Current Events in Italy: How to Stay Connected

It is important to understand global current events, especially when traveling abroad. Although Italy was the first country I visited overseas, anecdotes from my peers and professionals lead me to believe that cultural awareness is important even for the leisure traveler.

When visiting abroad, understanding how the country's political, economic and social structures is important. You can connect with the sights and history on a new level, and forge positive relations with locals, ending any tourist stereotypes they may have.

As an aspiring communication and digital marketing professional, I am a student of the news. My favorite way to stay tuned to Italian news and global events is through Twitter. Some of my go-to resources are:

• @RachelDonadio - Rachel Donadio, The New York Times' Rome Bureau Chief, reports on current affairs in my favorite country. I really enjoyed her constant updates during events such as the Italian elections and Conclave and NYT articles about Italy, Greece and the Vatican. 

• @AJEnglish - Al Jazeera, originally an Arabic news channel, has a site in English and is present on various social media platforms. It is great for a general world news, politics and of course, calcio updates! 

• @la_stampa - La Stampa, one of the largest Italian newspapers, has an English portion online. They only tweet in Italian, but what a great way to get some language practice!! 

I am working on Twitter lists for Italy travel resources and World News and will post those soon! Stay tuned for short posts on the social, political and economic happenings in Italia.

Gelato

This post is worthy of a one-word title because the topic is so great.

Gelato is the single greatest culinary experience in Italy. While cooking styles vary by region and city, gelato stays the same. For the most part. Not all gelato is created equal, but they come close. 

For only a few euros, you can immerse yourself in total happiness. Combine flavors, add some "crema" or fruit, eat it in a cup, cone or on a Belgian waffle. True Italian gelato is a reason in and of itself to visit the country. 

Photo Credit: gelateriaoldbridge.com

Five weeks in Rome certainly taught me that some gelaterie are better than others. My rule of thumb when choosing which sweet wonderland to fork over your Euros to is to try to pick a small business. The chain shops are more expensive and you do not get more for your money. 

My favorite gelateria in Rome? 

Old Bridge Gelateria. 

If you ever go to Rome, write this down and go there. Located next to Vatican City, this shop offers delicious flavors, large quantities and low prices. My go-to combo? Stracciatella e Ricotta con crema. 

I visited many gelaterie in other Roman cities. In my family's hometown, Marostica, we visited the shop near the piazza and I had a delicious Cioccolato. Florence was home to some magnificent gelato and waffle combos. A town near Bari had a gelateria with karaoke at night! 

Aside from how delicious ice cream's Italian counterpart is, gelaterie are a gathering place for visitors and locals alike. Many of these businesses sell crepes with Nutella, wine and apertivi and are open until early morning. 

There are few places in the U.S. that emulate the atmosphere and quality of true Italian gelato, so savor it during your visit! 

Bocce - An Italian Pastime

One of my favorite memories from my high school Italian class were days when we played bocce as a reward for our hard work. I heard about the game growing up, but never learned the rules. After re-discovering this long-standing Italian pastime, my family ended up purchasing a bocce kit.

Commonly played in Italian American communities and popular with older audiences, bocce is a game anyone can enjoy. Derived from ancient Roman games, it is played with miniature bowling balls, and a smaller ball called a pallino. Game lengths differ, but the basic rules are as follow:

• Form two teams. 
• Determine which team is going to throw the pallino to the center of the court. 
• The team that successfully throws the pallino bowls first, then the opposing team. 
• The goal is to get as many balls close as possible to the pallino, points accrue each time a player successfully bowls. 
• The team with the most balls closest to the pallino win!

Source: disalvostrattoria.com

I did not have the opportunity to play bocce during my study abroad experience, but it is a way you can bring a piece of Italy into your life if you are unable to take a vacation. Bocce is a fantastic summer game, I look forward to playing when the weather gets better! Until then, there are also a few mobile game apps for practice. 

Resources: 

International Bocce Federation 

Bocce General Information on Wikipedia

 

Italy Summer Travel Tips

I studied abroad during Italy's tourist season. Rome's narrow streets were crowded with walking tours and we had to deal with insane lines to enter sights such as the Coliseum and St. Peter's Basilica. Some trattorias in the historic district/city center promoted "tourist specials," which I discovered months later were not really specials. However, I highly recommend experiencing summertime in Italy. 

Here are my top three reasons why: 

1. Coastal beaches - BEAUTIFUL!! It's breathtaking, the water is amazing, and although it gets crowded, it is paradise. 

2. The word "saldi" in store windows - summertime is sale season in Italy, so if you are interested in Italian shopping, June, July and August are perfect timing. 

3. Gelato. Yes, you can have gelato at any time of the year, but it's better in the summer. 

4. Leisurely walks outside, enjoying the "avenues, vias, streets or stradas" (thanks, Dean Martin!) in...

5. Gorgeous weather. It only rained once when we were in Rome, on the day the program ended. 

Since summer is peak tourist season, it is important to do your homework before visiting. 

