All about Italy US_#3.2019

CULTURE, HISTORY, TOURISM, POLITICS, FASHION, FOOD, MUSIC, ART & LEISURE

ISSUE # 76 - 2019 - USA $ 18.50 WWW.ALLABOUTITALY.NET

Italian food

A TALE, A MEAL Sweet Italy

PASTRY: HEART AND SOUL

Greetings from Venice

T FONDACO DEI TEDESCHI: CROSSROADS OF CHARM AND CULTURE What a wonderful Italy

MATERA TO LOVE On the Lagoon

“MAY YOU LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES”

EDITORIAL THE KNOWLEDGE OF FLAVORS THAT CONQUERS THE WORLD

Italy has always found expression through its culinary tradition, with origins that have been lost over the centuries, and in the history of ancient populations and cultures that - each in its own way - have left their mark in what is now a cuisine appreciated around the world.

Italy’s story has many voices, able to coexist through history, with respect to every specific characteristic, as Italy is used to doing, even in its many small national realities, in its many cultures within a culture, traditions within a tradition.

Yet in recent years the world of Made in Italy food and wine has succeeded on the one hand in protecting and rediscovering the regional raw materials and, on the other, at changing radically as it’s enriched by creativity and experimentation thanks to the technical knowledge that has become a shared heritage of experts and regional industry. The determination of many entrepreneurs with full confidence in their ideas and their ingenuity, was needed to make all this possible and accessible to all. They were able to bring the authenticity of Italian flavors beyond national borders.

A mission made of love and passion, authenticity and awareness, craftsmanship and innovation, for the survival which it is necessary to build a real collaborative and virtuous platform devoted to the promotion and evolution of the Italy brand abroad. Once again All about Italy wants to serve the best that our country can offer, to recommend it and have it be recognized internationally more and more. Creating a system is the key to being successful.

Editor in Chief Franco Del Panta

Co-Editor & Vice President Paolo Del Panta

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What a wonderful Italy

Made in Calabria

Flavors of Italy

24. MATERA TO LOVE

44. CALABRIA,

56. PECORINO TOSCANO PDO: THE “CHEESE” THAT MADE HISTORY

BASKET OF ITALIAN Landscape

32. WONDERFUL ITALIAN VILLAS IN THE MOVIES In the heart of Italy

40. UMBRIA: TREASURE CHEST REGION THAT HOLDS WONDERS Italian food

42. A TALE, A MEAL

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FLAVORS Icons of Taste

52. GRANA PADANO PDO THE PERFECT CHEESE FOR ANY OCCASION Sicily DOC

54. SICILY:

Sweet tooth stories

58. TASTE ACCORDING TO NATURE Sweet Italy

64. PASTRY: HEART AND SOUL

SUSTAINABLE

Rovagnati recommends

BY NATURE

70. ITALY FROM AMERICA

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New York City- Iscoa Usa Corp.

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On the Lagoon

Masculine Elegance

74. “MAY YOU LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES”

88. THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE BLAZER Vintage car

Greetings from Venice

78. T FONDACO DEI TEDESCHI: CROSSROADS OF CHARM AND CULTURE

94. 57, THE BUGATTI THAT RADIATES HISTORY Between history and luxury

100. LAKESIDE GETAWAY

Portraits of an artist

82. LINA WERTMÜLLER’S FIVE JEWELS

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and more...

4 PHOTOREPORTAGE 6 PHOTOREPORTAGE 8 PEOPLE 10 LIKE A LOCAL 12 ICON 14 CHEERS 16 TV SERIES 18 SCIENCE 20 COMING SOON 22 CARS

106 ARTEMEST

Subscriptions in Europe and Usa email subscription queries to consumer service at: subscription@allaboutitaly.net Reprints: minimum order 1,500.

Editor in Chief Franco Del Panta f.delpanta@allaboutitaly.net Co-Editor & Vice President Paolo Del Panta p.delpanta@allaboutitaly.net Art Director Francesco Sciarrone - www.francescosciarrone.it Picture Editor M. Fernandez Duna Translator Simona Bares Administration Jenny Cheung Photo Editor M. Beduschi Staff writers & Photos M. Morelli, L. Mancini, E. Pasca, A. Creta E. Rodi, M.Bertollini, M. Pituano, J.Daporto, E.Della Croce, S.Riva, S.Mallinckrodt, D.Proietto, I.C. Scarlett, Y.Leone, M.Baffigi, K. Carlisle

PHOTOREPORTAGE

TUGNOLI WINS A 2019 PULITZER PRIZE “For brilliant photo storytelling of the tragic famine in Yemen, shown through images in which beauty and composure are intertwined with devastation.” This is the explanation the Pulitzer Prize jury used when they decided to move Lorenzo Tugnoli‘s photos – published

by The Washington Post – from the Breaking News Photography category, where they were originally entered, to the Feature Photography category and then award him with the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for this category.

The Italian photojournalist, represented by the Contrasto Agency, is a regular contributor to The Washington Post and extensively covered the Middle East, including living and working in Afghanistan. His work also has been published by several international magazines.

In 2014, in collaboration with writer Francesca Recchia, he published “The Little Book of Kabul”, a portrait of Afghanistan’s capital through the daily life of artists in the city. Tugnoli, who was born and raised in Lugo, has a working knowledge of Arabic and currently resides in Beirut.

