Some interesting facts from Italian culture and history

Excerpts from "Italians First" by Arturo Barone


Milan: a rite of passage for opera lovers
Leonard Bernstein, during one of his famous television broadcasts about music, tried to articulate the grandiosity of opera: where "basic human emotions are pinpointed and magnified coming at you gigantically, in a clear, direct, full-blown way". And no place in the world has been a greater theater for such emotions than the celebrated La Scala opera house. Located in the heart of Milan near the opulent Galleria Vittorio Emanuele and a short walk from the Duomo, La Scala is the supreme shrine of opera in Italy, where some of the world's greatest divas, maestros and orchestras have performed since 1778, the date of its opening.
Over a span of two hundred years, La Scala witnessed the birth of many masterpieces by Verdi, Rossini, Puccini, Bellini and Donizetti. These great artists chose this theater for their premieres, some of the greatest opera achievements ever: Tosca (1953), starring Maria Callas and Giuseppe di Stefano, is considered one of greatest opera recordings ever made.
The opening of La Scala's season takes place every year on December 7th, when Milan celebrates its patron, Saint Ambrose. It is a national event that is followed passionately by all Italians.
A night at La Scala is a glittering social and artistic occasion, with VIPs in elegant evening attire joining critics and opera buffs who are lucky enough to possess the coveted tickets for the theater's 2005 seats.


A quaint Italian hilltown is producing world-class wines
It may have been a surprise for some American wine lovers to find out that six of the first 53 wines selected by the Wine Spectator as the world's best wines of 1995, come from the tiny Italian hilltown of Montalcino, south of Siena. It's hardly a surprise to Italians, who have been enjoying Brunello di Montalcino's rich, powerful red wines for over a century. Italians refer to it simply
as Brunello, because the wine is produced only in Montalcino from the Brunello grape, one of the best clones of the Sangiovese variety (the Chianti grape). Picked late - in the second half of October - Brunello grapes undergo a long and slow process of fermentation which produces a dark, strong and complex wine, with great aging capacity. Wine expert Hugh Johnson describes it as "a wine for heroes": certainly for its boldness but perhaps also because Brunello is not a cheap wine by any means. Less heroic characters can try the lighter, younger and less expensive alternative Rosso di Montalcino.
The best Brunello voted by the Wine Spectator for 1995 is Campogiovanni Brunello di Montalcino 1990, voted 7th best world wine ($43). The other producers to make it into the prestigious ranking are Montosoli, Caparzo, Mastrojanni, Castello Banfi, Conti Costanti.



Think Italians look so together? Here's seven golden rules for dressing with style
1. Stick to the Classics: Choose classic colors and shapes. While we think of Italians as trend-setters, the great majority wear a classic houndstooth jacket in navy or green tones with slacks or a straight skirt and simple finely-made shoes.
2. Buy the Best Quality you can Afford: Italians may purchase only a couple new pieces each season, but they choose high quality tailoring and a classic line. They spend less on trendy items; when the look is out, they throw it away without guilt. A classic suit will last for years.
3. Make Looking Good a Priority: Italians feel you shouldn't step out your door if you don't look your best-it would be a social offense! You don't have to spend a lot of time, but choose a nice shirt and jeans over baggy sweats. Fashion is an integral part of an Italian's world; designer runway shows are featured on national news.
4. Dressing Up Isn't Just for Special Occasions: Italians tend to dress pretty much the same for both day and evening.
5. Iron Your Clothes: The bane of your existence, perhaps, but ironed clothes always look better. Italians iron everything, even underwear and socks. That may be taking it a little far, but you certainly look more together when you're nicely pressed.
6. Wear a Jacket: This may be the strongest reason why Italians look so together: a blazer-style jacket, even in hot weather. Your flaws (such as a wide rear end or love handles) stay hidden and you look elegant.
7. Live a Balanced Lifestyle: The most important rule for looking great:-enjoy life. A relaxed, happy person will always look better than a tense, stressed-out person with a great outfit. Eat a balanced diet with a variety of foods in small portions, keep between meal snacks to a minimum, a moderate consumption of alcohol, some exercise. Italians walk a lot and enjoy everything in moderation. This is a good lesson for the rest of us!

Choosing the right place to fit your mood
There are three basic types of restaurants in Italy: Ristorante, Trattoria and Osteria. These definitions usually classify the quality of the place, Ristorante being the classic Italian restaurant, Trattoria a cheaper family-style place, and Osteria a place to have a hearty glass of wine and a hot peasant-like dish. Today, however, this clear distinction doesn't exist anymore as more and more excellent restaurants have started to call themselves a Trattoria or Osteria. Another place to eat is the Pizzeria, which is often a good restaurant which has been obliged by a dwindling market (Italians love to eat at home) to offer quicker, cheaper meals. There's also the Spaghetteria, a sort of Italian fast-food pasta place and Birreria, usually a beer bar which serves panini (Italian sandwiches) and appetizers. And at lunch-time most Bars (the Italian version of a cafe) will serve you a hot dish or panino.
Dinner is served in most Italian restaurants after 7:30 PM, but most of the locals don't start eating before 8:30PM. Some restaurants in Venice or Florence open earlier, but it's rarely a good sign: poor-quality menù turisticos are displayed and served exclusively for the unwary foreign tourists.
The names of specialties range wildly from city to city, such that even an Italian won't understand the menu outside his own region. Quality and prices vary too, sometimes mysteriously, making it hard to find a good value. A handy rule of thumb in choosing a restaurant is to keep an eye on where the locals go, at least so you avoid major disappointments. The best way, of course, if you really want to be treated well, is to know the owner (or go with someone who does)!

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