisine to the west, Veneto’s cuisine is hard to pin down. In order to sample multiple Venetian flavors, order some cicchetti, which are little toasts topped with fish or meat. Enough of these will definitely constitute a meal, all while sampling as much as possible.
Friuli - Venezia Giulia
Friuli - Venezia Giulia’s name is a mouthful. Geographically, the region is positioned north of Veneto and nestled in between both mountains and the sea. Sample some bollito misto for a true taste of the region. It’s a platter of boiled meats that is made all over Northern Italy, but especially famous in Friuli - Venezia Giulia.
Liguria
Other than Genova and beautiful Cinque Terre, Liguria is famous for two things: pesto and focaccia. These two salty, oily treats can go hand-in-hand, or incorporated into other recipes. Pesto making is an art, and the fresh version beats its jarred counterpart every time. Focaccia is delicious at any time of day. Dunk it in your espresso or eat it alongside your dinner. Versatile and delicious, these Ligurian staples should be constantly stocked in your kitchen.
Emilia-Romagna
The southernmost northern Italian region, Emilia-Romagna is led by capital city Bologna, which boasts a large concentration of students. To get in touch with the region’s cuisine, you might be thinking about trying some spaghetti bolognese. To be more authentic about things, you’d be better off trying ragù alla bolognese. It’ll still be a classic bolognese sauce with beef, pork, carrots, celery, and some red wine, but instead of spaghetti, the sauce will be served on top of tagliatelle.
Central Italy (Italia Centrale)
Toscana
Tuscany, birthplace of the Standard Italian language that we all know, love, and study today. Tuscany is quintessential central Italy. Try some bistecca alla fiorentina, which is traditionally a piece of veal. You’ll probably have to travel to Florence to try an authentic version of the meal, since so much of it is about how the cow was raised (and cut). That being said, pair your grilled steak with some chianti and some of that classic unsalted Florentine bread for a taste of this iconic Italian region.
Umbria
Umbria is a tiny, landlocked region that’s known for its truffles. Try a frittata al tartufo (a truffle omelette) to get this delicious flavor in your breakfast (or dinner, if you’re trying to eat like a true Italian).
Marche
Marche is an Italian region with one iconic meal, vincisgrassi, which is a type of lasagna. The dish’s mythology centers around the celebration of Austrian general Alfred von Windisch-Graetz, who fought Napoleon in the name of Ancona. While the recipe is older than this story, the legend is now a key ingredient in its preparation.
Lazio
Lazio, home to Rome, is a region whose culture has stood the test of time. Even though Rome itself is cosmopolitan and international, its surrounding region holds onto a strong culture that has lasted centuries. Lazian cuisine features lots of pasta, artichokes, and pork. In addition to the carbonara, try eating some bucatini all’amatriciana.
Sardegna
A region unto itself, Sardina isn’t like the rest of Italy. Its cuisine is often highlighted by its Catalonian past, seasoned with lots of saffron. Try the aragosta alla catalana, Catalan-style lobster, with a side of risotto to get a taste of the cultural fusion happening on this island.
Southern Italy (Italia Meridionale)
Abruzzo
Abruzzo sits along the Adriatic sea, and is so far north that it is geographically sometimes considered central Italy. That being said, its culture and history ensure that it is almost always categorized as part of the south. In Abruzzo, be sure to try the agnello cacio e uova, which is roasted lamb egg, pepper, cheese, and prosciutto. The dish harks back on the region’s history as a land of sheepherders.
Molise
Molise, historically part of Abruzzo, is known for its use of pepperoncini, or spicy peppers. To experience this region’s spice, try some spaghetti diavolillo. It’s a simple spaghetti topped with a spicy red sauce that will have you reaching for some mozzarella to cool your taste buds.
Campania
Campania is where Naples is. A region fertilized by its nearby volcanoes, its population of flora includes eggplant, tomato, pepper, figs, and lemons. We’d be remiss not to recommend that you eat some pizza while you’re there. It’s the homeland of the modern pie, and the local buffalo mozzarella and San Marzano tomatoes will have you writing home that you’re never eating American pizza again.
Basilicata
Basilicata is a lesser-known Italian region, nestled between Calabria, Campania, and Puglia. Try the baccalà con i peperoni cruschi (salted cod with crushed bell peppers). The dish highlights both the region’s coastline and its vast fields of red bell peppers.
