Italy Beyond the Obvious

Three favorite Italian songs

When an Italian classmate asked about the lyrics to a Bob Marley song, it was a lightbulb moment for me. We were on a field trip from Milan to Assisi, and the song was playing on the bus. Even though I'd heard it many times, beyond the refrain I had no idea what Bob Marley was singing. More significantly, I knew that just listening to it again would not help. And yet my Italian classmate thought his English must be terrible because he couldn't understand the lyrics. 

So English-speakers-learning-Italian rejoice: you can (eventually) understand the lyrics to most Italian songs just by listening. Below are three of my favorite songs, each picked not only for the music and the lyrics but for a language-learning milestone. And coming soon: a few posts on my friend Guido's picks for the best Italian songs, ever.

 

1) Il Gatto e La Volpe, Edoardo Bennato

I learned this song my very first week in Italy - when I spoke absolutely no Italian - as an AFS exchange student during orientation week. Our Italian hosts played the guitar, and we sang this over and over, sitting around a campfire on Lake Como. We foreigners could only sing a few words from the refrain, but I'll never forget them.

2) Non l'hai mica capito, by Vasco Rossi

Apart from the fact that I just like this song (and Vasco Rossi is just, well, Vasco), at the time I heard it, I was trying to figure out how the Italian expressions "ti voglio bene" and "ti amo" were different. In English they both translate as "I love you", though the former is used for family and friends, and the latter is what we'd associate with "in love". As a linguist, I find it fascinating that certain cultures and languages express this nuance with different words, while others, like English, rely on context. 

3) Le Cose in Comune by Daniele Silvestri

I don't remember where I first heard this song, but I'd already learned Italian, and the tongue-in-cheek lyrics about relationships made me smile. The lyrics are about everything the two people have in "common", including both being born in the '60s, ordering the same potatoes at the same restaurant, and even having the same bones. And not only that. Silvestri sings: "when I sleep, you sleep. When I cry, you cry. When I laugh, you laugh....". And if you listen carefully, you'll hear my favorite line: "when I cry, you laugh...."

While I was writing this post, I found out about a brand new website dedicated to learning Italian through music, and submitted my 3 songs. So if you're interested in the full lyrics in Italian or their English translation, head over to Italyrics!

Are there any Italian songs that have helped you learn the language? Write them in the comments, or go submit them to Italyrics!

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5 Reasons to visit the town of Vigevano

Even after 5 years in Italy - and more than half of that in Milan - I had never heard of Vigevano until a Milanese friend asked if I wanted to swing by her boyfriend's house - in a beautiful nearby town, she promised. Because he'd been out with us in Milan so often, I'd assumed her significant other was from a Milanese suburb like Milano Due (Milan Two) or Milano Tre (Milan Three). Instead, that day I was introduced to a stunning architectural jewel of a town. 

 
 

Here are 5 reasons you, too, should consider a visit to Vigevano:

1) Off the beaten track

If you enjoy discovering Italian towns with lots of atmosphere, lots of Italians, and few tourists, this is one. In fact its main square (see point 3, below) is often referred to as one of the most beautiful and least known squares from the Italian Renaissance.

2) Day trip from Milan 
At only 35 km away, Vigevano makes a great day trip from Milan. Hop on the train and you're there in 30 minutes. Spend most of a day, and you're back in Milan for dinner.

 

3) Beautiful architecture

The main square, called Piazza Ducale (the rectangle in the aerial photo), and the tower by Bramante are architectural gems built during the Renaissance. Leonardo Da Vinci was a guest at Vigevano and worked with Bramante, leaving his mark on the town as well. Vigevano's castle, the Castello Sforzesco (also in photo above), is one of Europe's largest. If the name of the castle rings a bell, note that Milan's castle is also called the Sforzesco castle - built (or more accurately, rebuilt) by the same family, the Sforzas.

