Italian Clubs, Events, Lifestyle; Travel Italy

Umbria, with its many medieval hilltop towns, within a reasonable train ride from Rome, offers those who are visiting the Eternal city a chance for taking a break from the city. And if you love music or theatre, early July you have more reasons for heading to Umbria.

(photo by Sonietta46 - CC license)

The historic town of Spoleto, less than one hour and a half train ride from Rome, is hosting the Spoleto Festival, major event for visual arts featuring international stars of theatre, opera, dance, and cinema. The 2008 edition runs from June 27 through Juy 13.

The city of Perugia, with its Umbria Jazz Festival, offers a peaceful holiday in Umbria with a soundtrack of jazz, soul, blues, gospel, pop and salsa, with the historic settings used as venues. The festival, regarded as one of the major international jazz festivals in Europe, also offers a combination of good music and fine food with aperitifs, jazz lunches and dinners, jazz served with wine and gourmet cuisine in some of the restaurants in the town centre.
The 2008 edition runs from July 11 through Juy 20 (see Umbria Jazz programme).

- See interactive map of Umbria.
- Browse accommodation in Umbria.

Italy gained its political unity only 150 years ago.
Today’s Italy is still a fragmented mosaic of cities and towns, rich in peculiar and  ancient traditions, dialects and cultures, but lacking a national political identity. Because of this situation, Italians give more importance to the personal interests of the individual, of the family, and of the “clan”.

On the “Italian Identity” topic, the Italian Center of the West of Salt Lake City, UT, will be holding a seminar, “Italian Identity Today - Focusing on its religious aspects“.

The seminar, presented by Professor Pino Lucà Trombetta from the University of Bologna (Italy), will be taking place on June 30.
The event is part of Italian History and Culture Series sponsored by Italian Center of the West of Salt Lake City, UT.

Where: At the City Hall, 450 S. 200 E. #335., SLC, UT
When: Monday, June 30, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.
Public is welcome, no admission fee.

The Bel Canto Lyric Opera Company of Philadelphia will be performing a concert in the area at Faith Presbyterian Church, 1801 Colonial Road, Harrisburg, PA, on June 1st at 5:30.

In addition to Opera selections, The Bel Canto will be performing such Neapolitan songs as Core’Ngrato, Santa Lucia Lutana, Maria,Maria.   
Salvatore Scarpa, assistant director of the Philadelphia Ballet will be conducting the orchestra.

The Bel Canto Lyric Opera is made up of Philadelphia Orchestra members, with singers who have earned some of the highest awards, such as the International Pavarotti Competition. It performs extensively in the Philadelphia, NJ and NY areas to great acclaim.

For details of the event, please contact the church office at www.lifeinfaith.org (Church phone number is &17-545-4631)

When: June 1st at 5:30 PM
Where: 1801 Colonial Road, Harrisburg, PA.

The annual “Open Cellars“, major wine event held in late May in Italy, gives wine lovers a week-end of free wine tastings throughout the country.
Many wineries open the doors to visitors who come to sample the year’s vintage. Also they have a chance to know more about grape growing, vineyard management and wine making practices.

“Open Cellars”  – “Cantine Aperte” in Italian, is not for wine lovers only. Along with wine-tasting sessions, many other events are being scheduled in this week-end, ranging from gourmet events, to guided visits, cycling tours to countryside etc…. “Cantine Aperte” offers a big chance to combine wine tastings to excursions in wine-growing areas that usually also means wonderful countryside.

In order to know the list of wineries joining the event — open to public for this event, visit website www.movimentoturismovino.it .