All about Italy, USA EDITION #4 2017

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

Italian Stories

WHAT A WONDERFUL CALABRIA CinecittÃ

THE DREAM FACTORY TURNS 80 YEARS OLD Rome to discover

CHRONICLES AND HISTORY FROM THE QUIRINAL PALACE

YEAR XIX - ISSUE # 69 - 2017 - USA $ 12.50 WWW.ALLABOUTITALY.NET

Gaetano Pesce

A LIFE IN COLOR Lambretta

THE STORY OF AN ITALIAN LEGEND Antonia Klugmann

A CULINARY RUN FOR THE BORDER, BUT WITHOUT LIMITS

EDITORIAL

A STORY IN COLOR

It is always difficult to encase Italy in the pages of this magazine.

It is difficult because each edition involves choosing between the hundreds of stories that should be told. To help us in this tough selection, here’s a virtual tour to discover the most authentic Italy, which starts with the colors of its flag: green, white, red. Two are represented in this issue by one of the regions that has always been a jewel of Italian heritage, but which only recently seems to have been the subject of major and well deserved attention: Calabria, a place that actually expresses a kaleidoscope of experiences. Among other things, we tell you about the symbolic color of the nature there, that brilliant green that covers the vast mountain area of the Sila in summer, a destination particularly appreciated for its woods and mixed forests of conifers and deciduous trees, towards darker and more intense nuances in the vegetation that cloaks Aspromonte.

To this tangible and inestimable heritage of beauty and nature, we wanted to bring in another symbolic color of Calabria, successful at every meal: that red of its peperoncino that strikes the palate, found in many typical preparations, most notably the salumi spread ’nduja, among the many reasons for the good reputation of this region. So as not to get too disorientated in this lively world, however, we need a bit of light. White, like that of the big screen before the start of a big feature film. We also tell you about the secrets of the Italian masters who bring movie dreams to life, from clothes to jewelry, hats and wigs, all the stage props for cinema, television and theater.

And this is just the beginning of the story...

Editor in Chief Franco Del Panta

Co-Editor & Vice President Paolo Del Panta

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Calabria Stories

The Colossal Temple

The Story of an Italian Legend

22. WHAT A WONDERFUL

64. THE DREAM FACTORY

88. LAMBRETTA’S

CALABRIA

TURNS 80 YEARS OLD

70 YEARS

The Calabria of the future

Cinema Made In Italy

36. CALABRIA: A LAND

A great pair

72. ITALIAN WONDERS

WITH A GREAT VALUE

IN INTERNATIONAL

96. MASERATI PUTS THE GRAN INTO

CINEMA

GRANDEUR

Italy in the USA

42. ITALY-USA ON THE RIGHT TRACK Rome to discover

50. CHRONICLES AND HISTORY FROM THE

Behind the camera

Made in Rovagnati

78. HITCHCOCK IS MY

100. ROVAGNATI:

MASTER, BUT MY LOVE

ALL IN GOOD TASTE

FOR CINEMA I LEARNED AT HOME

Made in Rovagnati

104. ROVAGNATI

QUIRINAL PALACE Fashion Stories

“FROM THE FAMILY

Art Itineraries

82. FROM THE CAR

TO FAMILIES”

58. A LIFE IN COLOR

TO THE SHOE

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A Chef’s Life

108. A CULINARY RUN FOR THE BORDER,WITHOUT LIMITS

and more...

4 6 Fifty years of Italy at sea 8 114. BUFEO BLANCO: FIVE 10 SHIPOWNERS AND A BOAT 12 14 A new idea of safe 116. LIVING A JEWEL DAY BY 16 18 DAY 20

PHOTOREPORTAGE PHOTOREPORTAGE PEOPLE ART & LEGO COMICS MOVIE LIFESTYLE DESIGN CULTURE

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 Picture Editor M. Fernandez Duna Translator Gregory Bailey Kate Carlisle Tristram Bruce Administration Jenny Cheung Photo Editor M. Beduschi Pr North America Francesca Pierini Musto

Focused digital marketing

118. IT’S TIME FOR INTERNATIONALIZATION 2.0

Staff writers & Photos M. Morelli, L. Mancini, E. Pasca, E. Rodi, M.Bertollini, M. Pituano, J.Daporto, E.Della Croce, S.Riva, S.Mallinckrodt, D.Proietto, I.C. Scarlett, C. Catalli, Y.Leone, M.Baffigi, D.Zaccaretti

A country to be experienced

120. EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN ITALY

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PHOTOREPORTAGE

SQUARE COLOSSEUM: FROM ARCHITECTURAL AUSTERITY TO LUXURY Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana in Rome, also known as “Colosseo Quadrato (Square Colosseum)”, is an imposing palace, entirely clad in travertine marble, conceived to celebrate the Colosseum and considered an icon of neoclassical and fascist architecture. It was designed by the architects G. Guerrini, E.B. Lapadula and M. Romano to have a series of superimposed loggias, similar to the Colosseum ones, on the four façades and it was constructed, between 1938 and 1943, as part of the program of the Esposizione Universale Roma, which was canceled while the building was being finished. It stood empty, abandoned for over a decade until it hosted the Roma 1953 Agricultural Exhibition.

