Monthly Archives: September 2001

Italy by Numbers: Fall Resolutions

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57% consider fall time for a new start
68% want to spend more time with family
69% resolve to tighten budget
22% plan to sign up for a gym
10% resolve to stay faithful to partner

It’s not news that Italians consider fall the real "new year," some 21 percent of the 1,085 between the ages of 20 and 55 polled would go so far as to change the calendar. And so, after the long summer holidays come new resolutions for getting back to school or work: watching less television, spending less money eating out, going to the gym, getting better grades and so on. They would appear to have different ideas, however, about emotional ties–among those good intentions, staying true to one’s husband or wife isn’t one of them. Too unrealistic, maybe?

http://www.dr-seduction.net
meet the inventor of a high-tech chastity belt–capable of telling suspicious partners just how long the beloved’s underwear has been taken off…

The Nose Parade: Phoey on Italy’s Beauty Obsession

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A small town near Parma thumbs some magnificent noses at Italy’s beauty obsession by holding a “King Nose” contest. “Do you have a nice nose? Do strangers stare at it? Do you have an excellent sense of smell?” recites the application form for this contest held the first Sunday in September.For the unsure, the city of Soragna tells aspiring contestants how to see if their noses measure up:
*widest point, from nostril to nostril
*depth, from tip to top of mouth
*any other distinguishing characteristics
The idea started 20 years ago as part of celebrations for the Befana during Epiphany, but organizers began to take it seriously when they realized that Italy is second only to Brazil in terms of the number of folks who get plastic surgery. Needless to say, of the 100,000 nips and tucks done each year, slimming down the old schnozzola is very popular. The contest turned into a proper feast day every fall, in celebration of "important" noses. An equal opportunity for the nasally-endowed, a contest for Queen Nose was added two years ago. The "crowned noses" win about $2,500 to be spent in local shops.

Related resources

http://giostradeinasi.freeweb.supereva.it

Throwing self-consciousness to the wind…

Ghost Town Kept Alive by Retirees

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Ceregate is a tiny town in the Val Staffara, suspended between the borders of Lombardy, Liguria and Piedmont, with five stone houses surrounded by wild cherry trees and a small church. It has no residents, no electricity or running water. A symbol of innumerable ghost towns in the area, where industrialization has led young people away for work, it stays alive thanks to efforts of elderly residents in the surrounding areas. Ceregate, part of the hamlet of Cegni (a whopping 75 inhabitants) hit its all-time population density with 25 residents.

“The last one died in 1996,” said Giuseppe Zanocco, 90, prior of the Ceregate sanctuary. “His name was Carlo Buscaglia. He sold coal, lived by candlelight and got by using water from the river. Once a week he went to Cegni for groceries, an hour on foot and a quick chat with the people he met along the road.”

So the residents of Cegni, most of whom get by with the minimum state pension and wood-burning stoves for heat, took it upon themselves to keep the town "alive." Twice a year they repopulate the sanctuary, Easter Monday and the first Sunday in September. The recently-restored church opens doors for Mass, a picnic is held and an auction of local foodstuffs provides maintenance for the sanctuary—this year’s raised about $1,500.

The parish priest, who looks after a total of 500 souls in four towns, commented: "This isn’t a ghost town, but a town that’s slumbering in history. We’re happy and proud to wake it up every once in awhile."

Italian language ”enriched” by more English words

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The 2002 version of the authoritative Zingarelli dictionary is about 500 words richer than before–including loads of new expressions taken from English. A fan of live Internet conversations can now officially say “chattare,” while the person next to you on the train hunched over the cell phone typing an SMS is sending a “messaggino.” And the next time you’re in Italy remember you can now, with an appropriate rolling out of the vowels, use these terms without translating: FAQ, doggy-bag, lap dance, bipartisan, provider, video poker and aquagym.An unusual addition to Italy’s most widely-sold dictionary–the adjective “fantozziano” after film icon Ugo Fantozzi, symbol of the unlucky office worker. Fantozzi, played by actor Paolo Villaggio, is overworked, underpaid constantly humiliated by the Mega President and always thwarted in attempts to make good with the office sex pot.

For more on current Italian speak, try this reader-recommended book:
Dictionary of Italian Slang

staff picks

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These are a few of our favorite web sites about Italy…We kept it short & simple instead of one or two outdated links on hundreds of topics — but remember we’re on hand to scour the Internet if you’re looking for current info on a particular topic, try tapping the collective wisdom in the forum…buona navigazione!!!

www.theamericanmag.com
An independent monthly print magazine on Italy & the world, available ininternational newsstands and bookstores in Italy

www.initaly.com
One of the earliest sites, an excellent overall guide.

