Molto Italiano featured item:

Italy Adult Coloring Book Italy: Adults Coloring Book

Color your favorite sights and scenes in the country of Italy, as you savor its cuisine, art, and architecture as if you were actually there. Enjoy a glass of wine at an outdoor cafe or take a nostalgic trip by gondola, as you experience Italy’s rich culture.

NEWSLETTER FEATURES

How Italy’s Young People Celebrate Summer
As an American, the last time I had a carefree summer vacation with nothing more to do than watch TV, read books (probably more likely magazines back then), go shopping, or sit on the beach was when I was 15. It was the last time I had no summer job or internship. Often, I am nostalgic for those days, which were filled with ice pops, dips in the pool, and movie nights with friends that often ended with us waxing philosophical under the stars on someone’s terrace. And it makes me jealous of my Italian friends and family, who indulged in the lazy days of summer for far longer than I ever did.

Il Novellino: The Hundred Old Tales
Il Novellino is a collection of 100 popular stories written around the 13th century.

Share a Photo, Recipe, Story or Tradition
Italy is a wonderful and magnificent country filled with traditions, stories, incredible food and breath taking views. With your help Italiansrus.com can help show the world just what Italy has to offer. There are four ways you can help so just select one of the choices and you will be presented with guidelines and a form you can use to contact me about your submission.

MOLTO ITALIANO FEATURES
* Photo of the Week
Scopello Trapani Sicily The beautiful town of Scopello is situated on the gulf of Castellammare in the province of Trapani, Sicily.

* Proverb
Sfortuna al gioco, fortuna in amore

* Recipe
Here is a great recipe for stuffed peppers.

FEATURED PARTNER
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Volume 16, No. 32

August 7, 2017 italiansrus

Volume 16 No. 32

Molto Italiano featured item:

Catarina the Wise and Other Wondrous Sicilian Folk and Fairy Tales

So begins the title story in this collection of fifty Sicilian folk and fairy tales edited and translated by noted folklore scholar Jack Zipes. But while some of the stories may sound as if they’ve been told time and again—such as variations on Cinderella and Puss in Boots—many will enchant English-language readers and storytellers for the first time. From “The Pot of Basil” to “The Talking Belly,” “The Little Mouse with the Stinky Tail” to “Peppi, Who Wandered out into the World,” the stories in Catarina the Wise range from simple tales of getting a new dress or something good to eat to fantastical plots for outwitting domineering husbands, rescuing impoverished fathers, or attracting wealthy suitors (frequently the Prince of Portugal). Many feature strong, clever women (usually daughters who become queen). Many are funny; many are wise. Some are very, very strange.

NEWSLETTER FEATURES

The Lost Village of Curon
It is not often that you see a church’s steeple rising out of a lake, but for those who live in Alto Adige, which is in northern Italy bordered by Austria and Switzerland, this image is one that you see everyday when you visit Lago di Resia.

Nonna’s Sunflowers
Nonna’s sunflowers produced magical moments that will last a lifetime. Today, on hot summer nights, when I open my own bedroom windows overlooking my little garden, a sigh of sage, lavender, and sweet basil rise to greet me like Nonna’s gentle touch. Her golden sunflowers still grace my garden always reminding me of her sunny smile.

MOLTO ITALIANO FEATURES
* Photo of the Week
A beautiful view of the Sassi di Matera, which means stones of Matera. These are ancient cave dwellings located in the city of Matera, Basilicata.

* Proverb
L’appetito vien mangiando

* Recipe
Here is a great recipe for chicken saltimbocca.