Its new life began in 2015, when luxury fashion label Fendi signed a 15 years lease contract to turn it in its headquarters.

After 18 months of renovation, during which Architect Marco Costanzi headed the makeover of the interior, the Palazzo was ready for Fendi’s use. One of the spaces where it is possible to fully breath the new atmosphere of the Square Colosseum is FENDI Caffè. Here, the vibrant feel is perceived right from the entrance, where a hallway featuring 1960s furniture and photos of the Palace by Karl Lagerfeld serves as access to the bar area, announced by the ‘FENDI Caffè’ neon sign on the wall. From here, the gaze sweeps towards the library, with its large raw tables by Controprogetto.

The retro feel of the brasserie is given by blue velvet sofas, industrial lamps and round tables with textured tops by Hein Eek. The bartender’s position has several niches containing hundreds of colored Flower Bottles created by renowned Japanese flower artist Azuma Makoto, and a counter made of reclaimed wood, resin and cement.

John Daporto

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PHOTOREPORTAGE

TOO TRUE TO BE FICTION? The shocking 1997 murder of legendary fashion designer Gianni Versace by serial killer Andrew Cunanan will be examined in the new series of Ryan Murphy’s American Crime Story, which is due to be aired in 2018. Ryan Murphy said: “I was always very moved and freaked out by the Versace assassination, and I thought it was a really great story to do”. And to do so he selected a striking cast – the uncanny resemblance between the actors and their real-life counterparts is going to give an extremely realistic feel to the show.

Edgar Ramirez as Gianni Versace. The Gold and The Girl on the Train star will play the legendary fashion designer, who was murdered at the age of 50 outside of his Miami home.

Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan. The Glee celebrity will take on the role of sociopath Andrew Cunanan, the serial killer that ended his killing spree after Versace’s murder and before committing suicide few days later at the age of 27.

Penelope Cruz as Donatella Versace. Oscar winner Penelope Cruz will be the iconic sister of Gianni, who became the head of design after her brother’s murder.

Max Greenfield as Santo Versace. The New Girl star, who also appeared in American Horror Story: Hotel, will play Versace’s older brother, Santo, who became president and co-chief executive officer of Gianni Versace SpA after Gianni’s death.

Ricky Martin as Antonio D’Amico. The Grammy winner, who previously worked with Murphy as a guest star on Glee, will play Versace’s longtime partner, who he met in 1982 and became a designer for the Versace sport line.

Sascha Mallinckrodt

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XXX XXX XXX

PEOPLE

ALESSANDRA MASTRONARDI FROM ITALIAN TV TO NETFLIX SUCCESS

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lessandra Mastronardi, a young Neapolitan actress by way of Rome, has done so much in her career. Becoming famous thanks to the role of Eva Cudicini in the television series “I Cesaroni”, Alessandra, as is often the case, has worked hard to break away from the character that brought her success but was becoming restricting at the same time. The desire to show her own worth convinced her to venture further, to make an impact in international productions such as the movie “To Rome with Love” by Woody Allen (2012) and the biography “Life”

by Anton Corbijn (2015). Appreciation by foreign producers is further confirmed this year: Mastronardi is among the cast of “Master of None”, a successful Netflix series with Aziz Ansari, who is the creator, producer, director and lead actor. “I did the audition here in London,” said the actress, who has been living in the English capital for about a year

with her boyfriend, Irish colleague Liam McMahon. “Aziz asked me in a recent interview, ‘Do you know me? You know me?’ I had no idea, and so I told him. For me, going out on a limb is always better, even if it does cause a bit of anxiety”. Anxiety has also arisen in her meetings with Karl Lagerfeld, the well-known designer now collaborating with Chanel. Mastronardi became the first Italian to play the role of brand ambassador. “I’m very suggestive, which is why I speak very little,” said the actress. “Once we practically ran into each other outside the bathroom at a party in Cannes, I was wearing one of his creations and he told me in all seriousness: ‘Lovely. And here was me thinking that it wouldn’t fit.” And he left. I stood there for five minutes wondering if he had paid me a compliment or not.”

Lucia Mancini

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ART AND LEGO

THE UNCONVENTIONAL WORKS OF STEFANO BOLCATO Starting from the popular game of building blocks, Roman artist Stefano Bolcato likes to subvert the rules reinterpreting famous masterpieces of the history of art.