Global Experiences
Offers a range of internship programs in all professional areas and teachingEnglish opportunities in Florence, Rome, Sorrento, Turin and Bologna.

www.tuscanyinstitute.com
Tuscany for the initiated: learn as you relax in the countryside near Pienzawith a selection of workshops from this acclaimed institute. Villa rentalalso available.

www.summerinitaly.com
Looking to explore in Southern Italy? This site specializes in villasavailable for rent in Capri, the Amalfi Coast and the Cilento NationalPark…

veniceblog.typepad.com
Former Venice resident Norman Hajjar blogs on all that’s happening now in LaSerenissima, great original photos.

www.journeywoman.com/girltalk/italy
A rn excellent mini-guide to the Bel Paese by & for women travellers…

Lost Luggage Tales
A unique travel guide with resources for the budget traveler or anyonewanting to travel around the world. Contains reviews and original photosfrom international travel.

www.ItalianAmericanPress.com
The Internet’s finest selection of self-published books by Italian Americanrn authors.

www.dreamofitaly.com
Sophisticated travelers who have a passion for Italy now have a smart andsavvy publication to cater to their needs. Dream of Italy, a bi-monthly,subscription newsletter covering Italian travel and culture fordiscriminating tastes, premiered in 2002. Free sample copy available at website.

www.best-of-italy.com
Top names and great prices on fashion accessories and objects for yourhome.

www.ilnarratore.com
An excellent selection of Italian audio books –with an ample resourse offree MP3s of classics including Dante, Ariosto and Boccaccio as well asmodern authors such as Dino Buzzati and Italo Calvino.

www.italyfever.com
Learn how to get a bit of the Bel Paese into your daily life with this sitefrom author Darlene Marwitz.

www.escapeartist.com
Sound advice for aspiring ex-pats

www.alternative-routes.com
Offbeat travel ideas, the Italian section includes walking routes in theChianti region and touring the Marches.

http://italiano.vinaio.com
Schedule your next wine tasting, vineyard tour or cooking lesson on line atsuper-chic Enoteca de’Giraldi in Florence.

www.dagospia.com
Best dirt on Italian starlets and politicians, unfit to print. Italian only,but “paparazzi archive” offers up snaps from Rome’s dolce vita era–including a furious Audrey Hepburn confronting snazzy shooter.

www.gens.labo.net
Now that genealogy is big business, nice to see a free site that providesinteresting info: find out where your surname is from in Italy with a spiffymap. In English & Italian.

www.dellarocchetta.com
Researching your roots? Try this family genealogy website, there are plentyof resources…

www.persidivista.it
Lost the number of the cute woman on the train to Perugia or coordinates forex-classmates in Rome? Try signing up for Italy’s free “lost connections”service.

www.AbcItaly.com
Key site for researchers on the Italian web, this site has been around since1996.

www.studyinitaly.it
Summer study on the Italian Riviera, in collaboration with the University ofGenoa…

www.livinginmilan.com
If you live in Milan or are looking to move — this is a great way to findout about what’s going on in the city…

http://italiansrus.com
Interested in your Italian heritage? Try this site for a starting point –and add your family name to the register.

www.TravelPUNK.com
The site for backpackers, students, budget travelers. Offers onlinereservations for over 1,200 hostels worldwide, Eurail info and links, tips, advice,safety, cheap air fare links and useful tools.

www.scalea.info
English expat David Thorpe fills in life in the deep south –Calabria

www.scalea-property.com
Property for sale and rent in Scalea, Calabria, Southern Italy. Holidays, viewing trips, buying property help and much more.

Play time: Internet Games to Practice Italian

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While we heartily recommend memorizing verb tables and wine-filled conversation exchanges, there comes a time for good clean fun. Staffers have waded through the muck to pick some of the best plays on the Internet.

What you’ll need: a recent version of Flash, a speedy connection and a bit of patience to register.

www.paroleincrociate.it/cruciverba_5.htm
Advanced students will find this crossword in java a worthy test–but it does offer “cheat” functions by hitting the “letter” or “word” button. A new puzzle weekly, no registration required.

www.bandadellozecchino.rai.it/gioco/frame_giochi.htm
Mascot Furio leads players through a series of nature-related games aimed at kids, suitable for beginners/intermediate Italian students. Short registration required.

www.aenigmatica.it
Weekly current events quiz, jokes, and riddles. No registration required.

Trivia: As Seen on TV
On line versions of popular quiz shows.

www.quizshow.it
Current events/trivia quiz. Lengthy registration (with password emailed) and some bugs, but overall worthwhile.

www.passaparola.com
Hard to get past the “artistic cast” profiles (e.g. the scantily-clad starlets that make the show so popular) but hit the “gioca” button, get past the registration form to play this word game.

Related resources:
www.romacivica.net/girotondo/giochi_enigmistica.html
www.lasfinge.org
www.intelligiochi-com
www.mensa.it

Rome’s Palazzo Barberini–mini collection for lengthy restortion

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It just got a bit harder to see one of the key art collections in the Eternal City. “La Galleria nazionale di Arte Antica” housed in Palazzo Barberini closed, albeit not completely, for a lengthy renovation in July 2001. From mid-July on, visitors are allowed to view some of the paintings crowded into the sculpture room (“sala dei Marmi”) and the salon frescoed by Pietro da Cortona. The gallery, when it reopens in 3-4 years, will finally be able to display the considerable collection of 1,500 works opposed to the 200-300 currently on view. Key items in the collection include Caravaggio’s “Judith and Holifernes,” and “Narcissus,” Rafaello’s recently restored “La Fornarina” and works by Bronzino and Tintoretto.
Hours: Tues.-Sun. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
http://www.galleriaborghese.it/barberini/it/default.htm
In English & Italian–an easy way to see the collection…