Via D’Amelio Posted by Serena on Jul 19, 2012
Sunday the 19th of July 1992, a hot summer afternoon, people are thinking about their holidays, going to the beach, relaxing, spending time with friends and family, when suddenly our tranquillity is shattered: a car bomb explodes in Via D’Amelio in Palermo killing judge Paolo Borsellino and the five members of his police escort, Agostino…
Meriggio d’Estate Posted by Serena on Jul 18, 2012
It’s a hot summer afternoon just after lunch time and, as on every other summer’s day, Maura, our next-door neighbour, appears at her bedroom window, spreads her arms wide, gets hold of le persiane (the shutters) and firmly closes them for la penichella pomeridiana (the afternoon’s nap). At this time of day the same ritual…
“Ho Imparato A Sognare” di Fiorella Mannoia Posted by Serena on Jul 16, 2012
From cascatrice (stuntwoman) to renowned singer, Fiorella Mannoia has certainly ‘learnt how to dream’. Daughter of film stuntman Luigi Mannoia, Fiorella was born in Rome in 1954, and came to prominence as one of Italy’s great female vocalists in the 1980’s. You can find a full biography here: Fiorella Mannoia Biografia Here is one of…
Punto Esclamativo! Posted by Serena on Jul 13, 2012
Have you ever wondered why the exclamation mark ! is written like that? No? … well I’m going to tell you anyway! A couple of days ago, whilst browsing through the Italian magazine ‘Focus’, I came across the following curious piece of information. Sometime during the Fifteenth Century, when manuscripts were copied by hand, the…
Andiamo in Vacanza–part 2 Posted by Geoff on Jul 11, 2012
One of the reasons that we like to drive, rather than fly to England, is that it makes the whole nasty business of packing a lot more relaxing, because if you really can’t make up your mind just put it in the car and decide when you get there. Well, I don’t know about you…
Andiamo in Vacanza–part 1 Posted by Geoff on Jul 9, 2012
As we were driving back to Italy from England last week it seemed that just about everyone else on the road was heading in the same direction … south, towards the sun. German, Dutch, Belgian, French cars, bulging with holiday luggage, with bikes and surf boards strapped to the roof. Frazzled parents adorned in optimistic…
Azzurri come Italia Posted by Serena on Jul 6, 2012
Following on from yesterday’s blog: “Il Calcio, ce l’abbiamo quasi fatta” here is another interesting video, this time of the speech given by il Presidente della Repubblica Italiana, Giorgio Napolitano. In his speech, Napolitano makes clear how important Italy’s performance during the European Championship was for the Italian people ‘oltre l’aspetto sportivo’ (beyond the sport…