The New York Times won a Pulitzer Prize for its investigation into the Trump wealth, while the Wall Street Journal was awarded one for covering the case concerning the money paid by the billionaire during the 2016 presidential elections to buy the silence of two women who claim to have had a relationship with him. Another award was given to the South Florida newspaper Sun Sentinel for the journalistic coverage of the massacre in Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Marco Bertollini

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PHOTOREPORTAGE

“MUSEO DEL DESIGN ITALIANO” IN MILAN The Triennale, the Milanese multidisciplinary center for Italian design, architecture, fashion, and visual and performing arts, began its expansion project with the inauguration of the Museo Del Design Italiano (Museum of Italian Design) in new exhibition spaces where the entire 1,600-plus-piece permanent collection can be displayed.

The new museum is curated by its director and British architect Joseph Grima, who explained: “Even more than a place where the historical memory of Italian design is preserved and protected, the Museo del Design Italiano aspires to be a place of inspiration, in the most ancient sense of the word ‘museum.’

The most intense and influential forms of inspiration often do not come from inanimate objects but rather from the voices of those who created them, and from the stories behind apparently mundane details that led to decisions of fundamental importance for the history of design. With this in mind, we have decided to include the voices of some of those who created the works on show.” For this reason, visitors can pick up a phone and listen to artists and designers like Paola Antonelli, Antonio Citterio, Michele de Lucchi, Piero Lissoni, and Patricia Urquiola describe their work.

The creative talents called were asked to explain the “cultural conditions to which each creation responded,” providing an interesting auditory complement to the physical object, Grima explains.

Chosen from the Triennale‘s permanent collection, 200 objects are currently on display, sourced from 1946 to 1981 and organized chronologically to “tell the story of 30 years of radical experimentation in which new materials, new techniques, and new aesthetic codes revolutionized the established order within the domestic sphere and beyond.” The objects are supplemented with not-before-exhibited materials from the archives, including photographs, advertising campaigns, and original packaging; as well as, for some pieces, wooden models created by master modeler Giovanni Sacchi.

Margherita Pituano Photo: Gianluca Di Ioia

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PEOPLE BEATRICE VENEZI, ANOTHER GREAT ITALIAN CONDUCTOR

Valentina Peleggi is not the only great Italian woman conductor on the international music scene. Beatrice Venezi, born in Lucca, in 1990, the hometown of Giacomo Puccini, is another gifted Italian conductor whose skills are appreciated all over the world. She has performed in Sofia, Georgia, Barcelona, Naples, and more recently at the Suntory Hall in Tokyo.

Venezi started studying piano when she was 7, and, as she puts it, she “grew up on bread and Puccini.” Many years later, she started studying composition under the guidance and mentorship of Maestro Gaetano Giani Luporini, who challenged and encouraged Beatrice to follow her heart and to satisfy what she identifies as her “inner necessity”: conducting. She debuted in 2012 in her hometown with the Lucca Philharmonic orchestra and immediately began her international career directing the Sofia Philharmonic, the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, the Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra, the Ukrainian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Classical Orchestra of Madeira.

Venezi also continued to perform with several important Italian orchestras such as the Orchestra I Pomeriggi Musicali in Milan, and the Orchestra della Toscana. Over the years, she has worked for many renowned theatres and festivals, including the Bolshoi Theatre in Minsk, the State Opera House of Georgia, New European Festival of Stuttgart, the Bellagio and Lake Como Festival, and the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.

In 2014, Venezi performed for the first time with the Neapolitan Nuova Orchestra Scarlatti and, two years later, she was appointed Principal Conductor of the “Orchestra Scarlatti Young”, and began using technology and new media to create a fresh way for the orchestra to interact with young people. The same year she also debuted at the Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago with Ferruccio Busoni’s opera, ‘Turandot’ to be appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Puccini Festival the following year.

Alessandro Creta

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LIKE A LOCAL

THE BEST SPEAKEASIES IN ITALY After almost 100 years, hidden venues reminiscent of the 30’s ambience, are still very popular all over the world, even if it’s not so easy to find them. A mysterious world that today is particularly appreciated by cocktail lovers. From Milan to Bari: the best Italian speakeasy-themed bars.

‘1930’ (MILAN) – The name may be obvious, but the official address is unknown. The establishment is hidden in the back room of a Chinese bar near Piazza Cinque Giornate in Milan. The only way to enjoy its cocktails is to go to Mag or Barba and get in the owners’ black books.

‘THE MAD DOG SOCIAL CLUB’ (Turin) – In this speakeasy, in the capital of Vermouth, drink ingredients – Italian traditional bitters and spirits with particular consideration to the Piedmonts territory – are pulled directly from barrels and poured into glass jars. The address and a password to enter are sent to those who send an email to the address found on the website.

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‘MALKOVICH’ (GENOA) – You must know the password to enter, which is different every night but always linked to the title of a film. In fact, the owners love cinema. The speakeasy bar is located in the basement of a sandwich bar, where the great classic drinks are the Margarita from ‘Kill Bill‘, the Manhattan from ‘Some like it hot’, and a whole selection of drinks dedicated to Hemingway.

‘THE BARBER SHOP’ (ROME) – Combs, scissors, razors, and swivel chairs by day, shakers, spirits, and live music by night. This establishment, located between San Giovanni, Piazza Vittorio, and the Flavian Amphitheater, lives a double life and after sunset, it offers cocktails such as the Zappa with Mezcal, lime juice, orange curacao, mango syrup, and sesame candied papaya.

