Cole Porter and Galla Placidia

The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna, #Italy has been told to inspire Cole Porter's Night and Day: http://bit.ly/4tyAFf

Titus, the exemplary emperor

Titus' fame suffered for the understandable "bad press" by Jewish, but he was the most compassionate Roman Emperor http://bit.ly/69blvO

Rocco A. Petrone

Rocco A. Petrone: football champion, West Point graduate, Director of NASA. Not bad for a guy from Sasso di Castalda http://bit.ly/8Eb4hU

A photo journey through the Campo de Fiori market

RT @robbin_g: A photo journey through the Campo de Fiori market Video - Rome Travel Videos - Tripfilms: http://bit.ly/90Zosq via @addthis

The 1908 Messina earthquake

Today in 1908 an earthquake killed more than 100k people in Messina and R. Calabria, #Italy. A ghastly image gallery: http://bit.ly/584OaA

Florence unveils 2010's top shows

Florence unveils 2010's top shows: http://bit.ly/5at7Nr

Caviar at Emperor's table

During the Roman Empire, the arrival of caviar at the table was often accompanied by a flourish of trumpets!: http://bit.ly/5hUpet

View of Sarsina's main square

A nice panoramic photo of Sarsina's main square on a snowy day http://tweetphoto.com/7087015 #Italy

The best of Roman engineering

A photogallery of the best of ancient Roman engineering: http://bit.ly/5NQ1K8 From "Machina" a new exhibit in Rome

St. Theodore, unemployed Patron

Unemployment can hit even Patron Saints: St. Theodore lost his job as patron of Venice to St. Mark around 829AD: http://bit.ly/5CamF2

3D panorama of the Gallery of Mirrors in Genoa

A breathtaking immersive 3D visit of the Gallery of Mirrors in the Royal Palace of #Genoa http://bit.ly/7g1Cen #Italy

Angerona, roman goddess of silence

Today my favorite Roman deity was celebrated: Angerona, goddess of silence and keeper of the secret name of #Rome http://bit.ly/5l5Ua1

Recipe: tagliatelle di crespelle with Gorgonzola

Today I cooked Tagliatelle di crespelle with Gorgonzola cheese: http://bit.ly/4OUGon

Domenico Cimarosa

Domenico Cimarosa wrote more than 80 operas during his life pleasing the most important kings of Europe in late '700 http://bit.ly/6OemEr

Crudo di Cuneo is a PDO now

The Prosciutto Crudo di Cuneo earned the EU prestigious PDO certificate yesterday. It's one of a kind: http://bit.ly/7au3xC

Clearing the mystery of Caravaggio's death

A high-tech project may clear mystery surrounding Caravaggio's death: http://bit.ly/7q7e6V

The Complete Galileo on-line

The Digital Edition of the Complete Work of Galileo Galilei is now available here: http://bit.ly/617MbQ

An Italian goldsmith at work

Look an Italian goldsmith at work on this video: http://bit.ly/6Edqj7

Back to Baroque Exhibitions in Naples

RT @ItalyTravelista: Italy Art Lovers: Back to Baroque Exhibitions in Naples til April 2010 http://is.gd/5l1SH

Webcam over Amalfi

Two very nice webcams showing the spectacular town of Amalfi, #Italy http://bit.ly/57RIFh

Italy and fairy tales

All about #Italy and fairy tales here: http://bit.ly/72oM5h (scroll down)

Naples pizza gets EU laurel

Naples pizza gets EU laurel: Accolade will protect it from inferior clones http://bit.ly/5PlACK

Risotto alla Milanese

Risotto alla Milanese is a very classic, and easy to cook, Italian recipe: http://bit.ly/4pKphR

Fresh Semolina Egg Pasta

RT @culinaryprep: Pasta: Cook-Italian.com!: Fresh Semolina Egg Pasta (Recipe) http://bit.ly/900na9

Andrea Palladio

Andrea Palladio (1508-1580) is considered the most influential architect in the history of Western architecture http://bit.ly/5FV2IB

Cicero for President?

The biggest fan ever of Marcus Tullius Cicero (http://bit.ly/oNYBN)? Probably John Adams, 2nd President of USA: http://bit.ly/5IMdQP

Pompeii on Google Street View

This is a "must see": Pompeii on Google Street View. More info here: http://bit.ly/7DoaPj #Italy

Risina: an Italian native bean

Risina is the only still existingItalian native bean. It was on the verge of extinction, when... http://bit.ly/8W9nZR #Italy #Food

Portraits of Roman Emperors

A very nice collection of pictures of busts, statues and coins of Roman Emperors at http://bit.ly/4tjaxR. Well worth a look!

The ancestor of Pesto

Popular Genoese sauce Pesto has a direct ancestor in the ancient Roman Moretum, a cheese spread made with Basil http://bit.ly/6Qfmt3

Recipe: Rigatoni with Mushroom Marsala sauce

RT @culinaryprep: Pasta: What's Cookin' Italian Style Cuisine: Italian Rigatoni Pasta with Mushroom Marsala Sauce http://bit.ly/5LXpQv

Recipe: Drunken Spaghetti

RT @culinaryprep: Pasta: Seriously Italian: Spaghetti All'Ubriaco | Serious Eats : Recipes http://bit.ly/6YYw7D

More on peaches

More on peaches thanks to RT @divinacucina: scroll down to see the foto of the Saturnia peaches- Tabacchiera http://bit.ly/5woQJI

The Bivona peach

Picture and movie showing the Bivona peach: http://bit.ly/8dfjU2 #Italy #Food #Sicily #Enogastronomy

Delicious peaches from Sicily

#Sicily is famous for peaches too. Ask for Bivona, Leonforte or Tabacchiera peach when in #Italy http://bit.ly/5Ok6W1 (bottom page)

The Sagrantino wine road

The Sagrantino Wine Road is the perfect itinerary to sip good wine from native grapes and enjoy Umbria's sweet hills http://bit.ly/8NyVZJ

Exceptional show at Ara Pacis in Rome

Emperor Augustus Ara Pacis in #Rome 'painted' with groundbreaking light projection system. See pic here: http://bit.ly/7R8jgH

Etimology of Senate

RT @Tamyra: Where the Senate comes from the Roman empire. Senatus (Latin) means council of Elders. Senex - meaning old man.