Sticking to the time-honored technique of oil painting he presents the characters of the Lego world as protagonists of classics such as ‘Portrait of a Lady’ by Leonardo da Vinci, ‘Self-portrait’ by Frida Kahlo, ‘Marilyn’ by Andy Warhol, ‘Portraits of the Dukes of Urbino’ by Piero della Francesca, ‘Dante Alighieri’ by Sandro Botticelli, ‘Dame’ by Pollaiolo.

The very choice of Bolcato to work with oil painting, presenting it in such a playful way, with the captivating effect of brightly colored plastic, together with the juxtaposition of a technique of ancient tradition and contemporary subjects of industrial design, will give a dusting to the history of art through some of its most famous icons. The color and the irony of the subjects represented on canvas create an emotional short circuit in the viewer and open a dialogue between the spectator and the history of art while shifting the attention to the game and the role of art.

“What Stefano Bolcato creates - says Claudia Ferrini, Artistic Director and cofounder of Zoe - is a very serious game: through the language of pop, the artist keeps the attention alive around the [artistic] heritage and creates, in the mind of the viewer, an imaginary universe where playfulness and education harmoniously coexist. Bolcato exemplifies the definition of the Museum of the Future, where artists are able to reinterpret the collections and provide new interpretative suggestions”.

Ilona Catani Scarlett

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DIG ITAL CONCE RT HALL DOVE S UON IAMO SOLO PE R TE www.digital-concert-hall.com

ART

THE ITALIAN PENCIL THAT DREW THE NEW SPIDER-MAN Sara Pichelli, born 1983 in the province of Fermo (Marche) is the Italian comic book artist best known for first illustrating the Miles Morales version of ‘Ultimate Spider-Man’ written by Brian Michael Bendis. Today she really likes comics like Sandman by Neil Gaiman, anything by Alan Moore, and, as far as Italian ar concerned, Zerocalcare and Leo Ortolani; but her first love was animation, and she started her career working for IDW Publishing. She started drawing comics as self-taught illustrator and, in 2008, she won Marvel’s only international contest for young talents. After having worked on several Marvel titles, such as Namora, Pichelli was hired as the main artist on the second volume of ‘Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man’, which premiered in September 2011 and featured Miles Morales, a teenager of Black Hispanic descent, who inherited the costume of Spider-Man after Peter Parker’s death. In 2011, she also won a 2011 Eagle Award for Favorite Newcomer Artist.

For Pichelli, the world of comics is increasingly opening to women, also thanks to cinecomics, which, however, “are influencing comics too much, becoming a leash for creative freedom.” However, the artist confesses that she loved the Italian ‘They Called Jeeg’: “I found it to be a perfect parable of a present-day hero that managed to instill the super-hero code in our culture without turning it into a character. I forced my students from the International School of Comics in Rome to watch it, and I also invite them to read a lot because comics are narrative, they tell stories.” Pichelli’s dream is to make a horror cartoon with a female protagonist.

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Marco Bertollini

MOVIE

FERRUCCIO LAMBORGHINI. THE OFFICIAL STORY ‘The Legend’ is the working title of the biopic about the founder of the Lamborghini automotive company that will be directed by Michael Radford (‘The Merchant of Venice’, ‘The Postman’) and interpreted by Antonio Banderas in the role of Ferruccio Lamborghini, and Alec Baldwin in the role of his rival, Enzo Ferrari. The producer Ambi Group launched the development in 2015 by acquiring the rights for the movie of the book ‘Ferruccio Lamborghini. The official story’, written by Ferruccio’s son, Tonino Lamborghini.

Ferruccio Lamborghini, founder of the homonymous, glorious sports car brand, was born in 1916 and died in 1993. The movie covers the enlightened entrepreneur’s long life, his experience with military vehicles during the Second World War, the production of state-of-the-art tractors that were affordable even for farmers hit by the postwar crisis, and the design and production of extraordinary sports cars. Those sports cars, thanks to his ability to completely change the automotive paradigms in terms of style, mechanics, and engineering, constitute part of the important legacy that he left to the world of automotive and design. But Lamborghini’s passions stretched far beyond the world of mechanics and he conducted an extraordinary lifestyle among workmen, farmers and celebrities from Dolce Vita.

Tonino Lamborghini commented: “This film can translate into the images and words Ferruccio’s great humanity and convey to a worldwide audience my father’s personality: a man full of energy, charisma and passion.”

Sveva Riva

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LIFESTYLE

ALL YOU NEED IS AVOCADO In the wake of the worldwide trend, which sees avocado bars in Amsterdam, London and New York, the first Italian eatery totally dedicated to the avocado opened in Via Madonna dei Monti, in the historical and trendy heart of Rome. Behind the Imperial Forum and the Colosseum, its location is the perfect one both for local avocado lovers and tourists. Francesco Santilli, one of the founders, explains how the idea of the concept bar came about: “First of all, from looking at market trends.” and he adds “We like to eat and try new things and when we noticed this process of food innovation concerning the avocado, with the success of the first international monothematic openings in Amsterdam and New York, we thought that Italy could also be innovative. And naturally we wanted to start from our home city, so we chose Rome.”

