Archive for 'News'
The Pinoli Thieves Posted by Geoff on Feb 11, 2015
Pinoli, essential ingredient of many Italian culinary delights, such as the classic pesto alla Genovese, are becoming so valuable, at up to 100 euros a kilo, that they are being targeted by thieves for resale on he black market. What Are Pinoli? Pino Pinea (The Stone, or Umbrella Pine). Photo (CC) by Matt Westgate Pinoli…
Pino Daniele Posted by Serena on Jan 8, 2015
Last Monday Neapolitan singer Pino Daniele died at the age of 59. He was one of Italy’s best-loved singer-songwriters. Born in Naples, Pino Daniele burst onto the national musical scene in 1977 with the album Terra Mia (My Land), and in the ensuing years produced 26 studio albums. Pino Daniele’s music was characterised by a…
The Vertical Forest! Posted by Geoff on Dec 1, 2014
Ho sempre amato gli alberi … I’ve always loved trees, but where I grew up in England there weren’t any ‘real’ forests. The great forests of England disappeared long before my time, victims of the famous maritime fleet (built of oak), the industrial revolution, and large scale agricultural and livestock farming. I remember my amazement…
The News – Our Pick of the Week Posted by Geoff on Nov 12, 2014
War, disaster, famine, epidemics. I think most people will agree, the news is pretty depressing. So, here’s our version, three amusing articles taken from the Italian newspapers that didn’t make it to the front pages. Sophia Loren Reveals Truth About Famous Photo In a recent interview, actress Sophia Loren, 80, finally revealed the true story…
Il Nuovo Baby Pit Stop Posted by Geoff on Oct 21, 2014
You never know what might happen when you stroll across La Piazza Della Repubblica in Pontremoli. The other day, for example, I spotted the mayor, Lucia Baracchini, with a small group of ladies on one side of the piazza. I wandered over to greet her and have a quick chat, but much to my surprise…
Breaking News … Cannabis Can Restore Your Trullo! Posted by Geoff on Oct 13, 2014
I can never hear the word cannabis without being transported back to my hippy days in the mid 70’s. My friend’s father used to keep budgerigars, and in those days bird feed contained fertile cannabis seeds. I think it was during the extraordinarily hot summer of 75 that a strange leafy plant of gigantic proportions…
Pier Paolo Pasolini Posted by Serena on Sep 10, 2014
Last week, at the 72nd edition of the Venice Film Festival, the American director Abel Ferrara (of Italian origin) presented his latest film: Pasolini. Interpreted by Willem Dafoe, the film portrays the final hours and tragic death in 1975 of the Italian film director, writer, poet and Marxist intellectual Pier Paolo Pasolini, whom Abel Ferrara…