Sascha Mallinckrodt

A new style in the eternal city A HOTEL DE LA VILLE JUNIOR SUITE, DESIGNED BY TOMMASO ZIFFER AND OLGA POLIZZI

RO C C O FORTE HOTELS HOTEL SAVOY FLORENCE MASSERIA TORRE MAIZZA PUGLIA HOTEL DE LA VILLE ROME HOTEL DE RUSSIE ROME VERDURA RESORT SICILY BROWN’S HOTEL LONDON THE BALMORAL EDINBURGH THE CHARLES HOTEL MUNICH HOTEL DE ROME BERLIN VILLA KENNEDY FRANKFURT HOTEL AMIGO BRUSSELS HOTEL ASTORIA ST PETERSBURG FUTURE OPENINGS: THE WESTBUND HOTEL SHANGHAI ROCCOFORTEHOTELS.COM

ICON

APEROL, 100 YEARS OF THE ICONIC APÉRITIF In 1919, a few months after the end of the first global conflict, the Barbieri brothers launched what would become one of the most popular light liqueurs in the world at the Padua International Fair. The inimitable original recipe of Aperol, has never been changed nor revealed. It offers a balance between a low alcohol content (11%) and a mix of herbs and roots that make it both full-bodied and vibrant. A perfect taste that serves as a modifying agent for many classic cocktails.

Distributed in dozens of countries around the world, Aperol is one of those Italian products that, for its taste and image has made history. In fact, the orange drink has always been sold in unmistakable art nouveau bottles of which a new version was introduced in 2017 in preparation for the 100th anniversary celebrated this year. Its ultimate success arrived thanks to the first TV commercials in the 1960s with the catchphrase “Ah Aperol” – Like many brilliant advertising insights, the spot had to run only a few times before the catchphrase could be heard from customers in all the bars. Aperol’s popularity flourished during the 1980s thanks to a Venetian aperitif which became known as the ‘Aperol Spritz’. Today this cocktail is the most famous among wine-based drinks and among the world’s best sellers. A traditional ice-breaker, and symbol of the lively Italian character, the Aperol Spritz is one of the most popular aperitifs among young and old. And, although, Aperol was not one of the original ingredients of the Spritz, its role has become so defining that, today, when variations are created, Aperol is always part of the ingredient list.

Ilona Catani Scarlett

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Serenity in ancient olive groves A VIEW OF THE MASSERIA TORRE MAIZZA, PUGLIA

RO C C O FORTE HOTELS HOTEL SAVOY FLORENCE MASSERIA TORRE MAIZZA PUGLIA HOTEL DE LA VILLE ROME HOTEL DE RUSSIE ROME VERDURA RESORT SICILY BROWN’S HOTEL LONDON THE BALMORAL EDINBURGH THE CHARLES HOTEL MUNICH HOTEL DE ROME BERLIN VILLA KENNEDY FRANKFURT HOTEL AMIGO BRUSSELS HOTEL ASTORIA ST PETERSBURG FUTURE OPENINGS: THE WESTBUND HOTEL SHANGHAI ROCCOFORTEHOTELS.COM

CHEERS

GRAPPA, THE HISTORY OF A UNIQUE ITALIAN DRINK Scotch denotes Scotland and Tequila denotes Mexico in the same way Grappa denotes Italy. In fact, Grappa is a particular distillate with remarkable qualities that has been wholly developed in Italy. Still today, the grappa that is imported all over the globe, is produced here. The reason for this is that the Italian climate is particularly favorable for the production of the best grappa.

It is not easy to pinpoint the precise origins of this unique drink. Apparently, in a text dated 1400, doctor and scientist Michele Savonarola detailed the process of wine distillation in all its phases. However, according to some sources, the distillation of the winemaking residue, called pomace – the skins, pulp, and seeds of grapes that remain after pressing – used for the production of grappa, came into use two centuries later thanks to Francesco Terzi Lana, a wellknown Jesuit from Brescia.

Because of the production techniques and the ingredients used, at the time, the flavor of the grappa was much

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harsher and drier, and for many people even unpleasant.

Thus, noble and wealthy people considered it to be inferior to wine. In the 1700s, the Italian regions that were famous for their grappa production were Piedmont and Veneto. In Piedmont, there is still today, a vast representation of fine quality vineyards used to produce excellent varieties of grappa. While, in Veneto, and more precisely in Bassano del Grappa, resides the famous Nardini distillery. Nardini paved the way for many other distilleries to open in the Lombardy and Trentino Alto Adige regions. Today, great attention is paid to the varieties of vines used to make grappa and the production processes are strictly controlled, as well as to the refining processes that age the distillate in wood barrels. This ensures that the flavors of grappas currently enjoyed around the world are significantly improved compared to the first grappas produced centuries ago.