Volume 16, No. 31

July 31, 2017 italiansrus

Volume 16 No. 31

Molto Italiano featured item:

The Rule of Four: A Novel

Princeton. Good Friday, 1999. On the eve of graduation, two friends are a hairsbreadth from solving the mysteries of the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, a Renaissance text that has baffled scholars for centuries. Famous for its hypnotic power over those who study it, the five-hundred-year-old Hypnerotomachia may finally reveal its secrets—to Tom Sullivan, whose father was obsessed with the book, and Paul Harris, whose future depends on it. As the deadline looms, research has stalled—until a vital clue is unearthed: a long-lost diary that may prove to be the key to deciphering the ancient text. But when a longtime student of the book is murdered just hours later, a chilling cycle of deaths and revelations begins—one that will force Tom and Paul into a fiery drama, spun from a book whose power and meaning have long been misunderstood.

NEWSLETTER FEATURES

Discover Why Everyone Falls in Love with Gelato
Learn the differences between ice cream and gelato and get scoop (pun intended) on the delicious wonders behind those glass cases at the gelaterias in Italy. Yes, gelato is the word for ice cream in Italian. But you’ll quickly learn that the two terms are not completely synonymous. A taste tester will tell you that ice cream is heavier than gelato. That’s not necessarily bad; it’s just fact. The reason is that ice cream recipes feature more cream, and thus more fat, than gelato recipes.

Bocce
Soccer may be the national sport of Italy but I would have to say the popular game of bocce would have to come in a close second. This is a particular favorite game of mine because it was one that my father taught me. Did you know that this game is considered one of the oldest sports in the world?

MOLTO ITALIANO FEATURES
* Photo of the Week
An excellent view of the architecture within the Cathedral of Nola.

* Proverb
Finché c’è vita c’è speranza

* Recipe
Here is a great recipe for meatballs.

Volume 16, No. 30

July 24, 2017 italiansrus

Volume 16 No. 30

Molto Italiano featured item:

Foreign Deceit

As if narrowly escaping an attempt on his life, his addict ex-wife being back in the picture, and complications to his all-but-certain appointment to Sheriff weren’t enough, Sergeant David Wolf of the Sluice County SD receives word that his brother has committed suicide in the Alps of Italy. Devastation and resentment over his only sibling’s selfish act quickly gives way to a nagging suspicion that he isn’t getting the whole truth.

NEWSLETTER FEATURES

Falvaterra Caves/Grotte di Falvaterra
Falvaterra is a rather small village located in the province of Frosinone about 90km southeast of Rome. If you have time to visit this town you will definitely want to make the trip and see the Grotte di Falvaterra e Rio Obaco (Falvaterra Caves and Rio Obaco), which is one of nature’s wonders.

Valley of the Temples
The Valley of the Temples is one of the most important archeological sites in the world and in 1997 it was named a UNESCO World heritage site. The temples are located in Agrigento, which is in the region of Sicily.

MOLTO ITALIANO FEATURES
* Photo of the Week
Neptune's Grotto Neptune’s Grotto is a cave located within Capo Caccia near Alghero, Sardinia. The grotto is a natural jewel and geological wonder that attracts over 150,000 visitors a year.

* Proverb
L’unione fa la forza

* Recipe
Here is a great recipe for scampi with linguini.

Volume 16, No. 29

July 17, 2017 italiansrus

Volume 16 No. 29

Molto Italiano featured item:

Scopa Traditional Italian Card Game

Italian Scopa is a centuries old card game involving memory and strategic skills along with a little luck. It’s easy to learn, a challenge to master and just plain fun for the whole family. Ideal for any skill level from absolute novice to expert, so anyone can enjoy the game. Rules include two other card games to be played with Scopa cards (Scopa d’Assi and Briscola).

NEWSLETTER FEATURES

Vesuvius Wildfires Bring Out the Racism in Italy
By now you might have heard about the Vesuvius wildfires that began in mid July 2017. Most have suggested that the fires are the result of human activity (either negligence or criminality). But the situation has sprouted racism, which was a shock to this American in Italy. Apparently, any happenings around Vesuvius always have some northerners suggesting that an eruption wouldn’t be so bad. Their point is that it would likely wipe out Neapolitans. And many, especially in the north, believe it is the south that is dragging down the country.

