Fav Reads On Italy This Week: Dec 27

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

Postcard from Italy: Colosseum in Rome

This week’s roundup includes the colossal task of restoration work at the Colosseum, opening of a fascinating new site discovered 60 years ago at the Vatican, success of ‘mafia-free’ hampers, and more.

Culture and Travel

Vatican to open poignant ancient Roman cemetery by BBC News – Another must-visit when in Rome in 2014. Discovered under the car park in the Vatican 60 years ago, they will be opening it for the public to visit in early 2014.  Looking forward to this.

‘Mafia-free’ Christmas hampers prove a hit for Italian shoppers by The Telegraph – This is positive news! The goodies in the hamper, from wine to honey, are all “produced from farmland confiscated from the country’s ruthless mafia clans”.

Christmas 2013 At The Vatican by CBS New York – Slideshow of the celebrations at the Vatican. Here are more festive photos from all over Italy.

Decline and fall of Rome’s cinematic empire: The end for Italy’s famed Cinecitta studios? by The Independent – It has created classics and yet another fire means “that future of the site and even the future of Italian cinema was at risk following doubts over investment in production facilities”.

Saving The Colosseum by CBS12 – Finally restoration work has begun on this iconic monument and “the painstaking nature of the cleaning, means it will take three years to complete”.

Food and Drinks

The Panettone Legends by Italy Magazine – There are not one but three legends which are all intriguing! But what really matters is that this sweet treat  – whether the traditional or chocolate versions – is a must in most households during the holidays.

Italians savour panettone to keep Christmas sweet in crisis by Reuters – On the topic of panettone, here’s to show you how much Italians savour this sweet treat. So much so that despite the recession, Italians will not forgo this traditional sweet treat.

Opening of Salami Museum Offers Spicy Slice of Italian Life by Newsweek – They certainly are works of art in their own right! A museum that not only showcases the history but also the “secret technical procedures and craft of salami-making are also explained to the public”.

Dicembre Dolce: Pandoro Tiramisu by Domenica Cooks – This is taking tiramisu to another level. I love pandoro (yes, more so than panettone) and during the holidays, we always have an abundance of pandoro in the house. I will be trying out this recipe!

Life in Italy

Italian film hit laughs at recession by Reuters – At least Italians can laugh about their “economic woes”. I haven’t seen it yet but my 9 year-old niece has been bugging her mom to watch this movie. Have you seen it and what did you think of it?

‘Moving to Vetralla was like going back in time’ by The Local Italy – A local expert shares her life in a town north of Rome, and gives tips of some of the fascinating places to visit in Etruria.

Christmas is Coming to Barga: The Living Nativity by Italy Chronicles – I plan on seeing this Living Nativity scene next year where “the Holy Family sets off in procession through the old, narrow streets with Mary and Joseph, leading their donkey, heading the procession”. That’s a sight to behold.

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