An Italian Desire Posted by Geoff on Aug 5, 2015
Hai voglia d’imparare l’italiano? Do you want to learn Italian? The sentence above illustrates a very common Italian phrase: ‘avere voglia di fare qualcosa’. This can be translated as: to feel like doing something to fancy doing something to want to do something Let’s have a look at a few everyday examples: non ho voglia…
The King’s Sausage Posted by Serena on Aug 3, 2015
The King’s Sausage! I bet that title caught your attention … but the King’s Sausage is not what you might think it is! Il Salame del Re (this is the Italian name) is a wonderful rustic sweet that my aunt Rina used to make for us children. It’s also known as Salame di Cioccolato (Chocolate…
My Father’s War – Part 3 Posted by Serena on Jul 30, 2015
Here is part 3 of my father’s war memories in which he recounts being taken prisoner during the final retreat in North Africa. If you haven’t already read them, here are Part 1 and Part 2. Aprile – maggio 1943: terza e ultima ritirata da Bengasi fino alla Tripolitania. La battaglia finale è stata al…
Three Young Italians And A Black & Decker Drill Posted by Geoff on Jul 29, 2015
Having written part one of the story of Modigliani’s lost sculptures I had intended to simply recount the unexpected outcome of the affair, and the consequent storm it created in the art world … until I discovered someone who could do it in a far more entertaining way: The ingenious Italian rapper Caparezza. Click on…
Who Is Mica? Posted by Geoff on Jul 27, 2015
… or more to the point, what is mica? Mica: a group of sheet silicate minerals Multimedia, Information, Communication & Applications Multidimensional Independent Component Analysis Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance Maryland Institute College of Art Mica: a word that you hear Italians use a lot but are never quite sure what it means Mica is, in fact, all…
Modigliani’s Lost Sculptures Posted by Geoff on Jul 23, 2015
Thirty one years ago, the art world was rocked by the sensational news that three ‘lost’ stone heads by the Livornese artist Amedeo Modigliani had been dredged up from the Fosso Reale canal in Livorno. These unique sculptures immediately became the centre of media attention, and attracted art fans and tourists alike to the Tuscan port…
Il Duo Diabolico Posted by Serena on Jul 22, 2015
By Serena, with English translation by Geoff E’ silenziosissimo, il Duo Diabolico, non ti accorgi assolutamente della sua presenza finché, all’improvviso, non senti il twang della chitarra. Allora ti volti e li vedi tutti e due lì, avvinghiati in una morsa d’acciaio che compiono acrobazie degne dei più grandi atleti di lotta greco-romana. Il loro…