4 Must See Summer Cinema Experiences
If you’re looking for some unorthodox entertainment on your trip to Italy this summer, then you’re in luck…
4 Must See Summer Cinema Experiences
Looking for some unorthodox entertainment on your trip to Italy this summer? If you happen to be (or are traveling with) a cinephile, you are in luck! This summer, Italy will be hosting many outdoor cinema showings in some spectacular locations. We’ve put together a list of our top 4 screenings sure to entertain both the ardent movie lover and anyone that loves getting lost in beautiful scenery.
Padua
Photo: photobeginner/DepositPhotos
Once a place where the ancient Romans were entertained is now the site of a modern day gathering place for those who obsess over film. A number of both European and American releases will be available to view at the Arena Romana until July 31st.
Florence
Photo: timbrk/Depositphotos
The seventh art joins the other six at the Uffizi Galleries in Florence. From June 25th to August 11th, one of Italy's most famous museums, the Uffizi Galleries, will open its courtyard to Apriti Cinema. This series will include 48 free screenings of films old and new from around the world, and while all of the showings are free, space will be limited.
Naples
Photo: Gabriel Bouys/AFP
Those daring to be entertained under the shadow of Mount Vesuvius will have until August 15th to attend nightly screenings in San Giorgio di Cremano at Cinema intorno al Vesuvio. This screening series will include family-friendly animated features, Hollywood hits, and features from Cannes Film Festival.
Amantea
Photo: La Guarimba
The beach resort of Amantea on Italy's south-west Calabrian coast will host the La Guarimba International Film Festival from August 7-11th. This four night event will include talks, tours, and short films from around the world.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about Italy's 4 Must See Summer Cinema Experiences! Looking to feed your inner cinephile in the most beautiful theaters imaginable? Our fully immersive group classes and native instructors can help put you on the path to fluency faster than you may think! Click below for more info!
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!
"KeepOn" Making Music
Two times every year, KeepOn hosts meetings that bring together musicians, bands and their fans to solve problems caused by changes in society and aims to spread high-quality Italian music…
KeepOn Making Music
A new association for Italian music venues, festivals, and promoters, KeepOn Live, has launched in Milan fronted by Marco Manzella , the founder of KeepOn. The organization was created in 2004 as a ‘cultural association’ for club-sized venues.
Manzella has stated that “After almost 14 years of networking activity, and the promotion and distribution of original Italian live music throughout the whole nation, venues, and festivals have [asked us] to create a sector association.” The association, he adds, is “independent, apolitical, nonpartisan and nondenominational”, and brings together “venues and [organizations] that organize live music”.
Two times every year, KeepOn hosts meetings that bring together musicians, bands and their fans to solve problems caused by changes in society and aims to spread high-quality Italian music. The organization has created “100% Best Live”, a ranking system voted by the artistic directors to select the best bands in their local area along with joint advertising and enter sponsorship agreements to support the economies and promote the music venues of the association.
Federico Rasetti, CEO, and vice-president of KeepOn Live has stated: “It will be a really representative association, which will group exclusively live musical professionals and develop around their directives, demands, and needs. It will be inclusive and qualifying, also welcoming those small companies that wish to grow in this sector, helping them to develop and strengthen.”
We hope you've enjoyed learning about how KeepOn is working to make sure Italians KeepOn Making Music! Would you be interested in seeing something like this in the United States? Join the conversation below!
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.
Creating Ciabatta
The crux of what has so many people fawning over the Italian relative of the French baguette is…
Creating Ciabatta
Ciabatta is arguably the most famous of Italian breads and has continued to gain popularity over the last few decades. While some of this fame can be attributed to the fact that it has become a “trendy” food, the crux of what has so many people fawning over the Italian relative of the French baguette is the soft, long dough process and the use of a pre-dough.
In Italy, ciabatta is eaten in many ways, though the most popular is with a sprinkle of olive oil or as a panini filled with salami, mozzarella or Parma ham. It also has a versatility that many other breads do not as day old ciabatta loaves can be toasted or grilled and served with tomatoes, Parmesan cheese and basil as a juicy bruschetta or panzanella (bread salad). Ciabatta has found its way into many supermarkets in Latin America, Asia and Africa as well as the international bread industry offers ciabatta in a multitude of different forms.