Puglia
Puglia comprises the “heel” of the Italian boot. Resting on the adriatic sea, the region boasts perfect Mediterranean weather for olive and grain growing. Try the tiella pugliese, which is a dish made of rice, potatoes, and mussels.
Calabria
Calabria, or the “toe” part of Italy’s boot, is another region with toasty climates and “warm-weather” cuisine. A unique dish to try from this region is involtini di pesce spada, or swordfish rolls. Breaded and flavored with red sauce, capers, olives, lemons, oregano, and parsley, they’re everything that makes southern Italian cuisine so delicious, all rolled up into one!
Sicilia
Ah, Sicily, the motherland for many Italian-Americans and the birthplace of many foods that Americans believe to be quintessentially “Italian.” Some foods, like cannoli, are hard to find north of the island, even in other southern regions like Naples. That being said, to get a taste of Sicily that you can’t get elsewhere, try eating some panelle, or chickpea fritters. Douse them in a healthy amount of parsley and lemon juice and have yourself a snack that is a staple of Palermo street-food.
Mangia!
That’s a lot of food to try. We believe in you (and your stomachs). Which Italian cuisine is your favorite? The more buttery and rich flavors of the north or the more Mediterranean flavors of the south? Comment below, and be sure to give this post a heart!
(Thumbnail photo by Cloris Ying)
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)
Italian Artist Spotlight: Dario Gambarin
Large scale art installations are common in Europe, but one artist has craftily created temporary works that are sure to astound any fan of non-traditional art mediums.
Italian Artist Spotlight: Dario Gambarin
Large scale art installations are common in Europe, but one artist has craftily created temporary works that are sure to astound any fan of non-traditional art mediums.
Italian land-artist Dario Gambarin created a giant portrait of astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the lunar surface, in a wheat field outside Verona to mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 expedition to the moon.
Gambarin’s land art, created with a tractor and plough on a field of grain stubble, was part of a global wave of tributes that celebrated the expedition.
Gambarin himself has stated that “Art is an adventure of the spirit, of thought and of creative imagination. Only those who have the courage to face this journey with free will, taking the risk of their own integrity, can explore these multi-faceted realities.”
Over the years, Gambarin has created similar artwork of Barack Obama, J.F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Kim Jong-Un, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and Pope Francis.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our Italian Artist Spotlight: Dario Gambarin!
What are your thoughts on his works? Join the conversation below!
3 Italian Inventions That Changed The World
There are inventions that are often overlooked that have influenced our lives more than all of these brands and products…
3 Italian Inventions That Changed The World
Italy is known for giving birth to some of the most famous brands in modern times in all industries including, Ferrari, Versace, Moschino, Gucci, Prada, and Nutella. The food of Italy is also internationally famous with favorites including gelato, pizza, spaghetti, and a large variety of cheeses. However, there are a few inventions that are often overlooked that have influenced our lives more than all of these brands and products combined. Here are 3 Italian Inventions That Changed The World!
Roman Law
Roman Law is the foundation of all legal systems in Europe that followed it. Its foundations lie in classical Greek and Roman philosophy, but it was exported around Europe during the reign of the Roman Empire.
Its development roughly spans over a thousand years of jurisprudence, from the Twelve Tables (c. 449 BC) to the Corpus Juris Civilis (AD 529) ordered by Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I.
Today it forms the basis of all civil law around the world, which is why it is argued that this is not only the most influential invention, but also the most important.
Photo: Espresso Machine Critic
The Espresso Machine
The invention of the machine and the method that would lead to espresso is usually attributed to Angelo Moriondo of Turin, Italy, who was granted a patent in 1884 for “new steam machinery for the economic and instantaneous confection of coffee beverage.” Espresso has not only become a staple of nearly every citizen in Italy’s day, but is the basis of an entire coffee culture that has become a global phenomenon, with an enormous resurgence that began in the mid 2000s and is still prevalent today.
The Battery
One of Italy's most recognized contributions to the world of technology was the first true battery. The Voltaic pile was devised by Italian physicist Alessandro Volta in around 1800 AD and was a stack of copper and zinc plates that were bathed in brine-soaked paper disks. Surprisingly. this rudimentary setup was able to produce a steady current for an extended period of time and has lead to what we now consider the modern battery.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about 3 Italian Inventions That Changed The World! What inventions do you think should have made the list? Join the conversation below!
