by Dianne Hales | Aug 11, 2020 | Books, books on Italy, history, Italian language, Italy, Language, Religion, Roman history, Rome, Social behavior, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
The Roman emperor Augustus (63 BC-AD 14) so enjoyed late summer that he claimed the month we now call by his name. Yet Caesar’s grandnephew, adopted son and chief heir, born Gaius Octavius, seemed an unlikely candidate for any claim to glory. After his great uncle’s...
by Dianne Hales | Aug 4, 2020 | art, art history, Books, books on Italy, culture, history, Italian language, Italy, Rome, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs, women
A guest post by Elizabeth Lev Some of Rome’s masterpieces come on strong. Who can resist the rakish ambush of Caravaggio? Who isn’t swept off his feet by the might of the Coliseum? The Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps are all awe-inspiring...
by Dianne Hales | Aug 12, 2019 | Books, books on Italy, Capri, culture, history, Italy, Language, Sayings and expressions, Social behavior, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
I celebrated my first Italian Ferragosto in Capri, which turns out to be a most fitting (though crowded) place to be on August 15. This summer celebration—as festive as America’s Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day rolled into one—dates back thousands of years....
by DHales | Jul 26, 2018 | Books, Italy, Language, Social behavior, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
La spiaggia The beach The beaches of Sonoma County on the northern California coast, practically in my backyard (praticamente dietro casa), are beautiful, dramatic–and usually windy and cold. As much as I love walking and running on them, none can compare with...
by DHales | Jul 13, 2018 | Books, history, Italy, Language, Sayings and expressions, Social behavior, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs
Il sole
The sun Italians sometimes describes themselves as “solari” (sunny, cheerful, radiant). Il sole italiano certainly has inspired il culto del sole (sun worship) throughout the peninsula. Could anyone other than Italians have written a love song to the sun?...
