An interesting article in Il Sole 24 Ore discusses Dante and his Divina Commedia’s enduring popularity. Phrases and verses from the Commedia are commonly used in Italy today and many of the characters and situations from the work are well known. Roberto Benigni’s readings of the Commedia are well-attended and frequently televised. The article notes that even as interest in Dante studies in universities outside of Italy continues to grow, the opposite is true in Italian universities. In Italy, rather than in academic settings, Dante lives on in cultural presentations and in everyday life.
Year: 2011 (page 7 of 11)
New Italian Cinema will be back at Lincoln Center. The Open Roads series runs from June 1 to June 8. The films featured are both from better-known directors and from newer ones. Included in the series is Mario Martone’s “Noi Credevamo,” an epic about the Risorgimento, which just won the 2011 David di Donatello for best film.
San Matteo Pizza and Espresso Bar is a great place to go for a taste of Italy, specifically of Neapolitan-style pizza from Salerno. It’s tiny, located on Second Avenue at 90th Street, but extremely welcoming. The pizza dough is appropriately chewy and all the toppings tasted have been delicious. They also offer panuozzi, a specialty of the Salerno area, which are a cross between a large panino and a calzone. The owners are fun, there’s soccer on the TV and the coffee made all the Italians present happy.
A recent article in La Repubblica reports on Tuscany’s youngest and most surprising city. Livorno, a port city with stunning seaside views, is known for its earthy citizens and its gastronomic delights – especially the local fish soup, caciucco. While not sharing some of the artistic history of other Tuscan towns, its historic center, criss-crossed by canals and delightful to explore, is reminiscent of a small fishing village.
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