Webcam from the small island of Ponza

Ponza is an enchanting small island not far from Rome with fabolous small beaches. Have a look at this webcam: http://bit.ly/7KgfgC

Rimini hosts masterpieces from Boston

Rimini, #Italy hosts masterpieces from Boston. From El Greco and Rembrandt to Degas, Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh http://bit.ly/6M1ETu

Bernini's self-portrait

Curious about the look of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, author of so many baroque masterpieces in #Rome? A self-portrait: http://bit.ly/76Y3NI

Good hints about Colosseum

RT @TravelMaverick: What You Will See At The Colosseum In Rome http://bit.ly/4nyMlx ADD some good hints here

The Via Francigena

RT @ItalyTravelista: Pilgrims walking tours along the Via Francigena http://is.gd/54MwO #italy #tuscany

A Hollywood-inspired Roman holiday

RT @ItalyTravelista: RT @TravelIndustry RT @GotSaga How to have a Hollywood-inspired Roman holiday in #Rome #Italy http://bit.ly/5STEUd

Dinner at Caterina de' Medici restaurant

RT @MyMelange: From the archives: my review of the Caterina de' Medici resto at the Culinary Intitute of America http://bit.ly/8oggQ2 #italy

Foodie guide to radicchio

Great article: "Foodie guide to radicchio" (via @cinguettare and @ciaolaura) http://bit.ly/6rcj6s

Horace's best ode

Carpe Diem - Pluck the Day - the Roman poet Horace wrote in his masterpiece. Read his ode in Latin and English here: http://bit.ly/7SZzVM

Prosciutto toscano

The making of Prosciutto Toscano has been regulated in the 14th century... and it has not changed since then! http://bit.ly/5SzPdm

Andrea Doria

Andrea Doria (1466-1560) or how to fight for your land's independence serving its invaders as a most famous admiral http://bit.ly/7oYyc7

The Emperor's name

The Roman Empire reached its maximum extent under Emperor Trajan. Probably he needed just more space to write his full name:
IMPERATOR • CAESAR • DIVI • NERVAE • FILIVS • MARCVS • VLPIVS • NERVA • TRAIANVS • OPTIMVS • AVGVSTVS • FORTISSIMVS • PRINCEPS • GERMANICVS • DACICVS • PARTHICVS • MAXIMVS

Tweets of last week - August 31 to September 5

Monday
Do you know about the Montessori method of education of children? Fascinating story: http://bit.ly/opbJ5

Tuesday
Hadrian IV has been the only English Pope until now (1154-59). He was also the only one to place Rome under interdict: http://tr.im/xChE

Wednesday
@sooziq ... and everybody else: 5 great enogastronomic itineraries in #Tuscany http://tr.im/xHh0

Thursday
Who knows Adriano Banchieri (1568-1634)? Composer of madrigal comedies, precursor of opera. Read and listen here: http://tr.im/xM8h #Italy

Friday
Today in 476AD Romulus Augustus was deposed by Odoacer, marking the end of the Western Roman Empire http://tr.im/xQYB

Saturday
Did u know that Italian Parliament forgot to adopt officially Mameli's Hymn as the Italian National Anthem for 60 years? http://tr.im/xWan

Tweets of this week - August 23-29

Monday
According to tradition 2day Vesuvium destroyed Pompei in 79AD. Learn how Roman delicacy garum helps to confirm this date http://tr.im/wYkB

Tuesday
The tomatoes "a' piennolo" (pendulum) are the secret to cook the real Neapolitan Pizza http://tr.im/l0M8

Wednesday
The fascinating biography of one of the most controversial XVIII century men: the Count of Cagliostro http://tr.im/x8aR

Visiting the earthquake area in Abruzzo: this is S. Demetrio ne' Vestini http://twitpic.com/fbcdh

Thursday
Want to speak Latin? Try the easier Latino sine flexione invented in 1903 by the Italian prominent mathematician G. Peano http://tr.im/xeAe

Friday
The chilly wind Tramontana owes its name to the small town of Tramonti on the Amalfi Coast. It's "the wind from Tramonti".

Saturday
Cortona, #Italy spotlights historic books outlawed during their day for their radical ideas http://tr.im/xp3R

Dante's mentor Guido Cavalcanti is widely regarded as the first major italian poet. Look at his original "anatomy of love" http://tr.im/xp9G

Tweets of this week- August 17-22

Monday
Big project to show all the 1,119 sheets of Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Atlanticus in Milan, #Italy starting Sep 10th http://tr.im/wwpy

Thursday
Maybe not everybody knows that Roman religion is still alive around the world. Look at Nova Roma, for example: http://tr.im/wACS

Wednesday
There are claims that Parmigiano has been used as collateral for loans since Middle Age. It is now for sure: http://tr.im/wFAq

Tuesday
Do you need a comprehensive library of original Latin texts? The Latin Library is THE solution: http://tr.im/wKcG

You can drink Mulsum while you read masterpieces from the Latin Library. It's a drink made of wine and honey. Recipe here http://tr.im/wKdF

Friday
Hippies did not invent Free Love: in 1346 Meco del Sacco's followers fled to Furore (Amalfi Coast) because accused of such heresy

Saturday
Stilico http://tr.im/wSsP stopped barbaric invasions for 30 years. Killed by his Emperor out of fear, Rome was sacked by Alaric in 410

Allegory is not always so allegoric

Allegory is a very common theme in Renaissance paintings, but sometimes it has very strong ties with everyday reality instead.

