Tutto Italiano - January 2012

Janice Mancuso <jtmancuso@earthlink.net> Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 8:20 PM

Tutto Italiano

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Italy has been in the headlines lately, with the Costa Concordia grounded off the coast of Isola del Giglio and the country’s financial situation alternating in taking turns for the spotlight.

 

The Costa Concordia had just embarked on a seven-day cruise, circling the islands of Sardegna and Corsica with stops at Savona (region of Liguira), Marseille, Barcelona, Palma (on the island of Majorca), Cagliari (region of Sardegna), and Palermo (region of Sicily) before returning to Civitavecchia, in the Port of Rome.

 

Recent news reports state that the cruise ship may be part of the view from the island for many months. Giglio and six other islands form the Tuscan Archipelago, the core of Arcipelago Toscano National Park, the largest marine park in Europe. According to legend, as Venus emerged from the water, the necklace she wore broke, and the pearls slipped into the sea, creating the islands.

 

Seven Jewels of the Tuscan Archipelago

 

A Seven Star Park

 

Isola del Giglio (A Virtual Visit)

 

Isola del Giglio: View the coastline without a grounded cruise ship. (YouTube)

 

Salvaging the Con Concordia (Great Graphics)

 

 

Italy joins many other countries as it reduces expenses, and some cuts are affecting the funding for cultural and marketing programs in America. An article in the New York Times made note of salary cuts to staff at the Italian Embassy in New York and staff reductions at RAI Corporation in New York City. RAI Corporation is the American branch of RAI Internazionale, the Italian-government owned media company that broadcasts through television, radio, and the Internet.

 

Other budget cuts were made at the Italian Trade Commission and the Italian Cultural Institute, both in New York City. The Italian Trade Commission has reduced its advertising expenses by eliminating some consumer-targeted advertising in the Made in Italy campaign. One of its biggest promotions is organizing The Italian Pavilion for the Fancy Food Show (for the food trade industry), currently held in the winter and summer each year. Exhibitors in the Italian Pavilion feature regional cheeses, olive oils, pastas, cured meats, preserved vegetables, baked goods, wines, and many other products.

 

2012 Winter Fancy Food Show Exhibitors (PDF)

 

The Italian Cultural Institute promotes Italian language and culture through various events, exhibits, and programs held throughout the year. The budget cuts have led the Institute to turn to corporate sponsors. A current exhibit, extended to February 9th, is “150 Years of Italian Genius, showcasing the creativity and genius of Italian scientists and researchers from various disciplines. This exhibition will emphasize the contribution of Italian inventions and discoveries to the industrial development of the 1900s.”

 

One of the inventions in the exhibit is the Olivetti Programma 101, invented by Pier Giorgio Perotto in 1964 and considered to be the first personal computer. If you are close to New York City, visit the exhibit at the Institute, located at 686 Park Avenue.

 

150 Years of Italian Genius: About the Exhibit (YouTube)

 

 

Italian Book Reviews

Two book reviews have been added to Thirty-One Days of Italians.

 

Time Takes No Time by Donna L. Gestri, is the story of a young couple living in a small village in Sicily in the late 1890s. Donna shows how family traditions, friends, foes, Sicilian culture, and the land impact their lives. Like a big Italian family, Time Takes No Time has many characters, and although they may not appear frequently on the pages, their strong personalities, conveyed through lively conversations and descriptive passages, keep them central to the story. The book includes a very handy glossary of Italian phrases and several recipes. Read the review.

 

100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go is not just for women. Susan Van Allen, who has been traveling to Italy since 1976, offers a wealth of information about la bella paese, the beautiful country. It's the perfect book to take a visitor away from the well known and often crowded tourists’ spots for an opportunity to learn more about places that aren’t always mentioned. That makes 100 Places a great resource for those who have visited Italy and those who plan to. Read the review.

 

Buon anno, buon tutto, buona vita,

Janice Therese Mancuso

Author of Con Amore

 

Thirty-One Days of Italians

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