The summer opera season in Verona’s Roman amphitheater has begun and an article in the travel section of Il Sole 24 Ore discusses what to see and do in this beautiful city. Verona abounds in artistic treasures going form Roman ruins to new multi-ethnic museums. The old city center also has many osterie where one can sit and try local wines accompanied by small and delicious bites to eat before going to a production of Il Barbiere or Aida.
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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.
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.
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