Bananas! Posted by Geoff on May 17, 2013
When I lived in England, bananas were my favourite fruit. But I have to admit that I was never a big fruit fan until I came to live in Italy. I still like bananas of course, but the variety of really fresh and tasty fruit available here leaves me spoilt for choice. Plus, I now…
A Rainy Italian Love Song Posted by Geoff on May 14, 2013
We’re having a really rainy spring this year: Madonna come viene giù! So when I heard the song Piove by Jovanotti in ‘The Sopranos’, one of our favourite TV series, I immediately thought ‘BLOG!’ It wasn’t until I listened to the song properly later on, and read the lyrics, that I realised that it was…
How to say hello in Italian! Posted by Geoff on May 10, 2013
Ciao! is probably one the best known Italian words in the world. It’s an informal greeting which can be used at any time of the day and is also used to say goodbye. Just out of curiosity let’s have a quick look at the etymology of the word: ciao comes from the Venetian dialect word…
Rice and Stinging Nettles – Italian Style Posted by Serena on May 6, 2013
Whilst our orto is still in sad state after this long and wet winter, stinging nettles are growing everywhere like mad, so I’m going to make the most of them! Here in Italy, when the weeds start growing it’s traditional to go and collect the new leaves and shoots while they’re nice and tender. It’s…
The Death of a Great Italian Actress – Anna Proclemer Posted by Serena on May 2, 2013
On the 25th of April, Anna Proclemer, one of our greatest Italian stage actresses, died in Rome at the age of 90. Click on the image below to visit her official website . Born in Trento in 1923 Anna Proclemer began acting in the early 40’s. I first saw her many years ago at the…
From The Computer To The Spade! Posted by Geoff on Apr 30, 2013
I recently heard about a fascinating initiative taking place in the suburbs of Rome. It’s called EutOrto, and the following newspaper article, which I’ve edited and translated, explains what it’s all about: Dal computer alla vanga, da tre anni in cassa integrazione in 20 ex Eutelia hanno preso in gestione un terreno all’Ardeatino From the…
O Bella Ciao Posted by Serena on Apr 26, 2013
Yesterday was the 25th of April, Festa della Liberazione (Liberation Day), which is a national holiday here in Italy. It represents the liberation of Italy from Nazi occupation and Fascist dictatorship, and the end of the Second World War in Italy. 68 years ago, on the 25th of April 1945, Torino and Milano were freed…