Knowing Portugal

Portugal is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east. The Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira are also part of Portugal.
Portugal is a democratic republic ruled by the Constution of 1976. A member state of the United Nations since 1955, Portugal is also a founding member of NATO (1949), OECD (1961) and EFTA (1960); it left the latter in 1986 to join the European Economic Community, that would become the European Union in 1993
Capital: Lisbon

Official language: Portuguese

Cities:
Lisbon is located on the west cost of the country, the Antlantic Ocean, where the river Tagus flows into the ocean. Porto is the second city in size and importance in Portugal. Braga- with an interesting and attractive historical center where you can visit: Casa dos Criva , Santa Cruz Church, Archiepiscopal Palace (XIV-XVII centuries), Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Staircase (XVIII century), Monastery Tibaes, spawns de Lima and Viana do Castelo


Portugalia este o ţară situată în extrema sud-vestică a Europei, din Peninsula Iberica având graniţă cu Oceanul Atlantic în vest şi în sud, şi cu Spania în nord şi în est. De asemenea include două grupuri de insule ale Atlanticului: Insulele Azore (Açores) şi Insulele Madeira.
Portugalia este o republica democratica. Un stat membru al Organizatiei Natiunilor Unite din anul 1955, si de asemenea membru fondator al NATO (1949), OCDE (1961) si EFTA (1960),
Capitala: Lisabona
Limba oficiala: portugheza
Oraşe turistice:

Lisabona este plasată pe costa de vest a ţării, la Oceanul Atlantic, unde râul Tejo se varsă în ocean. Porto este al doilea oraş în mărime şi importanţă din Portugalia. Locuitorii Porto-ului şi-au spus tripeiros, nume care este în uz şi astăzi. Unul dintre produsele Portugaliei apreciate la nivel mondial este Vinul de Porto

Braga – cu un interesant şi atractiv centru istoric, în care se pot vizita: Casa dos Crivos ( sec . al-XVIII-lea), Biserica Santa Cruz ( secolele XVI-XVIII), Catedrala Se ( secolele XII-XVIII) Primaria ( sec. al XVIII-lea), Palatul Arhiepiscopal ( secolele XIV-XVIII), Gradina Botanica Santa Barbara, Staircase ( sec. XVIII-lea), Manastirea Tibaes, Pontele de Lima si Viana do Castelo.

WRITER

Eça de Queiroz (1845 - 1900) is a Portuguese novelist. Born in Póvoa de Varzim, near Oporto, he traveled throughout the world as a consul. He accepted an assignment to the consulate of Paris in 1888 and remained there until his death on August 16, 1900. The books he wrote in Paris are critical of Portuguese society. His most famous works include Os Maias (The Maias) (1878) , 'O Crime do Padre Amaro (The Crime of Father Amaro) (1876) and O Primo Bazilio (Cousin Basílio) (1878). Nicknamed the "Portuguese Zola," Eça was the founder of Portuguese Naturalism.

José Maria Eça de Queirós este probabil cel mai cunoscut scriitor realist portughez. S-a remarcat ca un novator al romanului portughez prin orientarea sa catre realism. Romane importante ale lui Eça de Queirós: O Primo Basilio (Vărul Basilio), Os Maias (Familia Maia). „A Cidade e as Serras” (Oraşul şi muntele)

João de Deus Ramos (March 8, 1830 – January 11, 1896), better known as João de Deus, the greatest Portuguese poet of his generation, was born in Silves in the province of Algarve, son of Pedro José Ramos (son of José dos Ramos and wife Joaquina Maria) and wife Isabel Gertrudes Martins (daughter of Manuel Martins and wife Gertrudes Angélica). Matriculating in the faculty of law at the University of Coimbra, he did not proceed to his degree but settled in the city, dedicating himself wholly to the composition of verses, which circulated among professors and undergraduates in manuscript copies. The Folhas soltas (1876) is a collection of verse in the manner of Flores do campo, brilliantly effective and exquisitely refined.

Joao de Deus Ramos, cel mai mare poet portughez al generaţiei sale, s-a născut in provincia Silves. Una dintre culegerile de poeme: Soltas Folhas

PAINTERS

Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso

Wwas a Portuguese artist, working in the style of the vanguard of his time. In 1912 he published an album with twenty drawings and, after that, he copied the story, “La Légende de Saint Julien to l'Hospitalier”, which were ignored by appreciators of art. In 1913 he exhibited eight works in the Armony Show in the USA, some of which are now in American museums

A fost un pictor portughez modernist, precursor al curentelor de avangarda.