Take the"Pallas and the Centaur painting of Sandro Botticell (circa 1482), which is housed at the Uffizi in Florence now.

This is what wikipedia writes about it:

Pallas and the Centaur is a painting by the Italian Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli, circa 1482. It is housed in the Uffizi of Florence. The painting was discovered in 1895,[1]
An inventory dating from 1499, which was not discovered until 1975, lists the property of Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco and his brother Giovanni and states that in the 15th century the Primavera had been displayed in Florence's city palace, and that the painting of "Pallas and the Centaur" (though the title is conventional) was hung above a door in the same room as the former. The Medici commission is showed by the presence of three rings interwoven on the dress of Pallas.
The painting's bare landscape focuses one's gaze on the two figures. A centaur has trespassed on forbidden territory. This lusty being, half horse and half man, is being brought under control by a guard-nymph armed with a shield and halberd, and she has grabbed him by the hair. The woman has been identified both as the goddess Pallas Athena and the Amazon Camilla, chaste heroine of Virgil's Aeneid. What is undisputed is the moral content of the painting, in which virtue is victorious over sensuality through the use of reason. The two parts of the human soul, reason and instinct fighting one another, are represented by the double nature of the centaur. The latter, whose classical epithet is Chiron was maybe inspired by some classic relief, though the pathetic expression is wholly by Botticelli.
This painting marks the end of Botticelli's Medicean period, from this point onwards the subject-matter of his paintings changes and becomes increasingly religious. (Cited from Wikipedia).

Very educative.

But... if you read also Lorenzo The Peasant's biography on Wikipedia, you may discover a different, and very common, reality:

He was also supposedly the metaphorical subject of Botticelli's Pallas Athene Taming a Centaur, which was a gift to him from his distant cousin Lorenzo de' Medici (il Magnifico), on the occasion of his marriage to Semiramide d'Appiani. Il Magnifico apparently knew Lorenzo to be of brutal and debauched character, and it is supposed that in this painting he was trying to indicate that she should bring Lorenzo under control.

Today strike against the Alfano Bill

To read more about it http://dirittoallarete.ning.com (in Italian) or this short summary (in English).

Off topic but very important

Italian Parliament is debating about the so-called "Alfano Bill". If approved as it is, it will introduce actual censorship against all the social networks like Facebook, Twitter, etc... by requiring them to oblige to an impossible task. They will be heavily fined (between 7.500 and 12.500 euros), if they don't remove fake or offensive contents in less than 48 hours since they are "requested" to. No blogger can afford it and management costs would be so heavy for sites like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter that you have to wonder if they will keep offering their services in Italy.

Tweetaly is not about politics so it will not be interested directly, but censorship is not acceptable. That's why Tweetaly will be "on strike" on July 14th like many other Italian blogs.

To know more about it: http://dirittoallarete.ning.com/ (in Italian).

The Girandola at S. Angelo Castle

Fantastic fireworks show in Rome yesterday to renew the old tradition of the "Girandola" interrupted for obscure reasons in 1861.

Before talking about the Girandola it is important to understand that S. Angelo Castle is the heart of Rome. Visitors may be more familiar with St. Peter or the Coliseum as Rome's icon, but for a Roman they represent Catholic Church and the long time dead Roman Empire. S. Angelo Castle is still alive. It was born as Emperor Hadrian's mausoleum, then it was transformed in a castle when the power of Rome started to fade a couple of centuries later. It was such a stronghold that to own the castle always meant to rule Rome. Indeed, S. Angelo Castle has been the symbol of power in Rome. During Renaissance it became the favourite (and safer) residence of the Pope with continuous addition of layers and embellishments. Bottom line: you can read Rome's history examining the many layers of S. Angelo Castle. Today it is still very alive: it hosts many exhibits inside, but Romans keep jogging and playing soccer along its moat too.

The Girandola was introduced for the first time in 1481 to celebrate Pope Sisto IV. Fireworks were designed by Michelangelo and then refined later by Bernini, who took inspiration from the Stromboli volcano. The show was held to celebrate the Easter, but above all to honor new Popes and Royal visitors in Rome. Big machines were placed over the castle to create fireworks able to impress visitors from all over Europe. Dickens wrote about them and there are many paintings too. The best architects were hired to design them: Michelangelo, Bernini, Vanvitelli, Fuga to name some.

But enough talk!

Enjoy some pictures in this on-line gallery. Their quality may not be perfect, but for sure it is way better than the pics I posted in real-time on Twitter using the lousy camera of my iPhone.

Off-path Italy: Sauris

Sauris (435 inhabitants) is one of the small jewels of Carnia in Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, the most north-eastern region of Italy. It is at the end of a very secluded yet beatiful alpine valley and even today it is not so easy to reach it.

Between 1500 and 1800 it was a main pilgrimage destination for people from the Repubblica Veneta because of the relics of St. Oswald , King of Northumbria, which was credited of thaumaturgical properties.

Why to visit Sauris today:

• great walks in a breathtaking nature;
• skiing during winter;
• tasting of artisanal cheese and ricotta directly in the "Malghe", the shepherd's small buildings amidst the mountain pastures;
• great craftsmen (carpentry and weavery);
• warm hospitality in hotels, farms, B&B and mountain shelters;
• a nice artisanal beer
• and above it all the unique smoked ham you can find at Prosciuttificio Wolf. It is a very particular ham that you can find only in Sauris.

Links:

• http://www.sauris.com/english/default.asp - A lot of informations
• http://www.wolfsauris.it/ - The smoked ham of Sauris
• http://www.zahrebeer.com/ - The local beer (only in Italian)
• http://www.legnostileplozzer.com/ - Carpentry (only in Italian)

Going to Canossa

In Italy "Andare a Canossa" ("Going to Canossa") is used to describe a humiliating and total capitulation to your worst enemy. It dates back to an XI century episode when Emperor Henry IV humiliated himself doing penance in front of the Castle of Canossa to obtain the cancelation of his excommunication from Pope Gregory VII. Being forgiven by the Pope was the only hope for Enrico IV to keep his throne. You can read the whole story on Wikipedia.