A Sample Recipe for Ciabatta Includes:
Although details of the origins of ciabatta are not known for certain, the history of the Italian speciality is linked with the name Arnaldo Cavallari who was determined to develop an Italian counterpart to the French baguette together with Francesco Favaron. After many experiments, they created a coarse-textured bread made from high-mineral flour, eventually resulting in what we now know as ciabatta. Cavallari, who died in 2016, has become a legendary figure in Italian culture as ciabatta is now one of the best-known bread specialities worldwide and is no less popular than the French baguette.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about Creating Ciabatta! Thinking of making a trip to enjoy the fabled Italian bread in it's home country? Our culturally infused classes taught by native instructors are sure to make sure you are fully equipped to order ciabatta in any way imaginable! Click below to learn more.
Renting In Italiano
Thinking of renting an apartment (appartamento) in the beautiful country of Italy? Here are a few terms that you must know…
Renting ”in Italiano”
Thinking of renting an apartment (appartamento) in the beautiful country of Italy? As you may have read in our previous article, Italian Casa : Caffè Price, there is an increased interest in living in Bel paese amongst foreigners. If the thought of living, and specicfically renting in Italy peaks your interest, we’d love to walk you through a few terms that will make navigating the process much easier!
First, we’ll review a few different types of contracts (contratti) that you may encounter. The process is different for a student compared to someone hoping to stay longer-term. These long-term contracts are called 'contratti di libero mercato' or in English, free market contracts, which usually last 4 years (if you find that you’d like to renew, you will generally be given the option of another 4 years). ‘Contratti concertati' (mutually agreed contracts) can be used for 3 years as a residential contract (uso abitativo) and also covers temporary use (uso transitorio) at a period of 1 to 18 months.
You should plan to see the term for a landlord (il/la locatore) in your contratti. While you may rent directly from the landlord, it is also advisable to go through a leasing agent (agente immobiliare).
Ok, so you’re ready to sign your contract, but what type of living situation do you want?
A studio? (un monolocale)
A double room? (un bilocale)
A triple room? (un trilocale)
Regardless of your style of housing, be sure to check the floorplan (la pianta del piano) to see what's included (such as a kitchen, bathrooms, etc.) and be weary of truffe (scams), particularly those that ask for a deposit in cash (in contanti). Most importantly, never pay before signing the contract and getting the keys (le chiavi) to the apartment.
Don’t be afraid to ask if the rent is negotiable (trattabile)! You may end up saving as you navigate how to pay for utilities (utenze) as well as additional service charges (spese condominiali). Once you're happy with everything, the only thing left to do is sign (firmare) and begin preparing for the move (il trasloco)!
Divertiti!
We hope you've enjoyed learning about Renting En Italiano! Want to make the process even easier?! Our immersive group classes taught by native instructors will help you not only breeze through the linguistic aspect of the renting process, but help you understand where you would be best suited to live based your desires of the cultural landscape!
Preserving the Language Of the Divine Comedy
It is no secret that ‘English-isms’ have permeated nearly every language in countries across the world. Recently, The Accademia della Crusca, have accused the country’s education ministry of implementing an emerging educational text with dozens of English words and phrases…
Preserving the Language Of The Divine Comedy
It is no secret that 'English-isms' have permeated nearly every language in countries across the world. Recently, those trusted with the preservation and protection of the Italian language, The Accademia della Crusca, have accused the country’s education ministry of implementing an emerging educational text with dozens of English words and phrases. This comes as disturbing news as the threat of “English-ification” grows ever present in the Italian language.
The committee, similar to it’s French counterpart, Academie française, has stated that it was “deeply concerned” that the text about entrepreneurship in business contained the phrases”team-building”, “start-up”, and “case history” among others when they feel that there are Italian equivalents that could have been just as effective. Because this has become “institutionalized,” according to the committee, The Accademia della Crusca contends that the education ministry needs to work to hold Italian language and culture,” in a higher regard, because “Rather than teaching students about entrepreneurship, the text seems to promote the systematic abandonment of the Italian language.”
Academie Francaise
Claudio Marazzini, the president of the academy, said the stated text would be difficult for Italian students to comprehend adding to a long list of points for the necessity to use native words over foreign ones. This linguistic compromise is not without a degree of being lost in translation as the meaning of some English words has been warped to the point where they aren’t recognizable to native English speakers. For example, "mister" has taken a new meaning as a football coach. The word, “location” has also come under fire specifically because there are three Italian equivalents (luogo, sito and posto) that could be used in it’s place.