Avocado in all its many shapes and serving styles – in smoothies and milkshakes for breakfast; on toast, salads, tacos or in mini burgers for a quick lunch; and even in the more substantial dinner dishes. The Avocado concept bar will make the green fruit from South and Central America the principal ingredient of everything that is served, from food to drinks.

Avocado Bar opens every day from morning to night, with proper bar, cafeteria and different tables where you can either eat quickly during your lunch break, or more comfortably for a leisurely dinner; it’s also possible to take the orders away or have them home delivered.

Sascha Mallinckrodt

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DESIGN

TO TURN A LAMP INTO AN ICON In 1987, Michele De Lucchi launched the best-selling and award-winning lamp Tolomeo that he had designed the previous year, with the contribution of Giancarlo Fassina and Ernesto Gismondi from Artemide Research Center.

Inspired by traditional spring lamps, like the famous Naska Loris, its challenge was to combine an iconic and “domestic” shape with innovative technologies and materials, while being as versatile as possible. The name was decided only the night before it was presented at the Salone del Mobile; the designer thought that Tolomeo was the most suitable person to represent the lamp, because he was an astronomer, and a mathematician, with a strong scientific mentality.

The first table version, which won a Compasso d’Oro Award in 1989, today is a recognized symbol of modernity and in the years it evolved into an infinite range of variants widespread in offices, hotels, homes, photographic settings, architects’ desks, and even in movie scenes. Indeed, one of the main reasons for its success is its incredible versatility; in different shapes and sizes, for tables, floor, ceiling, or walls it is a product that looks great both in traditional, classical environments and in innovative, avant-garde ones.

Ilona Catani Scarlett

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CULTURE

BEECH TREES AND FORTRESSES ON THE UNESCO LIST The latest additions, decided at the 41st session of the World Heritage Committee that closed in Krakow in July, took the number of Italian properties to 53. Following the addition of its primeval beech forests and 15th-17th century Venetian works of defense, Italy has become the global leader for the number of properties included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The latest additions, decided at the 41st session of the World Heritage Committee that closed in Krakow on Sunday, take the number of Italian properties to 53. China ranks second with 52 properties, trailed by Spain, France and Germany respectively with 46, 43 and 41 properties.

From Tuscany to Calabria going through the province of Viterbo, UNESCO recognized that in Italy there are ten award-winning secular beech tree forests, for a total area of 2,000 hectares. These are now part of the ‘Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe’, the transboundary extension of the World Heritage site of the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany, which stretches over 12 European countries. The splendid fortress of Palmanova – national monument since 1960 -, wanted by the Serenissima to defend Christianity from the Ottoman impact in 1593, called the starry city for its star-shaped polygonal plant with nine tips; the bastions of Peschiera del Garda that seem to be born from the waters of the lake; the powerful Venetian Walls, which were built by the Serenissima Republic of Venice in the second half of the 16th century to defend the city. The Ministry of

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Cultural Heritage Activities and Tourism, which supervised the 500-page workbook that summarize years of work, pointed to the fact that these works constitute a unique testimony to the military architecture that has evolved from the 16th to the 17th centuries, a fundamental period in the long history of the Republic of Venice: “Fortresses and walls together testify to the presence of a unique defensive network between the Mainland State and the Sea State.

These presidios, integrated in landscape of extraordinary suggestion, describe a unitary defensive project that can boast civil, military and urban connotations.”

Wonders of Italian nature and ingenuity that are added to UNESCO World Heritage list next to the ones already present, like Pompeii and the Valley of the Temples of Agrigento.

The previous Italian properties to be included on the World Heritage list before the latest ones, were Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale, together with the vineyard landscapes of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato in the northern Piedmont. Next year the committee is set to consider the candidature of two more Italian properties, the 20thcentury industrial town of Ivrea in Piedmont and the Prosecco hills. In 2019 the rules will change to allow countries to present only one candidate site each to a total of 35 worldwide. Due to the high number of properties already on the list in the event of ‘oversubscription’ Italy would see its proposals examined last.

Margherita Pituano

ALL ABOUT ITALY | Calabria Stories

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Calabria Stories | ALL ABOUT ITALY

It is a wonderful land that deserves to be described in its entirety. Its natural landscape, its artistic and cultural heritage, its delectable gastronomy and its unforgettable traditions are precious jewels just waiting to be discovered.

