| Page Views: 2,677 Last Visit to Italy: - I Live Here | GENERAL INFORMATION FOR ITALY by icunme - last update: Nov 5, 2009  |
"THE ITALIANS" - Luigi Barzini | THE ITALIANS by Luigi Barzini |
THE ITALIANS - By Luigi Barzini
My Italian-born nephew believes that this book is the single most definitive writing on Italian life. He very diplomatically explains that it is not that others cannot describe Italy and her sons and daughters - it is more that people who are not Italian and who like Italy and the Italians tend to define us through their own eyes, which is usually a somewhat romanticized and limited vision.
It is enough for Italy and the Italians that others like us so much that increasing numbers choose to make their home here. We find them leaving country and family behind - coming in increasing numbers from even the North Americas - perhaps seeing the better life to be had here in retirement, given the issue of medical care alone.
Barzini refers to the writing of Goethe, Stendhal, Shelley, Hein, Gogol and a few others who have taken to this country and her people and written with great affection and considerable puzzlement. Even though it was first published in 1964, Barzini's "The Italians" is valid today and will likely apply tomorrow.
If you find yourself here on this page, you probably harbor a more than casual interest in Italy and, if this is so, this is a book you will appreciate.
From the jacket cover: "His book touches on nearly every aspect of Italian life; it examines her many faces, landscapes, cities and peoples, it studies the Italians' habits, vices, virtues, hopes, failures and achievements, past, present and future. It also sets out to answer many highly complex questions........."
Brilliantly written in impeccable English, a new edition is featured in bookstores here in Rome.
About Doctor Barzini - from the jacket cover: "Besides being a Deputy (ideally placed to comment on Italian politics), he was one of the most distinguished modern journalists, travelled, cultivated and perceptive, and this volume is the result of a lifetime of reflection on his fellow-countrymen."
A portrait by an Italian who loves his country, recognizes its virtues and vices and conveys them all with honest appraisal.
In Barzini's words: "I have tried to follow the technique of the honest portrait painter, who puts on canvas those traits which make the sitter the person he is, and not another. The sitter happesn to be my country, and I have felt at times like the man who does that most exacting of all things, the 'Portrait of the Artist's Mother.'" |
|  | HOLIDAYS - LANGUAGE - ROAD SIGNS FOR DRIVERS Shown on this map are the 20 regions of Italy - each Region is divided into Provinces - each Province is divided into Municipalities. The Italian regions are important in that many customs and cuisines are regional in Italy.
Shown on this map are the 20 Italian regions. Since customs and attitudes in Italy tend to be regional. even "Italian food" is basically made up of regional dishes.
You might like the wilderness in Italy's Abruzzo region, or the cheeses and wines of the Piemonte region, or the Italian Riviera.
Language - Italians are, by nature, helpful and engaging people. They naturally appreciate when a visitor makes any attempt to speak their language and will extend themselves to help you out. This has been true everywhere I have been in Italy - perhaps Milano a little less because the pace there is so much different from anywhere else and people don't have time - on the other hand, many more people seem to speak English fluently in Milano.
Here are a few basic phrases to help you get along:
*Buon giorno (bwon zhor-no) - Hello / Good morning/afternoon
*Buona sera (bwoh-nah seh-rah) - Good evening
*Scusi / Scusa (skoo-zee / skoo-zah) - Excuse me (formal / informal)
*Dove........ (Doh-vay) - Where is .........??
*Mi chiamo... (mee kee-ah-mo) - My name is...
*Come ti chiami? (koh-meh tee kee-ah-mee) - What's your name? (informal)
*Vorrei il conto per favore (Voh-rye ill kon-toh) - I'd lke the bill, please.
*Per favore / Per piacere (pehr fah-voh-reh / pehr pee-ah-cheh-reh) - Please
*Quanto costa? (quan-to cos-tah) - How much is it?
*Sė / No (see / noh) - Yes / No
*Dove sono i babinetti? (doh-vay so-no ee bah-be-nay-tee?) Where is the toilette? (signs are written t-o-i-l-e-t-t-e in Rome).
Ho fame (ho fah-may) I'm hungry.
Ho sete (ho say-tay) I'm thirsty.
Mi sono perso (Me so-no pehr-so) I'm lost.
On-line Italian/English/French Dictionary
On-line search for: Museums by City
On-line information re electrical adapters, converters and transformers. This site will tell you precisely what you need to have for whatever you want to bring with you:
http://www.travelproducts.com/store/electric.htm
HOLIDAYS
On national holidays you may find information offices closed, museums open for shorter hours and public transport running a limited service. Be forewarned by checking the dates of your vacation against the list below.
(Note that Easter Monday is a mobile feast-day, and changes every year, while all the other holidays keep to the same date.)
January 1: New Year's Day**
January 6: Epiphany
April 17: Easter Monday (in 2006)
April 25: Liberation Day
May 1: Labor Day**
June 2: Anniversary of the Founding of the Republic
August 15: Feast of the Assumption (also known as Ferragosto)
November 1: All Saints
December 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception
December 25: Christmas Day**
December 26: St. Stephen's Day (Boxing Day)
(The dates marked ** are particularly difficult: practically all museums and monuments are shut and many restaurants too.)
As well as the above national holidays, each town celebrates the feast-day of its patron saint, which differs from town to town.
Dates for the major cities are as follows:
Rome: June 29 (Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul)
Florence: June 24 (Feast of St. John the Baptist)
Venice: April 25 (Feast of St. Mark - but also Liberation Day and a holiday anyway)
Naples: September 19 (San Gennaro)
A LINK TO ROAD SIGNS FOR DRIVERS:
Road signs in Italy |
Livio De Marchi - ARTISTIC TALENT KNOWS NO BOUNDS! It is generally agreed that Italy has an abundance of artistic talent and this seems to be engrained in our culture. This talent for creative art seems to know no bounds. If you do not already know about this gentleman, it is well worth a read. These two photos just didn't do Livio justice; so, we decided to devote a travelogue to Livio and his creations.
Enjoy..............
Photos and biographical information by permission Livio De Marchi for non-commercial purposes only | | |
> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
| In A Nutshell: | "Verdi: "You take the universe and leave Italy to me"" |
icunme's Italy Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do | | | | Restaurants | Hotels & Accommodations | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers | | | | Transportation | Local Customs
Tips: 5 - Photos: 8 | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips
Tips: 2 |
 icunme's Italy Travelogues | | | |
|
 Comments for icunme about Italy | | | | |
hunterV Wed Oct 7, 2009 17:53 UTC
Hi, Carol! Thanks for your nice page about Italy! When will I pay a visit to your country, I wonder?..... | pg12359 Fri Oct 2, 2009 01:46 UTC
I will be bringing the twins to meet their relatives in Torino in about 3 years. Until then, I'll just have to explore your pages! Grazie mille, Paolo! | Faiza-Ifrah Wed Sep 23, 2009 01:07 UTC
small but very well done page on Italia. thanks for some Italian phrases :-) | kokoryko Fri Oct 3, 2008 23:08 UTC
Ah! These Italians have wonderful customs! And have a wonderful sculptor! And a wonderful VTer! All the best Carol, wish you a wonderful birthday, with lots of people greeting you! Bon anniversaire! |
|
|
email me
add as friend