It is interesting to note that appearance wins over substance all the time in news. This episode is remembered as a spectacular win by the Pope so much that it became a proverb in Italy. But when you look at it from an historical viewpoint, the winner was the Emperor. Gregory VII was obliged to remove his excommunication and he was not happy at all about it. In fact, that episode reversed the tide. Since that moment the power of the Emperor started to raise again and that of the Pope to decline. Very few years later Henry IV had a strong grasp on his throne again and he invaded Rome. Pope Gregorio VII had to call Robert the Guiscard from France to be saved and he died as his "guest" in Salerno, after that Robert's troops sacked Rome in 1084.

The paleolithic mother of bellydance of Addaura Caves

I discovered about Addaura Caves by chance. Their graffiti dates back to Paleolithic and are most fascinating.

They are told to be the first historical representation of a "bellydance":

Belly dancing may have originated as a fertility ritual. 17,000 year-old rock engravings found in the caves of Addaura, near Palermo in Sicily, depict what appears to be a ritual fertility dance.

[From http://www.bellydancebysasha.com/the_belly_dance.html]

But there is much more:

The Addaura's caves (called anciently Allaura) are the most ancient human presence in the gulf of Mondello. The Graffiti discovered in the caves were traced 14.000 years ago by artists who for the first time in the world showed us their tribal activities. The caves, of marine origin, are situated on the north side of Mount Pellegrino under a rocky part of the mountain where there is the sound of birds and a beautiful view.

The caves are divided into 2 parts: the first one is on the west side where there is a small cavity and two caves called "first" and "second"; in the second part there is another small cave, and the "third" cave also called Caprara. This last one, which is the biggest cave, is formed by a particular cavern of stalactite, never inhabited by man, and by a huge cave which has been used as a stable, now empty of its archaeological remains, where there are some traces of fossils also of Elephas melitensis.

On the oriental wall of the "second" cave there are the famous graffiti composed by thirty figures, seventeen humans and thirteen animals. The animals, almost all equines, are designed in naturalistic style, some with realistic vivacity and others with a schematic design. The most beautiful one is a horse without a head, instead the most complete one is represented by a mare. The Addaura's fauna is also represented by deers. As the style, also the incision technique of the graffiti changes: all of the figures' incisions are thin except the deer designed with a deeper incision, similar to the human figures. It is difficult to understand the meaning of these designs which probably represent something ritual. The graffiti are divided in three pictures different one from another. In the biggest one there are two young naked humans performing acrobatic dances, surrounded by other seven figures. All the characters have long hair and masks of birds. Some studious think that this design symbolizes rites of puberty or of prison.

The second picture represents a deer with a naked hunter with long hair and a strange mask. The third picture has three figures: a female one with a big object on the shoulder and two male ones.

The Addaura's graffiti represent Palaeolithic art and are the most interesting of the world.

[From http://www.addaura.it/engl/cultura.html]

The Italian-American Feastman

Some times ago I published a twit about the awesome work of Paul Porcelli, a New Jersey's gentleman I was lucky enough to be introduced to by mutual friends. He has traveled the United States on an endeavor to capture and preserve all of the remaining Saint celebrations of Italian communities. They were about 3,000 one century ago and they are a little more than 300 now. He filmed 314 of them already. That means hudreds of hours of professional footage. And a few vintage clips. And about 3,600 photos.

Paul is working at a DVD and a book. I think he knows just everything about those feasts. At least this is the impression that I received listening at his comment during a private preview of his "When the Saints Come Marching Out", a 75-minute demo movie, which shows the astonishing variety of Italian-American feasts.

He said he is available for presentation, so, with his authorization, here it is his e-mail address: IAFeastman@yahoo.com. Contact him!

Last week's tweets

The tasty Colonnata Lard became famous because of Michelangelo. He learned about it from workers of marble quarries for his masterpieces.

9:12 AM Apr 27th from TweetDeck

How old promissory notes are? Baldo degli Ubaldi (Perugia 1327- Pavia 1400) wrote the first historically known legal advice about them.

9:48 AM Apr 28th from TweetDeck

Hippies did not invent Free Love: in 1346 Meco del Sacco's followers fled to Furore (Amalfi Coast) because accused of such heresy

9:04 AM Apr 29th from TweetDeck

The small town of Barolo is famous not only for its wine. Look at this wonderful picture of its hot hair balloons meeting http://tr.im/k4Wf

9:31 AM Apr 30th from TweetDeck

If you wish to understand italian reality right after WW2, you have to read the humorous novels of Giovannino Guareschi http://tr.im/kbwA

10:49 AM May 1st from TweetDeck

Do you love Italian design, architecture, art and culture? Ultrafragola is your web-tv: http://tr.im/kgXs Many interviews are in English.

8:55 AM May 2nd from TweetDeck

Taurasi

Taurasi is both a pleasant small town in Campania and an increasingly renowned wine.

This is what the local Mountain Community's brochure says about the town:

Taurasi, a centre of intensive wine production, is located on a hill. There are two main entrances: Porta Maggiore in the West and Porta dell'Angelo in the East. There is a third smaller entrance in the South: Porta Piccola, which was built next to a Langobard tower. The monumental baronial palace (Palazzo Baronale), which was extended during the Norman and Anjouian epoch, is next to the collegiate church San Marciano (Collegiata di San Marciano) which was probably built on the remains of a temple of the goddess Ceres. The church Santissimo Rosario keeps important paintings from the XVIII century. Of special interest is the Church Immacolata, built in 1729, where the relics of martyr Saint Benigno are kept.