În 1912 publică un album cu 20 de desene şi, "cu răbdarea unui benedictin" - cum spune el însuşi - realizează ilustraţiile pentru povestirea "La légende de Saint Julien l'Hospitalier

MUSICIANS
Fernando Lopes-Graça
Was a Portuguese composer and conductor of the 20th century. He worked both as a contemporary music composer and as a musicologist. His major influences came from Portuguese popular music, that he studied, continuing the work of other musicologists, like Francisco de Lacerda.
A fost un compozitor şi dirijor portughez al secolului 20. El a lucrat atât ca un compozitor de muzică contemporană şi ca un muzicolog. Influentele sale majore au venit din muzica populara portugheza.
Sequeira Costa
Is a Portuguese pianist who is especially admired for his interpretations of the Romantic repertoire.
At the age of 22, Costa launched his international career by winning the Grand Prix at the Marguerite Long International Piano Competition. Five years later, he founded the Vianna da Motta International Music Competition in Lisbon. In 1958, Dmitri Shostakovich invited Costa to sit on the jury of the inaugural International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, to which he returned six times.

France , officially the French Republic , is a member state of the European Union located in its western region, with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents. France is a unitary semi-presidential republic with its main ideals expressed in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.



France is linked to the United Kingdom by the Channel Tunnel, which passes underneath the English Channel.

France is the largest state in the European Union by area and the third largest in Europe behind Russia and Ukraine. France has been a major power for many centuries with strong economic, cultural, military and political influence. During the 17th and 18th centuries, France colonised great parts of North America; during the 19th and early 20th centuries, France built the second largest empire of the time, including large portions of North, West andCentral Africa, Southeast Asia, and many Pacific islands.





Franta , official Republica Frantei, este un stat membru al Uniunii Europene, situata in regiunea vestica, cu ctaeva teritorii si insule peste mari, locaizate pe alte continente. Franta este o republica semi-prezidentiala cu ideile principale exprimate ine Declaratie Drepturilor Omului si Cetateanului. Franta etse legata de Regatul Unit prin Canalul Tunel, care trece pe sub Canalul Englez.


Franta este cel mai mare stst din Uniunea Europeana prin dimensiunea sa si al treilea in Europa dupa Rusia si Ucraina. Franta a fost o putere majora timp de multe secole, cu o mare influenta economica, culturala, militara si politica. In timpul sec 17 si 18, Franta a colonizat mari parti din America de Nordș in timpul sec 19 si 20, Franta a construit cel mai mare imperiu al perioadei, incluzand mari portiuni din Afica de Nord, de Vest si centrala, Asia de Sud si multe din insulele din Pacific.

Cities


The largest cities in France, in terms of metropolitan area population, are Paris (11,769,433), Lyon (1,748,271), Marseille (1,605,000), Lille(1,164,716), Nice (1,197,751), Toulouse (1,102,882), Bordeaux (999,149) and Nantes (804,000).

Orase


Cele mai mari orase din Franta, din punct de vedere al populatiei din zona metropolei sunt Paris (11,769,433), Lyon (1,748,271), Marseille (1,605,000), Lille(1,164,716), Nice (1,197,751), Toulouse (1,102,882), Bordeaux (999,149) si Nantes (804,000).

Architecture


There is, technically speaking, no architecture named French Architecture, although that has not always been true. Gothic Architecture's old name wasFrench Architecture . The term “Gothic” appeared later as a stylistic insult and was widely adopted. Northern France is the home of some of the most important Gothic cathedrals and basilicas, the first of these being the Saint Denis Basilica (used as the royal necropolis); other important French Gothic cathedrals are Notre-Dame de Chartres and Notre-Dame d'Amiens. The kings were crowned in another important Gothic church:Notre-Dame de Reims. Aside from churches, Gothic Architecture had been used for many religious palaces, the most important one being the Palais des Papes in Avignon.



