My Italian Blog - Welcome to My Corner of Italy

The Festival of the Madonna in Reggio Calabria

EARTHQUAKES, PLAGUES, WARS AND FAITH

The devastation of the recent earthquake in Amatrice reminds me of the precariousness of life. The town had been preparing for its annual festival celebrating the world-renowned sauce that bears its name – the “amatriciana” would instead be celebrated all over the world. The region of Calabria is likewise no stranger to hardship, and in times of uncertainty past peoples have turned to faith. Even today, the Santa Maria Madre della Consolazione with the annual Festival of the Madonna della Consolazione, as she is commonly called, is celebrated every year in Reggio Calabria, the region’s largest city. Read More

My Italy Blog – Has It Been Two Years Already?

BLOG ANNIVERSARY

This month marks my two-year anniversary of blogging about Italy, mostly Calabria, the region in the toe of the peninsula, and I would like to reflect a moment on what I feel makes something worth blogging or writing about. As with my book, I’ve put my all into my Italy blog and when people ask me, “When are you going to write your next book?” I’ve found myself responding, “At this point I’m busy with my blog.” Read More

Mid-August Lunch, A Favorite Italian Film

PRANZO DI FERRAGOSTO

I was utterly charmed the first time I saw Pranzo di Ferragosto just after its release in the early fall of 2008. I remember seeing it in Rome at the multiplex in Piazza Barberini with friends from Rieti, where I was staying. The film wasn’t expected to be a huge draw and hadn’t been programmed in Rieti, so we drove the 80-kilometers to Rome – a trip well worth the effort. I was enchanted, as were the critics, and Pranzo di Ferragosto was distinguished with a number of important Italian film awards. Luckily, an English-language subtitled version would also be produced and it was released in the United States about a year and a half later with the title Mid-August Lunch. Read More

Painted Stories, View from Guardia Piemontese

Painted Stories of Calabria

PAINTED STORIES – THE PREMISE

Several months ago Diane Taylor of the Writers of Southern Nevada invited me to take part in the organization’s multimedia event, “Painted Stories – Duel in the Library,” co-sponsored by the Las Vegas-Clark County public library system. The gathering was to feature two writers, reading aloud from their books, and two artists, putting to canvas their impressions of the selected passages. After each reading, there would be time for questions, comments and discussion.Read More

The Bergamot: Calabria’s Incredible Citrus

WHAT IS THE BERGAMOT?

The bergamot is a wonderfully unique citrus that makes its home in Calabria. It’s quite puzzling, this strange fruit with a bitter, almost musty-smelling pulp and incredibly light, fragrant zest. Equally intriguing, the bergamot’s complex properties lend themselves to a wide variety of uses and products – from perfume to cuisine to pharmaceuticals – positively jaw dropping! Read More

Monasterace Museum and Archeological Park

NEWER CALABRIA MUSEUMS

No matter where you dig in Italy, you’re bound to hit upon something ancient, or at the very least medieval. Calabria is certainly no exception. Exciting discoveries pop up with a certain frequency and new museums are even inaugurated from time to time, such as the Monasterace Museum that opened its doors in the town of the same name in April of 2015. Read More

Book Club Skype

THE NEXT BEST THING TO BEING THERE

When I’m not yelling at my computer for its impromptu errant behavior, I find it to be quite useful. You’re reading this blog post, so you understand what I’m saying. For me, one of its most serviceable features is the “video chat.” I’ve used Skype, FaceTime and Google Hangouts for long-distance conversations over the Internet, and with a strong connection it’s the next best thing to being there. So when a book club across the country in New Hope, Pennsylvania asked me if I would be able to come to their meeting at which my book was scheduled for discussion, I countered with a, “How about a Book Club Skype for Calabria: The Other Italy?” Read More

Italian Dogs and the Mediterranean Diet

Dog lovers take note of the slightest mention of man’s best friend. So not surprisingly, a number of people have asked me about the dogs I briefly referred to in my book. To set the scene, my dear friends Luisa and Franco had three dogs that they walked in the beautiful park along Via Marina in the center of downtown Reggio Calabria. The area is a very pleasant place to stroll. The shady park is lined on one side by stately mansions and the other opens up to the spectacular panorama of the Strait of Messina and Sicily beyond. Read More

Paul Theroux on Calabria

Following one of my recent presentations about Calabria, an inquisitive audience member was inspired to look through his home library and revisit a book he had read almost twenty years earlier: The Pillars of Hercules: A Grand Tour of the Mediterranean by Paul Theroux. He remembered the author had mentioned Locri and told me about it a few days later. Read More

MuSaBa: Not Just A Museum

MuSaBa is an expression – a dream that became a reality, a past looking for a future, and the present finding meaning in its roots. The brainchild of artists Nik Spatari and Hiske Maas, MuSaBa or the Museum Santa Barbara is a concept, a park, a museum and a laboratory located in the foothills of the rugged Aspromonte Mountains in Mammola, Calabria. Read More