Here in Mesagne, Puglia we had a hot and good summer enjoying our friends, students from over the world and the Italian good food and a lot of local Apulian festivals and folklore. When in summer you decide to visit Puglia (Apulia), have a chance to tour the interesting sites by trying and tasting the different Italian caffè & gelati in…
Here in Rome has been a lot of fuss few weeks ago about an article that appeared in the New York Times, which revealed a disturbing truth about Rome. For Roman readers, the article may have sounded something like: “Good morning American friends! Here is a revolutionary fact about the discovery of hot water!”; the second reaction was surely a…
On the 19 September 2015 from 10am to 12noon at the Italian Cultural Institute we have enrolment and assessment tests. If you have studied or have learned Italian before, we can offer a free assessment test in order to assess your level . Possibility of meeting with some of the teachers to be introduced to the syllabus and the method of teaching and…
Here we come to the end of the weekend in Salento! Last stop: Maglie and Santa Maria di Leuca. Maglie is one of the oldest centers in Salento and is located right in the heart of this area. There are two versions about the birth of this center, according to some historical sources the city rose from the ashes of…
If you visit Sorrento, don’t forget to stop at an inlaid wood store! Sorrento inlaid wood work it is a decorative composition obtained by cutting, inserting and putting together different coloured pieces of wood to create a design or picture. These pieces are then set into a surface to create a design that is usually level with the surface. The…
Still today in the hills of Molise, and particularly in Agnone, the old tradition of la serenata is alive and well. In days gone by when a young man had set his sights on a particular girl and felt he had a chance of being accepted, he would serenade below her window, encouraged and supported by other local lads and…
In 1662 Leonardo Di Nucci was a shepherd moving his herds along the tratturi. The wide tracks that weave through Abruzzo and Molise down to the plains of Puglia. The Di Nucci family have been making award winning artisan cheese here in the Apennine hills, in Alto Molise, ever since. Today, the 11th generation of the family use the same…
This summer the list of events at the Italian Cultural Institute in London is rich with several concerts and also free film screenings. Every Tuesday night and not only, come and watch great Italian classic films and latest releases. Tuesday, June 23, 2015 The Paths of Glory. A voyage with Mario Monicelli to the sites of the Great War The Paths of…
I arrived in Lecce after a long train journey from Milano and was happy to be met by Maria Rossini, my Italian teacher and host for the next two weeks, who created “Scuola Mondo Italia Homestay”. Maria had arrived on foot and was waiting at the station for me with Maya, her cute, little pug dog. Italian lessons given enthusiastically,…
Let’s delve into the colorful world of idiomatic Italian expressions. These expressions, known as “espressioni idiomatiche” or “modi di dire,” add flair and cultural richness to the Italian language. They often carry meanings that go beyond the literal interpretation of the words. Here’s an exploration of some idiomatic Italian expressions. Dogs, cats, birds, gold fishes… it’s becoming increasingly common for…