Marco Bertollini

HOTEL SAVOY FLORENCE MASSERIA TORRE MAIZZA PUGLIA HOTEL DE LA VILLE ROME HOTEL DE RUSSIE ROME VERDURA RESORT SICILY BROWN’S HOTEL LONDON THE BALMORAL EDINBURGH THE CHARLES HOTEL MUNICH HOTEL DE ROME BERLIN VILLA KENNEDY FRANKFURT HOTEL AMIGO BRUSSELS HOTEL ASTORIA ST PETERSBURG FUTURE OPENINGS: THE WESTBUND HOTEL SHANGHAI ROCCOFORTEHOTELS.COM

TV SERIES

DARIO ARGENTO IS WORKING ON A TV SERIES FOR NETFLIX OR AMAZON After seven years since his last movie ‘Dracula 3D‘, Dario Argento has decided to embark on a new project. The ‘master of horror‘ announced that he is collaborating with his screenwriters to create a new TV series, which could come out as early as the end of 2020 on a major streaming platform. The creative phase of the project has not yet been completed, he explained: “We are working with the screenwriters, there is still some time left but I’m happy with the result. It will be a movie in serial form for TV, with a total of eight episodes.” He also added that the series could be aired by Netflix or Amazon, implying that negotiations are anything but finalized. About the release date, he said: “Perhaps the end of next year.” Also, the title still has to be selected: “We have two or three titles in mind, then we will decide which one to choose.” The cast is still a mystery, but it is expected to be an international one. “The protagonist will be a foreign woman because the co-production company is American, and we will shoot it in English.” For Dario Argento,( who will be collaborating in the creation of the new ‘Dreadful Bond’ video game together with the Italian authors of Clod Studio), this is not his first television experience. In 1987 he created the mini- series ‘Gli incubi di Dario Argento‘ (Dario Argento’s nightmares), and in 2005 the made-for-TV movie ‘Ti piace Hitchcock?‘ (Do you like Hitchcock?).

John Daporto

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SCIENCE

THE 5 ITALIAN SCIENTISTS ON THE ‘BLACK HOLE CAM’ TEAM There are five Italian scientists on the team of the extraordinary ‘Black Hole Cam‘. Testing the fundamental predictions of Einstein’s theory of General Relativity (GR), the EU-funded project is tasked to image, measure, and understand astrophysical black holes. On April 11, which will now be considered a historic date, astronomers finally succeeded in capturing the first image of a black hole, the incredibly dense area that sucks in any star or planet that happens to pass in its vicinity. Here are the five brilliant Italians who worked on the project: Elisabetta Liuzzo, from the National Institute of Astrophysics in Bologna, is a researcher at the Italian node of the European ALMA Regional Centre, one of the seven ‘nodes’ of the European network that offers technical-scientific support to ALMA – Atacama Large Millimeter Array – users. She’s worked on the ‘Black Hole Cam’ project since 2018 and is part of the Event Horizon Telescope Consortium.

Luciano Rezzolla directs the Institute of Theoretical Physics in Frankfurt where he uses “Einstein’s theory of relativity to describe and explain the astronomical observations of black holes and stars.” This is how he describes his research on the Institute’s website.

Ciriaco Goddi entered the ‘Black Hole Cam’ project as Project Scientist. The Sardinian scientist, who currently works at the ESO – European Southern Observatory – in Munich, graduated in Physics in Cagliari where he also earned his PhD before moving to the Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory in Florence and then onto Harvard University.

Mariafelicia De Laurentis is a researcher at the Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics and she teaches astronomy and physics at the Federico II University in Naples. She took part in the project coordinating the theoretical analysis group of the experiment.

Roberto Neri is Head of Astronomy Group at the IRAM – Institute of Millimetric Radio Astronomy – in Grenoble. IRAM is an international research institute for radio astronomy and its overall objective is to explore the universe and to study its origins and evolution.

Ilona Catani Scarlett

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COMING SOON

CRISTIANO RONALDO SET TO OPEN A LUXURY PASTRY SHOP IN TURIN The life of soccer phenomenon Cristiano Ronaldo, also known as CR7 (his initials and shirt number), doesn’t revolve solely around the playing field.

He is a busy entrepreneur who has launched many projects, from hotels to a clinic to fight baldness. According to the Spanish media, his next endeavor could be a pastry shop in Turin, the city that has welcomed him with great warmth.

Ronaldo will gift the luxury pastry shop to Georgina Rodriguez, his girlfriend, who will run the business. Thus, it is not only an entrepreneurial idea but also a way to show appreciation for his partner. The plan would be for the pastry shop, called ‘CR7 & Georgina Rodriguez‘, to offer Portuguese specialties such as Portuguese custard tarts, a specialty of Belem, near Lisbon. The location of the shop has not yet been announced, however, there are rumors that it will be in one of the most beautiful spots in the city.

As mentioned above, this is not the first entrepreneurial project developed

by Ronaldo. His ‘Pestana CR7‘ hotel chain is currently in Madeira, Lisbon and, soon, will also open in Marrakech. The soccer player also endorses many brands, from shampoos to reinforced screens for smartphones. ‘CR7 Underwear’ is now a well-known brand, as is the company in which he invested in which opened a hyper-technological center in Madrid. In short, Ronaldo knows no boundaries even outside the soccer field.

John Daporto

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THE TRADITION OF TOMORROW.

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CARS

MUDETEC, THE NEW AND UPDATED LAMBORGHINI MUSEUM IN BOLOGNA The Lamborghini Museum at Sant’Agata Bolognese has a new look and has relaunched as MUDETEC, Museo Della Tecnologia (Museum of Technology).

