Weekly Dose of Italian Culture #5
Welcome to the fifth episode of Weekly Dose of Italian Culture! Today, I'm celebrating a milestone of 100 subscribers in less than a month! It's a small but meaningful achievement, rewarding the effort I put into these almost-daily posts.
As usual in this series, I'll be recommending a famous Italian movie, song, and notable personality. We'll then wrap up with some interesting facts about Italy's geography, history, and customs.
Italian Movie of the Week
My pick for this week is Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (or Cinema Paradiso in English), a moving drama about Salvatore, a famous film director who returns to his hometown for the funeral of the local theater’s film projectionist—the man who first inspired his love for cinema.
Rated 8.5 out of 10 on IMDb, Nuovo Cinema Paradiso isn’t just one of the best Italian films ever made; it's widely regarded as one of the greatest movies of all time, period.
A word of warning: it will break your heart, and yes, you will cry. But it’s absolutely a must-watch.
Italian Song of the Week
My song of the week is Costruire by Niccolò Fabi.
I'm specifically linking to the orchestral version released in 2022, which I actually prefer over the original 2006 version.
This song, Costruire (Building), reflects on the process of creating something meaningful. We're often so captivated by the beginnings and endings that we overlook the sometimes dull, yet essential, middle part.
It reminds me of a line from the TV show Mad Men, where a scorned wife says to the protagonist, "I hope she knows you only like the beginnings of things!"
Costruire speaks to the need for consistent, daily effort. As the lyrics say:
Ma tra la partenza e il traguardo But between the start and the finish Nel mezzo c'è tutto il resto In between, there is everything else E tutto il resto è giorno dopo giorno And everything else is day after day E giorno dopo giorno è And day after day is Silenziosamente costruire Silently building E costruire è sapere And building is knowing È potere rinunciare alla perfezione It is the power to let go of perfection
Working on this project has only reinforced just how much truth there is in Niccolò’s words.
Famous Italian of the Week
This week’s famous Italian is Antonio De Curtis (simply known as Totò).
Nicknamed il principe della risata (the Prince of Laughter) due to his noble heritage, Totò was one of Italy's most beloved comedic actors. In his cherished Naples, he holds an almost legendary, saint-like status to this day.
It’s said that he would secretly give money to the poor at night, only to deny it when asked later. When he passed away, he left his considerable wealth to animal welfare causes.
Totò’s comedies, filled with clever wordplay and humor, continue to be popular in Italy even now.
Geography Fact of the Week
Did you know that Italy has a desert? Located on the island of Sardinia, le Dune di Piscinas (the Piscinas Dunes) span roughly 28 square kilometers, or approximately 11 square miles.
The dunes reach a height of approximately 100 meters (around 328 feet) and are shaped by winds blowing in from the sea. They are among the tallest active dunes in Europe and are classified as a unique natural environment.
History Fact of the Week
Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS) is the world’s oldest bank still in operation. It was founded in 1472 in Siena, Italy!
Originally set up to help local farmers and the poor, MPS has survived major historical events, from Italian unification to both World Wars. Today, it’s still going strong and is headquartered in Siena's historic Palazzo Salimbeni (pictured above); to some, a real symbol of resilience.
Italian Custom of the Week
You probably know that Italians toast with salute (a wish for good health) or alla salute. But did you know there’s an even more common, informal way to toast?
It’s cin cin, a fun, playful toast that mimics the sound of glasses clinking. Both expressions are widely used in Italy, but cin cin is more informal and common among friends.
I hope you enjoyed this edition of Weekly Dose of Italian Culture. A presto! (See you soon!)