ARHITECTURA


Tehinc vorbind, nu exista o arhitecura numita arhitectura franceza, desi acest lucru nu a fost mereu adevarat. Numele vechi al arhitecturii gotice a fost acela de arhitectura franceza. Termenul “gotic” a aparut mai tarziu ca o insulta stilistica si a fost adoptat pe o scara larga. Franta de nord este casa unor din cele mai importante catedrale si bisercii gotice, prima dintre acestea fiind biserica Sf David (folosita ca necropola regala); alte catedrale frantuzesti gotice sunt Notre Damme de Chartes si Notre-Damme d’Amiens. Regii erau incoronati in alta biserica gotica: Notre-Damme de Reims. In afara de biserici, arhitectura gotica a fost folosita pentru multe palate religioase, cel mai important fiind Palatul Papei din Avignon.

Literature


An important 16th century writer was François Rabelais who influenced modern French vocabulary and metaphor. During the 17th century Pierre Corneille,Jean Racine and Molière's plays, Blaise Pascal and René Descartes's moral and philosophical books deeply influenced the aristocracy leaving an important heritage for the authors of the following decades. Jean de La Fontaine was an important poet from this century.


French literature and poetry flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries. The 18th century saw the works of writers, essayists and moralists such asVoltaire, Denis Diderot and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Charles Perrault was a prolific writer of children's stories such as: “Puss in Boots”, “Cinderella”, “Sleeping Beauty” and “Bluebeard”.


At the turn of the 19th century symbolist poetry was an important movement in French literature, with poets such as Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaineand Stéphane Mallarmé. The 19th century saw the writing of many French novels of world renown with Victor Hugo (Les Misérables), Alexandre Dumas(The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte-Cristo), and Jules Verne (Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea) among the most well-known in France and beyond. Other 19th century fiction writers include Emile Zola, Guy de Maupassant, Théophile Gautier and Stendhal.


The Prix Goncourt is a French literary prize first awarded in 1903. Important writers of the 20th century include Marcel Proust, Louis-Ferdinand Céline,Albert Camus, and Jean-Paul Sartre. Antoine de Saint Exupéry wrote Little Prince which has remained popular for decades with children and adults around the world.


LITERATURA


Un scriitor important al sec 16 a fost François Rabelais care a influentat vocabularul si metafora frantuzeasca. In timpul sec 17 piesele lui Pierre Corneille,Jean Racine si Molière cartile morale si filosofice ale lui Blaise Pascal si René Descartes au influentat profund artistocratia lasnad o mostenire importanta autorilor din urmatoarele generatii.Jean de La Fontaine a fost un poet important al acestui secol..


Literatura si poezia frantuzeasca au inflorit in sec 18 si 19. secolul 18 a vazut lucrarile unor autori, eseisiti si moralisti precum Voltaire, Denis Diderot si Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Charles Perrault a fost un autor prolific de carti pentru copii precum: “Motanul incaltat”, “Frumoasa din padurea adormita” si „Barba albastra”.


La inceputul sec 19 poezia simblista a fost o miscare importanta in literatura franceza cu poeti precum Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine si Stéphane Mallarmé. Secolul 19 a vazut reinoind scrierile multor romancieri precum Victor Hugo (Mizerabili”), Alexandre Dumas(Cei trei muschetari si Contele de Monte Cristo), si Jules Verne (20 de mii de leghe sub mare) printre cei mai cunoscuti din Franta si nu numai. Alti scriitori ai secolului 19 au fost Emile Zola, Guy de Maupassant, Théophile Gautier si Stendhal.


Prix Goncourt este un premiu francez pentru literatura acordat in 1903. scriitori importanti ai secolului 20 includ pe Marcel Proust, Louis-Ferdinand Céline,Albert Camus, si Jean-Paul Sartre. Antoine de Saint Exupéry a scris Micul Print care a ramas popular timp de decenii printe copiii si adulti din intreaga lume.






Marianne

Marianne is a symbol of the French Republic. She is an allegorical figure of liberty and the Republic and first appeared at the time of the French Revolution. The origins of the name Marianne are unknown, but Marie-Anne was a very common first name in the 18th century.


Este un simbol al Republicii Franceza. Ea este o figura alegorica a liberatitii si a aparut pentru prima data in timpul revolutiei franceze. Originea numelui nu este cunoscuta dar numele Marie –Anne era un nume obisnuit in secolul 18.