The new interactive space reveals the secrets of the Lamborghini world through the innovations that revolutionized the company as well as the entire structure of the automotive industry, laying the foundations for the design and technology of tomorrow. A tour that takes visitors on a journey of discovery of the brand and its revolutionary masterpieces and their huge contribution to Automobili Lamborghini. The company’s tradition of innovation is told in a very interactive way. The new “brain room” creates a 360° fully immersive experience into the world of the brand with a thrilling multimedia display about the brand, its values, and its extraordinary past. Walking around the various exhibits of the Lamborghini Mudetec Museum you will find icons from the past such as the Miura, the 350 GT, the LM002, and the Countach, and exclusive creations such as the Centenario limited series, the Aventador SVJ Coupé, and the Asterion hybrid concept. The museum offers educational workshops for students like “Vehicle Set-up and Ergonomics” and “Carbon fiber and its technology”. MUDETEC presents the ‘Future Shapers since 1963‘ exhibition (through October 31), a virtual journey through decades revolutionized by the Lamborghini vehicles of the time. Visitors explore exhibits with special installations and touch screens offering access to information, photos, original sketches, and videos. The exhibition even has an Ad Personam area, where visitors can experience a first-hand view of options available to customers wishing to customize the car of their dreams with the Car Configurator. Moreover, visitors can enjoy a virtual driving experience in the new simulator, and also take a tour of the production line that must be booked in advance.

Giorgio Migliore

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ALL ABOUT ITALY | What a wonderful Italy

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What a wonderful Italy

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Named 2019 European Capital of Culture, the CittĂ dei Sassi (City of Rocks) enters by right among the favorite destinations of the modern Grand Tour of the Belpaese, shortening the distances of the most beaten paths to Rome, Florence and Venice.

Matera to love

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ALL ABOUT ITALY | What a wonderful Italy

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ncreasingly loved by both Italians and foreigners, in recent years Matera has become one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Peninsula.

Contributing to this exponential growth is undoubtedly its candidacy and then election in 2019 as European Capital of Culture. It’s an acknowledgement designated for the first time to a city in the South, and brings to four the number of Italian capitals awarded with this title. Undoubtedly another decisive factor for its development was the joint effort made by the municipality and the Basilicata region to remove hindrances - not just physical – like creating more access to culture in outlying places, such as Matera, compared to the larger centers of the Central and North.

The Lucan capital rises between the Murge Karst plateau and the Bradanica pit, created by the Bradano river. Its particular location is in a morphologically unique territory which is difficult to reach and has been the reason for its isolation over the centuries, but also its fortune.

The famous Sassi, ancient living quarters excavated in calcareous rock, which is typical Materan rock, was selected as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993 and is marked by the Sasso Barisano, which faces west towards Bari, and the Sasso Caveoso, (so named for its characteristic cavea form of theater seating), which turns to the south.

“In fact, the first time I saw it, I lost my mind, because it was simply perfect”.

Mel Gibson on the set of “The Passion of the Christ”

Entering through the alleys of the historic center it is possible to visit the emblematic cave house of Vico Solitario. It is furnished with tools and period pieces in order to let the visitor fully immerse into the spaces, uses and customs prior to 1952. In 1952 President of the Council Alcide de Gasperi created the Sassi rehabilitation law. It is well known that after the publication of the bestseller by Carlo Levi, “Christ Stopped at Eboli”, in which the miserable living conditions of those people were illustrated, prominent political figures such as Palmiro Togliatti came to visit Matera. The definition of the city as a “national shame”, a label difficult to erase, followed an order to displace the people of the Sassi and in order to design new neighborhoods. The “Scandinavian” model was adopted for the revitalization with many green spaces, wide streets and widespread aggregate areas. A unique place in the world that allows us today, almost seventy years after the words of Togliatti, to talk about a real Matera revitalization.

Other places of interest include the rock complex of San Giorgio, unearthed during renovations, which winds underground to a depth of 40m between cellars, canals, wells and cisterns, and the cathedral of the Madonna della Bruna and Sant’Eustachio. It is the main place of worship

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What a wonderful Italy

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ALL ABOUT ITALY | What a wonderful Italy

in the city, dating back to the 13th century, and was reopened to the public in 2016 after extensive reinforcement and restoration work. Its silhouette stands distinctly in the Matera skyline which, of course, would not be the same without its shape. There is no shortage of things to do and see, even for sports and nature lovers. In the Parco della Murgia Materana, a unique historical and archaeological area, it is possible to go hiking, bird watching, mountain biking or take nature photos. This pristine setting turns back the hands of time and

“Through the 2019 European Capital of Culture project Matera intends to be a laboratory of innovation to look to the future and events never tried before “.

Paolo Verri, Director of the Matera Basilicata 2019 Foundation relives the primordial relationship between man and nature.

In addition to hundreds of species of fauna and flora, it also houses a treasure of about 150 rock churches, decorated with frescoes dating from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century. Some were deliberately built in inaccessible places or hidden by wild vegetation, others are more easily accessible.

But don’t we want to talk about the cuisine? Because - let’s face it shamelessly - we are foodies and food and wine

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What a wonderful Italy

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tourism often move us much more than art. In Matera it is hard to count all the DOC products offered by the territory: from the oil, that also has a museum all to itself (the MOOM, which can be visited by appointment every day) to wine, inferred by its nuances: white, red, dark brown, primitive and Greek. Not to mention the king of the table, bread.

