Valentino….One of the Kings of Italian Design April 5, 2012

I recently watched Valentino, The Last Emperor – a documentary that chronicled “the dazzling and dramatic closing act of the last true couturier’s celebrated career” and touched upon the history of this great designer of haute couture.  Of course, I had always heard of Valentino, but honestly, I don’t think that I ever really knew any of his pieces.  His style was elegant – it was unique – and it was beautiful.  His use of fabrics, and the way he created those one of a kind touches on each of his creations, definitely put him at the top of the fashion design world.  His creations were very dressy and very formal, but also very wearable.  When someone needed an elegant outfit (without regard to price), Valentino could deliver!

The fashion house still exists, but it is corporately owned (and actually has been for a very long time, even when Valentino was still designing).  Among his most notable clients was Liz Taylor and Jackie Kennedy Onassis.  This is the incredible wedding gown designed for Jackie!

The movie touches on the relationship between Valentino and his business and lifetime partner, Giancarlo Giammetti.  The two have been involved romantically and in business for over 50 years, and it was the combination of the two together that created the great Valentino name.  Valentino was the artist and creator, while Giancarlo was the anchor that held the company, and Valentino, to the ground.

Quant’e` Buono il Mio Caffe`!! March 29, 2012

How delicious is my coffee?  It is FABULOUS in my new automated espresso machine by Nespresso!  For my birthday, my family treated me to this new appliance after I had sampled the coffee several times.  I have the “Essenza” model which came with a separate “aeroccino” for warming and frothing milk for capuccino’s.

The espresso comes out with a beautiful “crema” on the top and is so flavorful.  The milk froths beautifully in the aeroccino – all in all, it’s the perfect start to my day!

La Prima Cosa Bella…A Movie Review February 2, 2012

La prima cosa bella

che ho avuto dalla vita

e il tuo sorriso giovane…

The first beautiful thing

that I’ve had in life

is your young smile…

Last night, the Italian club in San Jose treated us to a special filming of the 2010 hit movie La Prima Cosa Bella, directed and produced by Paolo Virzi.  This film has not been released in the USA yet, therefore it was extra special to be able to see it.  The movie was a candidate for an Academy Award for best foreign film, but sadly, didn’t make it to the finals.  Irregardless, it was a great movie – both a poignant drama and a light comedy.

The story is of a young mother who, in 1971, won the contest for Miss Mamma Estate (Miss Summer Mother) at a beach resort.  She had two beautiful children, but winning this contest brought out a jealous rage in her husband.  The marriage began to fall apart, leading to an eventual separation and divorce.  Through it all, Anna did everything to try to create a normal and happy life for her children.  Despite tears and rejection in her adult life, she always put on a happy face for her children – leading them in song and carrying on with frivolity and fantasy.

The movie jumps between the past and the present where her children are all grown up and she is living her final days.  Even though she is in her final moments of life, she still finds the joy of life and laughs and sings with them.  Throughout the movie, the flashbacks help us to understand her life as well as the development of her children and why they have become the adults that they are.  Her final words to her children moved me to tears when she said to them….”Abbiamo avuto una bella vita insieme, bimbi miei” (we’ve had a beautiful life together, my children).

The movie stars Micaela Ramazzotti as the young Anna and Stefania Sandrelli as the older Anna, Valerio Mastandrea as Bruno (her adult son), Claudia Pandolfi as Valeria (her adult daughter) among others.  It won numerous awards and accolations, among them  David di Donatello and Nastri d’argento.

When and if this movie becomes available in the USA, I can highly recommend it!

The Glassblower of Murano…A Book Review November 20, 2011

The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato is one of the best books I have read recently. It is filled with history, intrigue…and is just a plain great love story! I whizzed through the book and wished it wouldn’t end!

The story flip flops between the present day, Leonora, and fifteenth century, Corradino…and relates the two through a shared Murano glass heart.

Corradino Manin was one of the most famous glassblowers of Renaissance Venice. His pieces were flawless, and his reputation became known throughout Europe. Corradino had an illegitimate daughter whom he loved deeply, and for whom he made a perfect glass heart that she could always carry with her. But Corradino led a dangerous life because of his glassblowing knowledge – a secret that belonged to Murano and that the Venetian nobility wanted to safeguard, but that others wanted to steal!

Leonora was a present day artist who was trying to discover herself after a failed marriage. She had been born in Venice, and decided to return to discover her family roots and find out about her ancestor, Corradino Manin. With her was the same glass heart that had been passed down through the generations.

Upon arriving in Venice, Leonora begins to discover the ghosts of her ancestors and is faced with many chilling revelations. But she also finds love! The places described in the book bring Venice alive. After having walked the same alleys and come upon the same piazzas mentioned in the book, you can just imagine yourself tredding the same tracks.

This book is a must read for anyone who loves Venice – from its mesmerizing beauty to its masked facade! Venice is both breathtaking but also a bit mysterious, and this book portrays the magic of it all.