If you wish to read more both about the town and the wine:

• Taurasi's entry on Wikipedia
• The City's website (in Italian)
• About the local wines

An "Italian" signed the American Declaration of Independence

A few days ago I twittered that "an Italian was the first to sign the United States Declaration of Independence". Such post raised a lot of interest and also some discussion about the real Italian heritage of Caesar Rodney. Obviously, Twitter with its 140 characters limitation calls for synthesis. It would have been more correct to define Caesar Rodney "of Italian descent" from his grandmother's side. She came from the Adelmare family in Treviso. They emigrated to England and then to America.

A quick research on the Internet let you find many posts claiming Caesar Rodney as Italian and many working hard to demonstrate that such origins are very diluted and unconsequential. With some surprise I found even a very racist blog against Italians disguised as a "scientific" genealogy website. I will not give its link because such people don't deserve publicity.

Would have Caesar Rodney declared himself "Italian" to the US Census today? I don't know. Probably not. But I think that his Italian blood is a small curious fact well worth a smile for anybody living in Italy and not much more. For sure, not zealot fights to demonstrate delusional racial supremacies.

As a side note: Rodney may not have been the only "Italian" to sign the Declaration of Independence. There is also William Paca, who was an important general during the Revolutionary War and later Governor of Maryland. His Italian origins are suggested just from his surname and are not sure, but his descendants were persuaded that they were true.

Only in Italy: the Ucelùt grape

The Ucelùt is an autochthonous grape from Friuli in the North-western Italy. You can find it only near Valeriano, Pinzano al Tagliamento and Castelnuovo del Friuli. It is a so-called "uva uccellina" or, very loosely, "bird grape" because it grew near woods and bird used to eat its fruits. The Ucelùt gives a very good dessert wine.

A very popular religion in Rome

Rome is the city of bell towers: catholic churches are simply countless. That's not a big surprise in the city of the Pope. But would you be able to guess which religion is classified at the second place in an all-time chart based on the number of places of worship?

Not any of the other Christian confessions. Nor Muslim religion or Buddhism.

It is Mithraism, an ancient oriental monotheistic religion which was extremely popular during III and IV century of the Christian Era all over the Roman Empire. Mithra was identified with the Sol Invictus - the Undefeated Sun - and it was by far the most adored divinity by legionnaires. As usual, the Wikipedia entry about Mithraism is a good place to start to know more about some topic. It is curious to note as Christian and Mithraic iconography influenced each other a lot: the halo of the saints, for example, comes from a Mithraic tradition. Again, Mithra was born on December 25th, the day when daylight starts to increase again after Winter's solstice. Does this date remind you anything?

But how many Mithraic temple were built in Rome?

Probably about 2,000.

Eight of them are identified with absolute certainty and can be visited in Rome more or less easily:

1. The Mithraeum of Chancellery;
2. The Mithraeum of Via Giovanni Lanza;
3. The Mithraeum of S. Stefano Rotondo;
4. The Mithraeum Barberini;
5. The Mithraeum of Circo Massimo;
6. The Mithraeum of Caracalla's Thermae;
7. The Mithraeum of S. Clemente;
8. The Mithraeum of S. Prisca.

Pizza owes a lot to Sex...

Ok, my title is a shameless attempt to attract attention, but there is a very funny anecdote connecting tomato and sex. And what would pizza be without tomato?

Tomato and many other vegetables arrived in Europe and then in Italy only after that Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas. Mais, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants and many kind of beans were not known in the Old Continent. Now they are very very common on our tables and sometimes intimately connected with iconic italian dishes like pizza or spaghetti, but the road to success was not equally easy for all of them. For example, italian name for eggplant is melanzana, which comes from 'mela insana', literally 'unhealthy apple'.

But let's come to our Tomato. The first variety imported was the one who resembles cherries, like the ones we call Pachino now. Both leaves and berries went under examination to verify if they were fit for human consumption. The doctors discovered solanina, which was considered poisonous during the XVI century. So tomato was cultivated only as an ornamental plant for about two centuries. It was very indicated as gift for ladies instead of flowers.

But gossip is always stronger than science. At some point in 1700 somebody devised the 'real' reason behind the prohibition to eat tomato's berries. The Spanish government proscribed the poor tomato under the influence of Church because of its extraoirdinaire aphrodisiac properties. This gossip spread faster than light and... the rest is history.

So, is it so wrong to say that Pizza owes a lot to Sex (and Gossip)?

Caedicia Victrix, a successful businesswoman

We are inclined to think that businesswomen are something belonging to the very recent history. A phenomenon started from the USA to reach Europe and then Italy not so long ago.

But it is not like that.

During first century AD Caedicia Victrix was one of the most important wine trader in the Mediterranean Sea as it is attested by her many sigils found on broken amphoras all around its coasts in Italy, Spain, France, Greece and Northern Africa.

Caedicia lived in Pompei, which was the most important and active Mediterranean wine market. It hosted more than 200 taverns (tabernae) and perhaps even more brothels (lupanari). To understand the importance of wine for the ancient port of Pompei before its destruction by an eruption of the Vesuvio, just think that 29 out of the 31 villas discovered by archaeologists belonged to families working in the wine market.

Historical evidence shows that Caedicia produced Falerno, the most appreciated wine in ancient Rome. She sold it in the Caediciae Tabernae along Via Appia, but, as we already said, she also exported it in all the Roman Empire.

Postcard from Bertinoro

Bertinoro is famous for its ancient Hospitality Rite: anyone could be hosted for a meal by one of the noble families of the town simply by taking his envelopes tied to a ring of the Hospitality Column (which inside has the name of the hosting family).

Emperor Septimius Severus and inflation

Today Roman Emperor Septimius Severus died at York in 211 during his military campaign to make Britannia's frontier safe.

He was a great soldier, but his many successes unleashed the very one enemy who contributed most significantly to the fall of Roman Empire: inflation. In fact, to finance his military campaigns

Severus for the first time uncoupled intrinsic and nominal value of coins, by halving the quantity of precious metals. 