It’s an ancient process which involves using only four ingredients (durum wheat semolina, sourdough, salt, water).

It conforms to specific characteristics relating to the thickness of the crust, the breads’ height, weight and shape.

These are all features that make it immediately recognizable among a thousand other breads. And then from the naked and raw product we move to tasting traditional recipes, starting with crapiata, a dish of peasant origin based on legumes and cereals, and then to cialledda, alla pignata, which is named for the earthenware container that holds the mixture of meat (generally lamb), vegetables, cheese, salami and chili.

To end the meal, try the “sporcamuss” (a desert whose Basilicata origins are disputed by the nearby Puglia region), or, with the “strazzate”, typical Christmas almond biscuits that can be found in any pastry shop year-round (both in the soft and hard version, with cocoa or vanilla). There are therefore plenty of good reasons to visit Matera. Others could be mentioned, especially in 2019 that sees this town with a full schedule of events from film to poetry, from music to history. Definitely a year to remember, a vindication for the city and demonstration of great national pride.

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ALL ABOUT ITALY | What a wonderful Italy

ART THINKING Every month ART THINKING offers the city and travelers the opportunity to participate in workshops that combine the history of art with installations in hotels around Matera. Dozens of public and private works of art from Grecian times to present day allow the visitor to reflect on the power of art on the individual and collective consciousness. And, therefore, permits a better understanding of the present through the investigative methods of culture. It is called Art Thinking because the approach of art to the processes of life, companies, institutions and of society in general, over millennia, has proven to be the best device for stimulating emotional intelligence.

INVISIBLE PAVILIONS With the Invisible Pavilions project, you will learn - through a guided tour - about the remains of a water supply system dating back to the 1680s, returned to the city as a further fragment of that particular historical richness composed of what remains of the ancient hydraulic system of the Rioni Sassi, a UNESCO heritage site.

A heritage that Matera 2019 in collaboration with the SoutHeritage Foundation is trying to enhance, both through functionalization and by promoting, together with national and international partners, the establishment of a space for experimenting with new exhibition formats for artistic research and the production of in situ works, commissioned to internationally recognized architects and artists for their research and practices relating to the concepts of excavated and underground space.

On the sidelines of this program, a collective operation signed by the international architect Yona Friedman (Budapest, 1923), known throughout the world for his elaborate collective and mobile architectural concepts, will involve the public in art and the environment leading to interior of art issues such as the concept of place, sustainability and public commitment.

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BREADWAY Breadway is a food and design festival that traces the beginning of bread making. Every day the Piccianello district comes alive to rediscover conviviality, the pleasure of being together through artistic performances, shows, narrative stations, installations, workshops and laboratories in which citizens and visitors are involved in an experience creating a wealth of knowledge, cultural flavors and traditions. www.matera - basilicata2019.it Beatrice Vecchiarelli

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ALL ABOUT ITALY | Landscape

Wonderful Italian villas in the movies

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Landscape | ALL ABOUT ITALY

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talian villas have been appearing in many masterpieces of the international Cinema. Virail, a meta-search engine that compares transport solutions, compiled a list of amazing villas that were chosen as locations for famous and award-winning movies. Villa Boscogrande in Sicily, was the location for Luchino Visconti’s crew and the filming of ‘The Leopard’. Villa d’Este in Tivoli enchanted Woody Allen. Villa del Balbianello on Lake Como, became Naboo in ‘Star Wars – Episode II’.

VILLA ERBA - COMO „OCEAN‘S 12” (2004)

This 19th-century jewel with wonderful frescoes is located on the shores of Lake Como and it once was Visconti’s summer residence. In 2004 it turned into the mansion of the famous thief Night Fox (Vincent Cassel) in the sequel to ‘Ocean’s Eleven’.

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ALL ABOUT ITALY | Landscape

VILLA MEDICI - ROME „THE GREAT BEAUTY” (2013)

One of the great scenes of Paolo Sorrentino’s Oscar-winning movie is the one shot in the gardens of this Mannerist villa on the Pincian Hill. Here, the protagonist, Jep Gambardella (Toni Servillo), ends his nocturnal walk admiring the Niobidi sculptural group. Built in the 16th century, the villa currently houses the French Academy in Rome which invites young artists to exhibit their work in the city. It has a number of guest rooms, that when not used by artists or other official guests, are open to the general public.

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Landscape | ALL ABOUT ITALY

VILLA NECCHI CAMPIGLIO - MILANO „I AM LOVE” (2009)

This villa was built between 1932 and 1935, it was used as the house of the Recchi family, the protagonist of Luca Guadagnino’s ‘I am love’.

Located in the center of Milan, the villa is open to the public as part of the ‘Case Museo di Milano’ circuit (Milan’s museum houses) entrusted to the FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano) – the national trust dedicated to the protection and promotion of Italy’s extraordinary cultural, artistic and natural heritage.

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ALL ABOUT ITALY | Landscape

VILLA LANTE - VITERBO „WE HAVE A POPE“ (2011)

Nanni Moretti chose this magnificent 16th-century villa located in Bagnaia, in the province of Viterbo, as the location for the scenes of ‘We Have a Pope’ that were set in the Vatican Gardens. Villa Lante, not only has unusual architecture but is divided into two separate houses and decorated with exquisite frescoes. It also boasts one of the greatest examples of an Italian Renaissance garden featuring waterfalls, fountains, water games, and dripping grottoes.

