Archive for the year 2012
Il Premio Bancarella – The Rules Posted by Serena on Jul 26, 2012
To follow on from my previous Premio Bancarella blog, today I’m going to explain how the competition actually works. What makes the Premio Bancarella unique amongst Italian book prizes is the fact that it’s not awarded by a jury of critics, but is completely organised by booksellers from all over the country, including the Canton…
Il Premio Bancarella – The Origins Posted by Serena on Jul 23, 2012
Pontremoli and its surrounding territory, la Lunigiana, which is located in the northern tip of Toscana, has always been a point of departure for emigration towards the north of Italy and abroad. Amongst these emigrants there is a particular “species”, unique to this area, called i librai della Lunigiana (the Lunigiana booksellers), who have been…
Via D’Amelio Posted by Serena on Jul 19, 2012
Sunday the 19th of July 1992, a hot summer afternoon, people are thinking about their holidays, going to the beach, relaxing, spending time with friends and family, when suddenly our tranquillity is shattered: a car bomb explodes in Via D’Amelio in Palermo killing judge Paolo Borsellino and the five members of his police escort, Agostino…
Meriggio d’Estate Posted by Serena on Jul 18, 2012
It’s a hot summer afternoon just after lunch time and, as on every other summer’s day, Maura, our next-door neighbour, appears at her bedroom window, spreads her arms wide, gets hold of le persiane (the shutters) and firmly closes them for la penichella pomeridiana (the afternoon’s nap). At this time of day the same ritual…
“Ho Imparato A Sognare” di Fiorella Mannoia Posted by Serena on Jul 16, 2012
From cascatrice (stuntwoman) to renowned singer, Fiorella Mannoia has certainly ‘learnt how to dream’. Daughter of film stuntman Luigi Mannoia, Fiorella was born in Rome in 1954, and came to prominence as one of Italy’s great female vocalists in the 1980’s. You can find a full biography here: Fiorella Mannoia Biografia Here is one of…
Punto Esclamativo! Posted by Serena on Jul 13, 2012
Have you ever wondered why the exclamation mark ! is written like that? No? … well I’m going to tell you anyway! A couple of days ago, whilst browsing through the Italian magazine ‘Focus’, I came across the following curious piece of information. Sometime during the Fifteenth Century, when manuscripts were copied by hand, the…
Andiamo in Vacanza–part 2 Posted by Geoff on Jul 11, 2012
One of the reasons that we like to drive, rather than fly to England, is that it makes the whole nasty business of packing a lot more relaxing, because if you really can’t make up your mind just put it in the car and decide when you get there. Well, I don’t know about you…