Quartiere Coppedè

07 Saturday Nov 2026

Posted by in Architecture, Art history, Photography, Roma

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The words quirky and whimsical are not usually used to describe architecture in Roma! Away from crowds, in a residential Roman neighbourhood, is a small, elegant architectural universe with outstanding design features. Ornate residences have floors of different shapes and sizes, a chandelier hangs over the street entrance and a building dedicated to the spider are just a few of these.

Quartiere Coppedè (The Coppedè district or neighborhood) was named after Florentine architect Gino Coppedè (1865-1927).  In 1916, he was hired to design a new residential area in Roma for professionals and civil servants- and it appears he was given no guidelines. Gino let his imagination run wild, mixing Stile Liberty, Art Deco, Gothic, Baroque, ancient Greek, Roman, and even Assyro-Babilonian elements into the project.

There are 26 palazzi* (grand buildings) of 3-6 stories and 17 ‘villini’ (small detached private or diplomatic residences) around Piazza Mincio. The area is shaped like a Latin cross, with Fontana delle Rane at the point where the 2 arms of the cross meet (see map below).  Gino died just before the project was completed in 1927, with his son in law taking over.

Quartiere Coppede map

From Piazza Buenos Aires, locally known as Piazza Quadrata (square square!), walk through the grand entrance, Arco degli Ambasciatori, also called the Arcone.   This is a large, 2 story archway topped with a terrace, connecting 2 ornate buildings, Palazzi degli Ambasciatori.  They were originally built as homes for foreign diplomats. Gino Coppedè lived in one of the units.  The underside of the archway is intricately carved, and painted cobalt and gold.  From this hangs a giant wrought iron chandelier which is lit at night.

Entering through the Arcone, on the right is Palazzo del Ragno (spider building) named after the giant golden spider and web above the entrance.  The warm yellow walls also feature brickwork, columns and arches inspired by Assyrian-Babylonian style, and mythological marble creatures such as winged griffins, lions, and gargoyles that stare down menacingly. Hidden Masonic symbols and references to the Temple of Solomon can be found in this and several other buildings.The complex design of Palazzo del Ragno is dedicated to the industriousness and architectural abilities of the spider and its web.

The appropriately named Villino delle Fate (Little House of the Fairies) Is a complex of 3 villas where everything is completely asymmetrical.  It is a tribute to Italian art capitals Roma, Firenze and Venezia, featuring a clock tower, loggias, Florentine arches and frescoes dedicated to Dante, Petrarco, Romolo and Remo, and the lions of Venezia. Villino delle Fate is constructed of marble, brick, travertine, terra cotta, and glass, all surrounded by wrought iron gates and fence.

Palazzo Senza Nome (No Name building) is directly across the piazza from Palazzo del Ragno.  a glass and iron lamp hangs above the entrance, which features black and yellow tiles surrounding panelled wood doors.

Fontana delle Rane at the center of Piazza Mincio was built in 1924 as an homage to Bernini’s Fontana delle Tartarughe.  The ornate double basin fountain has 12 rane (frogs) and figures spitting out jets of water, which comes from Acqua Marcia, the remains of an ancient Roman aqueduct.  It blends in well with the surrounding architecture. In the summer of 1965, the Beatles were playing at the Piper Club** nearby, and allegedly jumped in fully clothed to cool off! Since it was 1965, there is no photo evidence.  If anyone runs into Paul McCartney, please fact-check this! The historic Piper Club is still operating at Via Tagliamento 9, just outside of Coppedè.  Giorgio Meloni was once a bartender there.

Movies have been filmed in Coppedè, including Dario Argento’s cult horror classics ‘L’uccello dalle piume di cristallo’(The bird with crystal plumage) (1970), and Inferno (1980), because of the Gothic, mysterious vibe, especially at night. The director lives just a few blocks away.  In 2021, the area was used to film scenes for ‘Gucci’.

Coppedè is mainly private residences, so unless you know someone who lives there, it is not possible to see the interiors -but I have heard they are beautiful and unique.  There are many embassies in Coppedè’s Via Brenta and the surrounding area.  These include South Africa, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Turkey, Austria, New Zealand, Bolivia, Chile, Estonia.  This is a chic, extremely expensive area to live!

Quartiere Coppedè is north of Roma’s city center in the Trieste /Salario area. It is about a 20-30 min taxi ride from Stazione Termini. Buses 63, 86, 92, and tram 3 and 19 stop at Piazza Buenos Aires, in front of Santa Maria Addolorata, the National Church of Argentina in Roma. The Arcone is 1 block away and visible from the church. My journey involved the Metro B line (Blue) to Policlinico, exiting onto Viale Regina Margherita, then taking tram 19 to Piazza Buenos Aires.

It can take less than an hour to walk around Quartiere Coppedè, but do not rush it.  Take extra time to really look at and appreciate the details.  Architectural nerds, photographers, and people who have been to Roma a few times and already seen the main sights will love it. A visit can be combined with Villa Torloni, a short walk away.

Parola Italiano del giorno/Italian word of the day, Stravagante =whimsical.  Try to use that in a sentence! Ciao, Cristina

*The word palazzo is often translated into English as ‘palace’, which it could be, but it usually refers to a building, or a grand building.

Ostuni ‘La citta’ bianca’

13 Tuesday Oct 2026

Posted by in Photography, Puglia

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From a distance, Ostuni rises 220 m above the countryside in a Cubist mass of white buildings stacked on top of each other. It is known as ‘la città bianca’/’the white city’ and resembles a 3 tier wedding cake.  The town is a maze of winding cobblestone streets, staircases, arches courtyards and narrow alleys.  The whitewashed walls absolutely glow against the colours of the surrounding landscape-the green plain of ancient olive groves stretching all the way to the blue of the Adriatic sea.

The Val d’Itria-trulli territory in Puglia has a long history.  The area has been inhabited since the Stone Age (~ 40,000 years ago).  Ostuni was established by the Messapii, a pre-Roman tribe ~ 1000 BC.  Nearly destroyed by Hannibal around 200 BC, it was rebuilt by Greeks, who called it Astu Néon (new town).  Over time, the pronunciation turned into ‘Ostuni’. The Romans ruled until the 5th Century.  In the 11th Century, the Normans gave Ostuni its tight, stacked labyrinthine layout designed to confuse invaders, and fortified the walls. Next came the Byzantines, who did the same.  Porta San Demitrio and Porta Nova, 2 of the 4 Medieval gates, still stand.  Ruled by Isabella of Aragon, Queen of Napoli the city grew culturally and artistically in the 16th century. Watchtowers were built along the coast for protection from pirates.

Why is Ostuni so white? One reason is that lime wash is cheap, easy to use, and reflects light, which helps buildings stay cool under the strong Adriatic sun. The other reason is public hygiene. In the 17th Century, the plague killed millions in the area. To take advantage of the antibacterial properties of Calcium Carbonate (lime) and prevent spread of disease, infected houses were whitewashed. This became connected with the poorer class. Of course, the rich also got disease, but hygiene was used to ‘segregate’ the population, creating a ‘ghetto’.  The richer areas and churches, mostly in the upper tier of Ostuni, retained their stone facades.  Today there are strict regulations re house painting rules.

