January 2009
Last year, the 500th anniversary of Michelangelo’s paintings of the Sistine Chapel, Italian publisher FMR Foundation-Marilena Ferrari released Michelangelo: La Dotta Mano (The Learned Hand). The book presents the work of the master artist in the style of the Renaissance – “a fervent collaboration between intellectual and creative talents … to educate society in the appreciation of beauty.”...
February 2009
A beautiful part of Italian American history is in jeopardy of being destroyed. Completed in 1908, Our Lady of Loreto Church was a National Italian Church in the Diocese of Brooklyn. Built by Italian immigrants during the mass migration of Italians to America in the years after Italy became a country, the architectural details are exquisite. Columns, arches, painted ceilings, and stained glass windows are reminiscent of so many churches in Italy; but Our Lady of Loreto is more than just a beautiful building. It was the center of many immigrants’ lives as they struggled in a new country, and it signifies the hopes and dreams that helped counteract adversity. ...
March 2009
The history of volcanoes began with Pliny the Younger, who wrote about the eruption of Vesuvius in A.D. 79 (and the death of Pliny the Elder). His recorded account was the beginning of volcanology – the study of volcanoes. ...
April 2009
The devastating news of the earthquake in Italy is a reminder of how vulnerable the country is to natural disasters. Italy is located on the edge of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, that are constantly moving. In last month’s issue of Tutto Italiano, I wrote about the above ground disturbances – the volcanoes. Of course, the volcanoes are also a result of the movement of these plates....
May 2009
The first four Italian explorers of the American continent were Columbus, Caboto, Vespucci, and da Verrazzano. Of course, Columbus didn’t set foot on the mainland, but his explorations opened the western sea to the other men – Caboto, who sailed for England; Vespucci, for Spain and Portugal; and da Verrazzano, for France. Since then, the impact of Italians on America has been substantial – from other explorers, missionaries, educators, and the millions of immigrants who have made America their home....
June 2009
La Festa della Repubblica, celebrated June 2nd, is a national holiday in Italy. In 1946, Italians voted for a ruling government – either its existing monarchy or a republic – and Italy became a republic. The day is commemorated in Italy, in Italian embassies throughout the world, and by those of Italian heritage in other countries, with celebrations that include parades, speeches, fireworks, and concerts. Many cities in the United States with large populations of Italian Americans join in the festivities. In Rome, a military parade, with an aerial show by the Frecce Tricolori, and speeches by top government officials mark the occasion. This year, the celebrations have been curtailed, with the savings budgeted for the earthquake victims in Abruzzo....
July 2009
Last week, the G8 Summit was held in L'Aquila, Italy. In April, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, President of the G8 this year, “decided to move the Summit venue from its original site in Sardinia to L'Aquila, both as a sign of sympathy and support for the people of Abruzzo and to draw the world’s attention, at this time of hardship, to an Italian region with a wealth of history, culture and natural beauty.”...
August 2009
Italy is a land of incredible beauty and remarkable history. It’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and has been consistently ranked as one of the top five by the World Tourism Organization. La bella paese also has more historical and cultural sites inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country. Of more than 150 countries with 890 properties “considered to be of outstanding value to humanity,” Italy has 44 properties listed—that’s almost five percent of all World Heritage Sites....
September 2009
The oldest sport may be a game of throwing rocks towards a target—the precursor to bocce. Its history is obscure, with mentions of findings dating back to the Egyptians in 5200 BC, the Greeks in 600 BC, and the Romans in the mid-200s BC. It’s easy to imagine any of these ancient sportsmen taking aim at a target; but whenever, wherever, and whoever started the game, it was the Italians that perfected it—and in typical Italian fashion, the game has many variations....
October 2009
Today is Columbus Day. The real Columbus Day when 517 years ago Cristoforo Colombo—a native of Genoa, Italy—discovered a new continent.
Yes, although the land was inhabited, Colombo “discovered” it for the Europeans. At Merriam-Webster Online, the definitions of “discover” are “to make known or visible,” and “to obtain sight or knowledge of for the first time.” It was Columbus who made the islands known and visible to the Europeans, and his landing and subsequent journals provided knowledge for expanded exploration.
November 2009
Next week, Bologna will host Cioccoshow, La Magia del Cioccolato. The five-day show, now in its fifth year, features chocolate artisans from Emilia-Romagna and the regions of Piemonte, Puglia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Toscana, and Valle d'Aosta. The town will have Percorso delle Delizie, loosely translated to “Routes of Delights” (where else, but in Italy?) that lead to restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and bakeries with special menus and demonstrations for the duration of Cioccoshow.
December 2009
The first Nativity was created by St. Francis of Assisi in Greccio, a small village on a mountain north of Rome. In 1223, St. Francis filled a small cave with some straw, a crib, and a few live animals. The scene attracted the villagers, and continues to attract thousands each year. Today, the setting remains the same, and offers a glimpse into the past and a look at the life of St. Francis.
