Favorite Reads on Italy This Week: Apr 4

Favorite Reads on Italy (FRI) is a weekly roundup published on Fridays featuring interesting articles, fascinating experiences, and handy resources that we’ve come across that week.

Castel del Monte, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Puglia

This week’s roundup includes a variety of articles on the issue cultural heritage, a charming off-the-beaten path town in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, a recipe for Easter, beautiful photos of spring in the Tuscan countryside, and more.

Culture and Travel

Following Dante’s footsteps in Florence by The Seattle Times – Thanks to “Dan Brown’s latest book “Inferno” tourists to Florence, Italy are “on the Dante trail, tracking down what the poet saw 700 years ago”. If plan to follow in the footsteps, here is a handy app that will help you discover these places mentioned in the book.

First time, any time, Rome time memorable for all by The Boston Globe – There is so much to see and do for first-timers in Rome that it is often overwhelming. One piece of advice, bring some good walking shoes!

Southern Italy’s Matera will rock your world by Winnipeg Sun – Matera is surreal and we agree that it looks “more like the Holy Land than Italy”. It is interesting to know that they will soon film the sequel to the movie “The Passion of the Christ” there.

Tod’s Billionaire Chairman Della Valle On Saving Rome’s Colosseum by Forbes – With 50% of the world’s cultural heritage in Italy, it is a daunting task on the government, especially with austerity cuts, to fund the conservation of these sites. Today, the restoration work going on at the Colosseum is thanks to funding by Tod’s.

Italy pledges €135m to restore southern heritage sites by The Art Newspaper – Great to hear the sites will be receiving special attention.

Augustus rules again as Rome acts to restore lost mausoleum by The Guardian – Wonderful to hear that there have received funds to restore this site, which in a city that is filled with a plethora of cultural heritage, it looks like it might have succumbed to the austerity cuts.

Satellites and sensors to halt crumbling of Italy’s Pompeii by Reuters – Employing all measures to “stop the UNESCO world heritage site from crumbling.”

Bernini’s baroque brilliance transformed Rome by The Vancouver Sun – Some of our favorite Bernini scultpures are in the Borghese Gallery. The exquisite details of the sculpture are awe-inspiring.

A Priest, his Museum, a Saint, and a Village in Tuscany by Italy Chronicles – It’s always great to read and learn more about places that are lesser-known. This one definitely fits into that category.

Food and Drinks

Worth the wait: Schiacciata di Pasqua by The Florentine – Easter is just around the corner and here is a typical Easter treat from Tuscany.

Greve in Chianti – Something to Crow About! by Italian Talks – Italians sure get serious when they talk about wines and this town is proud about “being at the heart of Chianti country and home to the Black Rooster”. What’s the Black Rooster? Read the article to find out more.

Cooking Art History: Sicilian Gourmet by Huffington Post – When in Sicily, enjoy the phenomenal dishes which are a result of influences from diverse cultures. This article also shares a simple yet delicious recipe.

Life in Italy

Spring in Florence’s countryside: shapes, crafts and colors by Tuscanycious – It’s spring in Italy and time to prune the trees for the new season! Gorgeous photos of the Tuscan countryside.

Have you come across any great reads or resources on Italy this week? Share them with us in the comments below.