.little ray of sun.

Personified Republic of Venice and Veneto Region | Est. January 7, 2014

[welcometoitalia]

Cultures clashing: Panini

In many countries, a panini is a grilled sandwich — but in Italy, it’s just the plural of sandwich (panino). So best to ask for a “panino tostato”.

[hadrian6]

Scala dei Giganti - The Giants Staircase.1483-85. Palazzo Ducale. Venice. marble.

http://hadrian6.tumblr.com

[quotethat]

it takes grace to remain kind in cruel situations

rupi kaur, milk and honey (via quotethat)

[welcometoitalia]

Another 5 Random Facts about italy

* Nearly 80% of Italy is either mountains or hills. 

* In 2007, a dog named Rocco discovered a truffle in Tuscany that weighed 3.3 pounds. It sold at auction for US$333,000, a world record for a truffle.

* The wolf is Italy’s unofficial national animal and plays a large role in the legend of the founding of Rome.

* The author of “Pinocchio” (“pine nut”), Carlo Collodi (1826-1890), was Italian.

* When McDonald’s opened in 1986 in Rome, food purists outside the restaurant gave away free spaghetti to remind people of their culinary heritage.

[bonitavista-deactivated20190411]

Venice, Italy

photo via laura

[ashara-deactivated20171021]

— J.R.R. Tolkien

[artist-michelangelo]

Tomb of Lorenzo de Medici, 1524, Michelangelo Buonarroti

Size: 630x420 cm

[barcarole]

Detail of the artist’s signature from Still Life with a Tart and Roast Chicken, Clara Peeters, ca. 1610-15.

[welcometoitalia]

Italians and Superstitions: Priest's Purple, Hats on beds, Number 17

Ask an Italian if they’re superstitious and they will say no - but superstition is so ingrained in the culture that sometimes, people don’t even realize that they do all kinds of things related to this. A few examples:

“Viola a teatro” - purple at the theatre. The Catholic Church back in medieval times banned theater for 40 days before Easter (priests wear purple during this period). Out of respect for the then starving actors you simply DO NOT wear purple to the theater in Italy.

“Cappello sul letto” - hat on the bed. Priests visiting the dying would rest their hat at the feet of the bed. DO NOT put your hat there in an Italian home!

The number 17. Seventeen written in Roman numerals XVII and anagrammed is VIXI, which in Latin means “I lived”, and therefore am dead! Unlucky number.

[andantegrazioso-deactivated2018]

Sanssouci Park | klismosgallery

[chiiaroscvro]

backiintheusa:

“Okay, but I love reminding the world.”

“It’s annoying to hear it.”

Feli being real.

[chiiaroscvro]

backiintheusa:

“It doesn’t, but I am a superpower and bragging helps make sure everyone knows I am.”

BIG SIGH

“Everyone already knows without you telling the world.”

[chiiaroscvro]

backiintheusa:

“It would be hard to be a global superpower if I didn’t make sure everyone knows how great I am.”

“What? Bragging doesn’t make you a superpower.”

[chiiaroscvro]

backiintheusa:

“Hm… nope. Not at all. I know my worth and I’m not afraid to tell the world.”

“...Right.”

[chiiaroscvro]

backiintheusa:

“Well, you should be.”

“Bragging isn’t my thing. Don’t you ever get tired from being like that?”

[chiiaroscvro]

backiintheusa:

“Loud and cute. That’s how it should be. That’s the American way.”

“I’m cute but I’m not loud about it.”

[centuriespast]

GOUJON, Jean Diane and the Stag 1550-54 Marble, 211 x 258 x 135 cm Musée du Louvre, Paris