Archive for 'Culture'
Domina L’Angolo Cucina Posted by Serena on Oct 25, 2009
It seems that the good old Italian kitchen, quel locale per antonomasia (that quintessential room) which was once the traditional focal point of the home, is slowly but surely being ousted by l’angolo cucina (the corner kitchen). In Italy the kitchen once represented il focolare e il cuore della casa (the hearth, and the heart of the house)…
Firmato Diaz Posted by Serena on Oct 19, 2009
Here in Italy, as in many other parts of the world, it has long been fashionable to name one’s offspring after famous, or inspirational people. Once upon a time we Italians didn’t really have much choice about our first name, because the church decreed that it should be a ‘Christian name’ in the most literal sense. For females…
Una Gita a Zeri Posted by Serena on Oct 13, 2009
Lunigiana, in the very north of Toscana, is a nature lovers paradise, and we are lucky enough to live there! You could spend a lifetime exploring the spider’s web of sentieri (footpaths) and ancient strade comunali (communal roads) that connect the many little towns and villages tucked away in its green hills. You can also learn…
La Festa della Santa Croce Posted by Serena on Sep 28, 2009
By far the most important religious and social event that takes place in Lucca is La Festa della Esaltazione della Santa Croce (The Festival of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross) which happens each year on the 13th and 14th of September. This year, for the first time in ages we decided to go into…
A night at the opera Posted by Serena on Sep 22, 2009
‘O.K., before all you opera fans start getting excited I will openly admit that on the whole I’m not that keen on it. That is, I’m not completely adverse to some of the tunes, especially the famous arias such as Nessun Dorma, but I wouldn’t normally go out of my way to see a performance, in…
Mike Bongiorno, il Re del Quiz Posted by Serena on Sep 16, 2009
On the 8th September 2009 Mike Bongiorno, il Re del Quiz (The King of the Quiz), passed away from a heart attack, aged 85. Born in the United States of an Italian mother and Italian-American father, Mike Bongiorno was one of the very first Italian television presenters, having been on air since the birth of the new media in…
Come non liberarsi dei calabroni! Posted by Serena on Sep 13, 2009
Earlier this summer I wrote that this year was a good year for insects, I was thinking, of course, about the beneficial effects that insect have on the environment. However, as my husband discovered when he was bitten by a couple of zecche (ticks), a good year for insects isn’t necessarily a good one for…