Valeria Fedeli, the Italian education minister, however, has rejected criticism of the school text stating that her department was "committed to promoting Italian but also believed it was vital for schoolchildren to start learning English from a young age” and that “Italian borrowed words from many other languages, not least Latin and Arabic.”
We hope you've enjoyed learning about how The Accademia della Crusca are Preserving the Language Of the Divine Comedy! How do you feel about the committee's efforts to keep the Italian language as pure as possible? Join the conversation below!
Seeking Italian Citizenship
According to new figures from the statistics offices at Eurostat, Italy granted citizenship to over 200,000 people in 2016 placing it as the number 1 provider of citizenships of all the countries in the European Union.
Seeking Italian Citizenship
According to new figures from the statistics offices at Eurostat, Italy granted citizenship to over 200,000 people in 2016 placing it as the number 1 provider of citizenships of all the countries in the European Union.
The new citizens (all 201,600 of them) account for 1/5th of the new EU citizens. This shift represents a 13% increase from 2015 with the majority of new citizens originally hailing from Albania, Morocco, and Romania. The only countries contending with these numbers are Spain and the UK, each with around 150,000, followed by France with 119,200 and Germany with 112,800.
While EU citizens can live in Italy permanently without a visa, non-Europeans need to apply for the official residency permit or carta di soggiorno. Those who want full nationality, however, must either have Italian parents or grandparents, marry an Italian, or prove as many as ten years' legal residency in Italy. Currently children born to non-native parents must wait until they're at least 18 to apply. EU citizens can live in Italy permanently without a visa, but non-Europeans need to apply for a residency permit.
Thinking of applying for Italian citizenship? Our culturally-immersive classes and native instructors can provide you with all of the linguistic and cultural knowledge you could ever need to fit in with native Italians! Click below to learn more.
Returning to Italian Cafe Roots
This year, Starbucks is planning to open its first store in Italy with a mixed reception from locals...
Returning to Italian Cafe Roots
This year, Starbucks is planning to open its first store in Italy with a mixed reception from locals.
In a move that has provoked resistance from many locals, Starbucks will open a new cafe in the centre of Milan. While Italy is considered to be the birthplace of the modern coffee culture (as you read more about in our article, Evolution of Italian Espresso) the idea of Starbucks attempting to bring Frappuccinos to native Italians is causing a bit of a stir.
While many would argue that the coffee culture remains unaffected by globalization in Italy, it’s safe to say that global coffee culture has been very affected by Italian coffees. The exportation of the espresso has been an astonishing success and now forms the basis of the majority of coffee drinks around the world, especially in the menu at Starbucks.
However, to the approval of skeptics, Starbucks’ new store is attempting to make a return to its origins in Italian coffee culture by having the shop accompanied by it’s own roastery. Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz, has stated many times that having a shop in Italy has been an aspiration of his since he visited the country in the 1980s.
Whether Starbucks will be accepted by the locals is yet to be seen, but it will, without a doubt shape the future of the Italian coffee experience.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about how Starbucks is Returning to Italian Cafe Roots! Do you think Starbucks will be able to receive rave reviews in the birthplace of modern coffee? Let us know below!
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!
Courting Casanova
A museum is opening in the Venetian hometown of the 18th-century adventurer, Giacomo Casanova, in hopes of revitalizing his image to those in attendance beyond the notion that he was solely a notorious womanizer.
Courting Casanova
A museum is opening in the Venetian hometown of the 18th-century adventurer, Giacomo Casanova, in hopes of revitalizing his image as a notorious womanizer.
This is not to say that the Giacomo Casanova Museum and Experience hides Casanova’s romantic exploits. In fact, it includes a bedroom containing a shadow installation that depicts a scene of Casanova seducing a woman and visitors become the onlookers. Curators are seeking to shed light on other aspects of the Venetian scholar and writer whose memoir, "History of My Life," provides one of the best chronicles of European high society of the late 18th century.
For those unfamiliar with who Giacomo Girolamo Casanova is, he is best known as an Italian adventurer and author from Venice and his autobiography, Histoire De Ma Vie. Casanova used many names including Baron (or Count) of Farussi or "Chevalier de Seingalt" and often signed his works "Jacques Casanova de Seingalt" after he began writing in French due to his exile from Venice. He has become so famous for his many affairs with women that his name is now synonymous with "womanizer".
Museum director, Andrea Cosentino, stated "We want this character, this person, to be known in his entirety... Here we give the basis of what he was, not only as a lover but also as a man, philosopher and scholar." Using the power of virtual reality technology, museum goers are able to journey across Casanova's youth, his travels across Europe, his arrests, escapes, personality, and accomplishments.
