Difference MakersThe Advertising spot above is reserved for companies,people and organizations that are making a difference in the Italian and Italian American communities. It's a free spot and changes periodically. Are you making a difference? Contact me. | You can grow an apple tree with seeds from an apple,but don’t wait around for any apples from that tree…. because it won’t produce any unless you graft your apple tree. WHAT? Have you ever wondered why the cherry tree you bought from your local garden center never produces any cherries? It was [...] It’s not unusual to see old abandoned homes in southern Italy…so when we took a walk to see my uncle’s childhood home (not far from his own) I asked him who owned it and why it was abandoned. The answer was that he did,along with his brothers and sisters. It was left [...] I did a post on Italian doors a while back…but something else caught my eye this time around: Fountains. Fountains can be found all over Italy in many different styles and in many different places. Some Italians find the fountain they think has the best tasting water and go back again and again [...] Bye,I’m headed to Calabria tomorrow…wanna come? my mamma in my father’s Fiat 500 I’m looking forward to spending some time with family,taking lots of pictures,eating some great food and going for long walks through our family olive grove and the Calabrian countryside looking for wild asparagus (check [...] Last year I posted on “Grispelle”and la Grispellissima festival that is held December 8th in Feroleto Antico,where my family is from in Calabria but I didn’t include a recipe…so here it is. My family makes a fried potato-dough with and without anchovies every year at Christmas time:We call [...] When my parents grew up in Calabria “la Cucina Povera”was in full affect. La Cucina Povera is simply making use of everything/not wasting anything but at the same time creating dishes that don’t sacrifice in taste or goodness. La Cucina Povera emerged due to economic circumstances but continues today in many parts of [...] When my mother was growing up in Calabria most families made their own bread because they simply couldn’t afford to buy it. What they also did was share yeast in a very creative way. After making the dough,they would put a small piece aside (that already included yeast) and they would use it [...] Little shops like the one in the photo Jady sent me below have a romantic feel to them don’t they? It makes me smile to see all the colors,fresh (probably local) products and down to earth owners that live in the community and care about their business and customers. There’s also a beauty [...] On a clear day as the sun sets into the Tyrrhenian Sea on the west coast of Calabria…. you get a truly beautiful sunset and a great look at the volcano –Stromboli. Stromboli is still very active and had it’s last major eruption August 2,2008 (according to wikipedia) but is said to [...] One of the most unique and beautiful tourist attractions in Calabria in my opinion is,“la Chiesetta Di Piedigrotta”in Pizzo Calabro. Pizzo Calabro is a picturesque fishing town on the Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria and la Chiesetta Di Piedigrotta is actually located on the road into town on the SS 522,about 4km [...] | Heading to Calabria? Need a travel consultant,place to stay or some great ideas for what to do? Contact Bella Vita Travel Consulting in Catanzaro. | Joe Maruca welcomes you to Italyville where he writes and rants about growing up Italian in Massachusetts,his experiences living and working in Bologna,visits to the family's Olive farm in Calabria and everything along the way. In America we're considered Italian,in Italy we've become Americani... but we're always at home in Italyville. Italyville.com All Content,graphics and photos on Italyville.com are property of Italyville.com unless otherwise noted and can not be used without permission. All rights reserved. |