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Landscape | ALL ABOUT ITALY

VILLA BOSCOGRANDE - PALERMO „THE LEOPARD” (1963)

The halls and rooms of the 18th-century villa, in Luchino Visconti’s movie, turned into the Palace of the Salinas, the family who belongs to a decadent aristocracy of the late 19th century and whose story is told in the movie. The villa, which is open to the public by reservation, has a beautiful garden and numerous frescoed rooms.

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ALL ABOUT ITALY | Landscape

VILLA DEL BALBIANELLO COMO „STAR WARS: EPISODE II – ATTACK OF THE CLONES” (2002)

Overlooking the placid shores of Lake Como, the 13th-century monastery was converted into a villa in 1787 and, in 2002, it was featured as Naboo in the second episode of ‘Star Wars’. Because of its advantageous location on Lake Como and the exclusive interiors it is an attractive location for movies makers. Indeed, it appeared also in 007’s ‘Casino Royale’ in 2006.

Paolo Del Panta

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Landscape | ALL ABOUT ITALY

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ALL ABOUT ITALY | In the heart of Italy

From the green of the Valnerina valley to the black of the chocolate bars, from the liturgical chants in its monasteries to the concerts in its squares, Umbria is not only a region, but a whole world, capable of offering wonders of all kinds to the traveler desiring all kinds of beauty.

Umbria: treasure chest region that holds wonders „U

mbria is a whole world in itself, a continent, not a small region of Italy. Here, time has a different rhythm because all the clocks also mark the eternal and the useless “. This is what the famous Italian psychiatrist Vittorino Andreoli wrote. And his words accurately express the enormous emotional value encompassed in this extraordinary region. It sits in the middle of the Belpaese, like a beating heart or a precious finely set jewel. Umbria has been able to transform the nostalgia for the sea into a noble characteristic that accentuates its identity: a land locked region with a concentration of splendors, carefully guarded, yet joyfully accessible to the curious visitor.

VALNERINA: THE STRENGTH OF MAN AND NATURE IN THE GREEN LUNG OF ITALY The crystalline current of the Nera River guides the traveler to the discovery of one of the most picturesque valleys of the Peninsula, the Valnerina. Water flows from the Sibillini Mountains in the Marche regions, crosses over the mountainous area of south-eastern Umbria until reaching Terni and from there flows into the Tiber.

The path drawn by the river defines a territory that displays nature’s might in all its splendor and the admirable way in which over the centuries man has managed to include himself and settle there. The mountain landscape traversed by the Nera alternates between unique and spectacular landscapes; a pinnacle of beauty that includes the Castelluccio di Norcia Plain and the Marmore Falls, that are in perfect harmony with traces of human presence, such as fortifications and medieval towers, the powerful abbeys and the solitary hermitages, and the small villages of bewitching charm. Umbria is central not only for its unique position, but because of its so powerful interpenetration of man and nature.

UMBRIA, MOTHER LAND OF ANCIENT VILLAGES AND NATURE TO DISCOVER Immersed in the centuries-old woods you can find enchanting little towns worthy of the most beautiful fairy tales of our childhood. Make-believe becomes reality in the timeless charm of places such as Vallo di Nera, among the most beautiful villages in Italy and dating back to the 8th century BC. Or Scheggino, a medieval village with picturesque alleys and a castle, and not far from the splendid fonts of Valcasana. The adventure continues in Ferentillo, a small village divided in two by the Nera river where the Museum of the Mummies and the splendid Abbey of San Pietro in Valle are located. And in Sant’Anatolia di Narco, a fortified village with walls and towers, where you can enjoy the unique Museo della Canapa.

The Valnerina is also a favorite destination for sports enthusiasts, canyoneers, lovers of trekking or rafting. Each will find the perfect place to take long walks or hikes such as the Via di Francesco, the path that leads to Assisi in the footsteps of St. Francis. Lastly, there are evocative cycling routes, such as the Ciclovia del Nera, a 29 km long route that runs along the banks of the river and winds its way through the many perched villages of this part of the Valnerina, before ending at the foot of the imposing Marmore waterfall. This marvel of water with irresistible power is located just 8 km from the city of Terni and springs from the Velino river that plunges with impetus for a drop of 165 meters into the underlying gorge of the Nera: a meeting of primeval forces that in descending produce a song of beauty.

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In the heart of Italy

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SPIRITUALITY, FLOWERS AND MUSIC: THE GREAT SACRED HEART OF UMBRIA Spirituality returns as a familiar theme that easily conquers the heart of those who visit Umbria. It’s impossible to not stop in Norcia, home of San Benedetto, in the most mountainous and unspoiled part of the region in the area of the Monti Sibillini National Park.

The square of the same name is dedicated to San Benedetto. Here, one can visit the splendid Basilica, built in the late 300s, the Town Hall, the fortress known as la Castellina and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Argentea. Cascia, the city of Santa Rita, rises on the hill of Sant ‘Agostino, an ancient hill castle, lapped by the waters of the Corno river. Underlying the Rocca, of medieval origin, is the Basilica of Santa Rita, the beating heart of the city and fulcrum of devotion, and the Monastery, where the Saint lived for forty years and where the famous miraculous rose garden is still found today. If you are lucky enough to come to Umbria in June, a stop in Spello for the Infiorata is a must. On the occasion of the feast of Corpus Domini, the streets of this town are covered with wonderful floral decorations - carpets and paintings - which are admired by the numerous visitors, the result of days, weeks and even months of patient and skillful work.