The best way to see Ostuni is to just wander the maze of the Centro Storico on foot. Start low and work your way uphill.  Around every corner is another dazzling whitewashed view.

Piazza della Libertà is the large main piazza and a hub for both locals and visitors. It features a 20m tall 18th Century Baroque column, topped with a statue of Sant’Oronzo, the patron saint who miraculously saved Ostuni from the plague in 1656. Palazzo Municipale, the City Hall, is in a former 12th Century Franciscan monastery.  Lined with restaurants and bars, the lively piazza hosts live music and cultural events and is popular in the evenings for aperitivo and passeggiata.

Steps down from Piazza della Libertà, old meets new at La Scalinata Monsignor Antelmi.  This beautiful staircase is like an architectural bridge between Ostuni’s Centro Storico and the modern urban layout below.  It is lined with restaurants and leads to the large modern carpark. Sit on the stairs to eat an amazing gelato from Cremeria alla Scala.

From Piazza della Libertà, veer right, to Via del Cattedrale.  The uphill climb is lined with restaurants and shops where artisans sell ceramics, linens, leather, rustic olive wood products and local olive oil. For anyone with mobility issues, cute 3 wheeled Ape (AH•peh) can be hired for a lift.

Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, a 15th Century Romanesque church with a Gothic exterior is at the highest point of Ostuni. Built by Federico II in 1228 (read more about him here) it was modified in 1456 after an earthquake, blending the 2 architectural styles. The beautiful rosone features Christ at the center, surrounded by 24 finely carved columns, representing the 24 hours of the day. The interior is a cool place to sit on a hot day.    Arco Scopa, a covered walkway which once connected the convent and Archbishop’s Palazzo frames Piazza Cattedrale.  Under the Arco is Quarto Caffè.

Pass under Arco Scopa, turn right and walk to the end of the narrow street.  This is the best view of the surrounding landscape, Piana degli Ulivi Monumentali -the plain of centuries old olive trees, and the sea.  The landing is a great place to sit and watch the sun set.  If you can get a table for aperitivo at Borgo Antico Bistrot with terraced seating-the view is even better.

The Museum of Ostuni ‘Museo Civiltà Preclassiche della Murgia Meridionale’ is in the former Baroque church of San Vito Martire, Via Cattedrale 15. There, among other things, is ‘Delia’, aka ‘Donna di Ostuni’, the paleolithic skeleton of a 20 year old woman who was 8 months pregnant.  She is ~25,000 years old! Open daily from 1000-1800.  Admission to the Museo is €5. The cave where Delia was discovered in 1991 is an archeological site, 2 km from Ostuni.

Back down in Piazza della Liberta, from the column, walk in the opposite direction on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. Walking about ½ hr along the city walls, you will reach Piazzetta Martiri delle Foibe for stunning panoramic views of Ostuni.

The Centro Storico has a large, well-marked ZTL (Zona traffico limitato) limited traffic area, mainly pedestrian only.  Like many places in Southern Italian shops close from 1-5pm for the ‘pausa pranzo’.  Try to adjust to local eating times and ‘pausa’.  Refer to Beat the heat: Surviving summer in Roma for tips.

Ostuni has a population of about 30,000 and produces fine EVOO and vino. Read more in Vini di Puglia and Vini di Puglia #2. The weekly Mercato is Saturday from 8-12 on Via Nino Sansone, a ½ hr walk SW of Centro Storico.  August 24-27th is the annual Festa Patronale di Sant’Oronzo.

We did not go to the seaside, as there was a lot to do in Ostuni.  Marina di Ostuni is 8 km away, accessible by car, taxi or seasonal bus.  Lido Morelli has wide sandy beaches backed by dunes and olive groves. There is a bar, umbrella and sun lounger rentals. Spiaggia di Torre Pozzella is 5 sandy coves surrounding a 16th Century Aragonese watchtower. One cove has a small seasonal bar, otherwise there are no commercial facilities. Same with Spiaggia di Gorgognolo, 10km north.  These spiagge are in a nature reserve area, so safe from development. I will definitely go next time!

Ostuni is well connected, as it is on the Bari to Lecce train line.  The  Stazione is 4 km away.  It is an 8 min drive, 40 min walk, 10 min ride on the local bus which coincides with train times.  Purchase ticket before boarding the bus.

A car is not needed in Ostuni, or to get there.  However, you do need a car if staying at a Masseria outside of town, or want to explore the countryside on quick daytrips.  Easily reachable by car from Ostuni are Alberobello (45 min), Locorotono (40 min), Martina Franca (30 min), Cisternino (20 min), Polignano a Mare (45 min), Monopoli (40 min), Lecce (1 hr) and even Matera (1 hr 45 min).

There are no large hotels in Ostuni, only boutique hotels B & Bs and small rental apartments.  There are many masserie (farmhouses) in the Val d’Itria to stay in-if you have a car.  Some of them are trulli  The closest airport is Brindisi 40 min away.  Bari and Lecce airports are both 1 hour away.

My cugina and I stayed in Ostuni for 3 days in August. We drove 2 hrs and 45 min from Orsara di Puglia with stops in Locorotondo on the way there and Martina Franca on the way home. The drive was beautiful, then the car was parked the whole time. We stayed just outside the Centro Storico in one of ‘Le Piccole Case Bianche’-the little white houses’-an agency with a collection of ~50 cute small apartments for rent.

Hopefully i will be back to Ostuni soon.  Buon Viaggio, Ciao, Cristina

50 years of U2!

25 Friday Sep 2026

Posted by in Culture, Inspiration

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Auguri a U2! September 25, 1976, Irish high school students Paul Hewson (Bono), Dave Evans (The Edge), Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. formed my favourite band. I have seen them perform live 8 times. The last time was in October 2023 at The Sphere in Las Vegas. Attached is the video of ‘With or Without You’ with all of the Sphere visuals. Watch the whole video until the end! The graphic at the end is made up of all the endangered species in Nevada.

Looking forward to the new album coming out November 13th-which means there will probably be a tour coming up in 2027. Yipee!

This is post #250 for the blog, so auguri to Un po’ di pepe as well!

Polignano a Mare 2.0

01 Saturday Aug 2026

Posted by in Photography, Puglia, Travel

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Polignano a Mare, with its whitewashed buildings and stunning cliffs overlooking the Adriatic Sea, is a photographer’s dream. Photo opportunities are waiting around every sun drenched corner. Since writing about Polignano a Mare in 2016, I have been there several more times. Most visits were daytrips, but the last 2 times, I stayed for 2 days.

One of these visits, I was invited by family to meet up to spend a half-day on a boat. Going just for a daytrip, I would have missed the last bus from Foggia back to Orsara di Puglia, so I stayed the night. My photos taken from the other side of the water, and Vito’s backflip really need to be shared!

I booked my accomodation only a few days in advance. It was right in the centro storico, near the panoramic Terrazza Santo Stefano, in an alley full of hanging wicker baskets.  The roof had beautiful sea views and my room looked like the inside of a square trullo. I liked it so much I stayed there again!

