A journalist Beppe Severgnini, which also writes for the New York Times, has just recently made a kind of survey online and has selected 100 reasons we are happy to be Italians and to love Italy.
It is still a difficult period for everybody in the world because of the economic crisis and other matters. I do not know what your media reports you about Italy, but anyway I am almost sure that it is not an idyllic picture.
I would like to share with you some of these reasons to make you smile, laugh and reflect and be happy to have come to visit a beautiful country.
Because we’re intelligent, when we’re not too smart for our own good
Because we’re intuitive, if we can avoid being superficial
Because we’re direct, although we can be impulsive
Because we’re unpredictable, as long as we’re not careless
Because no one else is so skillful at turning a crisis into a party
We have good manners and do good things (unfortunately we struggle to translate them into good conduct)
Because we have good taste. We instinctively recognize beauty
Because, now and again, we put aesthetics before ethics. It’s wrong, but it’s fun to watch
Because we’re interesting. Tourists, business travelers and Angel Merkel are never bored with Italians around.
Because people everywhere look at you. In Italy, they see you
Because the countryside is a sentimental education (north)
Because life can be uphill and downhill (center)
Because the world is a colorful idea (south)
Because history left its mark
Because Milan is our America, the land of opportunity
Because Trieste is the south of the north, the north of the south, the east of the west and the west of the east
Because Venice makes tourists think they’re poets
Because Genoa smiles and shows her teeth to the sea
Because Florence and Turin have woken up
Because Naples and Bari turn their backs on each other, respectfully
Because we’re intuitive, if we can avoid being superficial
Because we’re direct, although we can be impulsive
Because we’re unpredictable, as long as we’re not careless
Because no one else is so skillful at turning a crisis into a party
We have good manners and do good things (unfortunately we struggle to translate them into good conduct)
Because we have good taste. We instinctively recognize beauty
Because, now and again, we put aesthetics before ethics. It’s wrong, but it’s fun to watch
Because we’re interesting. Tourists, business travelers and Angel Merkel are never bored with Italians around.
Because people everywhere look at you. In Italy, they see you
Because the countryside is a sentimental education (north)
Because life can be uphill and downhill (center)
Because the world is a colorful idea (south)
Because history left its mark
Because Milan is our America, the land of opportunity
Because Trieste is the south of the north, the north of the south, the east of the west and the west of the east
Because Venice makes tourists think they’re poets
Because Genoa smiles and shows her teeth to the sea
Because Florence and Turin have woken up
Because Naples and Bari turn their backs on each other, respectfully
Because Calabria’s heat is exhilarating
Because in Sicily the shortest line between two points is an arabesque (with thanks to Ennio Flaiano)
Because Sardinia has a huge heart and immense patience
Because there is a north and a south, just like in the United States. Look up Scarlett O’Hara in Matera. She might be called Samantha, but she’ll be there
Because on some days, the Lombardy sky is bluer than the Italian national team’s jersey
Because we have our head in Europe, our midriff exposed and our feet dangling in the sea
Because summer’s hot and winter’s cold so we can cool off or warm up, and complain
Because we have lindens in our gardens, firs in the mountains and poppies in the fields.
Because in Sicily the shortest line between two points is an arabesque (with thanks to Ennio Flaiano)
Because Sardinia has a huge heart and immense patience
Because there is a north and a south, just like in the United States. Look up Scarlett O’Hara in Matera. She might be called Samantha, but she’ll be there
Because on some days, the Lombardy sky is bluer than the Italian national team’s jersey
Because we have our head in Europe, our midriff exposed and our feet dangling in the sea
Because summer’s hot and winter’s cold so we can cool off or warm up, and complain
Because we have lindens in our gardens, firs in the mountains and poppies in the fields.