I read this book as part if the Italy in Books Challenge 2011

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Enchanted April October 13, 2011

Thanks to my friend Vicky from Spirit of Italy Tours for telling me about this endearing movie about….what else…ITALY!  The story takes place during the 1920′s, when a group of four women from London decide to rent a villa (or castle, as they call it) along the Italian Riviera for a month.  The ladies do not know each other prior to their trip, but their differences become inconsequential after a few weeks together.  It is the story of Lottie – a kind- hearted woman who is always trying to please her husband without receiving any appreciation in return; Rose – the “disappointed madonna,” as her husband calls her; Caroline – the young, rich beauty that is tired of being the object of men’s attentions solely because she is wealthy and beautiful; and Mrs. Fisher – an older widow who lives in the past remembering her famous dead friends.

The story begins when Lottie finds an ad in the paper advertising a one month stay in an Italian castle and decides she needs to get away for awhile.  She, in turn, puts out an ad advertising for some travelling companions.  The four women meet each other in San Salvatore in a gorgeous villa overlooking the sea.  The place is so beautiful and this idyllic location inspires each of the women to look within to find themselves.  The end result is that each of the women finds her own happiness from their personal experience here.  The movie touches on several themes:  love, self esteem, and inner reflection.

This film is definitely a “chick flick”…but a charming one at that.  It has a wonderful moral:  Go to Italy and all your problems will be solved!!!  Perhaps the Italian Tourist bureau should use this film as a good form of propaganda for an Italian Holiday!

The Scarlett Contessa….A Book Review September 16, 2011

The scarlett contessa……..Another great historical fiction novel by Jeanne Kalogridis! This one was about the greatest woman warrior of Renaissance Italy, Caterina Sforza. Caterina was a woman definely ahead of her time….not only was she extremely beautiful, but she was a strong and very intelligent woman who ruled her small kingdom and led her armies to defend her land. She was the illigitimate daughter of Galeazzo Sforza, ruler of Milan, and she inherited her father’s courage and strength. Fortunately, she didn’t inherit his monstous personality!

This story is told in the person of Caterina’s fictionalized lady-in-waiting , Dea, which made the story a bit more romanticized! Of course, that is the beauty of historical FICTION….you can get the basic historical facts in a juicier, more interesting fashion!

The book portrays the relationships between the varying rulers of Italy during the Renaissance….and they were all the powerful names of Italian history. There were the Sforzas of Milan, the de Medici’s of Florence, the Borgias from Spain who later took over the Vatican, as well as the King of Naples and the Doges from Venice. The alliances as well as the oh so treacherous betrayals and skirmishes were outlined and described throughout the story. Murders and deceptions in the name of power and control seemed to be the rule of the day! Italy was definitely not a safe and idyllic place back then…and the Vatican was not exempt from the
corruption, either!

This book was very enjoyable, not only for all the historical information, but also for all the romance! I can highly recommend it!

Italy in Books Challenge 2011

Blood Sisters…A Book Review August 8, 2011

Blood Sisters is the first novel by Italian auther, Alessandro Perissinotto, that has been translated into English.  It follows the pseudo-detective, Anna Pavesi, and her search for a missing person around the Milan/Bergamo area.  Anna is a psychologist and not a real detective, but she has developed a reputation for being able to find missing people.  One day she is approached by a wealthy aristocrat, Benedetta, to find the body of her half sister (whom she doesn’t even know) that is missing.  She knew that her sister had been killed in a car accident, but the body has mysteriously gone missing.  At first, Anna doesn’t want to take the job, but because she has just become recently divorced and needs the money, she agrees.  Little by little, Anna finds herself deeply engrossed  in the mystery and, as she gets more involved, her life becomes endangered.

Upper Bergamo, where Anna lives, shrouded in fog

The book’s ending has a surprising twist and I couldn’t help thinking to myself that there would be a sequel – there were lots of loose ends still to be explored!

The book is fast paced and fun to read.  The characters are well developed and the plot keeps you hooked.  There is plenty of adventure, suspense and even romance.  I can highly recommend this novel.  I read this book as part of the Italy in Books Challenge 2011.

The Pinnacle of Posh….Venice’s Hotel Danieli June 23, 2011

Oh, the palaces of Venice!!!  They are incredible  mixtures of architecture, art and science!  A few years ago, we were fortunate enough to stay in one of these beautiful palaces which, as many others,  has now been converted into a hotel.  This particular hotel is now known as the Hotel Danieli.  Being that we are Starwood members, and this hotel is part of Starwood’s Luxury Collection, we cashed out some Starpoints to stay here!!  This made our stay so much more affordable!  And what an experience it was!  Upon arriving at the hotel, we were greeted in the posh lobby by a very polished concierge. 

 As per my modus operandi, I asked if there were any available upgrades.  He informed me that we were booked into an interior room, but he also had other rooms available with better views.  He graciously brought us to both rooms so that we could choose.  The rooms with the “better views” were absolutely divine!  They had the typical Moorish windows that looked out onto the Grand Canal! 

 Who wouldn’t want to stay in these rooms?  It was as if we were stepping back in time to the aristocratic ways of the Venetian nobility!  Yeah, it was bit noisy in the morning when all the city workers were about doing their jobs, but it was an experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world! 

