Archive for 'Culture'
Medievalis a Pontremoli -part 1. Posted by Serena on Aug 21, 2010
A Story in Pictures Click on photos to enlarge 1. Pontremoli, il borgo medievale dominato dal Castello del Piagnaro Pontremoli, the medieval district dominated by the Piagnaro Castle 2. Ogni agosto per quattro giorni la cittadina di Pontremoli ospita una manifestazione medievale Every August for four days the little town of Pontremoli hosts a medieval…
Ferragosto Posted by Serena on Aug 16, 2010
Yesterday, 15th of August, was Ferragosto, il culmine delle vacanze estive (the peak of the summer holidays). Ferragosto comes from the Latin feriae Augusti (August vacations), and is said to date back to the Roman times. When I was a child, every city or town which was not a holiday resort closed down completely for…
Il Coro Degli Alpini Posted by Serena on Aug 10, 2010
In my recent article ‘Al Passo dei Due Santi’ I recounted the tale of our trip up to a pass in the Appennino Tosco-Emiliano mountains to listen to a concert given by a local Alpini choir. The concert was so enjoyable that I decided to phone my friend, whose husband sings in the choir, in…
Gli Alpini – part 2 Posted by Serena on Aug 2, 2010
The scope of the Alpini’s duties goes far beyond their involvement in war, as they are always ready to deal with emergencies such as earthquakes, floods or landslides. In 1873, shortly after they were formed, they promptly helped the population of Alpago, near Belluno in Northern Italy, which was hit by an earthquake. More recently…
Gli Alpini – part 1 Posted by Serena on Jul 29, 2010
As I wrote in my last article ‘Al Passo dei Due Santi’, last Sunday my husband, my parents and I went to hear a concert given by the local Alpini choir. Gli Alpini (the Alpines) are an Italian military corps and the oldest active mountain infantry in the world. They are very popular in Italy…
Al Passo dei Due Santi Posted by Serena on Jul 26, 2010
Yesterday my husband and I took my parents to il Passo dei Due Santi (the Pass of the Two Saints) in the Appennino Tosco- Emiliano, located about 10 km west of Pontremoli a volo d’uccello (as the crow flies). The pass lies on the border between the regions of Toscana in the south and Emilia…
My Morning Routine Posted by Serena on Jul 10, 2010
‘Pericolo di morte’ è il cartello che, secondo mio marito, bisognerebbe appendere nella nostra cucina la mattina prima che io abbia bevuto il mio sacrosanto caffè. (‘Danger of death’ it’s the sign that, according to my husband, should be hung in our kitchen before I’ve drunk my holy coffee.) Yes, like many Italians I’m very…