Archive for 'Uncategorized'
Son Tanto Brava Posted by Serena on Mar 5, 2015
Sunday the 8th of March will be La Festa della Donna (International Women’s Day), and I thought it would be nice to find a special poem for the occasion. Searching through my poetry books and the internet for something appropriate I came across a short poem written by Sibilla Aleramo between 1912 and 1920, and…
Michelangelo’s Secret Room Posted by Serena on Mar 4, 2015
Last week I recounted an anecdote about my visit to the Vatican Museums and how I ended up running away from the Sistine Chapel. However, as I said at the end of it, “l’anno dopo ebbi la mia rivincita con Michelangelo!” (the following year I got my payback on Michelangelo!) Here’s how: The summer following…
Conversational Fragments Posted by Geoff on Mar 2, 2015
Last week I wrote an article entitled Useful Conversational Rejoinders … well you asked for more, so here it is: Setting: doctor’s waiting room. State of mind: bored to the point of counting the cracks in the ceiling for the third time Entertainment value: –10 suddenly … nothing happens! but then … ubiquitous ring-tone … whose…
Masaccio’s Holy Trinity Posted by Serena on Feb 25, 2015
After a long day spent wandering around the narrow tourist packed streets of Florence, I usually try to make a quick visit to the church of Santa Maria Novella before catching the train. I like its elegant facade, designed by Leon Battista Alberti in 1470, and besides, it’s always so quiet in there, a moment of respite before throwing myself…
Useful Conversational Rejoinders Posted by Geoff on Feb 23, 2015
As learners of Italian we’ve all found ourselves in situations where our limited vocabulary makes us sound like fumbling four year olds, vero? Yes we’ve studied our grammar, we’ve rehearsed fantastical Italian conversation in our heads, we’ve made grand speeches on the most fascinating of topics in la bella lingua …. and suddenly there we…
St. Valentine’s Day in Italy Posted by Serena on Feb 12, 2015
In Italy, La Festa di San Valentino is very different from the Valentine’s Day I experienced in the UK. I still vividly remember my first Valentine’s Day in England, not because it was so romantic, but because it was full of cultural surprises. It all started a couple of days before the 14th of February…
Our Italian Journey – Part 3: Pontremoli Posted by Geoff on Feb 5, 2015
In this episode guest blogger Bill Auge concludes his ‘Italian Journey’ series with a visit to our home town, Pontremoli in Lunigiana. “… a walk along the country lanes…” Photo: Bill Auge We’re back on the rails again heading northwest toward the northern reaches of Toscana. This time we’re moving at a more leisurely pace through…