Italian Card Games
When I was growing up my father and I would sit down and pass the time by playing briscola, scopa, and tressette, three classic Italian card games. It was a learning experience for me because I was use to playing with a 52 card deck not a 40 card deck like the Italians use. Even though I didn’t always win or even understand the rules it was a fun and enjoyable for the both of us. I miss those days. Ever since my father passed away it never seemed the same playing these games until recently.

MOLTO ITALIANO FEATURES
* Photo of the Week
This photo was taken at the base of Mount Vesuvius in 1961 by John Bickford while stationed in Naples, Italy.

* Proverb
Non è tutto oro quello che luccica

* Recipe
Here is a great recipe for zucchini soup.

Volume 16, No. 28

July 10, 2017 italiansrus

Volume 16 No. 28

Molto Italiano featured item:

The Witch of Napoli

Italy 1899: Fiery-tempered, seductive medium Alessandra Poverelli levitates a table at a Spiritualist séance in Naples. A reporter photographs the miracle, and wealthy, skeptical, Jewish psychiatrist Camillo Lombardi arrives in Naples to investigate. When she materializes the ghost of his dead mother, he risks his reputation and fortune to finance a tour of the Continent, challenging the scientific and academic elite of Europe to test Alessandra’s mysterious powers. She will help him rewrite Science. His fee will help her escape her sadistic husband Pigotti and start a new life in Rome.

NEWSLETTER FEATURES

What It’s Like to Wait in Line in Southern Italy
To wait in line for anything in southern Italy is to be at Toys R Us on Christmas Eve trying to pick up the “it” toy of the season. It is Nonna’s house when there is only one meatball left in the pot. Indeed, it is one of Dante’s circles of hell.

La Madonna della Civita
The Sanctuary of the Madonna della Civita is situated on the top of Mount Civita, which is located in the town of Itri in the province of Latina in the region of Lazio. The Sanctuary is one of the oldest in all of Italy. The Madonna holds a special place in my heart because of my family’s devotion to her. Each year my family celebrates the feast of the Madonna by holding a special mass on the Sunday closest to her feast day, which is July 21.

MOLTO ITALIANO FEATURES
* Photo of the Week
Sunbathing by the Adriatic sea in the town of Muggia.

* Proverb
Buoni avvocati sono cattivi vicini

* Recipe
Here is a great recipe for amatriciana.

Volume 16, No. 27

July 3, 2017July 3, 2017 italiansrus

Volume 16 No. 27

Molto Italiano featured item:

The Scribe of Siena: A Novel

Equal parts transporting love story and gripping historical conspiracy, debut author Melodie Winawer takes readers deep into medieval Italy, where the past and present blur and a twenty-first century woman will discover a plot to destroy Siena. After uncovering the journal and paintings of Gabriele Accorsi, the fourteenth-century artist at the heart of the plot, Beatrice finds a startling image of her own face and is suddenly transported to the year 1347. She awakens in a Siena unfamiliar to her, one that will soon be hit by the Plague.

NEWSLETTER FEATURES

Lady Liberty
My grandfather never spoke much about his early days in America, or the long ship ride over the ocean, but he often mentioned the awesome feeling he experienced as a young boy when his steamer ship from Naples, Italy, approached Ellis Island. The moment was engraved in his memory.

Where in the World are Antonio and Dante
After spending time in Italy Antonio and Dante have opted to head back to the United States for their next adventure. Can you figure out what popular destination they are visiting?

MOLTO ITALIANO FEATURES
* Photo of the Week

The confessionals located inside the Monastery of Montevergine.

* Proverb
Il tempo è un gran medico

* Recipe
Here is a great recipe for Italian bread.

Volume 16, No. 26

June 27, 2017 italiansrus

Volume 16 No. 26

Molto Italiano featured item:

The Scribe of Siena: A Novel

NEWSLETTER FEATURES

Il Palio di Siena
The Palio di Siena is one of the world’s oldest horse race and it is held twice a year in the Tuscan town of Siena. To the Sienese this is more than just a race. It is a way of life and a passion that is instilled in them at birth.

