EssentialItaly

Lingua Napolitano

Sarah writes: ‘On a recent trip to Naples I was half expecting to be reminded about the cities recent rubbish problem. Thankfully the authorities have cleared the majority of the streets. This vibrant and beautiful city once again has a buzz to it that’s hard to explain. The Napolitani are a real race of their own and live their lives according to a whole set of different rules – especially language wise – that seem only to be valid in their city.

If you think you have mastered the Italian language then think again.

Wandering around the old part of town, with narrow streets full of interesting (and often very cheap) shops, restaurants and bars, I had to admit that the lingua Napolitano spoken amongst the natives was just about incomprehensible. And I’ve lived in Italy for twenty years!

Things to do in Naples
The oldest European theatre still in use, the San Carlo, is a must during any stay. There are thirty minute tours every half hour for the very reasonable price of €5 per person. As you exit, to the right of the main doors, there’s a great little shop that sells local products. Try the melon liqueur. Delicious and perfect as an aperitivo for the short bus ride up the hill that gives you a superb view of the bay. The ruins at Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, Sorrento and the stunning Amalfi coast, are all within easy reach. With so much to see and do, our local properties are an excellent base from which to see this fascinating part of Italy.’

iPod Italiano

As most learners of a foreign language will tell you, a little a day is better than a lot occasionally. So to get in the habit of doing Italian language practice every day, why not subscribe to some Italian lessons to listen to on your iPod.

Podcasting is a subscription method for publishing audio files published in a way that allows subscribers to receive an automatic notification that new shows are available through services like iTunes. As podcasts are typically saved in mp3 format, they can also be listened to on most portable media devices and just about any computer.

Here to get you started are a couple of links:

LearnItalianPod is a monthly subscription service (as of posting $14.95), renewed every month until you cancel it (which can be done at any time).

Assuming you’ve progressed a little further, why not subscribe to this news and current affairs podcast from the daily Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

Italian art in North London

In London and in the mood for some modern Italian Art? Then make your way to Canonbury Square to the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art.

The Estorick brings together some of the finest and most important works created by Italian artists during the first half of the twentieth century and is Britain’s only gallery devoted to modern Italian art.

Among the permanent collections there's work by Modigliani, Umberto Boccioni and Carlo Carrà. The futurist poet F. T. Mainetti is also represented. It was his aim to break with the ancient regime and celebrate the post-war period with visual treatments of the 'new age of speed.' In 1909 he wrote:

We declare that the world's splendour has been enriched by a new beauty, the beauty of speed. A racing motor-car, its frame adorned with great pipes, like snakes with explosive breath...a roaring motor car that looks as though running on shrapnel, is more beautiful than the Victory of Samothrace...  (The Futurist Manifesto, Paris 1909).

Irresponsible showman he might have been, but his ideas and that of other like-minded rebels paved the way for the emerging field of graphic design in the 1920s. So speed your way to North London and be an Italian Culture Vulture for the day. Zang Tumb Tumb!

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Romantic dinner for two in Tuscany

Ian writes: On my travels last week – visiting a new luxury villa by the name of Fattoria di Stibbio I came across a most unusual restaurant. Il Peperino is one of only two restaurants in Italy which has only one table for two. A truly romantic experience awaits guests with complete privacy and luxurious surroundings. Located in the charming town of San Miniato all your possible requests can be catered for – from flowers to special music to the menu. You have your own waiter who only comes when you ring the bell. The perfect location to pop that special question or simply to kindle the flame of love.

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A glass a day keeps the doctor away

Spring in Sardinia

Sarah writes: Carnival is a tradition that prevails in all Catholic countries and is celebrated just before Lent. One account suggests the word originates from the Latin carne levare or ‘abstinence of meat’, that is supposed to kick-in straight after the festivities. In Sardinia, the work of building floats and sewing costumes begins right after Christmas and is treated with a huge community spirit.

Towns often compete with each other to see who can produce the most original parade, and even villages with just a few hundred residents get swept up in carnival fever. Many late nights are had by the ladies of the town who stitch and sew some fantastic costumes (drinking quite a lot of Limoncello) whilst their husbands create the most inventive of floats to cover their tractors and diggers.

Umbria Jazz Festival 2008

Celebrating its 35th anniversary, Umbria Jazz, is one of the most important music festivals in the world, taking place this year 11–20 July.

The town of beautiful town of Perugia transforms itself from the sleepy University town into a throbbing artistic centre for the month of July. Check out the website to see the programme and book tickets. This year sees the likes of REM, Alicia Keys, Pat Metheny and Herbie Hancock to name only a few.

And why not combine this with the International Music Festival in Spoleto. Using these two stunning towns as a backdrops, the organisers of these events have managed to combine art, culture and spectacular music to produce truly memorable events which attract visitors from the whole world. Essential Italy thoroughly recommends dipping your toe into these theatrical occasions. 

Rubbish Naples

Ian writes: ‘Last weekend I was down in the Naples area. The main news in Campania is the rubbish collection crisis. On the outskirts of Naples there are mountains of rubbish piling up. The problem is that the government cannot decide where a new incinerator should be located. All three of the proposed sites are fighting to keep it away from their respective doorsteps. Another example of the Italian State’s inability to push through laws which are not popular – in fact the Naples crisis is one of the main reasons why Prodi fell from power.

On the day of arrival there were strong winds and the flying rubbish was like confetti in the air – quite romantic and spectacular until you realised it was plastic bottles and nappies flying past the car window!

Having said this there does seem to be some light at the end of the tunnel – even while we were there we saw signs of the mess being cleared up. Also the main tourist sites are spotless. Positano was cleaner than my living room and the centre of Naples was immaculate.

Italian food is serious business

More object based fun at Bent Objects.

Cycling in Sardinia

The wind and rain may be sweeping across the UK, but our thoughts are drawn back to past summers and in particular to a hugely enjoyable week of cycling around the northern tip of Sardinia. As you can see, there as some spectacular views to those game enough to pedal all the way to the hills that surround the Capo d’Orso.