My friend, the concierge, was a true Venetian and I knew because of the tell-tale sing song in his voice!  Being that I understand the Venetian dialect, and find it all too pleasant, I asked him to speak to me in “Venezian”.  Oh my goodness, he was SO content!  I quickly became the belle of the hotel!!!  We were showered with a bottle of wine and two boxes of exquisite chocolates “for our enjoyment”!  The next morning when my husband went down to the lobby, Mr. Concierge asked him how “la signora” was doing!  What fun I was having!  I felt like I was a princess for a few days   But, after thinking about it, this type of hotel probably treats ALL their guests like this!  And that is why they are as successful as they are – every patron is treated like royalty!  But I don’t care – I will take being treated like a princess any day!

The Hotel Danieli is actually a conglomeration of three old palazzi which have been connected to form one hotel.  This is very common in Italy, and I’ve seen it from Milan to Rome!  The palazzi date back as far as the 14th century and they were once home to a very influential Venetian family, the Dandolos.  This family boasted having four doges in its lineage.  The Palazzo Dandolo was one of the most intricately designed palaces in all of Venice, and many high society events took place here.  In the XVI century, the buildings were split amongst family members and sold to new aristrocratic owners in the XVII century.  These families hired famous musicians and artists into their homes, and many musical masterpieces were debuted here.  One such piece was Proserpina Rapita by Giulio Strozzi with music by Monteverdi.

After the fall of the Venetian Republic, the palazzos fell into disrepair.  In 1824, a hotel innkeeper from Friuli bought the palazzos and converted them into a posh hotel after extensive and authentic restorations were done on the buildings.  Further restorations and improvements were done over the years…with the very impressive result being the current and beautiful Hotel Danieli.

The City Of Falling Angels June 6, 2011

Usually I read fictional novels, so when a co-worker gave me this non-fiction book to read, I was a bit skeptical. I wasn’t sure what to expect nor what the purpose of the book was. After all, the storyline read like a fictionalized story of the intrigue of Venice, complete with depictions of deceipt and mystery.

The book begins with the author’s arrival in Venice shortly after the devastating fire which burned the world-famous Venetian opera house, La Fenice.  What entails is the investigation into the fire and a determination as to whether the fire was a result of arson or pure negligence on the part of the crew working on the remodeling of the famous theater. The author interviews many members of Venetian society, and soon finds out about all the jealousies and back-stabbing going on behind the scenes. He finds that there are many who could easily be implicated, and some for good reason, into the event. Every one of these players, though, could also prove their innocence.  As a result, the true cause of the fire is never really discovered.                                           

The book is a portayal of the many facets which make up Venetian society…and the pride that the citizens of Venice have for their mysterious and beautiful city. Even though the famous opera house was burned, the aftermath of Venetian civic pride became even more evident and the personal ties involved in Venetian society was interesting to learn about.

If you are interested in a book which delves into the political and social underlyings of Venice, you will like this book. I found it mostly interesting, but I felt it moved a bit slowly and the in-depth character descriptions were a bit over-developed and long.

This book was read as part of the Italy In Book Challenge 2011.

Snooki (and friends) Take Florence! April 21, 2011

 

 

Well, it looks like the cast of Jersey Shore will be spending this season in the land of their ancestors….only that La Bella Italia isn’t too keen on having them there. But can you really blame Italy? After all, this pathetic group of low lifes give a bad name to Italian Americans, and real Italians don’t want anything to do with them. They are the furthest examples of what authentic Italians are all about.

So the mayor of Florence, the lucky city that has been given the privilege to host this lovely group, has laid down some ground rules that the cast (and producers) have been asked to follow. First of all, they are not to be filmed drinking in public or in any bars or clubs that serve alcohol. The producers have been asked not to promote Florence as a drinking town, and Italy must be promoted for its culture. This show is to be about Italy, and not some yahoos visiting Italy and performing their stupid antics in public.  Hmmm….seems to me that this may make for a boring season if the cast can’t act in their drunken, sleazy ways. This idea may backfire in MTV’s face! Now, don’t get me wrong…I can appreciate this show as a comedy and a parody on the Italian American stereotype, but when they go to Italy and try to “fit in” because they think they are real Italians, this goes a little too far. But hey, it’s ratings…and even bad publicity is a good thing these days as it seems to be the mantra for today’s entertainers (just look at Lindsay Lohan and all the attention she is getting for being “bad”)! Kind of a sad state of affairs…what happened to being popular because your talent merits it?

I have to be honest here, but I have never watched Jersey Shore. Growing up in San Francisco, I was surrounded by these “Guido” characters and it always turned me off. Those guys strutting around like peacocks with their shirts opened to their belly buttons, donning a heavy gold chain and “corno”, trying to speak Italian when all they knew were the swear words – these guys were GUIDO’S TO THE MAX!!!  And I think I’ve had my fill!  Plus, the Italian American organizations have really come down hard on this show because of it’s negative stereotypical portrayal of Italians that I didn’t want to support it.

So, we shall see how long they last in Florence….and if they learn anything about how to act like a real Italian!!

Jersey Shore Florence pic courtesy of TMZ!