The Italian Flag
The tricolor was first adopted in 1796 by the Lombard patriots and became the symbol of freedom and unity. It was sanctioned as National Flag by the Italian Republic in 1802, by the Italic Kingdom in 1804 and by the first King of the Savoia dynasty, Carlo Alberto in March 1848.

MOLTO ITALIANO FEATURES
* Photo of the Week
Monte Moro is located on the north eastern coast of Sardinia in the province of Olbia-Tempio. To the east the mountain overlooks the emerald coast. The mountain is named after the Moors. In the past Sardinia was invaded by pirates. Locals would climb the mountain and keep a lookout for the Moor Pirates.

* Proverb
Il tempo è denaro

* Recipe
Here is a great recipe for lasagna Florentine.

Volume 16, No. 25

June 19, 2017 italiansrus

Volume 16 No. 25

Molto Italiano featured item:

Italy to Die For

From The Savino Sisters Mystery Series, a comedy drama about too much togetherness leading to conflict and crime for two thirty-something St. Louis sisters vacationing in Italy. When glamorous Margo opts for a steamy romance in Florence, plain-Jane Ellen travels alone to their next destination, a charming hillside villa at La Spezia. The owner Lorenzo, a mysterious widower, insists on showing Ellen around Cinque Terre, five picturesque villages overlooking the Ligurian Sea. Ellen is determined to experience the local culture but instead encounters unexpected intrigue in Monterosso el Mare where gypsies are turning up dead faster than Lorenzo can show her the sights. Then Margo arrives, and soon discovers her own life is in danger.

NEWSLETTER FEATURES

Trendy Beaches, Deceiving Witches
Legends say that no woman can become a witch just by a wink of the eye in Romagna. Come the witches’ night between the 23 and 24 of June the town of San Giovanni in Marignano, in province of Rimini is filled with witches who are said to be particularly active and deceiving this night.

The Little Blue One
The legend says that every five years at the summer solstice, her slight figure holding a red rag ball in her hands appears among the castle walls. Light footsteps, sighs and cries are heard and her voice saying “Dad, dad, I’m here”.

MOLTO ITALIANO FEATURES
* Photo of the Week
La Mano del Turco Montagna Spaccata La Mano del Turco embedded in the wall at the Montagna Spaccata. Legend has it that a Turkish sailor did not believe that the Mountain cracked when Christ died. He placed his hands on this spot and said that if this legend is true than let this rock turn to liquid. The rock did and it left an imprint of his hand.

* Proverb
Per cent’anni

* Recipe
Here is a great recipe for panna cotta.

Volume 16, No. 24

June 12, 2017 italiansrus

Volume 16 No. 24

Molto Italiano featured item:

Bocce Ball Set with Soft Carry Case

Enjoy quintessential summertime fun with this AmazonBasics bocce ball set. One of the oldest forms of lawn bowling, the relaxing yet strategic game invites players of all ages and skill levels to participate. From family time to socializing with friends and neighbors, the bocce ball set has a way of bringing people together. The set includes four green balls and four red balls, as well as a white pallino and a measuring device for making close calls.

NEWSLETTER FEATURES

Giostra del Saracino (The Joust of the Saracen)
If you happen to be near the town of Arezzo in June or September, you will want to make sure you witness the Joust of the Saracen. This historical reenactment is filled with pageantry and games as the town is transformed back to the 14th century and all those that participate are dressed in costumes from that period.

Strawberries
What could be more satisfying than having a delicious mouth watering strawberry? Well, I am sure if you think hard enough you might come up with something, but for the time being let’s just enjoy this intriguing yet scrumptious fruit.

MOLTO ITALIANO FEATURES
* Photo of the Week

The houses located in the town of Mongrassano.

* Proverb
Amore e gelosia nacquero insieme

* Recipe
Here is a great recipe for sautéed broccoli rabe.