The roof was also a great place to watch the sunset over Polignano a Mare.Grotta Palazzese is a famous cave restaurant in Polignano, overlooking the sea. I did not eat there, but I did see it from the water and from the caves below by boat.  What did I eat in Polignano?  Lots of good stuff, but I will only mention my favourites. The best take away panino ever is at ‘Number 1 Pucceria’.  Puccia con polpo arrostito, burrata, rucola e pomodorini…Puccia, a traditional bread roll of the Salento area, with grilled octopus, burrata, rucola and cherry tomatoes. Yum!  I took it to the beach with me. My favourite dinner in Polignano was ravioli di grano arso con burrata, menta  e cozze fritte…Grano arso ravioli filled with burrata, topped with mint and fried clams-with a glass of Negroamaro rosato, of course.

In my previous post, I wrote about Vicolo della poesia and ‘Guido Il Flaneur’ who painted poetry on the walls, doors and stairs of Polignano.  Well…..I discovered that the poetry gets ‘updated’.  I took a photo of these same stairs in 2016, but the poetry has changed.  Sadly, ‘Guido’ passed away in November 2024, and I do not know if anyone has taken over his duties yet.

On daytrips, because of running to catch the train or running out of parking time, I had not seen the statue of Domenico Modugno on Pietra Piatta (flat rock). Born and raised in Polignano a Mare, his song ‘Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu’, commonly known as ‘Volare’ won the 1958 Festival di Sanremo and placed 3rd in the 1958 Eurovision Song Contest. In 1959, it won both record and song of the year at the first annual Grammy Awards. Yes-an Italian song won the first Grammys in these 2 major categories!  The statue portrays Domenico Modugno with his back to the sea and his arms wide open as if he is flying. In the photo, the statue is visible from the water at the top of the stairs.  In 2024, there was a giant swing installation in the piazza, so you could volare too! It was fun, but unfortunately, I tried and failed to take a selfie while swinging, so there is no photo evidence of my flight.

Polignano really lights up at night.  ‘Nel Blu dipinto di Luci’ is Via Roma’s permanent light installation featuring the lyrics of Nel blu dipinto del blu. Sing the words while walking past them during a passeggiata. Here they are if you want to practice:

‘Penso che un sogno così non ritorni mai più
Mi dipingevo le mani e la faccia di blu
poi d’improvviso venivo dal vento rapito
e incominciavo a volare nel cielo infinito.

Volare oh, oh
Cantare oh, oh
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassù
E volavo, volavo felice più in alto del sole
Ed ancora più su
Mentre il mondo pian piano spariva lontano laggiù
Una musica dolce suonava soltanto per me….’

Tiny Spiaggia Cala Monachile is gorgeous, but crowded. There is little room to squeeze in anywhere on the pebbly beach and the cliffside—but there are other places to enjoy the water that are not so crowded.

200 m north, past the Modugno staue, is Spiaggia del Grottone with its natural swimming pool carved out of the rock.  This is a gorgeous, warm, protected area to swim, and there is a lot of room on the rocks and a wooden terrace area. Walk a bit farther along and you will reach Spiaggia Cala Paura, a nice area to swim in the clear water and hang out on the rocks or the boardwalk.

Like Alberobello and San Gimignano, Polignano a Mare is a place that totally lives up to the hype!  Was it busy?  Yes, tiny Spiaggia Cala Monachile was crowded, with no room to squeeze in on the beach—but there are other places to enjoy the water that are not so crowded, as I mentioned earlier.  My visits to Polignano have all been in August, which is one of the busiest months.  It was still not as crowded as many other places in Italy.  Do not go during the Red Bull cliff diving event in September.  Like many towns in Southern Italy, shops are still closed during the pausa pranzo from 1-4:30 pm. This is a good sign that it has not been completely taken over by tourism!  It is definitely worth spending the night in Polignano, since you get to be there before and after the daytrippers, when it is quieter.

Polignano a Mare is 40 km southeast of Bari and easy to get to, as it is on Strada Statale 16 (SS 16) the main coastal road. Most of the centro storico is pedestrian only.  Parking is available at the train station.  It is also super easy to get to Polignano without a car, since it is on the Adriatico train route from Bari to Lecce.  From Bari Centrale, Polignano a Mare is a 20 minute train ride and costs €3.  It is 500m, or a 10 minute walk from the train station to the Centro Storico. Just follow the crowd of other people getting off the train.  The town of Monopoli is 8 minutes further by train.Many of the fotos for Il Pumo Pugliese were taken in Polignano. Have you been to Polignano a Mare?  Buon viaggio, Cristina

Via dell’ Amore~Riomaggiore

05 Sunday Jul 2026

Posted by in Italia, Photography, Travel tips

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A few years ago, I spent a few lovely days visiting the Cinque Terre with Isabella. I wrote about this in Le Cinque Terre and Exploring le Cinque Terre. However….. we actually only went to Quattro Terre since we missed one of the towns!

Perché?  Well….there are 2 series of trails in the Cinque Terre.  The Sentiero Azzurro (blue path or trail), a 12 km former donkey trail along the sea that connects all the villages is the shorter, flatter one.  The part from Riomaggiore to Manarola, called Via dell’Amore, was washed out by a mudslide in 2012 and had been closed for 5 years.  Several other Sentiero Azzurro paths were closed from more recent slides.

The Sentiero Rosso network of trails from Portovenere to Levanto is higher up into and over the mountains and terraced vineyards.  It is longer, 35 km (22 miles) steeper and much more challenging.  The elevation gain is 610 m (2000 ft).   The Sentiero Rosso also includes trails going to 5 Sanctuaries-one above each village.

My niece and I had to use the Sentiero Rosso (red path) in 2019.  We hiked from Corniglia to Manarola, via Volastra and from Vernazza to Monterosso.  The part from Vernazza to Corniglia was washed out from a more recent mudslide.  We were able to take the train to from Vernazza, where we were staying, to Corniglia, and return from Manarola to Vernazza.  Our hike took over 3 hours, so we did not have time to take the train to Riomaggiore.  The next day, there was a sciopero, one of those dreaded train strikes. This is why we missed out on visiting Riomaggiore.Terrazzamenti a fasce Cinque Terre Volastra, Manarola

Via dell’Amore has been fully paved and finally reopened in 2024.  Since I was in Viareggio for a few days in May, I decided to take the train to Riomaggiore so that I could finally say I’d been to all 5 of the Cinque Terre. It was also an opportunity to have the besto Pesto Genovese!  My 20 min train ride to La Spezia was followed by an 8 min, very crowded but happy train to Riomaggiore.

Via dell’ Amore was constructed in 1920-1930.  It closed due to rain and mudslide in 2012 and reopened in 2024. The path is a paved ‘bridge’ along the cliffs by the sea.  25-30 m above sea level.  It is 1.5-3 m wide.  Even strollers can go on it, so you can’t really call it a hike.  It is only 1 km long and takes about a half hour.  It is now one way, so only possible to go from Riomaggiore to Manarola, and not the other way around.  The return is by train or boat.

The views are beautiful.  Manarola, and even Corniglia can be seen in the distance. Via dell’ Amore is easily walkable and if you are just there for a daytrip, it may the the only ‘trail’ that you have time for. Riomaggiore is small and picturesque with a cute harbour.