From Lupercalia to Candlemas

Today Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple otherwise known as the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin or Candlemas. The Italian name is the Candelora. 

It is a purification day which replaced in 492 a.D. the ancient Roman purification rites of the Februatio during the Lupercalia. This superimposition practice has always been very common.

Giorgio Perlasca

Giorgio Perlasca was born on January 31th 1910. 

He was maybe the greatest imposter of all Italian history and he has to be honored for it. His Wikipedia profile explains why: 

During World War II, Perlasca worked at procuring supplies for the Italian Army in the Balkans. When the Nazis occupied Hungary, in 1944, instead of departing with other diplomatic staff (Italy had by then surrendered to the Allies) he escaped to the Spanish Embassy in Budapest, immediately becoming a Spanish citizen under the name Jorge Perlasca, due to his status as a veteran of the Spanish war. He worked with the Spanish Chargé d'Affaires, Ángel Sanz Briz, and other diplomats of neutral states in smuggling Jews out of the country. The system he devised consisted of furnishing 'protection cards' which placed Jews under the guardianship of various neutral states, and of creating 'protected houses in mansions governed by extraterrorial conventions and thereby guarantee asylum for persecuted Jews.

When Sanz Briz was removed from Hungary to Switzerland in November 1944, he invited Perlasca to join him in safety. However Perlasca chose to stay on. The Hungarian government ordered the Spanish Embassy building and the extra-territorial houses where the Jews took refuge cleared out. Perlasca immediately gave the false announcement that Sanz Briz was due to return from a short leave, and that he had been appointed a substitute.

Throughout the winter, Perlasca was active in hiding, shielding and feeding thousands of Jews in Budapest, and to issue them with safe conduct passes on the basis of a Spanish law passed in 1924 that grants citizenship to Jews of Sephardi origin.

In December 1944, Perlasca audaciously rescued two boys from being herded onto a freight train in defiance of a German lieutenant colonel on the scene. Swedish diplomat/rescuer Raoul Wallenberg, also present, later informed Perlasca that the officer who had challenged him was none other than Adolf Eichmann. In a period of some 45 days, from December the Ist 1944 to the 16 of January 1945, he saved thousands of Jews by his own initiative.

After the war, Perlasca returned to Italy, and didn't reveal his actions to anyone, including his family, until he was found again in 1987 by a group of Hungarian Jews. A best-selling narrative of his remarkable single-handed valour was written by Enrico Deaglio, entitled, the 'Banality of Goodness'[1], and was turned into a film by the RAI national television corporation.

Giorgio Perlasca died of a heart attack in 1992, having received decorations from the Italian, Hungarian and Spanish governments and is considered by Israel as one of the Righteous Among the Nations. His deeds were the subject of an Italian film, Perlasca, un eroe italiano.

Unique handicrafts from Italy: the Vancali in Tiriolo

Artistic handicrafts have ancient roots in Calabria, and production includes shawls, wool rugs, tapestry and oriental inspired wall hangings. These products vary from place to place, but embroidery and the textiles used to make the so called "vancali" in Tiriolo, a small village on the slopes of Sila Piccola, are particularly famous.

If you can read Italian, a simple search for "vancali" on Google will reveal many sites describing the vancali. If you can't, you may visit Sylvie's Story: Italy part 2 for a few photos and informations.

Need to know if you will marry soon?

If any lady wishes to know for sure if she will get married by the end of the year, she has just to visit S. Costanzo's church in Perugia and look at his portrait. If she can see the Saint to wink at her amidst the light reflections over the painting, then she will marry. Otherwise, she can search comfort in the local sweetcake, the Torcolo of S. Costanzo.

S. Costanzo was the first Bishop of Perugia and he was martyr under Marco Aurelio in the II century a.C.. According to the common lore he was author of several miracles.

Saint of the day: Thomas Aquinas

Probably the most influential Middle Age scholar he melted Aristotle and Greek culture with Christianity.

Son of the Count of Aquino, born in the family castle in Lombardy near Naples, Italy. Educated by Benedictine monks at Monte Cassino, and at the University of Naples. He secretly joined the mendicant Dominican friars in 1244. His family kidnapped and imprisoned him for a year to keep him out of sight, and deprogram him, but they failed to sway him, and he rejoined his order in 1245.

He studied in Paris, France from 1245 to 1248 under Saint Albert the Great, then accompanied Albertus to Cologne, Germany. Ordained in 1250, then returned to Paris to teach. Taught theology at University of Paris. He wrote defenses of the mendicant orders, commentaries on Aristotle and Lombard’s Sentences, and some bible-related works, usually by dictating to secretaries. He won his doctorate, and taught in several Italian cities. Recalled by king and university to Paris in 1269, then recalled to Naples in 1272 where he was appointed regent of studies while working on the Summa Theologica.

On 6 December 1273 he experienced a divine revelation which so enraptured him that he abandoned the Summa, saying that it and his other writing were so much straw in the wind compared to the reality of the divine glory. He died four months later while en route to the Council of Lyons, overweight and with his health broken by overwork.

His works have been seminal to the thinking of the Church ever since. They systematized her great thoughts and teaching, and combined Greek wisdom and scholarship methods with the truth of Christianity. Pope Leo VIII commanded that his teachings be studied by all theology students. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1567.

(From saints.sqpn.com where you can find a lot more about Thomas Aquinas.)

Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus

Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus became Emperor of Rome today in 98 a.C..

He was one of the most prominent Roman Emperors and brought Roman Empire to its greatest extent.

To know more about Traianus:

• Wikipedia's entry
• His statue in Rome
• Another biography
• Interesting video about Trajan Forum and Market

The Patron Saint of the day: S. Anthony Abbot

St. Anthony Abbot was born near Eracleopolis in Aegypt on 251 a.C. and died at Mount Colzim on 356.