MUSIC


France has long been considered a center for European art and music. The country has a wide variety of indigenous folk music, as well as styles played by immigrants from Africa, Latin America and Asia. In the field of classical music, France has produced a number of legendary composers, while modern pop music has seen the rise of popular French hip hop,techno/funk, and pop performers.


Muzica


Franta a fost considerata mult timp ca fiind centrul artei si muzicii din Europa. Tara are o larga varietate de muzica populara indigena precum si stiluri cantate de imigrantii din Africa, America Latina si Asia. In domeniul muzicii clasice, Franta a produs un numar mare de compozitorii francezi, in timp ce muzica pop moderna a vazut ascensiunea hip-hop-ului, techo/funk-ului francez si pe al cantaretilor francezi.


20th Century


The early 20th century saw neo-classical music flourish in France, especially composers like Albert Roussel and Les Six, a group of musicians who gathered around Satie. Later in the century, Olivier Messiaen, Henri Dutilleux and Pierre Boulez proved influential. The latter was a leading figure of Serialism while Messiaen incorporated Asian (particularly Indian) influences and bird song and Dutilleux translated the innovations of Debussy, Bartók and Stravinsky into his own, very personal, musical idiom.


The most important French contribution to musical innovation of the past 35 years is a form a computer-assisted composition called "spectral music." The astonishing technical advances of the spectralist composers in the 1970s are only recently beginning to achieve wide recognition in the United States; major composers in this vein include Gérard Grisey, Tristan Murail, and Claude Vivier.
SECOUL 20


Inceputul sec 20 a vazut inflorirea muzicii neoclasice in Franta, mai ales compozitori precum Albert Roussel si Les Six, un grup de muzicieni care s-au adunat in jurul lui Satie. Mai tarziu, Olivier Messiaen, Henri Dutilleux si Pierre Boulez s-au dovedit a fi influneti. Cel din urma a fost o figura dominanta a serialismului in timp ce Messiaen includea influneta asiatice (mai ales indiene) si cantece de pasari iar Dutilleux a tradus innovatiile lui Debussy, Bartók si Stravinsky in forma sa muzicala propie si personala.


Cea mai importanta contributie frantuzeasca in domeniul muzicii in ultimii 35 de ani este o compozitie muzicala asistata pe calculator numita „muzica spectrala”. Avansarile tehince uimitoare in compozitorii spectrali din anii 1970 de-abia au inceput sa capate recunoastere in Statele Unite, compozitori importanti din acest curent ii includ pe Gérard Grisey, Tristan Murail, si Claude Vivier.


PAINTING/ PICTURA

CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS/ OBICEIURI SI TRADITII


Flying Bells


Children don’t look for eggs left by an Easter Bunny… rather, the French believe that the Flying Bells leave on the Thursday before Good Friday, taking with them all the grief and misery of mourners of Christ’s crucifixion, reaching Rome to see the Pope and then come back on Easter Sunday morning bearing chocolate easter eggs, which are hidden around houses and gardens for children to find. / Copii nu cauta oua lasate de Iepurasul de Paste…mai degraba francezii cred ca Clopoteii Zburatori din Joia de dinainte de Vinerea Mare, iau cu ei toata durerea si suferinta celor ce plang rastignirea lui Isus, ajungand la Roma pentru a-l vedea pe Papa si apoi se intorc in Sambata de Paste aducand oua de ciocolata care sunt ascunse in case si gradini pentru ca sa fie gaiste de copii.


Poison d’Avril


This is the name used for the French Easter Fish and also comes in a chocolate version. An age-old tradition however, that dates back several centuries, involving the Poison d’Avril, takes place on April 1st. The great joke is for children to make fish of paper and pin as many as possible to the backs of adults, then run gleefully away yelling “Poison d’Avril!!”, which is a little like saying “April Fools!” / Acesta este numele folosit pentru Pestele francez de Paste si vine de asemenea sin intr-o versiune in ciocolata. O traditie veche, care dateaza de acum cateva secole, implica Poison d’Avil care are loc pe 1 aprilie. Marea gluma este ca copiii fac pesti din hartie si agata cat de mutli de poate de spatele adultilor apoi fug tipand „Poison d’Avil”