Last year, the 500th anniversary of Michelangelo’s paintings of the Sistine Chapel, Italian publisher FMR Foundation-Marilena Ferrari released Michelangelo: La Dotta Mano (The Learned Hand). The book presents the work of the master artist in the style of the Renaissance – “a fervent collaboration between intellectual and creative talents … to educate society in the appreciation of beauty.”...
February 2009
A beautiful part of Italian American history is in jeopardy of being destroyed. Completed in 1908, Our Lady of Loreto Church was a National Italian Church in the Diocese of Brooklyn. Built by Italian immigrants during the mass migration of Italians to America in the years after Italy became a country, the architectural details are exquisite. Columns, arches, painted ceilings, and stained glass windows are reminiscent of so many churches in Italy; but Our Lady of Loreto is more than just a beautiful building. It was the center of many immigrants’ lives as they struggled in a new country, and it signifies the hopes and dreams that helped counteract adversity. ...
March 2009
The history of volcanoes began with Pliny the Younger, who wrote about the eruption of Vesuvius in A.D. 79 (and the death of Pliny the Elder). His recorded account was the beginning of volcanology – the study of volcanoes. ...
April 2009
The devastating news of the earthquake in Italy is a reminder of how vulnerable the country is to natural disasters. Italy is located on the edge of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, that are constantly moving. In last month’s issue of Tutto Italiano, I wrote about the above ground disturbances – the volcanoes. Of course, the volcanoes are also a result of the movement of these plates....
May 2009
The first four Italian explorers of the American continent were Columbus, Caboto, Vespucci, and da Verrazzano. Of course, Columbus didn’t set foot on the mainland, but his explorations opened the western sea to the other men – Caboto, who sailed for England; Vespucci, for Spain and Portugal; and da Verrazzano, for France. Since then, the impact of Italians on America has been substantial – from other explorers, missionaries, educators, and the millions of immigrants who have made America their home....
June 2009
La Festa della Repubblica, celebrated June 2nd, is a national holiday in Italy. In 1946, Italians voted for a ruling government – either its existing monarchy or a republic – and Italy became a republic. The day is commemorated in Italy, in Italian embassies throughout the world, and by those of Italian heritage in other countries, with celebrations that include parades, speeches, fireworks, and concerts. Many cities in the United States with large populations of Italian Americans join in the festivities. In Rome, a military parade, with an aerial show by the Frecce Tricolori, and speeches by top government officials mark the occasion. This year, the celebrations have been curtailed, with the savings budgeted for the earthquake victims in Abruzzo....
July 2009
Last week, the G8 Summit was held in L'Aquila, Italy. In April, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, President of the G8 this year, “decided to move the Summit venue from its original site in Sardinia to L'Aquila, both as a sign of sympathy and support for the people of Abruzzo and to draw the world’s attention, at this time of hardship, to an Italian region with a wealth of history, culture and natural beauty.”...
August 2009
Italy is a land of incredible beauty and remarkable history. It’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and has been consistently ranked as one of the top five by the World Tourism Organization. La bella paese also has more historical and cultural sites inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country. Of more than 150 countries with 890 properties “considered to be of outstanding value to humanity,” Italy has 44 properties listed—that’s almost five percent of all World Heritage Sites....
September 2009
The oldest sport may be a game of throwing rocks towards a target—the precursor to bocce. Its history is obscure, with mentions of findings dating back to the Egyptians in 5200 BC, the Greeks in 600 BC, and the Romans in the mid-200s BC. It’s easy to imagine any of these ancient sportsmen taking aim at a target; but whenever, wherever, and whoever started the game, it was the Italians that perfected it—and in typical Italian fashion, the game has many variations....
October 2009
Today is Columbus Day. The real Columbus Day when 517 years ago Cristoforo Colombo—a native of Genoa, Italy—discovered a new continent.
Yes, although the land was inhabited, Colombo “discovered” it for the Europeans. At Merriam-Webster Online, the definitions of “discover” are “to make known or visible,” and “to obtain sight or knowledge of for the first time.” It was Columbus who made the islands known and visible to the Europeans, and his landing and subsequent journals provided knowledge for expanded exploration.
November 2009
Next week, Bologna will host Cioccoshow, La Magia del Cioccolato. The five-day show, now in its fifth year, features chocolate artisans from Emilia-Romagna and the regions of Piemonte, Puglia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Toscana, and Valle d'Aosta. The town will have Percorso delle Delizie, loosely translated to “Routes of Delights” (where else, but in Italy?) that lead to restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and bakeries with special menus and demonstrations for the duration of Cioccoshow.
December 2009
The first Nativity was created by St. Francis of Assisi in Greccio, a small village on a mountain north of Rome. In 1223, St. Francis filled a small cave with some straw, a crib, and a few live animals. The scene attracted the villagers, and continues to attract thousands each year. Today, the setting remains the same, and offers a glimpse into the past and a look at the life of St. Francis.
Newsletters 2009