Some news from Italy for your Sunday reading pleasure:
- I recently got two books about Venice and a 2-DVD set about Venice, so I’m definitely on a Venice kick. But even if I wasn’t, I’d still be completely gaga over these photos of Venice from above. Seriously, if this isn’t the most achingly beautiful city on earth, I don’t know what is.
- A group of scientists in Italy have “identified a gene that regulates the killer nerve-wasting disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS),” or Lou Gehrig’s disease.
- Are you going to be in Venice this month? Then check out the series of organ concerts being held on Sundays through April 5 at the Basilica di San Marco – they’re free.
- I simply adore this list of 50 things learned in Italy, made by a woman who moved to Le Marche last year to open a B&B with her husband. (And James of Wandering Italy liked it too – so much he wrote a whole post about it.)
- Who wouldn’t want their very own fortune-telling Mouth of Truth, modeled after the one in Rome? (from eternallycool.net)
- I like Turin. I like aperitivo. I like insider tips. Therefore, I like these insider tips to Turin’s best aperitivo bars quite a bit.
- Reading this article about the best real balsamic vinegar in Italy brings back memories of my own visit to a Modena acetaia – the heavy, sickly-sweet air in the attic where the barrels age, the floor that was sticky with evaporated vinegar… Oh, excuse me. I think I might be drooling.
- I love this, and wish the subtitles were actually what the Italians were saying about Pizza Hut lasagna. Blech.
- I really enjoyed this article on one frugal family’s trip to Venice, especially how having an infant along became a way to break down the tourist/local barrier. It’s not enough to make me want to have a baby, however. Perhaps I can rent one? No? Okay.
- I’m not the only one who thinks that a visit to Venice doesn’t need to include a gondola ride – BootsnAll has declared gondola rides in Venice one of Europe’s most disappointing attractions.
- The Meredith Kercher murder trial continues in Perugia, where American student Amanda Knox and her Italian ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito are accused of killing Knox’s roommate. A couple of new bits of evidence brought out recently at the trial include a shoeprint matching Knox’s shoe size found on a pillow underneath Kercher’s body, and blood on Kercher’s bra strap which matches Sollecito’s DNA.
- If you visit the Russian Orthodox church in Bari now, you’ll technically be visiting Russia – Italy returned ownership of the church to Russia last weekend.
- Although the woman who was at the center of the right-to-die case in Italy died early last month, the debate about the issue itself rages on. Authorities say they’re going to be investigating 14 people regarding her death, including her father.
- Will you be in Rome at the end of May? Do you like sports? Then I hope you got your UEFA Champions League final tickets. They went on sale on March 2nd for the final, taking place May 27th at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
- Looking for a few suggestions for a summer trip to Italy? Rough Guides has a list of 10 things you might want to consider adding to your itinerary.
- There are all kinds of games you can play when you’re traveling; Susan Spano likes to hunt for elephants in Rome. Yes, elephants. In Rome.
- I’m not sure why I find this so hilarious, but a bishop in Modena has suggested that Italian Catholic young’uns they should give up text messaging for Lent, but only on Fridays.
- Oh, and here are more things that other Catholic officials are suggesting you give up for Lent – including listening to your iPod, using a car, and logging into Facebook.
- Every time I read another article about my beloved Venice slowly sinking, or – in this case – slowly dying, another little part of my heart breaks.
- If I were going to study gastronomy, I’d want to do it in Italy. Sounds just about perfect, doesn’t it?
- Milan Fashion Week is full steam ahead, despite the looming talk of some fashion houses being close to bankruptcy.
- Evidently there was enough of an outcry against Venice’s mayor’s announced plans to put Coke vending machines all over the city that he’s backpedaling a bit now.
- Three of the top art experiences in the world (according to one website) are in Italy. That’s more than any other country. To top it off, a fourth – although physically in Paris – was created by an Italian. Yeah, I think I like this list.
- Not surprisingly, even though Alitalia’s under new management there’s still plenty to be cranky about.
- Italy has pulled out of participating in a UN conference on racism to protest what they’re calling anti-Semitic statements made by officials in Iran.
- Apparently the guy who’s lobbying for the beatification of Pope Pius XII has found evidence that said Pope tried to protect the Jews from the Nazis during World War II.
- There’s a review here about the film “Gomorrah,” which I finally got to see last weekend, and which I highly recommend (although not as a feel-good film about Italy).
- A new book about Roman history spans the years 400 to 1000 AD – in just slightly over 700 pages.
- Vatican City, the city-state itself, turned 80 years old late last month. Who knew?
- When I see headlines like this one, headlines that say “sex discrimination is a continuing problem for Italian women,” I think, Of course it is. This is news to you? Really?
- Hunky English actor (and part-time Italy resident) Colin Firth says that Italy’s PM (and notorious nut-case) Silvio Berlusconi has a chance to “do something heroic” at the upcoming G8 summit in Italy. I’m not holding my breath, Colin, and I suggest you don’t, either.
- Originally, Ferrari’s head honcho wasn’t terribly excited about the idea of a Formula 1 race running through Rome – but he’s evidently warming up to the prospect now.
- What a cool picture of a couple in Venice, waiting for their self-timer to go off…
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