The Fatal Charm of Italy: A Question and Answer Po 5s2v56

Sometimes this humble little activity of mine opens up a few doors to Italian culture and society that otherwise I wouldn’t have access to. And on this occasion, I’ve really scored some fascinating guests on my podcast, including Dottoressa Gloria Marina Bellelli, the Consulate General of Italy in Miami. Her resume is impressive, to say the least. Before arriving in Miami this year, she has served her country in places such as Algeria and Israel. I’m honored that she took time out of her schedule to speak with me. Please keep in mind that all of the guests on today’s podcast should have been separate episodes in their own rights. But I decided to put them together because, 1) the interviews all occurred at the same location on the same day, and; 2) they are all short little chats, so I thought it better for you, the listener, to take them all in at once, and finally; 3) there is a common theme of promoting Italian culture and Italian-American traditions that runs through all four conversations. Promoting Italian Culture At the end of November, I attended a luncheon hosted by Il Circolo, the Italian-American Cultural Society of Palm Beach County. I’ve participated in a few of their events in the past, including  last year's Palm Beach Italian Week, which I wrote about several months ago. Their contributions to the preservation of Italian culture in South Florida are nothing short of heroic. It’s safe to say that without their leadership and , the university programs in Italian would not exist, among other things. Speaking of university programs, one of the other interviews on the podcast today is with Dottoressa Myriam Swennen Ruthenberg, one of my former professors at Florida Atlantic University. I’ve never met anybody more ionate about promoting Italian culture, and the literature inspired by its beautiful language. I spent an entire semester studying Dante’s Divine Comedy under her tutelage, and it left a lasting appreciation on me of how that masterpiece of the late Middle Ages shaped the future of the Italian language, and set the benchmark for all literature in the world from that point forward. I also had the privilege of speaking with Dottor Eufrasio Volpe, who is a language teacher at Pope John Paul II High School in Boca Raton. I was thrilled to learn about the program that he heads up at the high school level, because I believe that it’s important to get kids excited about Italian culture as early as possible. We talked a little about the Italian-American experience, and how it changed from the late 19th and early 20th century, to the modern version where Italians moving to the US are now more encouraged to embrace their identity. And finally I spoke with Paul Finizio, who is a South Florida attorney, a recognized public speaker, and president of Il Circolo. Paul’s enthusiasm and commitment to promoting Italian culture in South Florida are unparalleled. He’s hosts every event, always with ion and energy. Paul underlines the importance of family, which perhaps is THE common trait between Italians and Italian-Americans. Italian immigrants in the U.S. have always been very proud of both their old country, and their new one. Paul echoes this sentiment, always wearing two pins on the lapel of his jacket; the flags of both countries. Thanks to all of my guests on the podcast today, and providing me with additional inspiration to help keep the spirit of Italian culture alive in the United States. It is something that is very personal to me, both as the great-grandson of Italian immigrants, and as the father of my little Italian princess. The post Promoting Italian Culture in America appeared first on Rick's Rome.

