Weekly Dose of Italian Culture #9
Welcome to the ninth episode of Weekly Dose of Italian Culture, your gateway to discovering Italian movies, songs, history, geography, and traditions.
Italian Movie of the Week
My pick for this week is Ladri di Biciclette (1948, Bicycle Thieves) a drama by the unforgettable Vittorio De Sica.
Filmed in post-war Italy, it tells the story of an unemployed father who finally finds a job as a poster affixer, a job that requires a bicycle (which is soon stolen.) He and his son set out to find it.
What makes this movie one of the best Italian films ever is its heartfelt depiction of human struggle and resilience, set against the backdrop of Rome in a nation recovering from war.
Italian Song of the Week
My song of the week is Volare by Domenico Modugno.
One of the most famous Italian songs, it doesn’t say much when you translate the lyrics, but in its simplicity, it captures a spensieratezza (carefree spirit) and joy of living that have captured the hearts of generations of Italians.
Famous Italian of the Week
This week’s famous Italian is Ferruccio Lamborghini, an entrepreneur who started the tractor and car brand, Lamborghini.
Initially focused on producing high-quality tractors, Lamborghini's venture into car manufacturing came about due to an interesting encounter with Enzo Ferrari.
By then a wealthy man, Lamborghini approached Ferrari to suggest improvements to the clutch in Ferrari’s cars. Enzo Ferrari, however, dismissed him with a sharp remark, reportedly telling Lamborghini to stick to tractors.
Lamborghini did not take this kindly and decided to create his own line of luxury sports cars. Today, Lamborghini cars are on par with, and sometimes considered superior to, Ferraris.
Geography Fact of the Week
Italy boasts the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world (60, to be exact.) But which regions hold the largest share? That distinction goes to the following regions, each of which is home to at least four UNESCO sites: Toscana (Tuscany), Lombardia (Lombardy), Veneto, Lazio, Sicilia (Sicily), Campania, and Piemonte (Piedmont).
To put this into perspective: if UNESCO sites were evenly distributed by land area, a region the size of Pennsylvania would have just one site. Tuscany, however, has 8, despite being only one-fifth the size of Pennsylvania.
History Fact of the Week
Did you know that Italy is home to the world's oldest university? The University of Bologna, established in 1088, has been operating continuously for nearly a millennium.
Today, it remains one of the most prestigious and popular universities in Italy. The influx of students is a key part of the cultural and social fabric of Bologna, giving the city its unique energy and charm.
Italian Custom of the Week
You probably know that Italians are very particular about their food. Adding panna (cream) to Carbonara is practically sacrilege, and putting ananas (pineapple) on pizza? Well, that’s how you ruin a perfectly good pizza!
But here’s something that might surprise you: Italians actually have a pizza that seems very American. It’s called pizza würstel e patatine; a pizza topped with hot dogs and French fries. While it’s technically aimed at kids, I’ve seen plenty of adults enjoying it too.
So, if you come across this pizza in Italy, rest assured; it’s not just a tourist gimmick. This very American-looking pizza is authentically Italian!
I hope you enjoyed this 9th edition of Weekly Dose of Italian Culture. Alla prossima! (Till next time!)