Italian Clubs, Events, Lifestyle; Travel Italy

Siena, Tuscany, is set to stage the first of the two annual editions of its iconic “Palio di Siena“. It’s the most popular historic horse race held in Italy.

The July 2 edition is also known as “Palio di Provenzano“. The other one, named “Palio dell’Assunta“, takes place on August 16.

Here’s a video of the Palio di Siena held on July 2, 2008.

Artist and builder Dana Pyle has recreated a Little Venice in Wilmington, Delaware.

delawareonline writes: “Visitors will find many of the landmarks of St Mark’s Square in Venice, including Torre dell’Orologio, the clock tower, as well as the Grand Canal, lined with streetside shops made out of painted plywood, complete with doorways that lead nowhere and flower-filled window boxes as well as a life-sized wooden gondola in which passers-by can sit for photos.

When it’s finished, the street scene will measure 150 feet, from the Rialto Bridge to Harry’s Bar, where patrons can rest and buy Bellinis, one of the bar’s famous cocktails. In between, patrons will find a panini shop offering the Italian sandwiches. The street scene will be 50 feet wide and range from 12 feet tall for the smallest shops to 20 feet tall for the clock tower.”

The Dana Pyle’s Venice will anchor the Wilmington’s Italian Festival at St. Anthony of Padua — June 7-14 –, one of the area’s biggest summer festivals, which this year celebrates the theme “City of Water.”

Pyle, who has spent six months designing and building St. Mark’s Square with the help of lots of volunteers, says: “When I heard the theme was Venetian, I was ecstatic. I love Venice. It’s my favorite European city.” (source: delawareonline9

- About 2009 St. Anthony’s Italian Festival
When: June 7th - 14th (Monday - Friday 5:30 - 10:30PM ; Saturday and Sundays 2:00 - 10:30PM)
Where: 901 N. Dupont St - Wilmington, DE 19805
Festival details and programme at St. Anthony’s Italian Festival website.

Over a thousand of wineries across Italy throw open the doors to the public last week-end of May. It’s “Cantine Aperte” — Open Cellars — annual week-end wine festival.

It offers a chance to combine trips to some of the most amazing places in the countryside across the Peninsula — just think to Piedmont, Tuscan hills … — with sampling of excellent wines.

It’s also a great occasion for wine enthusiasts for taking a closer look at how — and where — the wine is made.

The sponsor of the event, the “Movimento Turismo del Vino” — Italy’s Wine Tourism Movement — offers on its website www.movimentoturismovino.it, advice on how to plan your wine trip.

The Bel Canto Lyric Opera Company will be performing in the second annual Donald & Dorothy Stabler Memorial Concert, in Harrisburg, PA, on May 31, 2009.

The Bel Canto is an organization based in Philadelphia which helps sustain and promote the best in Italian music tradition. The orchestra is made up of Philadelphia Orchestra members and singers who have earned some of the highest awards, such as the International Pavarotti Competition.

This year’s performance will feature a salute to Cole Porter with selections from Kiss Me Kate and Can-Can along with Operatic ensembles and the Powerful Salve Regina Chorus from Boito’s Mefisto, accompanied by both Organ and Orchestra.

When: May 31, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Where: Faith Presbyterian Church - 1801 Colonial Road, Harrisburg, PA.

Tickets may be purchased at the church office weekdays 10am to 2pm or by sending a check for $30 for each ticket along with your name and address to: Faith Presbyterian Church - 1801 Colonial Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17112.