Bastille Day/ Ziua Bastiliei


Celebrated on July 14, this is one of France’s most colorful traditions. The day commemorates the day The Bastille, a prison in Paris that was regarded as the symbol of the much-hated French monarchy of the times, was stormed and pillaged by angry mobs of French citizens in 1789. Called La Fête Nationale, many fireworks are set of as the day goes by, well into the night. Parades are also to be seen with dancing in the streets. / Sarbatorita pe 14 iulie, este una din cele mai colorate traditii. Ziua comemoreaza ziua Bastiliei, o inchisoare din Franta care a fost privita ca fiind simbolul mult uratei monarhii frantuzesti din acea perioada, care a fost atacata de multimea furioasa de cetateni francezi in 1789. Numita Sarbatoare Nationala, multe focuri de artificii au loc pana in noapte. Parade se pot vedea de asemenea, dasnad pe strazi.


5-Week Holidays/ vacanta de saptamani


Another interesting tradition of the French is the fact that almost all employees are entitled to 5 weeks of holiday a year. August has been the traditional holiday month in France, with almost all locals clearing out of their cities to venture to other parts of the world or simply to go camping in their own countryside. For those taking their holidays during the winter months, skiing in the French Alps is the way to go./ Un alt lucru interesant despre traditii franceza este acela ca aproape fiecare angajat are dreptul la o vacanta de 5 saptamani pe an. August este luna traditionala pentru vacanta in Franta, cu aproape toti localnicii plecand din orase catre alte parti al lumii sau ducandu-se in camping la tara. Pentru cei ce isi iau vacanta iarna, schiatul in Alpii francezi este alegerea potrivita.

Musical Instruments / Instrumente Muzicale

The flute/ Fluierul

The most wide spread musical instrument is the flute, being tightly connected with raising the animals, especially sheep. The sound is obtained through fully or half fully covering of the sideway holes using the fingers and in this way the air vibrates in the tube. The pipe can be of three shapes, the fabrication centers being close to the pastoral areas in the mountains. The flutes of the Apuseni Moti are made of wood, seldom with incisions appearing mostly in the shape of double twin pipes. The flutes from the Rodna and Calimani mountains are decorated with lead ornaments, especially at its head. The flutes from Vaideeni and Ursani, the most decorated, are made of plum wood and covered, sometimes on their fully length (80cm) in brass spirals, with small geometrical figures.   
    

Cel mai raspandit instrument muzical este fluierul, aflat in stransa legatura cu cresterea animalelor, in special cu pastoritul. Sunetul se obtine prin astuparea completa, aproape completa sau deschiderea orificiilor laterale cu degetele, aerul vibrand astfel in tub. Fluierul se prezinta in trei forme mai importante, centrele de fabricare aflandu-se in apropierea marilor centre pastorale din munti. Fluierele motilor din Muntii Apuseni sunt lucrate numai din lemn, foarte rar cu incizii, aparand mai ales sub forma fluierelor duble ingemanate. Fluierele din zona Muntilor Rodna si Calimani sunt ornamentate cu legaturi de plumb, in special la capete. Fluierele de Vaideeni si Ursani, cu cele mai bogate decoratii, sunt lucrate din lemn de prun si imbracate, uneori pe toata lungimea (80 cm) in spirale de alama, cu mici motive geometrice.

The bagpipe/ Cimpoiul               

The bagpipe is made of a sack of goat skin called bellows. In this the air is introduced like in a rank, through a small pipe made of shock, metal or bone on the wall opposite the pipe there are two flutes which communicate with the interior. The longest is called the basal and the shortest, casaba. The basal makes a fix sound which accompanies the uniform song of the bagpipe. During the singing, the performer holds the bellow under his arm which pushes the air to the basal and the casaba and whose holes are used with the fingers as in a normal flute. Here there appear sculpture elements. Some of the flutes of the bagpipe are made of wood, often carved in geometrical shapes or in the shape of animal heads (usually goats). The bagpipes are usually made in North West of Oltenia and in Muntenia, in the Carpathians curvature.

