Italian Festivals in Australia and Elsewhere

by Kelly Amabile on

Since all I seem to be seeing this week is red, white and green, I thought I’d compile a quick list of some celebrated Italian festivals currently taking place around the world. Cultural festivals like this can be a fun alternative way to experience a city you already know well, or a unique way to experience a city the first time around.

We’ve just missed the inagural Italian Festival Week in Dubai, but now you know about it and can plan accordingly for next year! Here are a few others where you can still get your fill of la dolce vita!

Sydney Italian Festival: Events still to come include a heritage tour (June 8) and foodies walking tour of Norton Street (June 9). The Italian Film Fest was kicked off earlier this past weekend by bella Sophia Loren. Events continue through June 11.

Melbourne Italian Festival: Federation Square hosts a photographic exhibit depicting the carnival of Viareggio in Toscana; And Lygon Street in Carlton will be transformed to a piazza this weekend, complete with its very own Colosseum. Runs through June 10.

Bangkok: The Bella Italia Italian Festival has been going on since May and continues through the end of June. Events include a tour of monuments designed by Italian Architects in Bangkok (June 9), photo exhibits and simultaneous Italian Film and Food Festivals, the latter of which continues through July 3.

Charleston, SC: Spoleto USA is a 17-day performing arts festival created as counterpart to a similar festival held every year in Italy. Spoleto turns 30 this year, and is acknowledging in a special way festival founder Gian Carlo Menotti who passed away in February. Piccolo Spoleto is a localized version of the event that runs simultaneously, focusing on artists of the Southeast region. Both festivals are currently underway.

Reminder: Talking Travel with Barbara Sjoholm Contest Ends June 6

by Kelly Amabile on

Last week we ran an interview with Seal Press founder Barbara Sjoholm, who answered questions for us about her book Incognito Street: How Travel Made Me a Writer. Barbara also offered tips for writers and shared insight about her personal experiences as a traveler, writer and publisher.

For over thirty years, Seal Press has been publishing edgy and thought-provoking books from a diverse collection of female voices. To help celebrate this literary achievement, Gadling is giving away 12 Seal Press titles.

So…be sure to read the interview and enter the contest before 8 PM on June 6th! The first four randomly selected winners will receive a copy of Incognito Street, and the rest of the winners will receive a copy of one of these other Seal Press travel titles: Greece: A Love Story; Italy a Love Story; Zaatar Days, Henna Nights; or Chick Flick Road Kill.

Kill Flies with a Map of Milan, Italy

by Justin Glow on

From the Why not? department: “the quintessential lifestyle navigator,” Charles & Marie, are stocking a fly swatter patterned with a Milan, Italy street map. Yes, those little lines you see represent streets in Milan, so that you can — SNAP! — smash a fly at the corner of Via Senato and Corso Venezia if you so choose. Much cooler, if you ask me, than killing flies with a regular old fly swatter from K-Mart.

The swatter comes in blue, green, orange, violet, and white, and costs $15 USD, but is currently sold out.

[via BoingBoing]

New Official Language of Italy: Italian

by Jonathon Morgan on

You’d think it’d be a no-brainer: Italians, in Italy, speak Italian. But not so fast. Not only did the country’s parliament just this week vote to add “The Italian language is the official language of the Republic” to the constitution, many Italians are unhappy with the decision.

While at first this may seem odd, when you look closer, it makes sense. I didn’t realize this when I traveled through Italy, but the language most English speakers assume is Italian, is actually just the Tuscan dialect of Italian. The language actually has a number of dialects — some so specific to particular regions, that, when spoken, they’re incomprehensible to the rest of the country. (For an example in English, talk to someone from South London, and then someone from Liverpool — at times it’s hard to believe they’re speaking the language.) And, as you might suspect, people are quite attached to what’s spoken in their area.

In fact, some parts of the country don’t speak Italian at all — notably the Alto Adige region, where they speak German, and in Val d’Aosta, where they speak French.

The change, however, is symbolic. So, chances are — even if you speak Italian — you won’t notice anything different on your next visit.

An Explosive Vacation Home

by Iva Skoch on

One can’t be sure what would possess someone to live on the side of an active volcano, but perhaps even more surprising would be buying a vacation home on the side of an active volcano. Who would find that relaxing?

However, new construction has been rising 20% in the past decade on the world’s most active volcano, the island of Stromboli, Italy. It’s a mystery why there are new multi-million-euro villas springing up on the slopes of this volcano near Sicily, but an article in Newsweek theorizes that it might be Italy’s shrinking coastline (due to predicted increased sea levels) and currently-increasing temperatures. Building on the volcano gives you some cooling elevation, and property values are somewhat less than, say, Tuscany.

If volcanic eruptions–and the stuffed pizza roll–aren’t exciting enough for you, the island also faces a constant threat of tsunami. A 10-meter (almost 33 feet) tidal wave hit the island in 2002.

Lately, the real estate market hasn’t been the only thing active on the island. There have been recent eruptions that are sending lava pouring into the sea and have created a new peninsula. Get your vacation home, while it’s hot!

Photo: Protezione Civile Italiana-AP