The Return of Ancient Artifacts
This week, there will be a massive event in Beijing to showcase more than 700 Chinese cultural artifacts returned in March by Italian authorities…
The Return of Ancient Artifacts
This week, there will be a massive event in Beijing to showcase more than 700 Chinese cultural artifacts returned in March by Italian authorities at the National Museum of China in what has been the longest case of China tracking lost antiquities.
Photo: Artsy
The returned artifacts are well-preserved and in good condition as they were originally to be sold in Italy. As cultural superpowers, and the two countries have the highest number of UNESCO heritage sites, and have made bast efforts to preserve their culture. Items in the cache range from around 3,000 BCE to the early 20th century and includes significant artifacts like a Neolithic-era clay pot related to the ancient Majiayao culture, Song dynasty porcelain, and pottery from the Han, Tang, and Ming dynasties.
Photo: Global Times
Italy, however, is not the only country that has returned lost relics. The United States has also returned 391 cultural relics and are planning to hold a joint exhibition of repatriated cultural relics. Thankfully, there is no bad blood between the two countries as they will be working with the UNESCO World Heritage Convention to launch collaborative programs with the aim of enhancing exchanges in good practice, protection, promotion for cross-border asset protection.
We hope you enjoyed learning about how Italy and China are facilitating The Return of Ancient Artifacts! Do you think Italy and China will be able to continue building a communal cultural relationship? Join the conversation below!
Why Italians Live So Long
Italians are far less likely to die from cancer and heart problems than their other European counterparts.
Why Italians Live So Long
Italy is known around the world for its healthy diet and lifestyle, so it comes as no surprise to hear it came second in a global index ranking countries worldwide on factors that contribute to the overall health of residents. Since 2008, the European Heart Network has found that despite the older profile of Italy's population Italians are far less likely to die from cancer and heart problems than their other European counterparts.
The index grades nations based on variables such as life expectancy and access to clean water and sanitation while subtracting points over risks such as tobacco use and obesity with the Mediterranean diet being at least partially responsible for Italy's high ranking on the list.
Researchers say eating habits may provide clues to health levels enjoyed by Spain and Italy, as a “Mediterranean diet, supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts, had a lower rate of major cardiovascular events than those assigned to a reduced-fat diet,” according to a study led by the University of Navarra Medical School.
Italy was beaten to first place by neighboring Spain in the 2019 edition of the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index, which ranks 169 economies worldwide. Currently the average life expectancy of Italian citizens is 83 years old.
What are your thoughts on the findings of Why Italians Live So Long? Join the conversation below!
Admission To Venice At A Cost
those traveling to Italy may have to get used to paying to enter a particular city…
Admission To Venice At A Cost
Americans are very familiar with paying admission fees to enter tourist attractions, but those traveling to Italy may have to get used to paying to enter a city.
Having accommodated nearly 25 million visitors each year, Venice, Italy is becoming the first Italian city to charge visitors an entrance fee. This week, the city approved a 3 Euro per person fee for all day-trippers. The new day-trip entrance fee will go toward maintaining the World Heritage site.
Reuters has reported that of the 25 million tourists who visit Venice each year, around 14 million spend just one day, and many take picnics and sleep on cruise ships, bringing little income to local businesses. Under a seven-year-old law, overnight guests are already charged a nightly tourist tax. The city is currently repositioning itself as an open-air museum and as Luca Zaia,
One large hurdle with this proposal is that collecting the fee may get complicated. Day-trippers can enter the city by plane, cruise ship, car, train, or bus, so transport companies who bring tourists into Venice may add the entrance fee to their ticket price.
What are your thoughts on the proposed fare to enter the city as a conservation effort? Join the conversation below!
Recovering Lost Italian Art
8 works of stolen Italian art have been returned to Italy by Christie’s auction house…
Recovering Lost Italian Art
8 works of stolen Italian art have been returned to Italy by Christie’s auction house. This marks a success for Rome’s continued effort to recover pieces that were illegally obtained and trafficked such as an Etruscan terracotta mask that experts have dated to between the 6th and the 5th century BC and a marble fragment from a sarcophagus which was identified as having been stolen after 1966.
