Category Archives: History/Culture
Pre-summer “Corso Lampo” at IEI
Starting May 10, IEI is offering an advanced conversation/grammar course in Redwood City, ideal to get you ready for high-season Italian travel. This morning course is taught by Italian-born Angelica di Chiara, runs for 8 weeks, and each lesson lasts for 90 minutes.
COURSE: Italian Conversation w/ grammar
LEVEL: Semi-advanced
TIME: 10am to 11:30
FREQUENCY: Weekly starting May 10
DURATION: 8 weeks
FEE: $185
Enroll by going to our ENROLLMENT page or send us a note with your check at:
Italian Educational Institute
Menlo College
1000 El Camino Real
Atherton Ca. 94027
Tell us your name, contact info, and state that you are enrolling in the morning conversation class. We will notify you of the course’s exact location.
Sinceri saluti da IEI!
Italian at Menlo College – March 2012
To all evening students: your language classes start this week , March 26. You are asked to meet in the inner courtyard of Florence Moore Hall; from here you will proceed to your classroom.
SEE CLASS SCHEDULE
SEE MENLO CAMPUS MAP
Park in the lot on the south side of the campus (yellow) and walk to Florence Moore. Parking is free after 5:00 pm, no permit is required.
OUR ITALIAN 1 TEXTBOOK
Leonardo again – and the Bank of America?
Banks are not well-loved, these days, for reasons that are familiar to all of us. But here’s a story that shows that even banks may on occasion exhibit a social conscience and an artistic sensibility. The article below is a fragment (in free translation) from a longer article which has appeared on the Corriere della Sera, the newspaper of Milano.
The Codex Trivulzianus, one of Leonardo da Vinci’s earliest manuscripts, part of the collection of the Biblioteca del Castello Sforzesco in Milano, will be restored. The Bank of America Merrill Lynch Art Conservation Project will finance the restoration. This will not be the Art Conservation project’s only enterprise: 20 works of art and artifacts of great cultural and historic value, gathered from 19 countries, have been selected for restoration.
DIGITAL RESTORATION – The Trivulzian Codex, a collection of Leonardo’s drawings and writings, is comprised of 55 folios dated between 1478 and 1490, and it is one of the most significant documents of the Italian Renaissance. It is a unique testimonial to the eclecticism of the Italian artist/inventor: it contains notes, drawings and studies of religious and military architecture (amongst which a sketch for the cupola of the Duomo di Milano), but also analyses of the Italian language and observations on the literature of the time. Using cutting-edge software capable of producing virtual copies of Leonardo’s technical designs, the restoration project will result in a digital version of the manuscript which will remain impervious to the passage of time and will facilitate academic research, while rendering it more accessible to the lay public.
So, kudos to the Bank of America, and never mind the tax writeoffs they will take. They are doing a good thing for all of us.
Codex Trivulzianus
Codex Trivulzianus
Leonardo da Vinci
Vitruvian Man
Such an undisputed genius was the Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci, whose contributions as a scientist and artist truly boggle the mind. A description of the achievements of this Renaissance Italian must perforce include hyperbole, but this time amply justified and probably even short of the mark.
Leonardo lived from 1452 to 1519, was born in a hamlet near Vinci, and apprenticed in Florence in the bottega of Verrocchio. Most of his professional life, however, was spent in Milano, under the sponsorship of that city’s ruling family, the Sforza. A complete characterization of Leonardo’s professional curriculum would include sculptor, architect, musician, mathematician, inventor, anatomist, and more.
Hundreds of books have been written about Leonardo, the creator of the Mona Lisa, the Vitruvian Man, the Lady with Ermine, the Last Supper, the Virgin of the Rocks, the Annunciation, etc. etc. And the inventor of the helicopter, the submarine, the tank and other devices for war, etc. etc. No quick summary could do justice to this man’s achievements, on this or on any other blog.
But there’s hope. A notable film about Leonardo is shortly coming to the Bay Area. This not-to-be-missed production will be shown in San Francisco and Palo Alto and in other venues for one evening only. Complete details can be found at http://leonardolivehd.com/. See you all there.
Mona Lisa
Last Supper
Annunciation
Everything Italian on one site!
Looking for Italian language instruction? Organizing a trip to Italy? What about finding the greatest Italian restaurant in the Bay Area or that ultimate recipe just like your grandma used to make? Or perhaps you spent too much time watching the game (alas!) with your buddies, and need a little Italian bauble to soothe your lovely wife’s ruffled feathers. All of these things you will find on our website. We have consolidated the contents of a couple of earlier sites to provide you with a seamless Italian experience.
Along with the new commercial elements there remains, on this site, the original focus on art, culture, and history. And we intend to grow: the ultimate aim is to provide all Italophiles of the Bay Area, and beyond, a one-stop electronic storefront that will provide intellectual stimulation alongside material possessions for gracious living. Our sister site, finestItalian.com, continues unchanged, though it, too, is slated for some enhancements.
