Archive for the year 2011
Il Referendum Posted by Serena on Jun 23, 2011
On the 12th and 13th of June the Italian people were called to vote in a popular referendum which required them to make decisions about three important issues: 1. Energia Nucleare (Nuclear Energy). In a previous referendum held in 1987 following the Chernobyl disaster, Italians voted to shut down our three existing nuclear plants, and…
Chi Compie Queste Azioni? Posted by Serena on Jun 20, 2011
Here’s a little quiz for you. Listed below are 6 groups of actions. See if you can match each group to the appropriate person. Chi compie queste azioni? – Who carries out these actions? Group 1. taglia imbastisce cuce infila misura Group 2. sbuccia spreme affetta mescola frigge Group 3. frena sterza accellera posteggia indica…
Quiz – Chi Compie Queste Azioni? – le soluzioni Posted by Serena on Jun 17, 2011
Firstly, well done everyone who had a go at my quiz, I see I’ll have to do more of these in the future. Va bene, as promised here are the translation and le soluzioni (the solutions): Chi compie queste azioni? – Who carries out these actions? Group 1. taglia (cuts) imbastisce (tacks) cuce (sews)…
Nomi Derivati Posted by Serena on Jun 14, 2011
Nomi derivati are words that derive from nomi primitivi. Let’s have a look at some examples: – Pane (bread) is the nome primitivo from which the following words are derived: panettiere (baker) panetteria (bakery or baker’s) panificio (bakery or baker’s) panino (bread roll, literally a small bread) pangrattato (breadcrumbs) panettone (Italian Christmas cake, literally ‘big…
Le Lucertole Italiane Posted by Serena on Jun 11, 2011
In my last blog “I Serpenti Italiani” we had a look at the most common snakes that you are likely to see here in Italy. Let’s continue with our reptile theme and find out about le più comuni delle lucertole italiane (the most common Italian lizards). The two lizards that you will see most often…
I Serpenti Italiani Posted by Serena on Jun 8, 2011
In my recent blog “I Serpenti che Arrivano dal Cielo” I wrote about the popular urban myth concerning snakes being dropped from helicopters into the Italian countryside. We do, of course, have lots of snakes in Italy, but the mass of tourists who visit Venezia, Roma, Firenze and so on, are very unlikely to see…
Le Vipere che Arrivano dal Cielo Posted by Serena on Jun 5, 2011
A few days ago we met an English couple who were renting a holiday house here in our village. The couple told us that they’d clambered down the rocky slope to the river Magra near the ponte medievale (Medieval bridge), and whilst pushing their way through brambles they had been confronted by an enormous two…