Photo: The Telegraph
. Christie’s voluntarily returned them at a ceremony at the Italian embassy in London on Tuesday, which was attended by the country’s culture minister Alberto Bonisoli who stated that “The restitution confirms the effectiveness of the collaboration between our country and the giants of the art market such as Christie’s in the fight against illegal trafficking of works of art.” Thankfully, only a small portion of work that passes through Christie’s doors (0.8%) is withdrawn from the sale process as a result of such investigation.
The cooperation was described as historic” by the embassy and an "important milestone in the protection of Italian cultural heritage.”
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning how the Italian authorities are Recovering Lost Italian Art! Planning a trip to see these pieces in person? Our culturally immersive group classes and native instructors are sure to prepare you to enjoy the exhibits to the fullest. Click below to learn more!
5 Essential Tips for Driving in Italy
One of the greatest challenges when traveling to a new country can be finding transportation that works on your terms. We've come up with 5 vital tips to make sure that your journey through Bel paese is as hassle free as possible...
5 Essential Tips for Driving in Italy
One of the greatest challenges when traveling to a new country can be finding transportation that works on your terms. In Italy, one of the most effective ways to get around is by car. While the minimum age to rent a car is technically 21, some rental companies allow drivers as young as 18 to rent from them as long as they have held their license for longer than 1 year. Any driver under the age of 25 should be prepared to pay a young driver's surcharge (€15-€22 per day).
Once you have your car situation sorted out, here are 5 vital tips to make sure that your journey through bel paese is as hassle free as possible.
Carry the Essential Documents In Your Glove Compartment
You'll want to make sure you have a valid EU driving license, a valid passport, a national ID card, proof of insurance, and a V5C (official registration certificate). Also, absolutely ensure that you have a sticker stating where your country of origin is along with your International driver's license and rental documents.
Mind The Speed Limits
The speed limits in Italy depend on the weather conditions, so if it's a sunny day then the maximum speed limit on the motorway is 80 mph. However, in the case of adverse weather conditions such as rain, wind or snow, then the maximum motorway speed comes down to 70 mph. Devices called “Autovelox” that look like big boxes on the side of the road with a camera will take a photo of your license plate if you are speeding and send you a ticket within a few months, so keep an eye out! If you're planning a camping holiday, a caravan or a trailer addition to your vehicle will warrant slower speed limits overall.
Fasten Your Seatbelt
The standard rules apply for both drivers and passengers, however in the case of pregnant women. it's possible that they can skip the seatbelt (with a letter from the gynecologist stating it is advised).
Stow Your Mobile Phone
If you’ve been keeping up with our blog, you’ll remember our article, MOBILE PHONE PROHIBITION, which explained France’s push to crack down on mobile phone usage in automobiles. Italy has a very similar policy as talking on the phone while driving is forbidden in Italy (with the exception of Bluetooth and hands-free modes). Emergency phones, which can be found at regular 2km intervals on the motorway can be used to contact police by dialing 113, 115 for fire, or 118 for ambulance.
Lay Off The Booze
If you’re looking to spend a night out with alcohol involved, it may be best to take a taxi home, especially for drivers who have been driving for less than 3 years, in which the alcohol limit is 0%.
We hope you've enjoyed our 5 Essential Tips for Driving in Italy! Care to make your drive even easier? Having linguistic and cultural fluency is one of the best ways to experience a new country. Click below to find out how our native instructors and culturally immersive classes can enrich your understanding of Italy!
Little Italy: NYC's Disappearing Neighborhood
The neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City, once known for its large population of Italian Americans, today consists of only a few authentic Italian stores and restaurants...
Little Italy: NYC's Disappearing Neighborhood
"Walking beside the narrow, cobblestoned streets beneath the fire escapes of turn-of-the-century tenements, you're tempted by the sights, sounds and smells of Italian cuisine and culture emanating from the restaurants surrounding you at every step."
Any idea which NYC neighborhood is being referenced in this quote from it's official website?
Hint: Look below!
The neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City, once known for its large population of Italian Americans, today consists of only a few authentic Italian stores and restaurants. and is surrounded by heavily gentrified areas -on the west by Tribeca and Soho, on the south - Chinatown, on the east - the Lower East Side, and on the north - Nolita.
Originally named Mulberry Bend, Danish-American social reformer, Jacob Riis, described it as "the foul core of New York’s slums.” as mass immigration from Italy during the 1880’s led to the influx of Italian immigrant settlement in lower Manhattan and resulted in the commercial gathering of their dwelling and business. Contrary to popular belief, Little Italy was not the largest Italian neighborhood in New York City, as East Harlem (or Italian Harlem) had a larger Italian population.