Cimpoiul se compune dintr-un sac de piele de capra numit burduf. In acesta se introduce aerul, ca intr-un rezervor, printr-o teava mica, confectionata din soc, metal sau os. Pe peretele opus tevii se afla doua fluiere care comunica etans cu interiorul. Cel mai lung dintre ele se numeste bazoi, iar cel mai scurt caraba. Bazoiul scoate un sunet fix, care insoteste uniform intregul cantec al cimpoiului. In timpul cantecului, cimpoierul strange sub brat burduful, care impinge aerul in bazoi si in caraba, ale carei orificii sunt manevrate cu degetele, ca la un fluier obisnuit.
La cimpoi apar si elemente de sculptura. Unele fluierele ale cimpoiului sunt facute din lemn, sculptat adesea in forme geometrice sau in forma capului de animal (de obicei de capra).
Cimpoaiele se fabrica in nord-vestul Olteniei si in Muntenia, in curbura Carpatilor.

The pan-pipe/ Naiul     
An ancient musical instrument, the pan-pipe is made through the slightly curved union of several tubes (about 20) of willow, shock or other essences, having different dimensions. These tubes are close in the inferior side through wax caps and are open in the superior side, through where the performer introduces the air, thus making the sound. The most famous pan-pipe performer from Romania is Gheorghe Zamfir    

Stravechi instrument muzical, naiul este constituit din reunirea usor curbata a mai multor tuburi (in jur de 20) de trestie, soc sau alte esente, avand diferite dimensiuni. Aceste tuburi sunt inchise la partea inferioara prin dopuri de ceara si sunt deschise in partea superioara, pe unde naistul introduce aerul, emitand astfel sunetul. Cel mai renumit cantaret la nai din Romania este Gheorghe Zamfir.

The Horn/ Buciumul (Tulnicul)

Being of Romanian origin the horn is an instrument used by the shepherds from the mountains (in Apuseni is called tulnic) for different signals. In some regions it is used for funerals and in the past was used for signaling foreign invasions. The horn is a tube opened in both sides, made of the union of long fir, ash, lime and maple staves, well dried and put together by wood or metal rings. 

De origine romana, buciumul este un instrument folosit de pastorii din munti (in Apuseni se numeste tulnic) pentru diferite semnale. In unele regiuni se canta din bucium si la inmormantari, iar in trecut era folosit si la semnalarea invaziilor straina. Buciumul este un tub deschis la ambele capete, constituit din reunirea unor doage lungi de brad, frasin, tei, alun sau paltin, bine uscat, stranse din loc in loc cu inele de lemn sau metal.



French Instruments/ Instrumente franceze

French bagpipes cover a wide range and variety of styles of bagpipes and piping, from the Celtic piping and music of Brittany to the Northern Occitan's cabreta./ Cimpoaiele frantuzesti acopera o zona larga si o varietate de stiluri de cimpoaie si tubulatura, de la cele celtice si muzica din vritania pana la nordicul cabreta.

The boha is a type of bagpipe native to the Landes and Gascony regions of southwestern France. This bagpipe is notable in that it bears a greater resemblance to Eastern European bagpipes./ Boha este un tip de cimpoi nativ din regiunile Landes and Gasconia din sudul Frantei. Acest cimpoi se face notat deoarece seamana cu cimpoaiele din Europa de Est.

The cabrette (French: literally "little goat") is a type of bagpipe which appeared in Auvergne, France in the 19th century, and rapidly spread to Haute-Auvergne and Aubrac./ Cabrette (franceza: capra mica) este un tip de cimpoi care a aparut in Auvergene, Franta is secolul 19 si s-a raspandit rapid in Haute- Auvergene si Aubrac

The épinette des Vosges is a traditional plucked-string instrument of the zither family. Instruments of this family, formerly widespread throughout Europe, are now primarily found in Norway, Hungary, as well as France. A parallel instrument, the Appalachian dulcimer is found in rural mountain areas of the Eastern United States./ Vosges epinette este un instrument traditional cu corzi din familia titerelor. Instrumente din acest grup, in trecut raspandit in Europa, sunt acum gasite in Norvegia, Ungaria, precum si in Franta. Un instrument paralel, tambalul apalas se regaseste in zonele muntoase din estul Statelor Unite.

The graïle , is a woodwind instrument of Languedoc, France, resembling a primitive oboe. It is played in Monts de Lacaune (in the department of Tarn) and surrounding areas. The instrument consists of three turned wooden parts reinforced at the joints with horn. The graïle uses a double reed, the caramèla./ Graile este un instrument de suflat din lemn din regiunea Languedoc, Franta care seamana cu un oboi primitiv. Se canta in Muntii Lacaune (in regiunea Tarn) si in zonele din jur. Instrumentul este alcatuit din 3 parti din lemn intoarse si care sunt prinse la capat de un corn. El foloseste un fluier dublu, numit caramela.