So please come visit often, drop us a line, let us know how you feel. Buy some Italian art once in a while, or an Italian pendant for your sweetheart, or a gorgeous ceramics bowl for your holiday table. But even if you don’t, we hope to hear from you.
The Founding of Mantova
Sant'Andrea, Mantova
This version of the founding myth is reported in Virgil’s Aeneid. A competing version tells that the city of Mantova gets its name from Manth, the Etruscan god of the dead in the Thyrrenian pantheon. Virgil’s version of the myth is also found in the Divine Comedy, in Canto XX of the Inferno, in which Dante himself and his Mantuan guide, Virgil, encounter the seers. Pointing out one of these souls Virgil describes the Mantuan countryside, the Lake of Garda, and the course of the Mincio, which flows into the Po at Governolo, and then asserts, with reference to the legend of Manto:
“Fer la citta’ sovra quell’ossa morte;
e per colei che ‘l loco prima elesse,
Mantua l’appellar senz’altra sorte”
“The city was built over those dead bones;
and for she who first chose the place,
Mantua it was named with no other choice”
Mantova
Palazzo Te
The legacy of the Dukes of Mantova is most apparent today in the Palazzo Ducale, an architectural complex comprising several buildings connected by various corridors and galleries, and including internal gardens and courtyards. In the Palazzo Ducale one finds the famous Camera degli Sposi (Chamber of the Newlyweds), with frescoes by Andrea Mantegna, dedicated to Ludovico Gonzaga and to his wife Barbara of Brandenburg. Another must-see in Mantova is Palazzo Te, designed by Giulio Romano in 1525 at the behest of Federico II Gonzaga. This palace, home to Federico’s “official” lover Isabella Boschetti, was built on a small wooded island in the midst of a lake since vanished. It contains the famous Sala dei Giganti, the Sala di Amore and Psyche, and the Sala dei Cavalli (the Gonzaga horse stables were famous all over Europe at that time.) Of course the city contains many more buildings of note, both secular and religious (more about Mantova) The immense Piazza Sordello, bounded on one side by the Palazzo Ducale, is the center of the old city, reached immediately by crossing one of the bridges spanning the Mincio. Palazzo Te is at the other end of the city, presumably to keep wife and official lover as far apart as possible.
Mantova’s physical location is interesting. Sitting on the Mincio, a tributary of the Po river, it was since pre-Gonzaga days surrounded by water. This was accomplished by creating four artificial lakes around the city, for defensive purposes. Since that time one of the lakes has been eliminated, but the other three are still there, with the result that Mantova occupies a little peninsula, much like San Francisco.
The most famous self-proclaimed Mantovano is of course Virgilio, the greatest of Roman poets, author of the Aeneid, and a contemporary of Caesar, Augustus, and that whole bunch. Mantova is very proud of her illustrious son, and often honors him with exhibits, conferences, and the like. In the Aeneid Virgil gives an interesting mythical account of the founding of Mantua, which we will leave for another post.
Naples Redux
Naples’ artistic and cultural patrimony dates back two millennia, but there IS a vibrant, young Naples of music and spectacle awaiting the adventurous visitor. A place of modern entertainment, where various types of contemporary music can be enjoyed, is Galleria 19 (read: Galleria Diciannove), which is located on via San Sebastiano, in Naples’ historical center, very close to Via dei Tribunali.
As glossy and hip as any equivalent establishment in the Haight or in SoHo, Galleria 19 offers disco, contemporary pop, jazz, instrumental and vocal, often with local musicians and singers performing live. The locale, reached by going down a few steps from street level, is a remodeled old book repository, long and narrow, with the stage at the far end and a hypermodern bar along the left side. Comfortable chairs and love seats are strewn along the right side, leaving a center space for dancing. Want to rearrange the furniture to suit your group’s seating preferences? By all means forget stuffy american rules and redecorate: this is free-form Naples, where rules are kept to a minimum.
History
The ambience is a suggestive, atmospheric blend of severe ancient walls wearing the latest fashion in art and lighting. Most of the clientele, young people in their twenties and early thirties, are there in their evening best. Nowhere else in all of Naples will you see such expanses of long, stockinged female legs, ending in feet encased in pumps sporting 8-centimeter stiletto heels. As for the quintessential little black dress, this is the place to show it off, and they are little indeed. The young men do their best to keep up, in their form-fitting short coats and pants from Fusco. Definitely a feast for the eyes.
Galleria 19 was launched nine years ago by a group of young friends, among whom is Richard, an Italian-American who lived in Washington DC before settling down in Pozzuoli (a suburb of Naples) and launching the discotheque. If you get there ask for him; he’s friendly and personable, and represents an oasis of English in a sea of Italian, to mix metaphors. Which brings us to HOW you get in: before 10:00 pm don’t even bother, they will think you are an American bumpkin. If you have a car consider carefully before trying to use it to get there: this area is a ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato), and good luck trying to park anyhow! Your best bet is to make your way to Piazza Dante or Piazza Bellini, then to walk to via San Sebastiano number 19. Once you get there don’t look for outdoor bright lights or garish signs. The entrance is a discreet narrow doorway guarded by black-clad gladiators who screen all comers (and turn a fair number away.) To get in will cost you 5 euro (one-time membership fee), plus 10 euro for the evening, which includes one drink (ditto for your date, natch!)