Although the scenery was mozzafiato-breathtaking-I have to admit, for me the path was a bit underwhelming, since I walked the Sentiero Rosso from Corniglia to Manarola, which is vineyards in the sky, surrounded by sea.  However, if you are on a daytrip, or have mobility issues, it is definitely worth doing.  Unfortunately, the path is included in the CT pass, as maintaining these trails is expensive.  There is a ‘timed entry’ so you also need to book a time to walk the path.  This can be booked online, or at the Cinque Terre Park office in La Spezia or Riomaggiore.  I got the pass and reservation together at the office in Riomaggiore and only waited 10 minutes.  On weekends, everything will be more crowded.

Dynamic pricing has hit the Cinque Terre. Individual train tickets for adults between La Spezia and Levanto valid for 75 minutes are €5, €8 or €10, depending on the season and day of the week. If you plan to hike and take the train, buy a Cinque Terre Treno Card. The combo card (trekking and treno) includes unlimited train travel between La Spezia and Levanto, use of all the hiking trails, and the local bus.  The price depends on whether it is low, medium or high season.  A 1 day pass for adults is €22-35, 2 day pass €36- €61, and 3 day pass €49-86.  Family passes for 2 adults and 2 bambini are also available.

The Cinque Terre Trekking Card includes the Via del Amore, hiking trails and local bus.  A 1 day adult pass is €10-15, 2 days is €17-26 and 3 days  €23.50-32.50.  From Nov 2-March 12 hiking trails are free.  For all of the information on pricing, check here. Also check the website for trail status and conditions before you go! Buon Viaggio!

AICW Conference, Viterbo

24 Wednesday Jun 2026

Posted by in Italocanadesi, Libri, Travel

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A few weeks ago, I attended the 20th Biennial Association of Italian-Canadian Writers (AICW) Conference. More than 80 speakers and participants from across Canada, Italy the US and beyond gathered at l’Università degli Studi della Tuscia in Viterbo, Italy to share their work.  The theme was Common Ground, Distant Shores:  Prospettive Interdisciplinari tra Italia e Canada (Interdisciplinary perspectives between Italy and Canada).

Attendees included established writers, celebrated novelists and academics, as well as emerging writers and first-time conference participants, ranging in age from early 20’s to mid 80’s. The voices of first, second, third and even fourth generation Italian-Canadians were heard. Friends, family members and students from the university were also in attendance.

Palazzo dei Papi, Viterbo

The stunning backdrop of Viterbo, one of the most well-preserved medieval walled cities in Italy, added that extra bit of magic to the conference, transporting us back a few centuries and sparking new creative energy.

Viterbo is what i would call medievalissimo! My trek to the university took me along the city walls, through arches and narrow cobblestone streets, and up stone staircases and past a piazza with a fountain.  Along the way, I would spot several cats sunbathing on ancient stones.  Viterbo, known as ‘la citta’ dei papi’, the city of popes, is located in central Lazio, 81 km northwest of Rome.  The Via Francigena, an ancient pilgrim route from Canterbury, England to Rome passes through it.On the morning of May 27 pre-conference activities included a poetry-writing workshop led by Silvia Falsaperla and a prose-writing workshop by Licia Canton.  In the afternoon, Università della Tuscia art history professor Fulvio Ricci led a walking history lesson and tour of the medieval center of Viterbo. It seemed as if every time we turned a corner, there was a piazza with a large fountain that we wanted to go back and hang out in-which we did!

Piazza del Gesu’- Photo Licia Canton

On the following 2 days, conference presentations -in English and Italian- included academic papers, readings of poetry, prose, essays and memoirs.  Also featured were three roundtable discussions, including the role of Italian cultural social clubs in Canada, the writer/translator relationship and teaching Italian as a second language.

Presentations addressed the general themes of the Italian Diaspora, including migration and return, memory, identity, displacement, loss, family, food and tradition.  Also addressed were the topics of immigrant women and their works, biography and life writing, Italian-Canadian queer identities, self-translation, teaching Italian beyond the classroom, and as a second language, media in Italian culture and Italian cultural narratives across media-literature, journalism and visual culture. Each day had three parallel sessions running, requiring careful scheduling choices. I wanted to attend everything, but it was not possible.

‘Tastes of home: Food, memory and identity’. Photo-Eloise Carbone

What was my contribution? I read ‘In vino there are memories’ from ‘A Literary Harvest-Canadian Writing about Wine and other Libations’ and took part in a group presentation introducing the first of a 3 volume bilingual anthology published in Italy ‘La Letteratura Italo canadese: una storia che continua’ with Anna Romano Milne, Maria Giuseppina (Giusy) Cesari, Darlene Madott and Genni Gunn.  I read from ‘A Nzalat d’Purtuall’, a revised, updated version of this post.

Photo Eloise Carbone

In his opening remarks, Simone Cassini professor at Università della Tuscia spoke on the contacts, cultural interests and studies that brought the university and the AICW together for this conference.  The keynote address, given by Monica Barni of Università La Sapienza, Roma and Massimo Vedovelli of Università per Stranieri in Siena was titled ‘Research on Italian around the world: methodologies, data, interpretations, and interventions, and the potential role of AI’.  It focused on Italian immigration around the world, particularly Italian immigration to Canada after World War II (1966-1971).

The closing keynote address ‘Radici Ciociara… A Life in Three Languages’ was given by long-time AICW member Gianna Patriarca on the topic of identity and cultural roots.  Regarding radici, Gianna spoke about the roots of her identity and stated that roots are what make trees grow- without them, the tree does not survive. She read a selection of her poems in English, Italian and dialetto Ciociaro.  Gianna, who recently published her lucky thirteenth book, lives in Toronto, but her roots are in the town of Ceprano in the Ciociara region of Lazio.

Keynote address. Photo Rosanna Micelotta Battigelli

A formal group dinner at a local ristorante followed, giving everyone a final opportunity to gather, talk to new and old friends, and share ideas.  May 30th was reserved for an optional excursion by bus to Villa Farnese in Gradoli on Lago di Bolsena, and a delicious long, leisurely meal at the agriturismo Azienda Agricola Vazianello in Caprarola.

The quality of the literary work presented at this conference demonstrates that Italian-Canadian writers have a lot to say, carry a strong sense of cultural identity, and those radici that Gianna Patriarca spoke about in her presentation are strong and thriving.

Thanks go to the planning committee:Salvatore Bancheri (University of Toronto), Simone Cassini and Francesca De Caprio (Università della Tuscia), Christine Sansalone (Laurentian University), Maria Pia Spadafora (AICW) and student volunteers Matteo, Anastasia, Luca, Cristina, Ludovica, Antonella,Virgilio and Luca from Università della Tuscia.

The next AICW biennial conference in 2028 will be held somewhere in Canada.  Stay tuned for the location and more information by visiting the AICW website.  Alla prossima!

Read my article about the conference -a shorter version of this post, with different photos-in Accenti Magazine.

