Daily Life In Italy in Summer

July 31, 2008 · Filed Under Life in Italy · 2 Comments

Maybe some people are wondering just what daily life in Italy is like in summer. Well, once the warm weather hits this country, the routine in the north does change a little.

First of all, most of the schools in Italy close for summer at the end of June, which means many children suddenly find themselves with not much to do, while many of their parents are still working.

Families With Children

What Italians generally do when the schools close, especially whose wives don’t work, is take the kids to the sea or the mountains, while the husband stays in the city or town to work. When both parents have jobs, Italian children are sent to their grand parents, who either have or have rented houses or apartments down on the coast or up in the cool of the mountains. The 30°C+ heat in Italian cities can become oppressive and potentially dangerous for very young children.

For many Milanese, the coast generally means the Liguria region, the area on both sides of Genova. However some, especially those with family down in the south of Italy, may well send their children down to grand parents or relations down in the southern areas of Italy.

Those who do not have grand parents or relations, and who have the resources, will have a ‘colf’, which is basically a nanny who is often employed full time to look after younger children. Sometimes, the colf will take the children out of Milan, and at weekends parents will join the children. Read more

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Tags: Italian, Italians, Italy, Life in Italy, summer

Ghoulish Gastronomy in Tuscany

July 30, 2008 · Filed Under Ghosts from Italy · 3 Comments

Deep in the depths of Tuscany, not too far from a delightful little place called Anghiari, which is on the border with Umbria, there is the hauntingly interesting restaurant the Locanda al Castello di Sorci.

Now, this restaurant, which seems to have a good reputation for its culinary expertise incidentally, has a little extra on its menu, in the form of the ghost of a certain Baldaccio d’Anghiari, who used to own the castle. Read more

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Tags: ghost, ghosts, Italian, Italy, Tuscany, Umbria

How to Interpret Italian Street Names

July 29, 2008 · Filed Under Italy · 1 Comment

Had or having trouble trying to work out just how Italian street signs work? In that case, this post may help you. Or add to your confusion!

Italy has a lovely habit of naming its streets and roads after well known figures from history, saints and well known areas (to Italians) of Italy. Generally, the people after which some streets are named are Italians, but by no means always. Indeed, we have a street near us which is named after Lord Byron.

As I’m sure you will agree, this method of naming streets is charming. This being the case, you wouldn’t think that such a system might cause problems, but it certainly does, and it is not only hapless tourists who are caught out, but even Italians themselves. Why? You might well ask.

White on White Signs

One of the slight problems with this system is that the street signs, usually small white rectangular marble plaques, are often placed on white walls, generally on corners, but sometimes just after the corner, at about 2.5 to 3 metres above street level. This means they can be difficult to spot at times, if they are there, that is. They may be on one side of a junction, but not on the other. These signs may also be shrouded by greenery, just to add some spice to life. And these signs tend to become cream coloured in time, which makes them yet more difficult to spot, especially at night. Reflective street signs are not common, if indeed they exist here. Reflective signs are used for major destinations, like towns, cities and villages, though.

OK, so seeing and finding the signs can be a problem, but at least they are generally there, and if you know the name of the street, you’ll be fine. Well, not necessarily… Read on, if you are brave enough. Read more

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