Weekly Dose of Italian Culture #7
Welcome to the seventh episode of Weekly Dose of Italian Culture, the series that teaches you about Italian culture and customs.
Italian Movie of the Week
My pick for this week is Borotalco (Talcum Powder), a hilarious comedy from 1982. This film has achieved cult status among fans of its star and director, Carlo Verdone.
Italian cinephiles who are nostalgic for this era often fondly quote several lines from this movie.
I wouldn’t recommend it to absolute beginners in Italian, as many references and jokes may be lost in translation. However, if you’re somewhat fluent in the language, you might find many scenes in this movie both hilarious and a great snapshot of Italy and its culture at that time.
Italian Song of the Week
My song of the week is Oro by Mango.
Oro means gold, and the song is about a lover who worships a woman he sees as unreachable. In his eyes, she is like gold. However, her allure and mystique vanish when she reveals herself as available.
Oro, oro, oro Gold, gold, gold Per averti così To have you like this Distesa, pura, ma tu ci stai Laid out, pure, but you agree Perché accetti e ci stai? Why do you accept and agree? E così tu cadi giù And so you fall down Io non ti voglio già più I don't want you anymore
Mango has many great songs that I highly recommend checking out. Sadly, he passed away a few years ago while performing on stage, but he remains appreciated in Italy, with 675,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
If the name sounds familiar, it might be because his daughter, Angelina Mango, is currently in the spotlight, even winning the Sanremo Festival in 2024 (Sanremo is Italy's most prestigious music competition.)
Famous Italian of the Week
This week’s famous Italian is Maurizio Costanzo.
Costanzo was a journalist who became a cultural institution in Italy. He became famous for hosting Il Maurizio Costanzo Show, a nightly talk show that remained popular on Italian television for 40 years.
He provided a platform for countless artists, politicians, athletes, and personalities, launching many careers in the process. His insightful interviews and ability to connect with guests made him appreciated even among critics.
Costanzo was a fierce opponent of the Mafia, and he and his wife narrowly escaped a Mafia bombing in Rome. A testament to how powerful his voice had become on the national scene.
Geography Fact of the Week
Poveglia is a small island located in the Venetian Lagoon between Venice and Lido in Italy.
It has a long and tragic history. It was once used as a lazaretto to quarantine the sick, including those afflicted by the plague. Later, it became an asylum for psychiatric patients. Eventually, it was abandoned and remains uninhabited to this day. Locals consider it cursed, and for those who believe in such things, it is said to be one of the most haunted places in the world.
It is closed to the public and it’s illegal to visit without permission from the city of Venice. Permission that requires a legitimate reason and at least 10 months of notice.
History Fact of the Week
On the 28th of December 1908, a massive earthquake (7.1-7.5 on the Ritcher scale) hit the cities of Messina and Reggio Calabria in the South of Italy (where the mainland almost touches Sicily.)
Il terremoto di Messina del 1908 remains to date, the biggest natural disaster in Europe, killing an estimated 80,000 people (most in less than a minute, and the majority of the rest due to tsunamis.) 90% of buildings in Messina collapsed, instantly killing half the city’s population. One of Italy’s most tragic moments.
Italian Custom of the Week
In Italy, it's common to wear shoes inside the house. However, many families prefer using pantofole (slippers) or ciabatte (slides) indoors for hygienic reasons.
Walking barefoot or in just socks is often considered unhygienic, especially since carpeting (known as moquette) is relatively rare in Italian households.
Surprisingly perhaps, families who follow this practice often have slippers in various sizes available for guests to ensure their comfort.
I hope you enjoyed this edition of Weekly Dose of Italian Culture. Alla prossima! (Till next time!)