Hurdy- gurdy- Most hurdy gurdies have multiple "drone strings" which provide a constant pitch accompaniment to the melody, resulting in a sound similar to that of bagpipes. For this reason, the hurdy gurdy is often used interchangeably with or along with bagpipes, particularly in French and contemporary Hungarian folk music. Many folk music festivals in Europe feature music groups with hurdy gurdy players, but the most famous annual festival is at Saint-Chartier, in central France, during the week nearest July 14 (Bastille Day)./ Hurdy-gurdy – majoritatea lor au corzi care dau un acompaniament inalt melodiei, producand un sunet asemanator cimpoaielor. Din acestmotiv, hurdy-gurdy este folosit cu sau in locul cimpoaielor, mai ales in muzica populara contemporana franceza si ungureasca. Multe festivaluri de muzica populara din Europa includ grupuri de hurdy-gurdy dar cel mai faimos festival anual este la Saint- Chartier, in centrul Frantei, in timpul saptamanii cele mai apropiate de 14 iulie (Ziua Bastiliei)

Lithuanian Instruments

The Kanklės

The Kanklės is a Lithuanian plucked string musical instrument (chordophone), related to the zither. It is roughly in the shape of a trapezium (British) or trapezoid (American). The instrument is fitted with several wire or gut strings under tension which produce tones when plucked. It is usually rested on the player's lap and played with the fingers or a pick made of bone or quill.

The bandoneón

The bandoneón is a type of concertina particularly popular in Argentina and Uruguay. It plays an essential role in the orquesta tipica, the tango orchestra. The bandoneón, called bandonion by its German inventor, Heinrich Band (1821–1860), was originally intended as an instrument for religious music and the popular music of the day, in contrast to its predecessor, the German concertina (or Konzertina), considered to be a folk instrument by some modern authors. German sailors and Italian season workers and emigrants brought the instrument with them to Argentina in the late nineteenth century, where it was incorporated into the local music, such as tango.

Italian Instruments

The Calabrian Lira

The Calabrian Lira (Italian: Lira Calabrese) is a traditional musical instrument characteristic of some areas of Calabria, region in southern Italy.

The Lira of Calabria is a bowed string instrument with three strings. Like most bowed liras, it is played upright, usually supported on the knee, held with the left hand touching the strings with the nails laterally while the right hand moves the bow. The repertory of the lira includes accompaniment songs (e.g. serenades and songs of anger) and songs suitable for dancing (tarantellas). The repertory of this traditional instrument is known only through records of older players, or people who have known them. On the other hand, in recent years an increased interest around this instrument has led to its use by music groups of traditional music and to the appearance of new manufacturers in different parts of Calabria.

The bifora

The bifora or pifara was a Sicilian double reed instrument of the oboe family, related to the ancient shawm and particularly to the piffero of the northern Italian Apennines. Much larger than the piffero, and made in one piece, it was employed together with drums in ceremonial processions, particularly in the town of San Marcoprovince of Messina. Its use seems to have died out during the twentieth century.

Portuguese Instruments

The Portuguese guitar

The Portuguese guitar or Portuguese guitarra (Portuguese: guitarra portuguesa) is a plucked string instrument with twelve steel strings, strung in six courses comprising two strings each. It has a distinctive tuning mechanism. It is most notably associated with fado.

The origin of the Portuguese guitar is a subject of debate. Throughout the 19th century the Portuguese guitar was being made in several sizes and shapes and subject to several regional aesthetic trends. A sizeable guitar making industry flourished in Coimbra by the late 19th century, propelled by the Portuguese guitar's popularity among the students of the city. Eventually the developments of the local luthiers led to the modern model, named after the city. Over the first half of the 20th century the Portuguese guitar underwent standardization into two distinct models and enjoyed several technical improvements, such as the refinement of the tuning mechanism and the revision of its dimensions, retaining throughout the process, however, its overall appearance and distinct sound.

The cavaquinho

The cavaquinho is a small string instrument of the European guitar family with four wire or gut strings. It is also called machimbo, machim, machete (in the Portuguese Atlantic islands and Brazil), manchete or marchete, braguinha or braguinho, or cavaco.