The museum is now open to visitors after it’s grand opening on April 2nd (Casanova's birthday) in the Palazzo Pesaro Papafava in Venice. For more information, visit the installation's official page HERE.
Do you wish to be able to explore the life of Courting Casanova in his native country of Italy? Our culturally immersive group classes and native instructors can help make the experience even more fulfilling by putting you on the path to fluency faster than you may think! Click below to learn more!
Fueling A New Italian Export
When one thinks of Italian exports, suits, bags, and cars may come to mind, but after a development by Snam SpA this past March, we could soon be hearing much more about gas naturale...
Fueling A New Italian Export
When one thinks of Italian exports, suits, bags, and cars may come to mind, but after a development by Snam SpA this past March, we could soon be hearing much more about gas naturale.
Italy exported natural gas for the first time last week as the nation’s pipeline pushes to have southern Europe as a center for trading the commodity. Snam SpA, an Italian natural gas infrastructure company, is currently planning to bring gas from southern Europe & Africa to central Europe though a systemwide overhaul as Chief Executive Officer, Marco Alvera, works to establish a trading hub for the fuel in southern Europe.
Historically, Italy has been known more for their exports of luxury lifestyle items with brands including: Armani, Valentino, Versace, Benetton, Prada, FIAT, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Lamborghini. However, geographically, Italy is at the center of the gas supply network from North Africa, Northern Europe, Russia and, in the future, from the Caucasus, making it a strategic point for the stability and security of the gas supply for the entire European Union. While Britain and the Netherlands currently possess the 2 main hubs in Europe, Alvera remains committed to establishing Italy’s presence in the gas industry.
So far, the results seem to be looking quite positive as Switzerland has drawn approximately 3 million cubic meters of gas a day from Italy since March. Only time will tell if Italy can not only remain a powerhouse in culture and luxury retail, but also in fuel to continue producing these goods for generations to come.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about how the gas industry in Italy is Fueling A New Italian Export! While many outlets are conflicted about the success of the newest export, we'd love to know what you think! Comment below to join the conversation.
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!
A Superpower in Culture and Beauty
Many of the world’s current superpowers have risen to prominence through military might, technological advances, and cultural contributions. While Italy may have had a hand in each, it is without question that the cultural contributions of it’s people have made the most lasting impression around the world...
A Superpower in Culture and Beauty
Many of the world’s current superpowers have risen to prominence through military might, technological advances, and cultural contributions. While Italy may have had a hand in each, it is without question that the cultural contributions of its people have made the most lasting impression around the world.
While delivering the keynote address at the Italian Design Day ceremony, organized by the Italian embassy at the Msheireb Enrichment Centre, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Angelino Alfano announced that Italy is now a "superpower in culture and beauty."
"Italy is a G7 country, but it is not the world's economic superpower. Italy is a Nato member but is not the military superpower. However, we are indeed a superpower, second to none, in culture and beauty, thanks to our design [and that] our country considers culture as the fourth pillar behind economic, social and environmental pillars."
As you may remember in our previous article, ISTITUTO MARANGONI TAKES MIAMI, Italian fashion has a long and impressionable history around the world, but it is not only the design of the country's clothing that reigns supreme, but also it's natural beauty. Italy currently holds the highest number of UNESCO cultural and natural sites (47 in a world list of 936) which draws more than 45 million visitors every year, making tourism the country's primary industry and accounting for 8.6% of it's GDP.
In addition, Italy has been supporting archaeological, anthropological and ethnological missions abroad for a number of years. Not only are these ventures a contribution to the Italian science community, but have also created opportunities in the fields of archaeology, restoration and protection of cultural heritage. More importantly, it represents a commitment to push intercultural dialogue and development policies across the globe.
In essence the reason why Alfano believes in his country's dedication to promoting beauty and design is because "Above all, design helps one to think of a better and more sustainable future. While being one the pillars of Italy's economic diplomacy, design also helps to be becoming creative and multi-faceted and eventually contributing to respecting ideas and differences.
"With this awareness, Italy's economic diplomacy has been promoting a multidisciplinary and highly integrated strategy for the promotion of the Made in Italy concept,
Concluding his speech, Alfano stated: "Our aim is to develop new ideas, initiatives and joint projects by promoting an international debate on such issues as the link between design and sustainability."