What a wonderful

Calabria Calling it rediscovered would not be correct, as Calabria has always been there, lying in southern Italy with all the beauty that distinguishes her. Encircled between seas and surrounded by mountains, it is left with its invaluable natural and gastronomic resources. Now that Calabria is reliving its best period, we find ourselves in a land that we really had to wait for. The columns of The New York Times and The Telegraph have elevated it to the places you should visit, for all the landscape that she has to offer, the fine wine and delicious food, for the wealth she can give back.

Calabria is a land of many faces, diverse and contrasting, which lead the traveler through powerful natural beauty ranging from the northern border with Basilicata to the sea beyond the tip that separates it from Sicily. With a territory to be explored and exuding a history that deserves to be unearthed and described, Calabria is an undiscovered land with everything to admire. Let yourself get lost in the narrow streets of traditional terrains, stop and eat at one of the restaurants by the sea or in the mountains, choose to sit and just admire the sunset colors or the landscapes that present themselves: Calabria means deciding to enjoy the experience and a whole world of scents and aromas that cannot leave you unmoved. There are places in Calabria where you should listen with your eyes and contemplate with your sense of taste: we are talking about a land that you should visit, just for the pleasure of not wanting to break away from it ever again.

Credits: Crivellari

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ALL ABOUT ITALY | Calabria Stories

CALABRIA MAGNA GRAECIA Calabria is in the heart of the Mediterranean. On August 16, 1972, in the sea just off the coast of Riace Marina, Stefano Mariottini discovered two statues, known as the Bronzi di Riace. The news spread rapidly around the world, and the discovery was later considered as one of the most important of the last century. The statues are currently kept at the National Museum of Magna Graecia in the Italian city of Reggio Calabria, and they represent one of the major additions to the surviving examples of Ancient Greek sculpture.

Several archeological sights are dotted around Calabria, including the Archaeological Museum of Sibari, where you’ll find the historically significant statue known as Toro Cozzante, and the Archaeological Park of Locri Epizefiri, with a theater from the fourth century.

MUSABA A special mention should be given to the Musaba Spatari/Maas Foundation, an unique example of an open-air laboratory park museum near the village of Mammola.

“Nik Spatari is at the final stages of making this dream come true. This laboratory park museum in the heart of Calabria is the work in progress of a man and his companion, continually retouched by their own hand and never abandoned by their mind. It has enormous figurative freedom but total structural control. This is one of those extremely rare cases where an outsider pours the salt of architecture onto the land”.

Article by Bruno Zevi, published in “L’Architettura” magazine.

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Calabria Stories | ALL ABOUT ITALY

CAPO COLONNA One of the best places to experience the natural beauty of this southern Italian region is at Capo Colonna, a promontory known in antiquity as Capo Lacinio, about 13km south of Crotone in eastern Calabria. This is the site of one of the most important sanctuaries in Magna Graecia, the area of southern Italy populated by Greek settlers from the eighth century BC. Nowadays all that remains of the temple is one single Doric column, 8.35 meters in height. Nevertheless, the surrounding land and views of the sea still reflect the sacred nature of this site, perhaps inspiring the original idea for a sanctuary here.

AN ARCHEOLOGICAL PARK SOURRANDED A SECOLAR OLIVE GROVE One of the finest representations of Magna Graecia is an important archeological site of Greco-Roman civilisation: the Archaeological Park of Scolacium.

Here a huge temple is surrounded by a secular olive grove, 200 meters from the sea. Every year, the park hosts the famous festival “Harmony of Art�, a space for the soul, where music, theater, dance, legend and history combine to create beautiful art.

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ALL ABOUT ITALY | Calabria Stories

MARITIME SIGHTS Calabria is known for its variety of beaches, from long sandy stretches to pebbly coves. It has about 500 miles of coastline, which takes in all the geographical variations of the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas. A spectacular waterfront and cliffs overlook medieval castles and ancient watchtowers. Embedded in the splendid Coast of the Gods, in the province of Vibo Valentia, is a precious jewel famous around the world: a place of ancient legend, history and seaside tourism by the name of Tropea. Built entirely on an enormous tufa rock facing the sheer drop over the sea, it comprises an upper village with many noble houses of the 18th and 19th centuries, and a lower part, with the beaches and tourist-friendly harbor.

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Calabria Stories | ALL ABOUT ITALY

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ALL ABOUT ITALY | Calabria Stories

COST OF GODS Close to Tropea is the Lighthouse of Capo Vaticano, where a selection of beaches are tucked into the curves of the Tyrrhenian coast, the final part reached by wading between the rocks. One of the most charming places in Calabria is Scilla where the sunsets seem to assume unique new characteristics. Strange scintillations occur when you admire this enchanting fishing hamlet from within its arched narrow streets and alleyways, all separated from each other by even more alleyways, and all heading straight down to the sea.