He is very popular in Italy. In fact he is the Patron Saint of no less than 45 towns. That accounts for about the 0.5% of Italian towns. Not bad for a single saint who never even saw Italy from far away. Here is the list just in case you are curious:

• Abruzzo: Bagno, Ofena, Fara Filiorum Petri, Gessopalena, Loreto Aprutino, Ortona, Ortona de' Marsi, Ovindoli, Pescara, Pescocostanzo, Pizzoli), San Benedetto dei Marsi, San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore, San Vito Chietino), Scanno, Secinaro, Villa Santa Maria, Villavallelonga
• Basilicata: Trivigno
• Friuli-Venezia-Giulia: Bordano, Sedegnano, Tavagnacco, Pravisdomini
• Lombardia: Casto, Magasa, Casnate con Bernate, S. Fedele d'Intelvi, Veleso, Veniano, Crandola Valsassina, Introbio, Introzzo, Parlasco, Valmadrera
• Puglia: Rocchetta Sant'Antonio, Novoli
• Sardegna: Ampurias, Castelsardo, Desulo, Fluminimaggiore, Silanus, Torralba, Tuili
• Sicilia: Aci S. Antonio - Sicilia
• Valle d'Aosta: Valtournanche
  

And a short profile too:

Following the death of his parents when he was about 20, Anthony insured that his sister completed her education, then he sold his house, furniture, and the land he owned, gave the proceeds to thepoor, joined the anchorites who lived nearby, and moved into an empty sepulchre. At age 35 he moved to the desert to live alone; he lived 20 years in an abandoned fort.

Anthony barricaded the place for solitude, but admirers and would-be students broke in. He miraculously healedpeople, and agreed to be the spiritual counselor of others. His recommendation was to base life on the Gospel. Word spread, and so many disciples arrived that Anthony founded two monasteries on the Nile, one at Pispir, one at Arsinoe. Many of those who lived near him supported themselves by making baskets and brushes, and from that came his patronage of those trades.

Anthony briefly left his seclusion in 311, going to Alexandria, Egypt to fight Arianism, and to comfort the victims of the persecutions of Maximinus. At some point in his life, he met with his sister again. She, too, had withdrawn from the world, and directed a community of nuns. Anthony retired to the desert, living in a cave on Mount Colzim.

Descriptions paint him as uniformly modest and courteous. His example led many to take up the monastic life, and to follow his way. Late in life Anthony became a close friend of Saint Paul the Hermit, and he buried the agedanchorite, leading to his patronage of gravediggers. His biography was written by his friend Saint Athanasius of Alexandria.

His relationship with pigs and patronage of swineherds is a little complicated. Skin diseases were sometimes treated with applications of pork fat, which reduced inflammation and itching. As Anthony’s intervention aided in the same conditions, he was shown in art accompanied by a pig. People who saw the art work, but did not have it explained, thought there was a direct connection between Anthony and pigs - and people who worked with swine took him as their patron.

[From saints.spqn.com]

Postcard from Ceresole Reale

Ceresole Reale is a very small town in the Piedmont Alps: just 158 citizens. But with breathtaking sights. Probably in the ancient times cherry trees covered the valley, hence its name: Ceresa means exactly cherry in the local language.

It was inhabited by Celts and Romans had a few mines here.

Currently it is part of the Gran Paradiso National Park.

Wonderful place to spend holidays.

(Thanks to Franco Ferrero for this photo)

Postcard from Castelpetroso

The Sanctuary of the Madonna dell'Addolorata stands right over the Castelpetroso Pass. She is considered the Patron of the State of Molise. Tradition tells that the Virgin Mary appeared to two young shepherds, Serafina and Bibiana, on March the 22th of 1888. The construction of the sanctuary started on 1890, but it was concluded only on 1975. 

Many pilgrims visit the Sanctuary each year.

A few kilometers down in the valley travelling southbound you can find a second attractor for a very different kind of "pilgrimage". Delizie del Molise is a bakery right aside the road on the left. They sell a fragrant bread made with natural yeast and with the addition of boiled potatoes, following the ancient local recipe. It is a fantastic bread which deserves a stop just to taste it. 

Postcard from Maniago

The small and elegant church of S. Mauro is the Duomo of Maniago in Friuli-Venezia-Giulia near Pordenone. The D'Attimis Palace and the ruins of the Castle are worth a visit too.

Maniago is very famous for his high quality knives, exported all over the world. It is a centuries old tradition, whose best results are showcased at the fascinating Knives Museum. You may spend hours inside there! Knives for historical movies are very often crafted in Maniago.

You can taste very good wine by the glass almost everywhere in Maniago... and you really should!

Postcard from Sauris

Sauris is a small touristic town in the Italian Alps (Friuli-Venezia-Giulia). Wonderful place and even better food: the Sauris smoked ham of Prosciuttificio Wolf is a delicacy renowned in all the world. 

Postcard from Sarsina

This is the main square of Sarsina, a small town on the mountains of Emilia-Romagna in Italy.

Sarsina is famous because Titus Maccius Plautus, the most important Latin playwriter, was born there. Every Summer there is an important theater festival.

You can visit also a small but delicious Roman museum and admire Lucio Cangini's modern artwork  in a few spots of the town.

Last but not least there is the Cathedral of St. Vicinio (in the pic on the left). Built in 997 A.C., it is one of the very few places authorized to hold exorcisms by the Catholic Church of Rome.

The Legend of Sisinnio

What I love the most in S. Clemente’s Basilica is the fresco about the legend of Sisinnio, otherwise known as the Second Miracle of S. Clemente. It dates back to XI century and you can admire it in the Lower Basilica. You already checked its floorplans here, did you?

It is not something that you would expect to find inside a church: its style is very dynamic and naive... funny, I may dare to say.

