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Joachim Murat in Calabria

THE FALL OF MURAT IN PIZZO

“Straight to the heart, but spare the face!” These were the final instructions Joachim Murat gave to his firing squad on October 13^th, 1815, according to his wife’s memoirs, although Caroline Bonaparte wasn’t actually in attendance that fateful day in Pizzo as her husband and former King of Naples looked down the barrels of nine royal rifles. His attempt to re-conquer the realm by way of Calabria had been thwarted, and he met his end in the courtyard of an imposing Aragon castle overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Read More

Charterhouse of Serra San Bruno in Calabria

Certosa di Serra San Bruno

LUMINARIES

From time to time, the monastery in Serra San Bruno has hosted noteworthy guests. However, the rumor that one of the pilots who dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima sought spiritual refuge within its walls is just that. Apparently, the discrepancy can be traced back to a false media report. The American military man who took the habit in the Calabrian monastery for a few years was actually a veteran of the Korean War. Read More

Cosenza: Old and New

THE CITY OF LAUNDRY

The first thing I noticed about Cosenza was the laundry. It was a beautiful day. Linens, T-shirts, jeans and intimates hung from windows like garland on a tree. This was a living city. “Matrimonial” sheets from king-sized beds (letti matrimoniali), folded lengthwise to fit along the wrought iron balconies, flapped against the antique edifices. Read More

Gambarie, Garibaldi and a Day in the Aspromonte Mountains

GAMBARIE

Calabria’s dramatic landscape imparts more than a stunning panorama. Back in time, the mountains served as an escape from Arab marauders and malaria. Today, they’re a place for coastal dwellers and visitors seeking recreational getaways – skiing in the winter, hiking in the warmer months and a sought after refuge from the summer heat. Read More

The Impromptu Invitation and Due Spaghetti

“CI FACCIAMO DUE SPAGHETTI”

Italians love pasta. They eat it every day. It’s economical, practical and can be whipped up at the drop of a hat. It’s also a great dish to be shared socially as an additional plate can always be filled, thus allowing liberal opportunity for the impromptu dinner invitation. Read More

Three Classic Books on Calabria

CALABRIAN TRAVELOGUES

If you do any search of books about Calabria, there are three titles that will invariably come up: Journals of a Landscape Painter in Southern Calabria (1852) by Edward Lear, By the Ionian Sea: Notes of a Ramble in Southern Italy (1901) by George Gissing and Old Calabria (1915) by Norman Douglas. Read More

Reflection: The Italian Beach

Summer is a season Italians look forward to—beautiful weather, attractive tans, relaxation, time off from work and school. Cities tend to empty out, spilling over to the beaches that seem to come alive overnight. Read More

Reflection: From Print to Electronic Formats

UNDERSTANDING THE E-BOOK

“It’s just words on a page.”

I’m not an e-book reader. When I started out in the process of converting my print book to an electronic format, I had a little trouble wrapping my brain around the so-called fluidity of the page and this is what I was told. Read More

Chinese Restaurant, Chinese food in Italy

Calabrian Eateries: Chinese Food in Italy

AN EVENING OF CHINESE CULTURE

Karen Haid, Ristorante Cinese, Reggio Calabria

I had been looking for an excuse to go to the Chinese restaurant in downtown Reggio for some time. I had passed it on numerous occasions – a cozy establishment with wood paneling and white tablecloths that seemed to be frequented by younger adults. So one evening after a very enjoyable presentation on Chinese culture at the Anglo-Italian Club, I decided to seize the moment and continue the theme for dinner. Read More

Contemporary Interpretations of the Riace Bronzes

The Bronzes of Riace are famous in Italy, more so in Calabria. The tourist board uses their images at every chance they get, and it’s understandable as the statues are truly magnificent. A number of artists have also been inspired by their splendor to create works of their own. Read More