Bloghiversario #12

25 Saturday Apr 2026

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Auguri a me! Today is another bloghiversario– blog anniversary.  I feel like we just celebrated 10 years of Un po’ di pepe and now it’s 12! In numerology, Dodici (doh•DEE•chee), 12 is associated with perfection, completeness, and cosmic order. Good things for the coming year! The word dodici comes from the Latin duodecim, meaning 2 + 10.  In Greek it is similar-dodeka. In English, twelve comes from the Old English twelf, a combo of twa (2) and lif (left).  ‘2 left’ also means 10 + 2.  The Roman numeral is XII.

12 is a natural # and is important in many cultural and spiritual contexts.  It is used a lot in measurement and timekeeping because can be divided by 1, 2, 3 , 4, 6 and 12.  So we have….12 zodiac signs, 12 disciples, 12 months in a year, 12 inches in a foot, 12 hours on the face of a clock, 12 ribs in the average human, the 12 days of Christmas, 12 peers in a jury.  60 seconds, 60 minutes, and 24 hours are all divisable by 12.  The colour wheel has 12 hues, 3 primary colours (red, yellow, blue), 3 secondary colours (orange, green and purple) and 6 tertiary colours.  In both footballs (soccer and American football), the ‘Twelfth Man’ refers to the fans supporting the 11 players on the field.  Apparently there are no players with jersey #12.

As usual, I attempted to write more posts this past year.  It did not happen, but the intention was there!  Out of 14 posts, 7 were about Roma.  I attended a family wedding in Roma in July.  You can read about the location in Santa Maria in Aracoeli. I was able to see the Caravaggio exhibit for the Giubileo 2025, and also to visit Caravaggio’s painted ceiling at Villa Boncompagni Ludovisi. Roma’s waterworks were featured in Acqua Vergine , Fontana di Trevi and Nasoni di Roma.  I ate like an Ancient Roman in Hostaria Antica Roma.  A trip to the mysterious Castel del Monte was a highlight. Since I spent 6 weeks in Orsara di Puglia, with my parents, everyone keeps asking me ‘what did you DO in a small town for so long?’  I meant to write a post about Estate Orsarese...it will get written soon.  I am going for 7 weeks this year.

In a few weeks, i am off to Italia.  I will be attending the 20th Biennial AICW Conference in Viterbo.  Viterbo, in Lazio, is 1½ hours north of Roma.  Known as the city of popes, Viterbo was the seat of the Papacy in the 13th century and also known for its thermal springs, the ‘Terme dei Papi’. 

At the conference, I will be reading from the wine anthology I contributed to, ‘A Literary Harvest‘.  In case you want to read it, last year for my compleanno, I published my piece in a bilingual post In Vino there are Memories /Nel Vino ci sono Ricordi.  The anthology makes a great gift for the vino lover in your life-purchase information is in both posts.

I will also be going back to Firenze and Lucca. Yeah!  I will be home for 5 weeks, then back to Orsara to accompany my parents!  I might bring my laptop with me, so it will be easier to write while there.  Stay tuned for upcoming posts about summer in small town Italia, gelato, and other interesting stuff.

Follower #500 happened some time this year, but I lost track and didn’t notice! If you change email addresses, don’t forget to resubscribe to continue receiving notifications of new posts.  I usually post on facebook, but because the algorithms suck, you are likely to miss them.

For quite a few years, the internet kept saying ‘Blogs are dead’, ‘nobody reads blogs any more’ etc.  Well…it seems that blogs are making a comeback in 2026-and it is mostly thanks to AI!  I know that sounds like a contradictory statement, but it is true.  With all the AI generated crap flooding the internet, actual human writing with personal, lived experience is now more valuable than ever.  And AI knows it!  Chat GPT is sending me readers.  I think i have to write a post about this, as it is getting me all excited.

April 25th is also La Festa della Liberazione d’Italia, the anniversary of the liberation of Italia from Fascist occupation in 1945.  It has been a national holiday since 1946.  Viva la libertà!  I need to write about the 3 badass gun wielding partigiane (female partisans) in this photo next year.

Grazie to all of you for taking the time to read, comment, send messages and especially for giving me an excuse to share my images and research and write about things that interest me!   You know….’Devo fare ricerca per il blog’ (I need to do research for my blog) is my reason to do all the things I want to do! If you have any suggestions for future posts or just want to say ‘ciao‘, leave me a comment.

To those who discovered the blog more recently or visit occasionally, Benvenuto!  Find out more by reading ‘Perché questo blog?/Why write a blog?’, ‘About me/Chi sono’ and my bilingual interview with Silvia L’Intervista con Silvia.

Grazie a tutti i lettori di ‘Un po’ di pepe’ per continuare a leggere e per avermi dato una scusa per usare le foto che ho scattato e per scrivere di cose che mi piacciono. Ormai posso usare la scusa ‘devo fare ricerca per il blog’ per tutto quello che voglio fare. Lasciatemi un messaggio se avete delle idee per un post o se semplicemente volete dire ‘ciao’.

Per chi ha scoperto il blog più di recente o lo visita occasionalmente, Benvenuto! Scopri di più leggendo ‘Perché questo blog?/Why write a blog?’, ‘About me/Chi sono’ e l’intervista bilingue L’Intervista con Silvia.Frecce Tricolori Festa della Liberazione 25 Aprile

Ciao, Cristina

Grazie mille to Isabella for the birthday cupcake!

Pane e Salute

30 Monday Mar 2026

Posted by in Italian life, Orsara di Puglia, Puglia

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Pane e Salute is a ‘forno a paglia’, a straw burning bread oven that has been in continuous operation since 1526.  This month it celebrates 500 years. The forno is a part of the social and cultural history of Orsara di Puglia. I believe this is the only straw oven and oldest working oven in Puglia. Ownership has changed many times over half a millenium, but the forno has always remained in use.

At one time, women prepared dough at home and formed it into loaves.  They rolled a dishrag into a donut to place on their head. for support. The loaves were carried on the womens’ heads on a spianatoia, a pasta making board, to the neighbourhood ‘forno di communità’.  This was a collective or community oven where the bread was baked. Before baking, the loaves were also imprinted with a wooden stamp as a way to distinguish which family the bread belonged to once it came out of the oven. For women, the forno di communità was a place for social interaction and community.  In fact, even the lievito, the starter, was collective.  The last person to make dough would pinch off and keep a piece to give the next family to use as a starter.  Mamma told me that when she was very young, she was sent into the street to call out ‘à crisctor’ (literally, ‘the grower’) to find out who had it!

Today Pane e Salute, which means ‘bread and health’, is run by the Di Biccari family. Angelo Di Biccari is the maestro del pane along with his 3 sons.  The secret ingredient is the lievito madre, ‘mother yeast’ or starter which has been in the family and regenerating constantly for over 100 yrs. The lievito is fed every 2 days.  Bread is now baked only once a week, on Fridays.

The dough is made with a flour mixture that is 70% Senatore Cappelli, a grain created in the early 1900’s by wheat agronomist Nazareno Strampelli from ancient Mediterranean grains.  In Orsara, this wheat is known as ‘Strambell’ after the creator.  It is grown mostly in Puglia, Basilicata and Sardegna.  Senatore Cappelli grain has a high protein content (14-15%) and is rich in antioxidants, Selenium, B vitamins, magnesium and iron.  It also has a less complex gluten structure, making it more digestible and a lower glycemic index.  Since it is a tall grain, it is less susceptible to weeds, so is usually farmed organically.