 

4) Shoes

I admit I have a weakness for shoes in Italy. I often arrive with just the ones on my feet, and leave with quite a few pairs. Vigevano is a major center of shoe production in Italy, and the shoe industry overtook the town after World War II, causing its population to 'explode' from 17,000 in 1861 to over 65,000 today, and resulting in not-so-positive articles about Vigevano's capitalist "shoe fetish", like this one (in Italian). For anyone with an interest in the history of shoe construction, functionality, and design, visit the town's shoe museum, which also displays shoes worn by famous historical Italians such as Beatrice D'Este, and has a section on historical shoe styles worldwide.

5) Risotto, anyone?

Italy is Europe's top producer of rice, and much of it comes from the area around Vigevano. If you're reading this before September 17th, 2010, consider going during the 3-day rice festival, which includes street food, tastings, and a lot to offer for professionals in the field (no pun intended).

Vigevano square photo by Chris Thomas; shoes photo by Jeff Safi; aerial photo from www.pavia.lombardiainrete.it

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A traveler's guide to strikes in Italy

 

I mentioned to my mom recently that I was relieved my clients were going to miss the scheduled national train strike. My mom, a very seasoned traveler who has actually been to Italy several times under my care, was completely confused (what do you mean, the strike is scheduled?). Then she started in on the questions (how can the trains just not run?), and finally, she was speechless. I gave her the 101 on Italian strikes, and she suggested I share the info. Okay, mom.

Italian strikes: The basics

Strikes in Italy are common, and could definitely affect your trip.

Strikes are so common in fact, that one of the first words I learned after moving to Italy was sciopero, the word for strike. After I'd lived there a few months, I got used to them as the Italians do, and learned another useful Italian word: arrangiarsi, to figure it out. Yes, strikes are inconvenient and disruptive, but you can't do anything about them. However, you can plan around them, because....

Most strikes in Italy are planned in advance and communicated to the public.

Announced a few weeks or months ahead of time, most strikes are conveniently published so that you can work around them. Check the list on the website of the Commissione di Garazia Sciopero (screen shot below) to see which group is striking, and when. Since the website is in Italian, I've provided the screen shot below to help you understand the information. 

 

It's also worth checking the Easy Travel Report, which has a less comprehensive but still useful list of Italian transportation strikes (scroll down to Italy) published in English. However, you'll need to check these lists again right before you leave because...

Strikes in Italy are frequently rescheduled from their originally published date

Double-check the strike schedule right before your trip to see whether the strikes are still planned. And before you panic when you see a strike scheduled for one of the dates you're in Italy, remember....

Strikes in Italy are usually a specific group and location, so may not mess up your plans

So although the baggage handlers at Rome's airport are going on strike, the rest of the airport will be working perfectly normally (pack carry-on). Or, the transportation strike may affect trains but not buses. Or, the post office is on strike and while it's certainly inconvenient that you won't be able to mail home your Italian ceramics, at least you know about it. 

Strikes in Italy may last a few minutes a few days, or anywhere in between. If you're lucky, you'll know in advance.

Sitting on an airplane on the tarmac in Milan once, I asked the Italian sitting next to me what the delay was. "Sciopero" he responded. Air traffic control had gone on strike for about 10 minutes, and then they were back to work. 

On the other end of the spectrum, my husband and I were flying to Sicily via Munich for a holiday and arrived in Munich to find Italian air traffic control was on strike. We decided not to hang around and wait, and instead visited a travel agency in the airport. We cancelled our Sicily hotels and spent a lovely week in Barcelona. The point is....

It's up to you to figure out alternate plans

If you know about a national train strike ahead of time, you can plan to stay an extra day in the city, or leave a day earlier, or plan an alternate mode of transportation to get to your destination. But if you show up at the train station with all your luggage and then discover there's a strike, don't expect a help desk or hotline phone number to help you make other arrangements. Strikes are normal in Italy, and the Italians work around them. You'll need to as well.

Do you have any other tips on dealing with strikes in Italy, or have you been caught in one and had to deal with it?

