All things Italian

[Perazzimx14]

Perazzi shotguns Just like exotic Italian cars beautiful to the eye and handle like a dream.

[Rox]

I'm not Italian.  Just another American Mutt, but I do appreciate so very much of the Italian style and creativity, taking the mundane and breathing color and life into it.

Of course, Moto Guzzi character, reliability, and style...  My Fiat 500 now has over 60k miles and is easy to maintain, fun to drive, cheap to own, and still makes me smile... I've looked at other cars and even test driven a few, but they lacked that special something ...


Italian.  What is it that you love about it?

We have a lot in common. The Fiat, the Guzzis... Fiat and Guzzi have strong ties.. The Guzzi v twin is a defunct Fiat motor that was destined for cars. Fiat and Guzzis are peas and carrots.

[Dogwalker]

I was struck by a comment made by several of my close Italian friends in the last couple of years, and without delving into a political tailspin...the influx of refugees floating across the Mediterranean has put a strain on the economy and jobs opportunities lately.

The refugees floating across the Mediterranean have much mediatic coverage, but, from a statistical point of view, they are hardly relevant. The great part of the immigrants in Italy, like in the rest of Europe, came comfortably by plane (among the most numerous extra-UE communities in Italy there are the Chinese, Philippine, Indian, Bengali, and Peruvian ones).

[kidneb]

The phrase that struck me as something I hadn't heard in 30 years of travelling to Europe and to Italy regularly was:

Italy is a beautiful place to visit, but it's getting harder and harder to live here permanently (for the Italians themselves), not for expats or retired folks who choose to move there...a bit sad to hear indeed.

That`s what I hear too, especially young people are having a hard time. Housing is very expensive in the bigger cities, and it`s difficult to find work that is paid well enough to pay for it.
Many well educated young Italians migrate to England and other countries to find employment.

There`s a street market in town this week, with Italian, Dutch, French and English stands. I spoke to one of the young Italian sellers today, and told him about this ongoing thread on WG. I asked him what it was like to live in Italy for young people today
With a sudden serious look to his face he said ;  "We hate it".  That`s what he said.





But otherwise, the Italian stands of course were the most delicious looking.




















well, some nice French tomatoes




  Ciao

[Toecutter]

My wife an i backpack... we're wanderers. Our last trip to Italy we left our rented apartment in Florence, picked a direction and just started walking... anywhere to get away from the masses with their cameras, and the crappy "restaurants" hawking shitty food to tourists.

We came across some telling graffiti... in English.

"Why is it called tourist season, if we can't shoot them?"

[kidneb]

When I saw this city bike today , I immediately saw before me the ; "Moto Guzzi Pizza"   

[cruzziguzzi]

'Fact is; italians simply "Get It!"

Relative to other nationalities which are close to getting it:

More industrious than Spaniards
Less full of themselves than the French
Not nearly so intense as the Germans
Blessed with the effects of Mediterranean breezes rather than the used Austrian and German airs of the Czechs

Those four nations are so close, in my mind, to getting it right but it's the Italians who have pulled it off, and in a realistic balance.



Todd.

[oldbike54]

 I wish Bhutan would build a motorbike 

 Dusty

[blackcat]

Latest Peroni commercial with Lake Cuomo.

https://youtu.be/A0L_XtB2TGc

[Kiwi_Roy]

Latest Peroni commercial with Lake Cuomo.

https://youtu.be/A0L_XtB2TGc

Thanks for that 

[blackcat]

Thanks for that 

Pretty woman, Lake Cuomo and the Ercolino.

[Cool Runnings]

I'm not Italian.  Just another American Mutt, but I do appreciate so very much of the Italian style and creativity, taking the mundane and breathing color and life into it.

Of course, Moto Guzzi character, reliability, and style...  My Fiat 500 now has over 60k miles and is easy to maintain, fun to drive, cheap to own, and still makes me smile... I've looked at other cars and even test driven a few, but they lacked that special something ...


Italian.  What is it that you love about it?

I like the 500 L in yellow.

[Cool Runnings]

I wonder what Italian food was like before they started eating tomatoes there in the late 1600s.

Food the ancient Romans ate. 

[Cool Runnings]

Perazzi shotguns Just like exotic Italian cars beautiful to the eye and handle like a dream.

FABBRI OVER-AND-UNDER 

[PJPR01]

FABBRI OVER-AND-UNDER 

Now there's a nice competitor for Holland & Holland!

[kirkemon]

I'm not Italian.  Just another American Mutt, but I do appreciate so very much of the Italian style and creativity, taking the mundane and breathing color and life into it.