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CEDAR RIVIERA In the northern part of the Tyrrhenian coast, the Riviera dei Cedri (Cedar Riviera), is a extremely attractive area close to the massif of Pollino National Park. With significant natural value, it numbers beaches from Paola to Diamante, Scalea, Praia a Mare to San Nicola Arcella. Calabria’s only two islands of Cirella and Dino lie offshore. The Riviera dei Cedri is so called because in centuries past this was where cedars were cultivated, purchased each year for religious rites by rabbis from all over the world.

Calabria Stories | ALL ABOUT ITALY

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ALL ABOUT ITALY | Calabria Stories

THERMAL BATH AND WELLNESS The evocative lights, the scents, herbs and spices make Calabria an emotional experience. In that same atmosphere, we find the thermal baths of Terme Luigiane, a small village belonging to the municipality of Acquappesa. Guardia Piemontese is considered one of the oldest and most popular thermal springs of Europe’s sulfurous water resorts. At the base of Mount Pollino are two more thermal springs with hot mud and pools: Cassano allo Ionio staffed by highly qualified professionals, and the suggestive Cave of the Nymphs at Cerchiara di Calabria. On the Tyrrhenian coast, the Terme Caronte is a state-of-the-art complex, where for 2,000 years the salt waters of the Caronte spring have risen to about 39 °C. Within easy reach of the sea and the excavations of Sibari are the Terme di Spezzano, founded in 1923 around the Source of Graces. They are renowned for the therapeutic properties of its waters in the treatment of liver disease.

MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPES The Sila is the name of the mountainous plateau and historic region located in Calabria. Its ecosystem is of great scientific value and has been protected as the Sila National Park since 1997, the tenth Italian addition to the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Winter and summer tourism are very well developed. In winter, the Sila is the best place in the area for skiing and snowboarding, while in summer, many come to climb mountains and hike down numerous forest trails.

The Aspromonte is a massif in the province of Reggio Calabria (Calabria, southern Italy). Its literal translation means “Rough Mountain”. It overlooks the Strait of Messina, constrained by the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas and by the Pietrace River. The highest peak is Montalto (1,955m). The massif is part of the Aspromonte National Park.

THE “NDUT”- NORMAN DOUGLAS ULTRA TRAIL “NDUT” looks like a word of Calabrian dialect, but is in fact is the acronym for the Norman Douglas Ultra Trail, a route dedicated to mountain bikers and runners that traces the path of writer Norman Douglas just over a century ago in the Calabrian hinterland. Those exotic, wild landscapes and the typical vitality of the southern people, described by the British author in “Old Calabria”, form the cornerstone of this captivating experience around areas yet to be explored. The path can be used throughout the year, like the most well-known ones in Europe.

There are two different circuits: one of 500km that takes in the Sila National Park and the Pollino National Park; and one of 1,144km that connects all Calabria’s parks, monasteries, and the palms overlooking the Straits of Messina.

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Calabria Stories | ALL ABOUT ITALY

LIDIA BASTIANICH CELEBRATES CALABRIA For more than a year, the brand “Rosso Calabria” has been working on the international market by launching promotional and educational activities with journalists and bloggers, involving opinion shapers such as Lidia Bastianich, whose TV shows on PBS reach a worldwide audience of 196 million.

Lidia Bastianich (mother of the equally famous TV star Joe Bastianich) embarked on a trip to Calabria to discover its outstanding local products.

The queen of cookery shows found ancient varieties of fruit and vegetables, and lost types of vines that have been preserved in long-isolated areas of the interior, bringing us their unchanged qualities.

WINE AND FOOD Calabria is a land of ancient flavors that have remained intact over the centuries thanks to their raw ingredients. These are created from plant varieties and livestock species that have disappeared elsewhere, swallowed by more profitable and productive demands, and tailored to the needs of large retailers.

Just as the age-old isolation of some areas of the interior has preserved languages dating back to

During “Summer Fancy Food” in New York, Lidia Bastianich said: “Next year’s cooking trend will speak Calabrian”.

Magna Graecia, it has also handed down flavors and foods throughout the centuries, which are found in this cuisine of poverty.

It was in the Calabrian town of Nicotera that in 1957, Professor Ancel Keys, promoter of a psycho-physical Wellness lifestyle, identified the diet he would call “Mediterranea”, later added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

More recently, Italian scientist Valter Longo, of the University of Southern California (USC) and the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM) in Milan, confirmed the virtues of the simple and straightforward nutritional habits of his childhood spent in Calabria, calling it “The Longevity Diet”.

The foundation of the Mediterranean diet is the extra virgin oil produced in Calabria, which cultivates olive trees across an area of 182,000 hectares. This is roughly a quarter of the total area of organic olive-oil cultivation throughout Italy, accounting for 12% of Calabria’s overall production.