We hope you've enjoyed learning about how Italy has become A Superpower in Culture and Beauty! Planning a trip to experience it all firsthand? Our culturally infused classes and native instructors can put you on the path to linguistic and cultural fluency faster than you may think! Click below to learn more!
Evolution of Italian Espresso
Regardless of how you take your coffee, the influence of Italy in the coffee world is undeniable, especially when it comes to it's single most famous contribution: espresso.
Evolution of Italian Espresso
Regardless of how you take your coffee, the influence of Italy in the coffee world is undeniable, especially when it comes to its single most famous contribution: espresso.
Around 1901, thanks to the innovations of the Industrial Revolution in Europe, the first version of espresso came into being although the machine that created it certainly didn’t look like a La Marzocco, which has become a staple in coffeehouses throughout the world.
The original concept of an espresso was something that could be prepared quickly. Translated literally, “espresso” means express. Luigi Bezzara, a Milanese inventor, registered a patent for a machine with groupheads onto which portafilters with compressed coffee could be clamped.
Photo: Prima-Coffee.com
By 1905, the patent had been purchased by Desidero Pavoni, who put into production the first commercial espresso machine: the Ideale. As a result of the increasing popularity of Italian espresso, in 1938 the first record of the word “barista” emerged.
Before that time, the term “barman” was more prevelant, however, Mussolini and the fascist movement created a campaign to “Italianise” common words. Barman was considered too American and was eventually replaced by barista, a more Italian-sounding word.
In the ‘30s and ‘40s, Italian coffee consumption declined - first due to restrictive policies on importation but later due to wartime scarcity. However, the Ideale espresso machine saw several improvements by big coffee names, such as Francisco Illy and Achille Gaggia (both of which still have major ties to the coffee world today).
In 1947, the next great development was made: Gaggia’s hand-pumped machine that allowed more pressure to be exerted over the coffee, meaning that essential oils and colloids were squeezed through creating the crown of the espresso shot, or crema. This type of espresso is what can be commonly expected in modern coffeehouses. In fact, the Italian coffee culture created in the ‘40s remains fairly consistent to this day, despite increasing levels of globalization.
Photo: Foodrepublic.com
While many would argue that the coffee culture remains unaffected by globalization in Italy, it’s safe to say that global coffee culture has been very affected by Italian coffees. The exportation of the espresso has been an astonishing success and now forms the basis of the majority of coffee drinks around the world.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about the Evolution of Italian Espresso! Looking to experience espresso in it's home country of Italy? Our culturally infused classes with native instructors can have you on the road to fluency faster than you can say "Buongiorno, un caffè per favore!" Click below for more info.
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!
Italian Casa : Caffè Price
In the hunt for new neighbors, the village of Ollolai is offering a massive price break on houses that were once owned by shepherds, farmers and other villagers for only $1.25 per house. Yes. One dollar and twenty five cents.
Italian Casa : Caffè Price
Over the course of the last 50 years, the population of the Italian town of Ollolai has shrunk from 2,250 people to 1,300 with no end in sight to the weaning number of residents.
Photo: Getty Images
The town of Ollolai sits just at 1000 meters above sea level, surrounded by Mediterranean views accompanied by the famous Finestra della Sardegna (“Window of Sardinia”), where, during clear days, you can see the two seas of the island (on the east and west coasts) all while shaded by Holm oaks. Those entranced by local folklore and ancient traditions can anticipate captivation by the well-preserved Tombe Dei Giganti (tombs of giants) and the Cestini Di Asfodelo (asphodel baskets).
In the hunt for new neighbors, the village is offering a massive price break on houses that were once owned by shepherds, farmers and other villagers for only $1.25 per house. Yes. One dollar and twenty five cents!
Unfortunately, there is a bit of a catch. Prospective buyers must agree to renovate their newly-bought Italian living space within 3 years of purchasing the property which has been estimated to cost about $25,000. Considering views like these:
Photo: Ollolai comune proloco
Photo: Michele Columbu
it may be worth the investment.
In fact, the village website that originally published the real estate deal has become so overwrought with applications that there is now a deadline in place.
Since the amount of offers has exceeded the 200 properties currently available in the village, the office will stop accepting applications on February 7th.
Planning to make the big move to Ollolai to get an Italian Casa at a Caffè Price? As you can see from the application website, knowledge of the Italian language is a must! Lucky for you, our team of enthusiastic native instructors who teach our fully immersive lessons are a great place to jump start your journey to fluency. Click below to learn more!