After World War II, many residents of the Lower East Side began moving to Brooklyn, Staten Island, Long Island, and New Jersey. Chinese immigrants became an increased presence after the U.S. Immigration Act of 1965 removed immigration restrictions, thus causing the neighboring Chinatown to expand to the detriment of the Italian neighborhood. As lower manhattan real-estate boomed, residents struggled to survive well into the 20th century and after the September 11 attacks in 2001, areas below Houston Street were cut off for the rest of the fall. As a result, the San Gennaro feast scheduled for September 13 was postponed and yet again the residents of the neighborhood were dealt a massive financial blow.
In 2004, Bill Tonelli from New York magazine stated that "Today, Little Italy is a veneer—50 or so restaurants and cafés catering to tourists, covering a dense neighborhood of tenements shared by recent Chinese immigrants, young Americans who can’t afford Soho, and a few remaining real live Italians.” and the website, ItalianAware, has called the dominance of Italians in the area, "relatively short lived.” In 2010, Little Italy and Chinatown were listed in a single historic district on the National Register of Historic Places.
Although Little Italy has shrunk as Soho and Chinatown continue to expand, Mulberry Street to this day showcases the enduring impact thousands of Italians made on NYC.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about Little Italy: NYC's Disappearing Neighborhood! What is your stance on the ongoing gentrification in Lower Manhattan, and do you believe there is a way to save Little Italy from disappearing forever? Leave a comment below!
The Best Of Bel Paese
Are you yearning to explore the vineyards for the best wines or wishing to explore the bustling cities? Are you on a limitless budget or looking to backpack on a shoestring? Do you want to celebrate a special holiday in native Italian fashion? The options are endless regardless of what your tastes may be!
The Best Of Bel Paese
Planning a trip to Bel Paese, or the ‘beautiful country’ of Italy can seem overwhelming at first, but with the right timing and knowledge of your own tastes, it is more than possible to plot the trip of a lifetime! Are you yearning to explore the vineyards for the best wines or wishing to explore the bustling cities? Are you on a limitless budget or looking to backpack on a shoestring? Do you want to celebrate a special holiday in native Italian fashion? The options are endless regardless of what your tastes may be!
Spring, summer, and autumn, as long as you arrive early in the season, are commonly referred to as the best times to visit Italy. If you are planning a trip later in the spring and summer seasons, you may become lost amongst a sea of tourists and vacationing Italians where beach amenity rentals can be expensive with many of the hotspots overcrowded.
For the budget traveller, Meridiana Airlines offers extremely affordable round trip flights between May and October from New York City to Rome, Naples or Milan for less than $500.
If you are looking to take advantage of the booming wine industry in Italy, Villa Cappelli offers wine tastings with regional sommeliers, cooking classes, and cultural tours of Puglia. If you plan on visiting in the autumn specifically, Venissa, a small boutique resort on the islands of Mazzorbo and Burano, will be celebrating the harvest of their Dorona vineyard where owner, Matteo Bisol, hosts wine dinners and tours of the oldest church in Venice, The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta.
Photo: Isoladiburano.it
If you would like to travel the very popular region of Tuscany, November - April are considered off peak months, and will provide you with a less crowded experience. By booking a reservation at the Monteverdi (for those with a larger budget), which is an easy day trip from destinations like Pienza and Florence, travelers can experience truffle hunting, wine tasting, and cooking classes.
Photo: Monteverdituscany.com
Rome, like Florence, is flooded with tourists almost anytime of year except for the winter months. Despite the occasional bout of rain, the city’s main attractions are easily accessible during this time of year. If Naples is on your radar, inexpensive tickets can be acquired from Rome if booking online in advance. Native Italians make the trek just for the Christmas markets (some of the largest in Europe) during this most wonderful time of the year.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about when and where to explore The Best Of Bel Paese! Want to forego the translator app when making your trip? Our native instructors and immersive group classes will ensure you are prepared to enjoy Italy, no matter where your tastes take you!
Culture + Cheese = Parma
Culture Minister Dario Franceschini announced February 16th that Parma would be the Italian Capital of Culture in 2020.
