Archive for 'News'
Il Parmigiano del Terremoto Posted by Serena on May 31, 2012
Obviously when the disastrous terremoto (earthquake) in Emilia Romagna struck, our first thoughts went out to the people directly involved in the event and their suffering. It’s difficult to imagine what it must be like to become homeless overnight, and to live in constant fear of the next violent tremors. But these disasters always have…
Terremoto in Emilia Romagna Posted by Serena on May 29, 2012
On Sunday the 20th of May, at 4:04 in the morning, l’Emilia Romagna was woken up by a violent terremoto (earthquake) measuring 5.9 magnitude on the Richter scale. During the quake, which lasted 20 seconds, six people died and several more were injured. Four of these victims were doing night shifts in the factories where…
La Strage di Capaci Posted by Serena on May 23, 2012
I recently read in John Dickie’s book “Cosa Nostra. A History of the Sicilian Mafia”, that the killing of the magistrate Giovanni Falcone was such a shock to the whole country, that most Italians can remember exactly where they were when they heard the news: On the 24th of May 1992 I was in Lusaka…
Lucio Dalla Posted by Serena on Mar 5, 2012
Lucio Dalla, one the most beloved Italian singer-songwriters, died from a heart attack last Thursday morning, the 1st of March, only three days before his sixty ninth birthday. At the time of his death he was in Switzerland, where he had performed a concert the previous night as part of his European concert tour. Lucio…
Neve, neve e ancora neve! Posted by Serena on Feb 10, 2012
Yesterday we had a bit of respite, the ventaccio gelido (horrible freezing wind) finally dropped and the snow and ice began to thaw. Che bella sopresa (what a lovely surprise) then, to wake up this morning and find more snow. Cavolo! Yes, it looks lovely in photos, but in reality the novelty of snow quickly…
Una Storia di Natale Posted by Serena on Dec 30, 2011
Yesterday I was browsing through the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, when I came across this touching little story which exemplifies the spirit of Christmas: Pensionata sorpresa a rubare, i Carabinieri prima l’arrestano e poi la invitano a pranzo Pensioner caught stealing, Carabinieri (the Military Police force) first arrest her and then invite her for…
Addio a Mamma Coraggio Posted by Serena on Dec 14, 2011
On the 10th of December this year, Angela Casella, best known in Italy as ‘Mamma Coraggio’ (Mother Courage), died at the age of 65. The story begins on the evening of the 18th of January 1988, when her eighteen year old son Cesare Casella was kidnapped in his hometown of Pavia, in the North of…