Some quick tips are: 

1. Book your flights and hotels/hostels early. It's cheaper to travel during the week, especially from the U.S. to Europe. Hostelbooker.com is a great resource. 

2. Get to tourist sights earlier in the day so the line to enter is not as long. It is shocking to see how crowded it gets at places such as the Coliseum, Trevi Fountain and St. Peter's. Sightseeing in the morning and exploring the city in the afternoon/evening is the plan I recommend. 

3. If you are a student, take advantage of discounts. University cities such as Rome, Florence and Padua occasionally offer student deals at bars, hostels and cafes. There are usually specific areas in which both Italian and international students hang out. In Rome, Campo dei Fiori is popular with college students, especially those from the US, UK and Ireland. 

4. Try to immerse yourself with the locals. If you're in central Italy and want to go to the beach, I recommend Sperlonga over Capri. Check out the side streets, markets and small shops. Wandering around and learning about Rome was one of my favorite parts of my trip. 

Summertime anywhere is great, but Italy is beautiful year round (and flights are less expensive in the off season). No matter what time of the year you plan to visit Italy, I guarantee it will be a fabulous experience! 

Roman Sights: Largo di Torre Argentina

Reflecting on To Rome With Love reminded me of how much time I spent at or near Largo di Torre Argentina. The Eternal City is a confusing one, so my friends and I used landmarks to navigate. Largo di Torre Argentina is part Roman ruin, part cat sanctuary. 

The Roman Ruins near Corso Vittorio Emmanuele is the former home of Pompey's Theater, where Julius Caesar was murdered.  It is a true piece of history. The website largoargentina.com hosts live webcams of the piazza: 

Photo credit: largoargentina.com

As you can see, the ruins are located below street level; pedestrians are not able to walk through. Today, it is home to Rome's stray cats! 

The ancient ruins now function as a cat shelter, run by Roman citizens dedicated to giving these felines a better life. According to International Business Times, foreigners can even adopt! English website romancats.com provides more detailed information. 

Recent reports state that Italian officials want to close the cat sanctuary, however, Roman cat lovers are fighting them. Hopefully these furry friends are able to keep their home; they make great photo-ops and definitely add character to the ruins. 

Located near a tram stop, Largo di Torre Argentina is not only a 

great navigation landmark, but a fun stop while sightseeing in La Citta Eterna!

Italian Cinema: To Rome With Love

I finally saw To Rome With Love! The 2012 Woody Allen film was shooting in the middle of the streets during my study abroad program. Although it did not receive the best reviews, I think it is a hilarious, beautiful movie about the Eternal City's occupants: citizens, celebrities, students & tourists. 

To Rome With Love Set at Largo Argentina

Woody Allen's tent!

The plot is confusing at some points, but it was beautifully shot and edited. Rome was not just the setting of this film, Rome is a character. Campo dei Fiori, Trastevere, the ancient ruins, even apartments and offices play an active role in telling the story of La Citta Eterna.

As a student that lived there, Alec Baldwin's character stuck out to me. He played a renowned architect that studied in Rome when he was young and was clearly having nostalgic flashbacks to his time there throughout the movie. Although I know on my return visits I will want to sightsee, I do feel some empathy for the character. He is an example of the fact that when you spend time anywhere as more than a tourist, it becomes a part of you. 

Photo Credit: filmofilla.com

 If you want to watch a modern-day movie that showcases the city, it is a movie I recommend!

Since I saw part of the filming and it showcases my former home so well, 

To Rome With Love holds a special place in my heart. 

A Belated Tribute to St. Joseph's Day

Unfortunately St. Joseph's Day 2013 fell during my winter quarter finals, and I did not have a chance to indulge in a cannoli or three. My family celebrates this feast day with food, the color red and cannoli. Both my brother and Nonno are named Joseph, so our celebration was twofold. Growing up, I always heard stories about the St. Joseph's table at my mom's family's church in the city. A St. Joseph's Table is a large table to which those celebrating the holiday bring various treats to share with those celebrating!

Cannoli, a personal favorite.
Photo credit: commons.wikimedia.org

I personally started to embrace the holiday through my high school Italian class. Although there was no organized "Italian Club," all four levels of Italian students brought in treats to share in class. From meatballs to zeppolle, we feasted on March 19th. We also collected pasta and canned sauce for local food pantries. Italian class was intense, so it was always nice to take a break and remember why we were coming together to learn the language. 

Thanks to the quarter system, my personal celebrations often take place during spring break, or when I recruit friends to eat pasta and some sort of Italian dessert. Since my public relations final went well, I like to think St. Joseph was still on my side on Tuesday!