Photo of Milan train station by a.j.b

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Family amusement in Italy: 15 excellent parks

Whether you love roller coasters or are just looking for something to balance a few days of museums and churches, you'll find what you're looking for at one of the outdoor parks below. Note that these parks are excellent for kids, but most of them are fun for any age. All the parks are included on the map at the end of this post. Let me know if I've missed any of your favorites!

 
  

 Sculpture parks (blue on the map). Explore outdoor sculpture while walking through the trees. Let the kids run around or even climb on the sculptures.

• Monster's Park. Stone sculptures in the wooded area around a Duke's house, this is one of my favorites.  http://www.parcodeimostri.com/ (website in Italian)

• Tarot Garden. Giant whimsical mosaic sculptures sparkle in the sunlight as you explore French artists Niki de Saint Phalle's creations in this garden. We have some incredible photos of the kids with Niki's sculptures.  http://www.nikidesaintphalle.com/  

• Chianti Sculpture park. Located just 12 km from Siena, visitors can walk through this park and admire the big sculptures by various artists, or let the kids run through the glass labyrinth, pictured below.  http://www.chiantisculpturepark.it/en-index.htm. Or visit the contemporary art gallery: http://www.solartgallery.it/. You can even stay in one of the on-site apartments if you wish: http://www.aiolina.it/eng/home.html. The park also has an amphitheater with concerts between June and August.

 

 

• Pinocchio Park. Follow the Pinocchio path and you'll come upon sculptures and exhibits from the story. Make a puppet, or visit the butterfly house. http://www.pinocchio.it/uk/homeuk.htm

• Italia in Miniatura. Visit a park dedicated to the main sights of Italy, in miniature. Combined passes to the amusement park Mirabilandia are also available.  http://www.italiainminiatura.com/index2.html?ID_lingua=en 

 
 

 Amusement parks (pink on the map) with roller coasters and rides a la Disneyland. 

• Cavallino Matto. This is a pretty traditional amusement park with rides. http://www.cavallinomatto.it/english/

• Gardaland. Probably Italy's most famous amusement park, and some would argue that it compares to Disney.  http://www.gardaland.it/en/home.php

• Mirabilandia. People who have been to both Gardaland and Mirabilandia often say Mirabilandia is better. Go to both and form your own opinion!  http://www.mirabilandia.it/

• Minitalia. This park has fewer rides than Gardaland or Mirabilandia, and has more animals, including a small aquarium and even a Leonardo Da Vinci museum.  http://www.minitalia.com/en/home/

 Animal parks (yellow on the map) One of Italy's most visited animal parks is the Bioparco in the center of Rome, but there are many other places to see animals in the country. Have a look at the yellow markers on the map to see whether you'll be anywhere near them.

• Parco zoo della fauna Europea.  http://www.parcozoopoppi.it/ (website in Italian)

• Citta' della Domenica. This park is geared towards smaller children, with a section on Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, and Little Red Riding Hood. A little train takes visitors around the park to see the animals. There's even a reptiles tower.  http://www.cittadelladomenica.it/home.php (website in Italian)

• Bioparco (zoo in Rome). This zoo is in the center of Rome and is one of Italy's most visited museums.  http://www.bioparco.it/en/bioparco-in-rome.html 

• Zoosafari. http://www.zoosafari.it/index.php?art=news1 (website in Italian)

• Parco Natura Viva. This is right next to Gardaland.  http://parconaturaviva.it/

 

 Water parks (light blue on the map) On a hot Italian summer day, nothing beats a good water park! There are actually quite a few smaller water parks in Italy, and many of the parks above have a water component, but I wanted to include only the best of the best in this list.

• Acqua Village in Maremma. There are 2 locations, one in Grosseto and one in Cecina, just to the north.  http://www.acquavillage.it/index_eng.php

View Italy Parks for kids in a larger map

Tarot Garden photo by Taslair, Monster's Park photo by Andrea Marutti, Gardaland photo by Simone Ramella, labyrinth photo property of Chianti sculpture park, used with permission.

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