The dough is formed into in 3-4 kg rounds, given the sign of the cross, and left to rise in cloth covered straw baskets.  Straw goes into the bottom door of the forno and heat comes up the central hole, called ‘la bocca del inferno’.

Foto from Pane e Salute website

When the forno is hot enough, the loaves are baked for 2- 2 ½ hours and then placed on the horizontal ladders to cool.  The bread comes out crusty, with a soft inside and has a long shelf life of 15 days.  The straw burning oven gives it a unique taste.  The bread sells for €5 per kilo and it is best to pre-order.

Pane e Salute is also a pizzeria and restaurant, serving traditional Orsarese dishes, such as pancotto e patate.  The restaurant consists of the forno plus 2 other rooms, and has a cozy, rustic look. In the winter, salsicce hang from the ceiling to dry in the room with the forno.  In the summer, there are tables under an archway and in the narrow street with fairy lights. Fun fact…..in the 1970’s, my nonni lived above this archway!  Pizza is made with the same bread dough, but is cooked in a pizza oven in the kitchen, not in the 1526 forno. My favourite is the salsiccia e fichi (sausage and fresh figs) pizza.

Pane e Salute also has community events, such as ‘Piccoli fornai’ (little bakers) for bambini aged 7 and up to make bread, pizza, taralli and pizze fritte.  Last summer, I attended a bread making demo and an orecchiette making workshop during the Festa del Pane.

Pane e Salute Via Caracciolo 13, Orsara di Puglia 39 327 795 956                        Hours seasonal, but usually open Friday to Sunday.

Ciao, Cristina

Sanremo 2026

19 Thursday Feb 2026

Posted by in Culture, Feste, Italian life

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The 76th edition of the Festa della Canzone Italiana di Sanremo is February 24-28, 2026, broadcast live on RAI.  It is usually the first week of February, but this year has been delayed due to the Winter Olympics in Milano/Cortina d’Ampezzo. Once again this year, I have put together a handy viewing guide to the annual 5 day song competition held in the town of Sanremo, Liguria. The Festival di Sanremo is the world’s longest running national televised music competition.

In 1950. Piero Bussetti of the Sanremo Casino and Giulio Razzi, conductor of the RAI orchestra launched a competition for previously unreleased songs to boost the local economy.  The first edition was broadcast live on RAI radio in January 1951 with 3 artists performing the 20 songs.  Since 1955 it is broadcast live on television.

From 1951-1977 the festival was held at the Sanremo Casino.  Since 1977 it has been at the iconic Teatro Ariston. The Festival is a massive media event in Italia and has launched many careers, including Domenico Modugno, Zucchero, Mina, Andrea Bocelli, Il Volo, Giorgia, Laura Pausini, Eros Ramazzotti, Mahmood and most recently Måneskin and Angelina Mango. I love to watch Sanremo every year with Mamma!

The winner will have the first option to represent Italia at the 69th annual Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria May 12-16, 2026.  Eurovision is huge in Europe with 39 countries participating, but hardly known at all in North America!  2021 Sanremo winners, Måneskin won Eurovision with their brilliant song ‘Zitti e Buoni’.  As the reigning country, Italia hosted Eurovision 2022 in Torino.

The 76th edition of the Festival di Sanremo  February 24-28, 2026 will be broadcast live on RAI (RAI International for the rest of us) and on the RAIplay App, hosted by Carlo Conti and Laura Pausini. 4 time Sanremo participant Achille Lauro will be an additional cohost Feb 25th.  Hopefully he will perform as well!  Former winners and guest artists will perform, including Andrea Bocelli on the final night, Feb 28th, and Eros Ramazzotti with Alicia Keys on Feb 27th.  They will perform a duet of his beautiful song L’Aurora in Italian and Spanish.

The Sanremo prize goes to the winning song, although in most cases the performers were involved in the songwriting.  This year, there are 30 contestants (‘BIG’ Artists), plus the top 4 winners from ‘Sanremo Giovani’, the age 16-29 junior contest.  Judging is complex and contestants perform with the full RAI orchestra-complete with maestro.

A summary of what happens each night:

Night #1 February 24th.  All 30 contestants perform their entry, with no eliminations.  Voting is 100% by press jury-(accredited journalists from press comprising of print, TV and web).

Night #2 and #3 February 25th and 26th. 15 of the contestants perform each night and there are no eliminations.  Voting is 50% televote and 50% radio jury.

Night #4 February 27th is ‘Duetto night’ or Covers night.  Each artist performs a cover song or medley of their choice as a duet with an Italian or international artist as a guest, or another competitor.  Voting is 34% televote, 33% press jury and 33% radio jury. A winner will be announced.  Unlike previous years though, the night’s results will NOT be added to the overall score, which is why performing with another competitor is now permitted.

Final night #5 February 28th.  There are 2 rounds the final night.  In round 1, all 30 acts perform and voting is 100% televote.  The top 5 artists of the combination ranking are announced and advanced to the superfinal. For round 2, voting is reset, the top 5 perform again, and there is a new, final vote. The winner is decided by juries and  televoting.The lineup of concorrenti /contestants includes 5 former Sanremo winners, 2 who have represented Italia at Eurovision, many former contestants, and some first timers.  Below is a list of all 30 ‘BIG’ Artists, the song titles and a few other details to help you watch and enjoy the festival:

  • Arisa –‘Magica Favola’. This is Arisa’s 7th time as a contestant in the Festival di Sanremo. In 2009 she won the Giovani/newcomers category and the Mia Martini prize*** with ‘Sincerità’.  In 2012 ‘La Notte‘ came in 2nd place, in 2014 she won with the song ‘Controvento‘ and cohosted Sanremo in 2015. Arisa won Ballando con le Stelle (Dancing with the Stars) in 2021 with dancer Vito Coppola, was a judge or coach for X factor, The Voice Kids and Amici*. In 2025 she won the Nastro d’Azzurro for best original song for the movie ‘Il ragazzo dai pantaloni rosa‘.
  • Bambole di Pezze –‘Resta con me‘. An all female rock band formed in Milano in 2002 that has released 4 studio albums. In addition to making music, they are also committed to feminist issues, and the fight against gender violence. The present lineup is Morgana Blue and Dani on guitar, Kaj on bass, Xina on drums and vocalist Cleo.  In 2023 they opened for Def Leppard and Motley Crüe and in 2024 played with the Sex Pistols and J-Ax.  They just signed a new record deal in December.
  • Chiello –‘Ti penso sempre’. Chiello, from Potenza, Basilicata released his first album in 2021.  He has collaborated with Mahmoud, Madame, Rkomi, Colapesce and Guè.  In 2025 he sang with Rose Villain on Covers night.  This is his first time as a Sanremo contestant.
  • Dargen D’Amico –‘Al Al’. Milanese rapper and producer Jacopo D’Amico wrote 2 songs for Sanremo 2021.  In 2024 ‘Dove si Balla‘ came in 9th place and went on to be platinum.  Dargen was a judge on XFactor Italia 2022 and 2023. This is his 3rd time competing at Sanremo.
  • Ditonellapiaga –‘Che fastidio’. 2nd time at Sanremo.  She participated in 2022 with 80’s icon Donatella Rettore and the song ‘Chimica’. She has released 2 albums and collaborated with Ornella Vanoni, Elodie and Willy Peyote.
  • Eddie Brock–‘Avvoltoi’.  This is Edoardo’s first Sanremo.  He is preparing for his first tour later in 2026.  For duetto/covers night, he will sing ‘Portami Via‘ with Fabrizio Mori.
  • Elettra Lamborghini-‘Voila’. I always recognize Elettra by the leopard spot tattoo on her shoulder and back!  This is her 2nd Sanremo, the first being in 2019.  She is a pop star, model, actress and tv presenter, singing in Spanish and English, as well as Italian.  For duetto night, she sings ‘Asereje’ with Las Ketchup!
  • Enrico Nigiotti-‘Ogni volta che non so volare’ This is Enrico’s 4th Festival Sanremo.  He was in the Giovani group in 2015, then a competitor in 2019 and 2020.  He has collaborated with Laura Pausini, Olly, Eros Ramazzotti e Gianna Nannini and recently completed the ‘Maledetti Innamorati’ intimate theatre tour.
  • Ermal Meta-‘Stella Stelline’.  This is Ermal’s 3rd time at Sanremo.  He released his first single in 2014. In 2017 his song ‘Vietato Morire‘ placed 3rd and won the Mia Martini Critics Prize***.  He was the 2018 winner with Fabrizio Moro, singing ‘Non mi Avete fatto niente’.  They represented Italia at Eurovision, placing 5th.
  • Fedez e Masini–‘Male Necessario’. Rapper Fedez (Federico Lucia) is one of Italia’s most influential performers.  He and Francesca Michielin placed 2nd at Sanremo 2021 with ‘Chiamami per nome‘. His catchy hit ‘La Dolce Vita‘ with guests Tananai and Mara Sattei was the tormentone** of summer 2022 and went 6X platinum. In November 2024 he started ‘Pulp Podcast’.  This is Fedez’s 3rd time competing at Sanremo. Last year, his song ‘Battito‘ came in 4th place. Marco Masini’s ‘Disperato’ won the Giovani section, and the Mia Martini Critics Prize*** in 1990.  He was the Sanremo winner in 2004 with ‘Uomo Volante’. Last year Marco  performed ‘Bella Stronza‘ with Fedez on Duetto/Covers night.
  • Francesco Renga-‘Il Meglio di me’. Francesco is the 2005 Sanremo winner with ‘Angelo’ and this is his 10th time in the competition.  Last year he and Nek were guest performers and released an album together ‘Renganek’.  For Covers night, he duets with Giusy Ferreri.
  • Fulminacci–‘Stupida sfortuna’. Fulminacci released his first album in 2019 and competed at Sanremo 2021.  This is his second time at Sanremo.
  • J-Ax-‘Italia Starter Pack’ The rapper-hip hop artist/songwriter/producer has done a lot in his 30 year career.  He was a judge on The Voice of Italy and Amici*, and started the label Newtopia with Fedez. 2023 was his first time as a Sanremo competitor, reuniting with DJ Jad as ‘Articolo 31’.
  • LDA & Aka7even -‘Poesie Clandestine’. 21 year old rapper Luca D’Alessio is an Amici* 2021 participant and son of Napoletano singer Gigi D’Alessio. He started doing covers on YouTube at age 13.  This is his second Sanremo competition. Luca Marzano (Aka7even) won Best Italian act at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2021. He released his first album in May.
  • Leo Gassman –‘Naturale’. The son of Alessandro Gassman and grandson of Vittorio Gassman was a semi-finalist in the 2018 edition of X factor. in 2020 he won the ‘newcomers’ category of Sanremo Giovani with ‘Vai bene cosi‘.  This is his 3rd time as a regular contestant.
  • Levante -‘Sei tu’ Sicilian singer Claudia Lagona released her first album in 2014 and competed in Sanremo in 2019 with ‘Tikibombom’. She was an X Factor judge in 2017 and has collaborated with Max Gazzè, Negramaro, J-Ax and Fedez.  She has also published 3 romance novels.  This is her 3rd time at Sanremo.
  • Luchè -‘Labirinto’.Luca Imprudente is a Napoletano singer who has released 3 albums.  His summer ‘Luchè Arena Tour’ sold out.  This is his first Festival Sanremo.
  • Malika Ayane –‘Animali Notturne’. This is Malika’s 5th time at Sanremo.  In 2009 she competed in Sanremo Giovani, in 2010 won the Mia Martini Critics Prize*** for ‘Ricomincio da Qui‘ and in 2014 placed 3rd and won the Mia Martini Prize again.  In 2024, she performed with The Kolors on Covers night.
  • Mara Sattei-‘Le Cose che non sai di me‘  Roman singer Sara Mattei was a previous contestant on Amici* and guest on X factor.  She became known for making YouTube videos with her brother Davide (known as thasup) starting in 2017 and released her first album in 2022.  Her catchy 6X platinum single with Fedez and Tananai ‘La Dolce Vita‘ was the tormentone** of summer 2022. At her first Sanremo competition, her song was written by Damiano David of Måneskin!!!  This is her 2nd time competing at Sanremo.
  • Maria Antonella e Colombre -‘La Felicità e basta’. Maria Antonietta released her first album in 2012 and has opened for Lana del Rey and Paolo Nutini. In 2020 she was a guest of Levante for Covers night.  Colombre has produced music for many famous Italian musical acts.  Together they recently released the album ‘Luna di Miele’. This is their first time as Sanremo competitors.
  • Michele Bravi -‘Prima o poi’. Michele is the 2014 winner of X Factor Italia. This is his 3rd time at Sanremo. For covers night, he performs with Fiorella Mannoia.
  • Nayt -‘Prima che’ Nayt has released 5 Gold albums.  After his sold out spring tour, he played 2 stadiums, in Roma and Milano.  This is his first Festival Sanremo.
  • Patty Pravo -‘Opera’ Patty Pravo has been making music for 6 decades. She has sung in 9 languages and competed in 10 Sanremo Festivals. Her debut single was released in 1966, and in 1968 she released the classic ‘La Bambola‘.  At Sanremo, she has won the Mia Martini Critics Award***3 times. She also received the Globo d’oro (Italian Golden Globe Award) for best original song for ‘Com’è Bella far l’amore‘ from the movie of the same name.
  • Raf -‘Ora e per sempre’ Raf is from Margherita di Savoia, Puglia! He has released 14 studio albums in his 40 year music career.  In 1984, he had international success with his song ‘Self Control’, which was also released as a single by Laura Branigan. He has participated at Sanremo 4 times.  In addition, in 1987, along with Umberto Tozzi and Giancarlo Bigazzi, Raf cowrote the winning song ‘Si può dare di più‘, sung by the trio Gianni Morandi, Enrico Ruggeri and Umberto Tozzi. For duetto night, he is singing with The Kolors.
  • Sal Da Vinci-‘Per sempre si’ Sal is a singer, songwriter and actor, son of the Napoletano actor/singer Mario Da Vinci.  In 1994, at age 15, he was the protagonist in the cult film ‘Il Motorino‘.  In 1994 he won the Festival Italiano di Canale 5.  From 2002-2006, he was the lead in the musical ‘C’era una Volta…Scugnizzi‘.  In 2009, he placed 3rd at the Festival Sanremo with ‘Non Riesco A Farti Innamorare‘. His 2024 single ‘Rossetto e Caffè‘ was a phenomenal success, and he performed it with The Kolors at last year’s Sanremo Duetto/covers night.
  • Samurai Jay–‘Ossessione’. Released his debut single in 2018 and the following year had a series of successful singles and collaborated with some big names, such as Elettra Lamborghini and Geolier.  This is his first time at Sanremo.
  • Sayf -‘Tu mi place tanto’- Genoese rapper, songwriter and trumpet player Sayf released his first EP ‘Se Dio Vuole‘ in 2025.  His ‘Santissima Fest’ in Genoa is confirmed again for 2026.
  • Serena Brancale -‘Qui con me’‘. A Pugliese polyinstrumental performer and composer with a passion for soul, R&B and jazz, Serena has written for many international artists.  She participated in Sanremo 2015, 2025 and is back for the 3rd time. Last year, her song ‘Anema e Core’ was a platinum hit and the same named tour hit 40 cities.
  • Tommaso Paradiso–‘Romantici’.-Tommaso released his first solo album in 2022, and had his cinematic debut as a director the same year.  Among the artists he has written songs for are Arisa, Giusy Ferreri, Luca Carboni, Noemi, Gianni Morandi and Loredana Bertè.  This is his first time in competition at Sanremo.
  • Tredici Pietro-‘Uomo che cade‘.-This is the first Festival Sanremo for the rapper, singer/songwriter.  He released his first single ‘Pizza e fichi’ in 2018 and began the ‘NON GUARDARE GIÙ’ club tour in December 2025.