Yet this beautiful village offers beauty every day of the year. If you consider it’s here that you can admire the best preserved Roman fortified walls of Italy, the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore with the splendid Baglioni Chapel (which preserves one of the most colorful series of frescoes made by Pinturicchio) and the Villa dei Mosaici which, with almost 500 square meters restored, is one of the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries in Umbria.

The soul is nourished by spirituality and beauty, but certainly also by music. It is impossible not to mention the famous Umbria Jazz festival, which takes place every year in Perugia. From July 12 to 21 2019, the capital is the center of the world jazz scene thanks to well-known guests and personalities who are ready to offer unforgettable moments. The Festival of 2 Worlds in Spoleto, the Todi Festival and the Festival of Nations in Città di Castello are other events worthy of marking on your calendar.

THE AUTHENTIC TASTE OF A PRIZED REGION But Umbria is not only a feast for the eyes and the mind, it is also sublime happiness for the palate. The local food and wine culture is one of the richest and tastiest in the entire Italian peninsula, explicitly farm to table, plain and simple. The oil from Trevi and the Trasimeno hills are absolute excellences, as are the red wines from the Sagrantini di Montefalco to the whites of Orvieto Classico.

Another local delicacy is the black truffle from Norcia and Spoleto.

They are considered one of the most valuable truffles internationally.

Worthy of tasting is the farro from the Valnerina, the lentils from Castelluccio, the pecorino and the ham from Norcia, and all the rich offerings in a pork butcher shop (Norcineria). It is no coincidence that this term describes the art of making pork sausages which, it seems, originated in Norcia thanks to Jewish butchers who sold “the impure pig” because they could not eat by as dictated by their religious rules. Even chocolate lovers will find real satisfaction in Umbria. Perugia is the home of this treat, which pays tribute to chocolate every year by hosting an international fair. Whether in summer or winter, alone or in a group, desirous to explore artistic wonders or to put challenge to athletic ability, Umbria has the right answer to every question. Just stretch out your hand and boldly open its chest and enjoy its incredible jewels.

Lucia Mancini

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ALL ABOUT ITALY | Italian Food

A tale, a meal

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Italian Food

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Cuisine can be seen as the historical memory of an entire country and its biodiversity. And Italy is the most obvious representation of this: there has not been one moment in the long, bitter and lively history of this land in which its cuisine has not grown hand in hand with civilization; for if it is true that the Italian culinary patrimony is a relatively recent discovery in the context of international gastronomic trends, it’s also true that it has existed for centuries. Let this journey through “Belpaese” involve you in a genuine Italian experience and fulfill your culinary dreams.

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ALL ABOUT ITALY | Made in Calabria

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Made in Calabria

| ALL ABOUT ITALY

The Italian province, a jewel of the Mediterranean, is a place whose history comes from the table, from the flavors that are not simply from southern Italy, but Calabrian.

Calabria, basket of Italian flavors C

alabria is a land of a thousand faces, diverse and contrasting, which guide the traveler through natural and mighty splendors. There are places in Calabria to listen with your eyes and contemplate with your palate.

The sea and the mountains alternate in a vibrant manner and leave one amazed at how in a short time one can move from being in a sea breeze to being in the shade of centuries-old pines that almost form a natural tunnel down the long paths.

Climbing up the mountains and descending along the coasts is an enchanting excursion, where one is guided by the landscapes but also by those pivotal and unmistakable flavors that have made Calabria an acclaimed region.

The particularities and merits of this land do nothing but have a positive impact on Italian food culture, promoting a balanced lifestyle based on the principles of the Mediterranean diet, made of simple, unprocessed or slightly processed foods. It is no coincidence that international studies have shown that the Mediterranean diet is practiced most closely in Calabria. The small town of Nicotera, in the province of Vibo Valentia is an example of the exceptional health of its inhabitants. Calabria offers a culinary journey that enhances the essence of its places. The flavors have a strong individuality and an inheritance of tradition, a basket of ingredients that now populate international cuisine.

RED ONION FROM TROPEA CALABRIA PGI Cipolla Rossa di Tropea IGP

A symbol of Calabria and internationally known, the red onion of Tropea gives personality to any cuisine, not just Calabrian.

Promoted, protected and valued by chefs from all over the world, the Tropea onion has an unmistakable taste, whatever way it is used.

Whether raw, to enhance salads, or cooked, for first or second courses or even for tarts and jam. Recognized for its organoleptic properties, the “Tropeana” is an onion characterized by a sweet and refined taste, enjoyable on the palate also for the crunchiness that accompanies it. To fully appreciate the flavor of the onion and learn the many ways to use it, just visit Calabria in August, the period in which the Tropeana onion festival is held, which has been hosted in the square of Ricadi, a village near Tropea since 1978. The flavors of the area reflect the beauty of the place.

Tropea is top tourist location in Calabria. It has a beautiful seaside and a charming historic center, that imparts a unique and timeless atmosphere. Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea, Tropea’s symbol is also the rock of S. Maria dell’Isola which has stood as guardian of the city for almost a thousand years.

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