Because at a certain time of year, the Alps slip off their cloak of snow and let you take a good look
Because soccer is a sport, now and again
Because everybody has played soccer
Because the flavors of our ice cream are almost metaphysical – puffo (smurf), amarissimo (as bitter as it gets), basil
Because life goes on in trains; albeit slowly, if it’s a local service
Because in airports at dawn, Italy looks like a quiet, tidy country
Because not all outdoor entertainment is entertaining, but they’re all outdoor
Because we can dance at parties without getting drunk
Because in Italian hotels, they know who you are, and remember
Because our restaurants are staffed by men and women, not robots
Because we have sea, mountains, hills, plains, romantic towns, fragrant islands, fast-flowing rivers and great lakes. Obviously, we don’t have a Grand Canyon or Great Wall. But we’re working on that
Because Italians have painted, sculpted, narrated, sung, acted, furnished and clothed life
Because soccer is a sport, now and again
Because everybody has played soccer
Because the flavors of our ice cream are almost metaphysical – puffo (smurf), amarissimo (as bitter as it gets), basil
Because life goes on in trains; albeit slowly, if it’s a local service
Because in airports at dawn, Italy looks like a quiet, tidy country
Because not all outdoor entertainment is entertaining, but they’re all outdoor
Because we can dance at parties without getting drunk
Because in Italian hotels, they know who you are, and remember
Because our restaurants are staffed by men and women, not robots
Because we have sea, mountains, hills, plains, romantic towns, fragrant islands, fast-flowing rivers and great lakes. Obviously, we don’t have a Grand Canyon or Great Wall. But we’re working on that
Because Italians have painted, sculpted, narrated, sung, acted, furnished and clothed life
Because we discovered America by chance
Because ancient Rome was a great power and modern Rome can be great fun
Because Italian families are hotels, restaurants, banks, insurance companies, kindergartens and care homes for the elderly (they even survive Family Day)
Because Americans go into therapy, but we sit and talk with our kids during dinner
Because we put bread, love and imagination on the table
Because we have taught the world how to eat. Well, perhaps not the whole world, but certainly the French, the British and the Americans
Because we have converted the planet to cappuccino, and in Italy no one gets refused a coffee
Because we invented the pizza, the Vespa, the Fiat 500, the Olivetti Lettera 22 typewriter and coats for women. When we keep things simple, nobody does things better
Because plenty of people criticize us, but everyone copies us
Because our country churches are better than some defenders of the faith
Because we have Europe’s youngest head of government and who knows what he’ll get up to
Because we have Europe’s oldest President and we all know what he has accomplished
Because sometimes we fly the flag back to front (red to the left?), but we still love it
Because we draft laws so complicated we sometimes forget to observe them
Because we are overindulgent with crooks and swindlers, but we spot them right away
Because we have The Great Beauty that won an Oscar and do the little goodnesses that make the world go round
Because we have a national health service, public schools and the Carabinieri
Because doctors, nurses, teachers and police officers work hard for little reward
Because there’s always someone trying to keep someone else’s spirits up
Because we only turn on the air con when it’s needed
Because we can think with our hands
Because the fields never look bored
Because ancient Rome was a great power and modern Rome can be great fun
Because Italian families are hotels, restaurants, banks, insurance companies, kindergartens and care homes for the elderly (they even survive Family Day)
Because Americans go into therapy, but we sit and talk with our kids during dinner
Because we put bread, love and imagination on the table
Because we have taught the world how to eat. Well, perhaps not the whole world, but certainly the French, the British and the Americans
Because we have converted the planet to cappuccino, and in Italy no one gets refused a coffee
Because we invented the pizza, the Vespa, the Fiat 500, the Olivetti Lettera 22 typewriter and coats for women. When we keep things simple, nobody does things better
Because plenty of people criticize us, but everyone copies us
Because our country churches are better than some defenders of the faith
Because we have Europe’s youngest head of government and who knows what he’ll get up to
Because we have Europe’s oldest President and we all know what he has accomplished
Because sometimes we fly the flag back to front (red to the left?), but we still love it
Because we draft laws so complicated we sometimes forget to observe them
Because we are overindulgent with crooks and swindlers, but we spot them right away
Because we have The Great Beauty that won an Oscar and do the little goodnesses that make the world go round
Because we have a national health service, public schools and the Carabinieri
Because doctors, nurses, teachers and police officers work hard for little reward
Because there’s always someone trying to keep someone else’s spirits up
Because we only turn on the air con when it’s needed
Because we can think with our hands
Because the fields never look bored
Because around Bologna and Modena, we make romantic precision automobiles
Because Veneto is our Texas
Because they copy our coffee and pizza in Memphis, but we make their Jeeps in Melfi.
Because the undergrads at Pavia study under magnolias and wisteria
Because every laboratory in the world has a computer, a green plant and an Italian (but send us the Italian back some time)
Because some small towns along the main roads are so ugly you can’t help liking them
Because walking in town at night makes an interesting sound
Because Italy’s piazzas are reception rooms, waiting rooms, markets, meeting places, catwalks and gyms
Because we have elderly buildings in need of love and maintenance
Because when you see someone clutching their hands together, there’s a reason. They’re rubbing them and thinking, “OK, what’s next?”