ROSSO CALABRIA Turning the focus on this immense wealth is the task of “Rosso Calabria” a regional brand that encapsulates the history, culture, art, beauty and the flavors of this region.

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ALL ABOUT ITALY | Calabria Stories

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Calabria Stories | ALL ABOUT ITALY

ONE OF THE OLDEST WINE IN THE WORLD The proximity of the region to the Ionian Sea affects temperatures and makes the soil a combination of clay and sand, creating an unique enviroment for vineyards. Around 1,500 BC a tribe called the Oenotri (“vine cultivators”) settled in the region. According to Greek mythology, they were Greeks who were led to the region by their king, Oenotrus. At that time, the Oenotri grew head-trained bush vines supported by posts.

DRINKING A CUP OF THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF HISTORY The ancient area of Kroton is the cradle of the oldest wine: Cirò DOC. A recognizable red wine among a thousand, with the elegance and structure of Gaglioppo, which becomes fresh in its unmissable rosé variety. This wine was so appreciated by the Ancient Greeks that it was offered as a prize to the winning athletes at Olympic competitions. This is a chalice with 3,000 years of history.

In the Pollino National Park, we find the Slow Food Presidium of the Saracena Moscato. As many as 1,500 barrels of this wine were regularly delivered to the papal court of Pope Pius IV, who was one of its great admirers.

Across a vast area, down from the slopes of the Pollino Massif and alongside the Crati Valley, grows the Magliocco, a superb grape variety able to compete on equal terms with the major wines of northern Italy. The DOP Terre di Cosenza was founded to make the most of this great resource.

TYPICAL PRODUCTS The northern part of Calabria is one of the main areas of production for Calabria IGP clementine mandarins present in food markets throughout Europe. Other fine products worth mentioning are Rocca Imperiale IGP lemons. This is the area where the DOP Figs of Cosenza are grown, used in delicious preparations with fillings of almonds and walnuts or with luscious dark chocolate.

Calabria also has its own black gold, not gasoline, but Calabria DOP licorice. Production is centered on the Ionian coast, in an area surrounding the Archaeological Park of Sybaris, all the way up to Rossano. There is even a museum dedicated to traditional techniques of harvesting and processing.

The northern part of Calabria belongs to Sila – a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve – with massive winter snowfalls allowing the Sila plateau to be the southernmost point where you can practice dog sledding.

The strong cattle breed of Podolica Calabrese, recognized by Slow Food Italy, are nomadic animals of the plateau capable of dealing with attacks by wolves and jumping two-meter-high fences. The produce Caciocavallo Silano DOP, one of the oldest cows’ milk cheeses of southern Italy.

Another important product is the PDO Pecorino crotonese, from the ancient area of Kroton. Bergamot oranges have been intensively cultivated since the

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ALL ABOUT ITALY | Calabria Stories

18th century, exclusively in coastal areas near Reggio Calabria.

Since 1704, essential oils are the key ingredient for the production of Eau de Cologne. Even today, essential oils are used in the perfume industry by famous brands such as Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana.

Keeping with famous names, IGP red onions, admired by Queen Elizabeth II (it is believed she consumes up to 200kg per year), are second to none. With its unmistakable flavor, this precious product of velvet farmland has won over lovers of rich summer salads and sophisticated followers of new eating styles, from vegans to people who only eat raw food for its known beneficial properties.

Together with olive oil, Bergamots and Tropea red onions, licorice best represents Calabrian identity. Another fundamental ingredient is the unofficial symbol of Calabria, the famous peperoncino (chili pepper). Different kind of chili peppers can be found here, from ones with a mild taste to the extra hot. Peperoncino is widely used in Calabrian cuisine.

The seaside town of Diamante even hosts an annual festival in its honor every September. Diamante was where the

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world-famous Peperoncino Italian Academy was established.

Another famous Calabrian product is the Tartufo di Pizzo ice-cream. This particular variety is usually composed of two or more flavors, often with either fruit syrup or frozen fruit — typically raspberry, strawberry or cherry — in the center.

Bagnara Nougat is another characteristic/ traditional Calabrian dessert, dating back to 1700 and obtained by cooking and processing local products like honey and roasted almonds, and ingredients such as sugar cinnamon and cloves.

The endless expanse of olive groves on the hills of the Lametini and Vibonese areas of “Carolea” give origin to Oil DOP Lamezia. DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) also applies to Calabrian cured meats throughout the region.

These include capocollo (cold cut), pancetta (bacon), salsiccia (sausage) and soppressata (salami), all prepared with the best pork cuts.

From Spilinga comes ‘Nduja, a sausage spread with a smoky aroma, not yet featured among the more known brands, but gaining in popularity worldwide.

This is the area where Pecorino del Monte Poro (sheeps’ milk cheese) is produced. It is considered among the best in southern Italy, and is now in the recognition phase for the attribution of DOP status.