So, park your jeans and sweatshirt for an evening and visit Galleria 19. You’ve seen the Tesoro di San Gennaro and San Giovanni a Carbonara in the morning, you’ve promenaded in Piazza San Domenico and had an aperitif at Scaturchio, you’ve had dinner at Palazzo Petrucci – now go ahead and help yourself to a dose of contemporary Naples. Tomorrow you’ll do Via dei Mille e Piazza dei Martiri, visit the Bourbon Tunnel, and dine at La Bersagliera – if there’s a better way to spend your days I don’t know what it is!
Faenza
Faenza
Palazzi, porticoed squares and a Cathedral of pure Tuscan forms
Faenza’s outstanding architectural attractions are concentrated in the two contiguous main squares: Piazza del Popolo, lined by two spectacular porticoed wings, and Piazza della Libertà. The Palazzo del Podestà and the Town Hall, both of medieval origin, stand in Piazza del Popolo. Along the east side of Piazza della Libertà one finds the splendid Cathedral. Of clear Tuscan influence, it is one of the highest expressions of Renaissance art in Romagna. Built to Giuliano da Maiano’s design, it was begun in 1474 and completed in 1511. Opposite the Cathedral the open gallery known as the Goldsmith’s Portico, built in the first decade of the 17th century, and the monumental fountain whose bronzes date to the same period, attract the eye. The Clock Tower, in front of the entrance to the Piazza, is a postwar rebuilding of the 17th century tower that stood at the crossroad of the cardo and the decuman gate of the Roman Faventia.
Faenza Majolica: all the light and color of the Renaissance
In Faenza you can visit one of the world’s most beautiful and complete art collections: the international Ceramic Museum houses pieces from all over the world and from every epoch, from classical amphoras to the works of Chagall and Picasso, and there is a rich section dedicated to Faenza pottery in the golden age of the Renaissance. The historic production of Faenza majolica is recognized worldwide as one of the highest moments of artistic creativity expressed through pottery. The tradition was born from a happy convergence of favorable conditions: a territory rich in clay, a centuries-old history of political and commercial relations with nearby Tuscany (especially with Florence ) and great sensitivity and aptitude with regard to this art form. Over 60 workshops are currently active – most of them in the city center – and offer the tourist the chance of unique purchases unavailable elsewhere.
Art, folklore and sport in great events
In September and October international contemporary and classical ceramic art events draw majolica amateurs, collectors and artists to Faenza from all over the world. In June the Palio del Niballo, a spectacular tournament between five horsemen from the districts of the town, re-evokes the magnificence and struggles of Faenza in the Manfredi epoch. The Florence – Faenza 100 kilometres, a demanding long distance race held during the last weekend in May, attracts athletes of all nationalities. For lovers of good food and drink Faenza offers welcoming restaurants both in the city centre and in the surrounding green hills. Typical regional dishes include home-made tagliatelle, cappelletti, lasagna and strozzapreti with the rich Romagnol meat sauce.
Napoli sotterranea
Napoli sotterranea
The treasures of Naples are endless. I know the city, and yet in the course of three days there we found things new and undreamed of. One of these is Napoli Sotterranea, the subterranean city above which the modern city is built. This consists of an extensive network of underground passages, caverns and cisterns, whose deepest recesses date back to pre-Christian Greek times. Above the Greek layer one finds structures dating from Roman times, and above these one finds medieval walls and artifacts. The underground city exists for several reasons: first of all, in constructing their buildings, Neapolitans simply used the surrounding tufa, the volcanic rock ubiquitous in the region. So, as a palace or a church went up, a hole was created by the quarrying of the building material. A key use for this growing network of underground passages, then, since ancient times, was the storage of water for the city. The water came from springs in the Apennine mountains, according to the ancient techniques of the Romans, who were able to build long aqueducts without pumps. Amazingly, this water collection and delivery system persisted into the 19th century, when, because of contamination from seeping sewage, it was abandoned in favor of the current hydraulic system.
The urban legends connected with the construction and maintenance of the ancient hydraulic network are fascinating. For example, ‘o munaciello, a sort of Neapolitan playful and impish apparition that haunts some of the city’s palaces, is identified with the underground workers who tended to the water cisterns, and who effectively had unfettered access to these dwellings. So they came to rummage at night, or, in spicier versions of the story, at those times when the husband was safely out of the way at his work and the lady of the house was at home and alone.
As a tourist attraction, Napoli Sotterranea is a relatively recent addition. There’s more than one way to get into it. One is to find your way to the Gambrinus, sit out there with your coffee or cappuccino, and be on the lookout for someone holding up a sign advertising the subterranean tour. Brush up on you Italian, though, this tour is exclusively in that language.
finestItalian