Why is it that people are so keen to visit museums when on vacation, but seldom visit museums in the city where they live? I’ve been guilty of this in Rome, always thinking that “I’ll get around to it someday.” My friend and podcast guest Elizabeth Joss did not make this common mistake when she lived in Rome for three months a few years ago. Rather, she made a point to see as many museums as possible, and above all some of the offbeat museums of Rome. This isn’t by accident. She’s the creator of a great website called “The Museum Times,” which focuses on just such experiences. The stated mission of her site is to “showcase lesser-known museums that are hidden gems in their own right.” And she certainly does visit some offbeat spots, such as the Criminology Museum and Centrale Montemartini, which presents an unusual juxtaposition of ancient Roman sculptures in an industrial factory setting. We talk about both of these during the podcast. Offbeat Museums of Rome Besides these oddities, we also discuss some of the more “mainstream” museums that don’t get enough attention. That’s easy to understand in a city like Rome, where even the churches are museums in their own rights. But how many people, even those living in Rome, have ever been to the city's namesake, "Il Museo di Roma?" This incredible museum, located just off Piazza Navona in the very heart of tourist central, contains many important works created in Rome, of Rome, by Romans. And yet… I was living in Rome for two years before I made it there myself, and even then I had been lured by an exhibit featuring the restoration of Caravaggio’s “Resurrection of Lazarus.” This was a fantastic mostra back in 2012, which highlighted both the history of the painting, and the “art” of restoration. The curators pulled out all of the stops, taking over about 3,000 square feet of museum space that chronicled the life of this one particular work. Then two years later I saw the same Caravaggio painting at its permanent home at the Museo Regionale di Messina, where it just hanging on a plain black wall in a nondescript room. No interactive displays, no elaborate historical background…and no security! Just a tiny placard with the most basic information. I put my nose about two centimeters from “the hand” of the Baroque master himself. I could have touched it, and I’m sure nobody would have known. (I didn’t, although it was tempting.) This is another topic we cover in the podcast: the lack of care for Italy’s historic treasures. Of course, this conversation can include many arguments, including the fact that Italy just has way too many artistic masterpieces to properly curate them all. Bottom line, if you love museums but don’t care about fancy presentations, Italy—and specifically Rome—is your Nirvana. Elizabeth Joss One of the other things that you might enjoy about today’s episode is listening to Elizabeth’s accent. Those of us from the U.S. are crazy about accents of English-speaking people from other countries, and Elizabeth is from South Africa. Elizabeth Joss is the founder and main writer at The Museum Times. She is a Communications Manager by day and an avid travel blogger and arts and culture enthusiast by night. Elizabeth started The Museum Times out of the need to give smaller, lesser-known museums more exposure. She currently lives in The Hague, where she teaches, writes, travels, and of course, visits museums. As a writer, Elizabeth specializes in arts, culture, lifestyle and travel pieces focused on The Netherlands. Her work has been featured in lifestyle, travel and expat magazines both online and in print. She is interested in new and inspiring assignments in The Netherlands and beyond, and is always willing to travel. Visit her website at: The Museum Times You can also connect with her on social media. Her Facebook Page: The Museum Times And Twitter: @themuseumtimes

In the spring of 2015, Pope Francis released a papal bull announcing a special jubilee year on the theme of mercy. It officially begins today, December 8th 2015 (The Feast of the Immaculate Conception), and runs through November 20th 2016. Consequently, we can expect to see a marked influx of spiritually motivated tourists following the […] The post FCI 027 – Walking the Pilgrim Trail to Rome with Chandi Wyant appeared first on Rick's Rome.

The degree of diversity in Italy never ceases to amaze me. The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know about this wonderland of cultural treasures. And by culture, we could talk about everything from art to language to food to architecture. Lately I’ve been learning a lot more about Piedmont (Piemonte), […] The post FCI 026 – ing Through Piedmont with Diana Zahuranec appeared first on Rick's Rome.

In October, I attended the Italian travel industry trade show TTGIncontri for the second year in a row. Basically it’s an exposition about the size of three football stadiums filled with travel brands and travel destinations from around the world. Companies and tourist boards all congregate for three days in Rimini to convince wholesale buyers […] The post FCI 025 – The Italian Travel Industry appeared first on Rick's Rome.

Today I’m back with Session 2 of my interview series with the Expats Living in Rome group. These short conversations were recorded on October 6, 2015 at an aperitivo in the historical center of Rome. Last time we heard from six diverse people; four expats from the US and two Italians born in Rome. This […] The post FCI 024 – The Expats in Rome Interviews, Session 2 appeared first on Rick's Rome.

Following up on my previous episode where I interviewed Patrizia, the “ring leader” of the Expats Living in Rome group, I now present a smorgasbord of chats with a few of the who make this group the eclectic slice of culture that it is. This episode represents the first half of the interviews, and […] The post FCI 023 – The Rome Expat Interviews, Session 1 appeared first on Rick's Rome.

You never know what fate has in store for you right around the corner. In the summer of 2010 I was on a three-month jaunt around the Italian peninsula. It started in Venice where I spent seven weeks studying Venetian history and literature with a group of students from Florida Atlantic University. I ed through […] The post FCI 022 – Expats Living in Rome with Patrizia Di Gregorio appeared first on Rick's Rome.

