Small Dose of Italian Culture #37
Welcome to the 37th edition of Small Dose of Italian Culture!
If you haven’t yet, make sure you sign up for my new Italian practice site: Linguetto. Practice a little each day and you'll be surprised by how much Italian you pick up over time.
🎬 Italian Media
Aprile (1998) is an Italian film by director and actor Nanni Moretti. While often labeled a comedy, it's more accurately described as a semi-autobiographical documentary-drama hybrid.
The film mixes Moretti's gentle, offbeat humor with personal (almost intrusive) thoughts about being a father, making movies, and the messy politics of mid-1990s Italy (especially Silvio Berlusconi's rise to power and how the left struggled to deal with it).
A funny movie that makes you think.
🎵 Italian Song
I’m absolutely obsessed with Core Mio by Giovanni Block and Flo. A beautiful love letter to one’s own heart.
Here is the official video, and I’m including the Neapolitan lyrics and my English translation.
Original Lyrics
Core Mio
Core core mio, ma ch’haje passato;
he fatt’’a faccia cchiù janca do cielo
Ca porta ‘a vernata.
Core core mio, lass’ ’a paura
M’arape ‘m pietto accussì guard’ ‘o mare
Ca s’ è fatto scuro.
Core core mio damme ‘na voce
mò vene ‘o tiempo ca te faccio scennere
‘a copp’ ‘a sta croce
Core core mio, cu ‘e mane aizate.
Haje fatt’ ‘a guerra a chi guerra t’ha fatto
O a chi c’ ha pruvato
Core core mio, uocchie ‘e criature,
miettete ‘e scarpe e accumbuogliate buono
Nun stà semp’annure
Core core mio damme ‘na voce
mò vene ‘o tiempo ca te faccio scennere
‘a copp’ ‘a sta croce.English Translation
My Heart
Heart heart of mine, what happened to you;
Your face became whiter than the sky
That brings winter.
Heart heart of mine, leave fear behind
You open my chest so you see the sea
That has become dark.
Heart heart of mine, give me a voice
Now comes the time that I make you come down
From up this cross.
Heart heart of mine, with hands up.
You went to war with those who fought you
Or they tried to.
Heart heart of mine, eyes of a child,
Put on your shoes and cover yourself up
Don’t be always naked.
Heart heart of mine, give me a voice
Now comes the time that I make you come down
From up this cross.🎭 Famous Italian
Lello Arena (born 1953) is a Neapolitan actor, comedian, and theater director best known for his work with the comedy troupe La Smorfia alongside Massimo Troisi and Enzo Decaro during the 1970s and early 1980s.
He has appeared in many Italian films and TV shows, and continues to perform in theater, particularly in Naples. His comedic style is deeply rooted in Neapolitan culture and dialect, blending physical comedy with sharp social observation.
🏞️ Italian Landmark
La Reggia di Caserta is an absolutely stunning royal palace you'll find in Caserta, in southern Italy, roughly 30 kilometers north of Naples. Back in 1752, Charles VII of Naples (who would later become King Charles III of Spain) commissioned this incredible building. The architect Luigi Vanvitelli designed it, and it became the main home for the Bourbon kings of Naples.
People often call it the "Versailles of Italy," and honestly, it's easy to see why. This palace is genuinely one of the largest royal residences anywhere in the world when you look at sheer volume. We're talking about 1,200 rooms, 34 staircases, and something like 47,000 square meters of space. The grounds are just as impressive, with beautiful formal gardens featuring fountains, cascades, and a long water channel that leads up to a spectacular waterfall.
Everything's done in that grand Baroque and Neoclassical style that just takes your breath away. La Reggia di Caserta is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (they gave it that status back in 1997).
Absolutely worth visiting.
🍝 Italian Dish
Casatiello is a traditional savory bread from Naples, Italy, that's especially loved during Easter; though you'll also see it pop up at other springtime celebrations. This hearty, rustic loaf comes packed with cured meats like salami and pancetta, plenty of cheese (usually Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano-Reggiano), and whole eggs baked right into the dough, often arranged in a pretty cross pattern on top.
🗣️ Italian Proverb
Fidarsi è bene, ma non fidarsi è meglio.
(To trust is good, but not to trust is better.)
👀 Italian Curiosity
Italians are absolutely hooked on WhatsApp, a messaging app owned by Meta (of Facebook fame).
It's become the go-to way for people to stay in touch, and not just with friends; businesses have jumped on board, too.
Furthermore, Italians love to leave vocal messages (messaggi vocali or simply vocali) on WhatsApp instead of typing long messages. This is both a great opportunity for Italian learners and a challenge.
I hope you enjoyed the 37th edition of Small Dose of Italian Culture.