Calabria Stories | ALL ABOUT ITALY

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ALL ABOUT ITALY | The Calabria of the future

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The Calabria of the future | ALL ABOUT ITALY

Mario Oliverio, President of the southern Italian Region of Calabria, tells us about the relaunching of this region in order to give it a new international appeal. An exceptional testimonial talks to the United States about his Calabria.

Calabria a land with a great value

C

alabria is often seen as the starting place for one-way journeys to go elsewhere, with one’s hopes and dreams stuffed into a suitcase. It is best known as a place that was abandoned by men and women who moved away but who forever kept their sense of intimate belonging to this land. For many years this was the generally accepted but rather superficial story of Calabria and Calabrian identity, especially outside its borders. But now the institutions and citizens of Calabria have decided to update this old narrative and they are finally talking to the world about a courageous population that is not afraid to face the challenges and changes of the future, and that is rediscovering its history and its peculiar characteristics.

This region has a new-found pride in its excellent natural, cultural, artistic and culinary heritage, and it has decided to communicate and promote these fine qualities as effectively as possible in Italy and abroad.

The governor of the Calabria Region, Mario Oliverio, has become a spokesperson for this favorable wind of change and renewal, and he describes an all-round promotion strategy featuring several carefully targeted initiatives and actions involving international markets, with particular attention towards the US. The New York Times lists Calabria among the 52 top places to visit in 2017. So what initiatives have been planned to ensure the effective promotion of the

Region of Calabria abroad?

Our activities of international promotion for Calabria started in 2015, and in January 2016 the Rough Guide mentioned some of our locations as top destinations. This guide, intended for a niche target, made it possible to reach “travelers” who love to discover places that are outside the ordinary circuits. Calabria has of course been promoted for many years and it is well known for its coasts and the beauty of its coastline, but it is much more than this, with many rich resources such as national and regional parks, archaeological sites, castles, abbeys and convents, villages and historic town centers, which are also ideal locations for television and movie productions. It is no coincidence that the Calabria Film Commission is having good results with several of its productions being shown at the Film Festivals of Cannes and Venice. In the USA in particular there is an increasing level of interest in Calabria as a tourist destination. This is why The New York Times has listed Calabria among the 52 locations to visit in 2017.

We have adopted a single strategy in all our international tourism events and agreements, from Prague to Berlin, Moscow and Shanghai. An important agreement with China has also been initiated, with the project “Welcome Chinese” that aims to attract a part of the flow of tourists from

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ALL ABOUT ITALY | The Calabria of the future

that great country, also thanks to the certification of the international airport of Lamezia Terme. Last June we hosted a large group of Chinese journalists, bloggers and media influencers who visited Calabria to discover and appreciate the beauty of our territory, and our cultural and gastronomic traditions. Over the last two years we have witnessed a rise in tourist numbers after a long period of negative trends, and these results of our work show that our actions have been effective in turning the spotlight onto Calabria and bringing it to the attention of the international markets as a tourist destination. In the first half of this year there was an increase of about 60% in the numbers of passengers using Lamezia airport as compared to the previous year, with many of those passengers coming from abroad.

Obviously, the kind of tourism you are aiming for is also based on the sector of food and wine. How does this involve your collaboration with the famous US chef and entrepreneur Lidia Bastianich?

This is not one of Italy’s top tourist destinations.

Calabria is often considered to be the Caribbean of Europen thanks to its amazing beaches, colorful coastline, picturesque villages and amazing food and wine Mastercard #TopHiddenTreasures Our collaboration with Lidia Bastianich, who visited Calabria from the north to the south in May, has the goal of encouraging and guiding Calabrian agri-food producers in strengthening the process of internationalization, contributing towards the promotion of a positive image of Calabria. The practices of so-called “slow tourism” allow people to discover locally sourced organic foods, with the discovery of environmentally-friendly destinations that are concerned with energy-saving and that offer healthy and eco-friendly forms of tourism. This philosophy is embraced

by Lidia Bastianich herself, who is basically a testimonial to the effects that Calabria has all over the world. In fact, during the last edition of the “Summer Fancy Food” held in New York (in June 2017), she stated that “the trend-setting foods of 2018 will be Calabrian”.

Regarding the Calabrian wine-making heritage you have repeatedly mentioned the fragmented way in which wine producers present themselves on the market, and have you underlined the need for them to team up. How is the region coming together to become a system?

The quality of local wines has grown enormously thanks to the passion and enthusiasm of the farmers and wine producers, who have made some bold decisions. With the help of research they are continuing to improve genetic variety by enhancing native grape cultivars. For many years now, Calabrian wines have been receiving

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Lidia Bastianich with the governor of the Calabria Region Mario Oliverio.

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