Every year I like to visit at least one area of Italy that I’ve never seen before. Last year it was Verona/Lake Garda, and this year it is Liguria. Actually, I should make a disclaimer. I’ve been to Liguria once before: but it was nine years ago and it was only for a day trip. […] The post FCI 021 – Visiting Levanto with Silvia Moggia appeared first on Rick's Rome.

What are the essential tools for surviving the expat experience in Italy? Well, learning to speak Italian is a good place to start. Some defensive driving skills wouldn’t hurt either. How about a lesson in everyday fashion? All great ideas, but it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that a healthy sense of humor is […] The post FCI 020 – Funny Things about Living in Italy with Marsha De Salvatore appeared first on Rick's Rome.

The biggest obstacle for many North Americans who would like to live in Italy is the prospect of finding (or rather, NOT finding) a job. When the expat bug first bites them, most assume that they’ll just show up, find a job in their chosen field, and then resume their career without any major detours. […] The post FCI 019 – Finding a Job in Italy with Liz Knight appeared first on Rick's Rome.

Second only to food-related offences (“I’ll have the Chicken Parm with a side order of spaghetti and a cappuccino, por favor.”), fashion blunders are all-too common among visitors to Italy.  I’ve chronicled my own mishaps here on the blog on several occasions, such as the time in Bologna where my efforts to dress like an […] The post FCI 018 – Reasons to Dress Well in Italy with Angie Nardiello appeared first on Rick's Rome.

Blogging and social media. They are the new forms of “journalism” in this globally connected digital age. But unlike traditional journalism, this new style is designed to be bi-directional. It’s a conversation instead of a speech. The writer and the reader feed off each other, and the result is a greater depth of knowledge for […] The post FCI 017 – Answering your Common Questions about Italy appeared first on Rick's Rome.

For most people, one of the most appealing aspects of visiting Italy is experiencing the culture through its bounty of regional foods and wines. Getting to know the country by consuming it, if you will. Well, I’ve already devoted a couple of podcasts to the traditional food of Rome, Bolognese cuisine, and the disgraces found on […] The post FCI 016 – Touring Italian Wine Regions with Jen Martin appeared first on Rick's Rome.

Anyone who reads my blog is probably far enough along in their relationship with Italy to realize that the adjective “Italian” really doesn’t have much meaning. It’s just too broad—instead, you simply MUST mention the region, at the very least, if not the exact city when discussing any topic. Still, to foreigners who only know […] The post FCI 015 – An Unplugged Guide to Naples with Bonnie Alberts appeared first on Rick's Rome.

Just about every expat living in Rome knows Steve Brenner and Linda Martinez. They’re an American couple who moved to Rome in 1999 and started The Beehive, a cozy accommodation smack-dab in the center of the city. But the real reason that everyone knows them is because they’re just friendly people who enjoy connecting with both […] The post FCI 014 – Finding Accommodations In Italy With Linda Martinez And Steve Brenner appeared first on Rick's Rome.

I’m making a prediction: this podcast episode will become my most ed track on iTunes within a short time. What makes me think this? Well, two things. First, because the title is certain to attract people’s attention when it pops up in a search. From my Google stats, I know that “dating Italian women,” “sex […] The post FCI 013 – The Erotic History of Italy with Cinzia Giorgio appeared first on Rick's Rome.

Moving to Rome can be shocking and confusing, to say the least. From the traffic patterns (there aren’t any), to the bureaucracy (good luck with that), to the fashion trends (don’t ask me) it all looks like chaos to the foreign eye. My solution has always been to remain as blissfully ignorant as possible. You’d […] The post FCI 012 – Disgraces on the Menu with Paolo Rigiroli appeared first on Rick's Rome.

There were a few key events in the mid 2,000’s that led to my affection for Italy, and meeting Fidel Gamboa was one of them. We worked together in my dental practice in Florida for a couple of years, and every day I listened to him talk about his dream of studying opera at one of […] The post FCI 011 – Opera and Truffle Hunting in Alba with Fidel Gamboa appeared first on Rick's Rome.

I met Emanuele Pettener back in 2009, and it’s safe to say that the meeting changed my life in many ways. I was enrolled in the Italian Studies program at F.A.U. in Boca Raton, Florida where he teaches. The class was Italian Literature from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, taught entirely in Italian, which […] The post FCI 010 – An Italian in America with Emanuele Pettener appeared first on Rick's Rome.