Tutto Italiano - Spring

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Towards the end of September 1943, Italy was under siege from the Germans after they learned that Italian officials had signed an armistice with the Allies. Throughout the country, the German army took control by disarming Italian troops, who had not yet been notified of the switch in Italy’s alliance. (Mussolini had been arrested, but was later rescued by the Germans and put in charge of a puppet regime set up in German-occupied northern Italy.)

 

The location of Naples made it a strategic city to occupy – control of the port facilitated the movement of troops and supplies. As the Allied troops advanced, Berlin ordered its soldiers to send thousands of men from Naples to work in its prison camps. The residents of Naples rebelled and began to fight the Germans.

 

The 1962 Italian film, The Four Days of Naples, chronicles the uprising. Shot in Naples, with the destruction of war still evident, the people of the city use the winding alleyways and rooftops overlooking the piazzas to their advantage as they fight the Germans and, after four days, force them to evacuate Naples. One scene shows the Germans driving through a narrow street, then stopped as they are attacked from above by furniture and other household items. The movie received several Oscar nominations and is occasionally shown on TCM (see trailer and movie clips); and is also available as a download online.

 

The Four Days of Naples (About the Movie)

 

Italy in WW II

 

Behind the Lines: The Italian Resistance

 

Air Raids on Naples

 

Port Authority of Naples (Beautiful Photograph)

 

Tuscany in Film
Filmed in 2009 by acclaimed Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami, Certified Copy takes place in several small towns in Tuscany. The movie weaves the story of a relationship between a man (an English writer) and a woman (a French art dealer) with the art, culture, and history of Italy. The towns of Arezzo, Cortona (also seen in Life is Beautiful and Under the Tuscan Sun), and Lucignano provided the majority of scenery for Certified Copy.

 

The couple spends most of their time in Lucignano – a popular destination for brides and grooms – walking through the narrow alleys, their discussions revealing more about each character and their connection, as the newly married swirl around them. In one scene, they are invited to be photographed with a bride and groom who have sworn their eternal love next to the “Tree of Life” (scroll down).

 

In another scene, they encounter a French couple in the piazza and discuss the significance of a statue that is partially seen – in the background or reflected in a mirror. When asked about art, the Frenchwoman says, “Italy is one, big open-air museum. A quarter of the world’s heritage, the world’s art heritage is here in Italy.”

 

Cortona (Scroll down for an account and some scenes from Under the Tuscan Sun.)

 

Certified Copy (Review)

 

Italian (American) Culture in Print
Providing news to the Italian American community in Chicago and surrounding areas since 1960, Fra Noi has recently changed from its newspaper format to a full-color magazine. The website has also been revamped and offers weekly highlights on news, films, books, music, art, food, wine, and other Italian and Italian American topics.

 

A great new feature is the Weekly Embrace, an email with a link to the latest updates on the website. It includes links to news updates from Italy, soccer news and statistics, travel tips, and much more. To subscribe, visit the home page of Fra Noi and click on “Sign up for Weekly E-Blasts.” Additionally, Fra Noi is currently offering a special subscription rate for its monthly magazine.

 

The 2011 Directory of Italian Festivals in the United States, published by the Order Sons of Italy in America is now available. Links to locate festivals by state, by each month, or to the complete list of festivals (pdf) are provided.

 

Art from RuinsIn 1968, the hillside town of Gibellina (Province of Trapani, Sicily) was completely destroyed during an earthquake. Built during the seventeenth century, the town had little infrastructure and no vehicular access. The town was abandoned and a new Gibellina, Gibellina Nuova – with wide streets, modern buildings, and an eclectic collection of contemporary sculptures and artwork – was built closer to a highway and railroad, about 12 miles away.

 

Italian sculptor Alberto Burri was invited to create artwork for Gibellina Nuova, but instead, he decided to turn the demolished town into a memorial and work of art. The ruins were compacted and reinforced, personal items left behind were added, and each section – along with walkways in between – was covered in white cement.

 

Cretto, Gibellina, Sicily (Click on pictures for larger view.)

 

Walking Through Gibellina (YouTube)

 

Gibellina Nuova

 

The Gardens of ItalyThe formal style of the Italian garden – shaped hedges, multiple tiers, potted plants, water features, and statues – is well known throughout the world. The less formal contemporary style uses the natural landscape as its base. Read my article about some “Enchanting Gardens in Italy” in the recent issue of La Gazzetta Italiana.

 

The Maze at Villa Pisani (YouTube)

 

World’s Largest Maze (In Italy)

 

Most Magnificent Mazes (Scroll Down)

 

 

Note from a Reader
Hi Janice,
I "mean" to write every month - just had to today!  The newsletter is great - I love the links, the information, the history - tutto!!! Thanks so much for sharing and sending, Lois A

 

Thank you (again), Lois!

 

Keeping Up with Technology
Con Amore will soon be available as an eBook. It is in the process of being formatted for a variety of eReaders

 

 

Buon anno, buon tutto, buona vita,
Janice Therese Mancuso
Author of Con Amore

 

Thirty-One Days of Italians

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