| Last update: Oct 30st, 2002 |
| (AP) |
| Mount Etna
spewed columns of ash that blackened skies as far away as Africa, and rivers
of steaming lava streamed down its slopes, setting a pine forest on fire
and leading officials to close schools and an airport near the volcano. |
| Excellent
Eco |
| The Italian author Umberto Eco is the winner
of the prestigious Mediterraneo 2002 literary prize for his novel
Baudolino. The novel, which has been translated into 18 languages,
was described as "the best historical novel of recent years" by
the president of the jury André Brincourt. Eco is one of the best
known contemporary Italian authors and his books The Name of the Rose and
Foucault's Pendulum have won the praise of both critics and public alike.
So why don't you treat yourself to some Italian culture and order
your English language copy of Baudolino as soon as it is published in
October 2002. While those of you who speak Italian can get reading straight
away.
|
| Name
that museum - Ministry
of Culture |
Feeling creative? Want your name to go down in Italian
art? DARC (Direzione Generale per l'Architettura e l'Arte Contemporanea)
has recently announced an online contest to find an original name for
the new Centre for Contemporary Arts in Rome. The centre, which was designed
by the English - Iranian architect Zaha
Hadid should be ready by 2005. The centre will promote art and culture
of the 21st century and is the biggest art centre to be built
in Italy since the second world war.
So get your thinking caps on. The contest is open to everyone and all proposals
must be sent by June 15th 2002. And remember the name
must be short, original and understood both by Italians and foreigners. |
Barry
McGee Prada Foundation, Milan
From April 11th to June 9th, 2002 |
| Street culture goes on show in Milan with an impressive
project by the Californian artist Barry McGee. McGee made himself known
to the Italian public with Street Market, a life-size reproduction of the
titular market which he showed at the recent Venice Biennale. McGee has
created an installation for the Prada space on the theme of the regeneration
of urban culture and subculture. To mark the exhibition the Foundation is
publishing a book of photographs taken by McGee in the streets where he
does most of his work. |
| Airheads and smoothies |
Jungle
Juice, Milan's first-ever Oxybar, will open its doors in
April. The bar, which boasts branches throughout the world, will offer Milan's
smog-ridden population a selection of vegetable and fruit smoothies as well
as 'fixes' of oxygen flavoured with natural aromas and essences. So come
along to Via Dogana 1, just behind the Duomo, and fill your lungs with the
freshest air in the city.
Info: Dario Resnati +39-335-7777377 |
| Naples art card |
 From
March 22nd 2002 visitors to Naples will be able to avail of the
new ‘Napolicitycard’, an integrated ticket giving you access
to Naples' 6 main museums as well as enabling you to travel on the entire
public transport network. The card costs 13 Euros per adult and 8 Euros
for young people between 18 and 25 and is valid for the following museums: the National Archaeology Museum,
Capodimonte Museum, the Chartreuse, San Martino Museum, the Royal Palace
and the Civic Museums of Castelnuovo and Castel Sant'Elmo. It also offers
discounts on ferries, bookshops, car parks as well as two of Naples' most
important theatres. The card is available in 30 different designs and has
already become a collectors' item. Buy the card at Capodichino airport,
at the main train and metro stations as well as all major hotels, museums
included in the initiative, newsagents, travel agencies and online at napoliartecard.com. |
| A taste of Alto Adige |
Gourmets all over Italy
will be heading for Val d'Isarco in Alto Adige from March 8th to 24th for
the 30th edition of the "Good cuisine week". The event, which
is organised by the Valle d'Isarco Tourist Office along with Alto Adige's
Hoteliers Association, will take you on a culinary tour of the area.
For more information look up the Tourist Board's website: www.eisacktal.com |
| Spotlight on Saint Peter's |
 The
Italians are widely recognised as masters of illumination, but of all the
floodlit monuments and works of art in Italy Saint
Peter's Church must take pride of place.
Indeed some 46,650 kW are used to light up Rome's most famous church, which
has recently been given a revolutionary new lighting system. The system
works on two levels: a general one which sheds light the whole building
and a specific one which focuses on certain areas picking out the detail
and forms which make Saint Peter's unique throughout the world. (Website
in Italian only, but with wonderful pictures of Saint Peter's by night.) |
| 2002 - The International Year
of Mountains |
| As
well as being an essential part of the tourist industry, mountains are an
important source of water, energy and biodiversity. The United Nations General
Assembly has declared 2002 "The International Year of Mountains ",
in order to promote strategies of sustainable development and harmony between
man and nature. In order to mark this important initiative a series of events
has been organised in Italy. Find out more on: http://www.montagna.org/ |
| The highs
and lows of Monte Bianco
|
 How
high is Monte Bianco (Mont Blanc)? Those of you whoremember your school
geography will probably say 4,810 metres. But is this reliable? Italy's
highest mountain has been officially measured on a number of occasions -
each time with different results. The mountain has gradually stretched from
the 4,775 metres of the first scientific measurement in 1775 to a peak of
4,811.6 metres in 1823. Now, after two centuries of sizing up the French
National Geographic Institute has given its verdict of 4,810.4 metres
taken during September 2001. Will this be the one?
|
| Santagiusta - the natural choice
|
 The
IGV
Club Santagiusta in Sardinia is the first holiday village to gain ISO
14001 certification. The certificate guarantees optimal environmental
management including rational energy usage, compliance with enviromental
laws and guidelines and minimal impact on the surroundings. Santagiusta
is in the extreme south-east of the island and is an excellent base to visit
a number of beauty spots such as Castiadas, Costa Rei, Villasimius and Grotte
su Marmuri.
|
| Aosta airport reopens |
 Aosta's
"Corrado Gex" airport has reopened following a period of closure
for remodernisation. Air
Vallée, the Val d'Aosta regional airline, provides daily
links to (08.10) and from (15.15) Rome. |
| A skiing centenary |
 The
first ever Italian skiers' association, The Turin Ski Club, celebrates
its 100th birthday with an important photographic exhibition
- A century of skiing and skiers -
at the Museo della Montagna
on Monte dei Cappuccini in Turin. The exhibition runs until
March 10th and is open daily from 9 to 19.
For information phone +39-011-6604104. |
THE SURVIVOR'S 