The 4 ‘New’ Artists (winners of Sanremo Giovani, previously called Nuove Proposte):

  • Angelica Bove –‘Mattone‘-Angelica was on XFactor Italia 2023, and participated in Sanremo Giovani 2024.
  • Blind, El Ma & Soniko -‘Nel miei DM’-The 3 have been performing together since September. Blind came in 3rd place on XFactor Italia in 2020 and his first single ‘Cuore Nero‘ went platinum , El Ma was on X Factor Italia 2024 and released her first single in 2025, and Soniko won the 2019 Lunezia Teen Prize.
  • Mazzariello-‘Manifestazione d’Amore’-He released first music in 2021, did the soundtrack for the TV series Summertime 3 in 2023, and participated in Sanremo Giovani in 2024.
  • Niccolò Filippucci-‘Laguna‘-The 20 year old started singing in the choir of the Conservatorio di Perugia at age 9.  He was on Amici*in 2024 and released his first single and EP May 2025.

*Amici is an Italian talent show on television since 2001.  20 ‘students’ aged 16-30 years, interested in being professional singers, songwriters and dancers participate. **Un tormentone is a catchy song that replays in your head, like an ‘ear worm‘!  ***Mia Martini Critics Award/Premio Critica Mia Martini-a prestigious award given to high quality entries at the Festival Sanremo.  Named after the late Mia Martini, who was the first recipient in 1982 and the sister of blue haired singer Loredana Bertè.

Read the contestants’ full bios on the Festival di Sanremo website.  RAI International usually airs the shows twice-once live at 1900 – 0100ish Italian time, and a replay later.  Check the local listings for your country.  The RaiPlay app is another way to watch.

Will you be watching the Festival di Sanremo 2026?  Let me know which performances you are looking forward to or which ones were your favourites!

**Update Feb 28th-I predicted Fulminacci, Sal DaVinci, Arisa, Fedez e Marco Masini and Bambole di Pezze would be the top 5. My other favourites were Ditonellapiaga and J-Ax.

The winner of Sanremo 2026 was Sal DaVinci with ‘Per Sempre si’!  2nd place went to Sayf ‘Tu mi place tanto‘, 3rd Ditonellapiaga ‘Che Fastidio‘, 4th Arisa ‘Magica Favola‘ and 5th Fedez and Marco Masini ‘Male Necessario’.

‘Che fastidio’ won the orchestra’s prize for musical composition, ‘Male Necessario’ won the award for best lyrics, ‘Stupida Sfortuna‘ won the Mia Martini Critic’s Prize, and ‘Qui con me’ won the Press Room Lucio Dalla Award and the TIM award for most voted song on TIM media platforms.  Ci vediamo l’anno prossimo!

Ciao, Cristina

Cucina Italiana Patrimonio UNESCO

31 Saturday Jan 2026

Posted by in Culture, Italia, Italian life, Mangiamo!

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Cucina Pugliese

Last month, UNESCO* (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) recognized Cucina italiana/Italian cooking, as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (Patrimonio Culturale Immateriale dell’Umanità).

For the first time, this designation is given to an entire distinctive national food culture rather than to a single dish or tradition. For example, previous entries include ‘The art of the Pizzaiuolo Napoletano‘ (2017) and the ‘Mediterranean Diet’ (2020).

This recognition is not about specific dishes or products.  It celebrates Cucina Italiana as a living heritage, similar to a language, deeply rooted in culinary traditions, community and local diversity. Also highlighted are biocultural diversity and sustainability, referring to the regional variety of Italian cooking, seasonality of fresh, local ingredients, respect for ingredients, and zero waste practices. Cucina Italiana is based on centuries of survival and cucina povera.

There is intergenerational transmission of artisanal food preparation techniques, skills, knowledge, and stories, often via i nonni.  Cucina Italiana provides a way to express love, preserve traditions and promote a sense of cultural identity, while gathered to share meals around the table.

What does this UNESCO recognition actually mean? Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called this a victory for Italian identity, protecting food systems, and boosting the economy.  Will this actually protect us from ‘Italian sounding’ products? Likely not, but through awareness and transmission of knowledge…such as what I aim to do with this blog….it can help protect local Italian culinary culture and promote respect for ingredients and preparation techniques.  Most people enjoy eating Italian food, but really know very little about it.

If you are fortunate enough to still have nonni, make sure to learn absolutely everything you can from them while it is still possible. Be a spugna (sponge) and absorb all the knowledge!

Learn more about cucina povera and the resilience of our contadini ancestors in the post Grano Arso.

*UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a UN agency that protects biodiversity, safeguards world heritage, promotes quality education, and combats misinformation. UN World Heritage Sites spotlight physical places and monuments worth celebrating and preserving.  Intangible cultural heritage does the same for cultural practices and safeguards cultural traditions at risk.

Italia has 61 entries (55 cultural, 6 natural) on the UNESCO World Heritage list and 30 entries on the tentative list. To read other Un po’ di pepe posts on UNESCO World Heritage entries, enter UNESCO in the search bar.

Buon appetito, Cristina