Because we speak English, especially when we’re speaking Italian (è più trendy, baby)
Because we like to confuse people who judge us
Because we know that sometimes people who judge us are right
Because we love exceptions and occasionally remember there are rules
Because we are resilient, and not yet resigned
Because we are convinced nothing is impossible (A monogamous Berlusconi?!)
Because everyone is everyone else’s rival, but we’re all in it together
Because governing Italians is like herding cats (but cats have more personality than sheep)
Because the streets offer a wide range of faces. It’s hard to feel different when no one else looks the same
Because we have a sense of humor. And snicker at people who don’t
Because now and again our jaws drop, but we pick them up again
Because at least some of the time, we are what others would like to be, but don’t dare
Because Italians women know
Because Veneto is our Texas
Because they copy our coffee and pizza in Memphis, but we make their Jeeps in Melfi.
Because the undergrads at Pavia study under magnolias and wisteria
Because every laboratory in the world has a computer, a green plant and an Italian (but send us the Italian back some time)
Because some small towns along the main roads are so ugly you can’t help liking them
Because walking in town at night makes an interesting sound
Because Italy’s piazzas are reception rooms, waiting rooms, markets, meeting places, catwalks and gyms
Because we have elderly buildings in need of love and maintenance
Because when you see someone clutching their hands together, there’s a reason. They’re rubbing them and thinking, “OK, what’s next?”
Because we speak English, especially when we’re speaking Italian (è più trendy, baby)
Because we like to confuse people who judge us
Because we know that sometimes people who judge us are right
Because we love exceptions and occasionally remember there are rules
Because we are resilient, and not yet resigned
Because we are convinced nothing is impossible (A monogamous Berlusconi?!)
Because everyone is everyone else’s rival, but we’re all in it together
Because governing Italians is like herding cats (but cats have more personality than sheep)
Because the streets offer a wide range of faces. It’s hard to feel different when no one else looks the same
Because we have a sense of humor. And snicker at people who don’t
Because now and again our jaws drop, but we pick them up again
Because at least some of the time, we are what others would like to be, but don’t dare
Because Italians women know
100. Because we keep smiling no matter what
(Translated by Giles Watson)If you enjoyed it, here you can find the entire list.
Finally I would like to point you out a few events over the weekend in Lucca and around. Let's start!
- on Friday night at Santa Maria Forisportam church at 21, free entrance for the concert Music and Joy more than one hundred young people will perform. The Orchestra is composed by Lucchese students of Boccherini Conservatory and by the Carducci. Middle School. The first part of evening will be dedicated to pieces by B.Fraser, Carlo Alberto Valenti, Heitor Villalobos, Andre Lloyd Webber and Edward Elgar. Instead the second part will have also the choir joining the orchestra to perform some pieces taken from the opera The Little Sweep by Benjamin Britten.
- if you are available on Saturday evening, then do not miss the second appointment with the Angeli Custodi concerts: Melologhi by Franz Liszt, piano and a telling voice. Great location and great music. For tickets and more info, please check here
- Mozart will be the protagonist of the concert at the Giglio Theatre on Saturday at 21.00. Alexander Lonquich will conduct the orchestra.
For instance, on Sunday you can enjoy a walk in town browsing the Arts&Crafts Market in Piazza San Giusto (it is even on Saturday, I've written about this market on a previous post) or maybe rent a bike, cycle till the river path and on the way back stop at the May Traditional Fair/Market in Borgo Giannotti, just outside the wall. 100 stalls selling clothes, shoes, kitchenware, accessories and much more... If you have burned enough calories or you are a gelato fan, since that you are in that are do not miss Fuori dal Centro ice cream shop.
This event involves many the noble residences and villas in Tuscany, so if you are planning to go to Florence, Pisa, Siena even there you will find it. Please check this map for the venue in the other Tuscan cities.
Regarding Lucca, inside the walls you can visit the following gardens:
Villa Niemack, Via dei Bacchettoni 25
Giardino Elisa, Via Elisa 54
Palazzo Massoni, via dell'Angelo Custode 24
Palazzo Busdraghi, Via Busdraghi 7
Palazzo Guinigi Magrini, Via Fillungo 207
Palazzo Brancoli-Pantera, via Vittorio Veneto 44
In the countryside, in the following villas you have free entrance to their gardens, too:
Villa Oliva, Villa Grabau, Tenuta di Valgiano, Villa Mazzarosa, Villa Mansi.
Buon Weekend and be happy in Lucca!