You can think about it like some educational comic book. This is quite an important point to remember when you visit ancient churches. Their paintings were not much intended to celebrate the Glory of God as much to teach to simple and ignorant people unable to read. To use modern language: common people were artist’s target not the local aristocracy or God Himself.

The story: we are at the end of the I century A.C. and Sisinnio was a praefectus in Rome, a civil official. Secretly S. Clemente managed to convert his wife Teodora to Christianity. Not only: the saint persuaded her into a chastity vow. You may imagine that Sisinnio could not explain it and he was not very happy about it! What would have you thought being in his shoes? He resolved to follow her with a few servants to surprise her with his lover. Imagine his shock when Teodora entered the underground catacombs and she finally reached the big hall where S. Clemente celebrated the Mass with many faithfuls. Sisinnio was furious. He ordered his servants to tie S. Clemente and to drag him to jail. But the Good Lord did not allow it and he made all of them blind instantly. So they got confused and tied a column instead of the Saint. Imagine again their frustration while they try to move “S. Clemente” away. This is the lowest of three scenes portrayed by the artist. If you observe it you can distinctly see Sisinnio shouting: “Traite, fili de puta”. Any Italian could easily understand it for “Pull, sons of a bitch!” 1,000 years later. Another one incites his fellows: “Albertel, trae” (“Pull, Little Albert”). A third one advise: “Carvoncel, falite dereto colo palo” (“Carboncel, leverage behind him with the pole”). It is worthwhile to notice that the dialogue could have been written by a Hollywood writer: the “bad guys” are dumb and speak the “vulgar” language typical of ignorant people at those times. The “hero” speaks a perfect and learned Latin: “Duritiam cordis vestri saxa trahere meruisti” (“You deserved to drag stones due to the unsensitivity of your hearts”).

I can’t help to smile thinking that the first evidence of Italian language is a “sons of a bitch” painted by an artist inside a church. I think it says a lot about Italy...

To be honest erudites state that the first Italian sentence is “Sao ke kelle terre pe kelli fini trenta anni li possette parte Sancti Benedicti”. It is the declaration of a witness during a trial in 960 AC. He declares that the Monastery of St. Benedict had been owning a certain land for 30 years. Reality is that you can’t tell 100% which one came first. I guess that erudites feel more comfortable talking about lawyers instead of sons of bitch at workshops...

You can find an acceptable photo of the fresco here.

Should I suggest a single spot to visit in Italy...

Should I suggest one single spot to visit in Italy, I’d say the Basilica of S. Clemente in Rome. No doubt. 

So it seems just fair to me to start my blog from there. 

The Basilica shows you the very essence of Rome and, by some extent, of Italy too. We spend our daily lifes surrounded by an environment made of infinite material and cultural layers, deeply blended together, each one of them reminding or teaching us a lesson. Nothing is ever cancelled in Rome. Everything is added in a continuous process of death and rebirth. The Basilica of S. Clemente is the perfect and most fascinating example of it. Its visit is a time travel through Rome’s history and deep in its womb. 

You start at ground level, in the proximity of Coliseum, visiting a magnificent church rich with artwork since 12th to 17th century: mosaics, choir, the wonderful fresco of Masolino. 

But when you reach its right wing, a few steps underground and you are suddenly in the 4th century A.C.. The Basilica has been built over a previous incarnation, destroyed by the Normans leaded by Robert Guiscard in 1084 A.C.. 

After visiting the Lower Basilica, a few more steps down and you discover that it is just another reincarnation: it took the place of the ancient Roman titulus, where the early Christians celebrated their first Masses. But they were not the first ones to worship their divinity here: a few more yards and you are introduced to the temple of the dead oriental god Mithra. 

Again, Mithra was not the first god to inhabit this holy place. We lost the name of the older one, but we can still hear her angry voice, mumbling her disdain for the outrage of being stifled in a narrow conduit to let the tourists roam safely. It is the voice of the Nymph inhabiting the little stream which still runs nowadays between the walls of the Roman mansion. The ancient small waterfall is no longer there, but the flow is still strong. 

Yet the Basilica showcases not only how gods came to Rome to die and leave their holy places to younger and stronger ones. Here you can find also the very first historical evidence of the death of Latin language and its rebirth in the new “vulgar” Italian. It is a fresco in the Lower Basilica and you will learn that the first italian sentence was: “Pull, sons of a bitch!”

There are so many fascinating stories about S. Clemente. They deserve many posts, which will come soon. 

Meanwhile, I hope that I made you curious enough to follow these links and learn something more about the Basilica: http://www.basilicasanclemente.com/, http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/rome-san-clemente.htm.

Let's start!

What’s Tweetaly?

I have been so lucky to be born in Rome, one of the most wonderful cities in the world.

And I have been so lucky to work all around italian mountains for several years (I still do).

With about 3,000 years of heritage, enogastronomy and art all around you in a still beautiful environment, you have a lot to learn when you travel if you are curious.

And I am very curious...

Now it is time to share what I learned, blending together my passion for Italy with my curiosity about social media.

I consider Tweetaly both a professional experiment and a hobby at this moment.

Time will tell what it will grow into.

Meanwhile, follow me daily on Twitter or read this blog.

You’ll find tips, stories, links, reviews... whatever surfaces on my stream of consciousness about the places I visited. 

I hope that it will stimulate you to visit Italy or to taste its marvelous goodies. But I’d be happy enough just to provide a few minutes of relax every day.

So... let’s start!

P.S. “Tweetaly” stands for “Tweet” + “Italy”. But I guess that you figured it out by yourself already :-)

Disclaimer: my English is good enough, but far from perfect. I know it. So please forgive the occasional mistakes in the name of my passion to share my discoveries about Italy with everybody. I know also that my construction of the sentence  is not alike the one an American or English would choose. That's intended.  My purpose is to try to express my own italian culture through a different language. The Italian way of thinking is different from the Anglosaxon one. I think it is important to attempt to show that difference. Even if it may sound weird or funny at times :-)