Of course, Moto Guzzi character, reliability, and style...  My Fiat 500 now has over 60k miles and is easy to maintain, fun to drive, cheap to own, and still makes me smile... I've looked at other cars and even test driven a few, but they lacked that special something ...

Italian.  What is it that you love about it?

Well, keep in mind that the new Moto Guzzi models are designed in Pasadena CA.
Miguel Galluzzi currently heads Piaggio's Advanced Design Center, was born in Argentina and raised in the U.S.
But yes, I love Italian design.

[Johncolleary]

 
Keep the photos coming

[cj750]

Even their Police cars have style!

[Beerman]

In no particular order:

Barolo, Chianti, Prosecco (for the missus)
Parma Ham, spaghetti bolognese
parmigiano reggiano
Skiing in the Italian Alps -particularly Cervinia (14'000 ft, on the Matterhorn)
Tomba La Bomba (you have to be a skier for that one)
The Italian Riviera (cheaper than the French one, less pretentious and better food)
Juventus vs Inter
Moto Guzzi, Ducatti, Fiat, Ferrari, Lamborghini
The fact that they don't give a ***t that the economy doesn't work
Sophia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida and all the rest
Rome (but not in summer), Venice, Florence, Bologna, Pisa
Fashion, shoes (but not an area I know anything about)
A strong religious ethic that no one pays any attention to
The train system actually works (Thanks to Mussolini, apparently)
They managed to civilise Britain (but we are working hard to undo it all)
Londinium AD 43

I think that's enough. Time for another beer.

Arrivederci & Ciao.

Beerman

[PJPR01]

In no particular order:

parmigiano reggiano   Beerman

Not to mention...Grana Padano...can be eaten all by itself!  Molto delizioso!

I don't think I saw Grappa or Pizza Quattro Stagioni or Margherita on the list... ahem!

[blackcat]

Not to mention...Grana Padano...can be eaten all by itself!  Molto delizioso!

I prefer Grana Padano over Parmigano Reggiano and it's usually $2-3 bucks a pound less expensive.

[ILM Rosso]

For the wife and I, we'd be hard pressed to choose between one of the Cinque Terra towns or Capri to retire to. Then there's the issue of a dump/fixer upper residence costing a half a million in either of those locations...      Not a great choice/place to live for the thrifty....

Cheers,

Mark

[Fuzzy]

I miss the late afternoons on the terrazzo of a cafe. People watching, scooter watching, and an ice cold beer.

[PJPR01]

I prefer Grana Padano over Parmigano Reggiano and it's usually $2-3 bucks a pound less expensive.

    If only there were a way to keep one of those 44 kilo round cheese blocks in the house!

By the way, not sure if any folks have been to Eataly in New York or Chicago...very nice Italian Market with all kinds of goodies, restaurants, gelateria, lunch bars etc....can easily spend a full day there!!

[Cool Runnings]

[kirkemon]

I don't think anyone has mentioned Alessi. I love their design:
http://store.alessi.com/usa/en-gb?gclid=CILIkIHOh84CFUSSfgodKpMIIQ

[oldbike54]

 Are those Nathan's hot dogs sticking in the gelato ???

 Dusty

[Demar]

[Cool Runnings]

Are those Nathan's hot dogs sticking in the gelato ???

 Dusty

 

[Beerman]

In no particular order:

Barolo, Chianti, Prosecco (for the missus)
Parma Ham, spaghetti bolognese
parmigiano reggiano
Skiing in the Italian Alps -particularly Cervinia (14'000 ft, on the Matterhorn)
Tomba La Bomba (you have to be a skier for that one)
The Italian Riviera (cheaper than the French one, less pretentious and better food)
Juventus vs Inter
Moto Guzzi, Ducatti, Fiat, Ferrari, Lamborghini
The fact that they don't give a ***t that the economy doesn't work
Sophia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida and all the rest
Rome (but not in summer), Venice, Florence, Bologna, Pisa
Fashion, shoes (but not an area I know anything about)
A strong religious ethic that no one pays any attention to
The train system actually works (Thanks to Mussolini, apparently)
They managed to civilise Britain (but we are working hard to undo it all)
Londinium AD 43

I think that's enough. Time for another beer.

Arrivederci & Ciao.

Beerman

Ok PJPR01, it is clear that there are some glaring omissions which cast doubt over the completeness of this list. Grappa, of course - how could that be left out? And pizza, and ice cream. And where is opera??

Beerman