Culture + Cheese = Parma
Culture Minister Dario Franceschini announced February 16th that Parma would be the Italian Capital of Culture in 2020.
The northern city swept the competition including Agrigento, Bitonto, Casale Monferrato, Macerata, Merano, Nuoro, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia and Treviso. Parma has been regarded as "a virtuous and extremely high-quality example of local culturally based planning".
The city was at the center of several wars in the peninsula during the 14th and 15th centuries and became part of the Papal States, only to be detached from them in 1545 by Pope Paul III. During the Napoleonic Wars, Parma was annexed to France, was a center of resistance to fascism, and boasts one of the oldest universities in the world.
On a culinary level, Parma is famous for its ham and (surprise, surprise) parmigiano cheese. In Emilia-Romagna, where Parma lies, there is more origin-protected food and drink than any other region in Italy, and in the plains around Parma you'll be able to find amazing prosciutto, salami, cheese and porcini mushrooms. It is no surprise that Parma was also named a UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy in 2015.
As part of its candidacy Parma has pledged to further broaden its cultural attractions, commissioning installations outside the city centre and inviting artists from elsewhere in Italy and the world to give their own creative view of the city.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about how Culture + Cheese = Parma! Looking to make a trip to the cultural hub of Parma? Our immersive group classes with native instructors will ensure that you are ready to experience everything Parma has to offer!
A Century of Musica
Italy's Ministry of Culture has just put an entire century of Italian popular music online, for FREE!
Italy's Ministry of Culture has just put an entire century of Italian popular music online, for FREE!
canzoneitaliana.it contains just over 200,000 tracks available to stream unlimited thanks to of Italy's Central Institute for Sound and Audiovisual Heritage, ICBSA in partnership with Spotify and has been launched to coincide with Italy's biggest music festival, Sanremo.
The vast catalogue ranges from 1900 to 2000 and is divided chronologically, geographically and thematically. It includes traditional songs from each of Italy's regions, political songs from the first half of the 20th century, and Italian hits used on movie soundtracks.
Not positive what to look for? The service contains specially curated playlists for an overview of everything from Enrico Caruso's greatest hits to the women of Italian rock to cult TV theme songs. Even better, each section is accompanied by historical and musical context and is available in 8 languages.
If, somehow, you still can't find what you're looking for, an additional 5,000 songs will be added each month, according to Culture Minister Dario Franceschini who wishes to create ”a sort of central state archive that will last throughout time".
We hope you've enjoyed learning about "A Century of Musica!" Interested in exploring the site in it's native language? Check out our fully immersive, culturally infused lessons to get on the road to fluency today!
The Hidden Gems of Italy
There is a way to get in on an exclusive Italian experience once every year, so before you spend all of your hard earned money on that ticket to Italy, read on...
The Hidden Gems of Italy
If you had to make a list of places you visit every time you make a destination trip, would you happen to include a museum? If the answer is yes, you’re not alone, especially in Italy. Italian state museum revenues increased by almost 50 million euros between 2013-2016 and has seen an increased visitor rate of almost 19%. With the vast exhibitions, this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, however it does mean that museums can be increasingly difficult to peruse without feeling like you’re standing cheek to cheek with strangers on the NYC transit system (which is your favorite pastime, right?).
There is, however, a way to get in on a more exclusive experience once every year, so before you spend all of your hard earned money on that ticket to Italy, read on.
The Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI) or National Trust of Italy hosts an annual “Spring Days” event in March that opens up many hidden gems of Italy including: buildings, villages, and gardens to visitors that are usually closed to the public.
This event includes 1,000 sites in 400 towns.
Among these, the art schedule includes 260 buildings and villas, 51 villages, 79 castles and towers, 90 small museums, 40 parks and natural areas, 20 archaeological areas, 7 military establishments and 20 academies, schools, and institutions, 16 industrial and business museums, 14 theaters and amphitheaters, 8 cemeteries, and 2 former psychiatric hospitals.
Arguably one of the most impressive hidden gems of Italy is the Brisighella Convent, which is so large that the nuns use scooters to get around. This alone is reason enough to start booking that trip.
To see the full list of the true hidden gems of Italy, feel free to check out the official FAI website here. This website is in Italian, however, so it would be recommended to have a translator handy! If you would like to be able to make your trip sans translator, there's no better accompaniment to experiencing these hidden gems than with your knowledge of Italian! Grazie!