Culture

He is the youngest premier in Europe and in the history of the Italian Republic. Moreover, Matteo Renzi, 39, former mayor of Florence, leads the youngest Italian cabinet ever, with an average age of 47. The 16-strong team, half of …

Dear Readers, during the month of February when we traditionally pause to celebrate lovers (Valentine’s Day) and Presidents’ Day. Once Lincoln (February 12) and Washington (February 22) were honored individually; now they are collectively celebrated on Presidents’ Day, February 17. …

President Barack Obama met with French President Francois Hollande, and both world leaders discussed the economic and political issues of their respective countries as well as the Syrian crisis.  Since President Obama played host to the French president’s visit to …

The Renaissance proper began in Florence in the Fourteenth Century, a rebirth of the learning of classical antiquity, the discovery of long lost Greek and Latin literature, and a flowering of art, science  and scholarship – the creation of the …

He got it. Director Paolo Sorrentino brought home the Academy Award for the best foreign language film. A glorious career for his “The Great Beauty” after the Golden Globe, the European Film Awards Efa, and the British Academy Film Awards …

Those of us of a certain age may perhaps remember when history textbooks claimed that one of the “problems” with our immigrant ancestors was that they had no democratic tradition.  The authors either ignored, or were ignorant of the fact …

Naming conventions for given names in a country of origin can help to tie together records of family members.  In researching those who were born in Italy and emigrated to the United States, it may also be necessary to know …

Al Teatro Golden Gate di San  Francisco, in California, canta una soprano italiana.    Le musiche sono di Bellini, di Verdi, di Rossini. Il meglio della produzione lirica mondiale e la folla ascolta estasiata. Sarà il primo concerto in una …

27 Febbraio: centododici anni fa nasceva a Salinas John Steinbeck, uno dei più grandi scrittori californiani ed uno dei giganti della letteratura statunitense, maestro di realismo e testimone e cantore di un’epoca di cambiamenti profondi.   Steinbeck, considerato uno dei …

As we approach the Lenten season, many who follow the precepts of the church prepare themselves for forty days of fasting.  The pre-Lenten season brings two words to mind: Mardi Gras and Carnival.  Both terms relate to the festivities leading …