The origins of this Portuguese instrument are not easily found. Gonçalo Sampaio, who explains the survival of Minho region’s archaic and Hellenistic modes by possible Greek influences on the ancient Gallaeci of the region, stresses the link between this instrument and historical Hellenistic tetrachords. The author holds that the cavaquinho and the guitar may have been brought to Braga by the Biscayans.There are different kinds of cavaquinho. The cavaquinho minhoto, associated with the Minho region in Portugal, has the neck on the same level as the body, and the sound hole is usually in the raia format (raia is Portuguese for batoidea).

Turkish Instruments

The cümbüş

The cümbüş is a Turkish stringed instrument of relatively modern origin. Developed in the early 20th century by Zeynelabidin Cümbüş as an oud-like instrument that could be heard as part of a larger ensemble. In construction it resembles both the American banjo and the Middle Eastern oud. A fretless instrument, it has six courses of doubled-strings, and is generally tuned like an oud. In shape, though, it closely resembles the banjo with a metal resonator bowl and skin body head. It has a loud, metallic, resonant tone and is widely heard in Middle Eastern popular music.

The sipsi

The sipsi is a Turkish woodwind instrument. It is a clarinet-like, single-reed instrument with six finger holes, used mainly in folk music. Its size varies from region to region. The word "sipsi" is probably onomatopoeic, and is related to "zıpçi", meaning "whistle".
A sipsi can also be a name for the maroccan pipe, used to smoke kif - an inferior form of marihuana.
The instrument's range is greater than its six finger holes would suggest, the upper registers being attained by breath control.

Mobilities

  

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                           

KNOWING ITALY/ CUNOSCAND ITALIA

Capital and the largest city: Rome/ Capitala si orasul cel mai mare: Roma

Official language/ limba oficiala: Italian/ italiana

Government/ guvernare: parliamentary republic/ republica parlamentara

Formation/Formare:

Unification/ uniurea: March 17^th, 1861

Republic/ republica: June 2^nd, 1946

EU Accession/ aderare UE: March 25^th, 1957 (founder member/ membru fondator)

The Italian Flag / Steagul Italian: green- hope, love and joy; white- peace and honesty; red- bravery, strength and valor/ verde- speranta, dragoste, fericire; albul- pace si sinceritate; rosul- curajul si forta




Coat of Arms/Stema: the meaning of the five sided star is protection of the country and today it represents the army of the Italian Republic. The cogwheel symbolizes the Italian constitution and the olive branch symbolizes the desire for peace of the Italian Republic. It also shows unity as well as kindness across Italian border./ semnificatia stelei cu cinci colturi este aceea de protectie a tarii iar astazi reprezinta armata Republicii Italiene. Roata zimtata simbolizeaza constitutia italiana iar ramura de maslin simbolizeaza dorinta de pace a Republicii Italiene. Arata deasemenea unitatea precum si bunatatea de-a-lungul granitei italiene.

Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern, Alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. The independent states of San Marino and the Vatican City are enclaves within the Italian Peninsula.The land known as Italy today has been the cradle of many European cultures and peoples, such as the Etruscans and the Romans, and later was the birthplace of the University, the Renaissance that began in Tuscany and spread all over Europe, Vitruvian Man, modern science and astronomy, heliocentrism and opera.. Italy's capital, Rome, was for centuries the center of Western civilization. Italy possessed a colonial empire from the second half of the nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century.Today, Italy is a democratic republic and a developed country with the eighth-highest quality of life index rating in the world. It is a founding member of what is now the European Union, having signed the Treaty of Rome in 1957, and it is a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Italy is a Schengen state. It has the world's seventh-largest defence budget and shares NATO's nucleat weapons. On 1 January 2007, Italy began a two-year term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

Italy is subdivided into 20 regions (regioni, singular regione). Five of these regions have a special autonomus status that enables them to enact legislation on some of their local matters; these are marked by an asterisk (*) in the table below. The country is further divided into 109 provinces (province) and 8,100 municipalities (comuni).

Italia, oficial Republica Italiana, este o tara localizata in peninsula italiana in partea de sud a Europei si pe cele mai mari doua insule din Marea Mediterana, Sicilia si Sardinia. Italia imparte granita alpina din nord cu Franta, Elvetia, Austria si Slovenia. Statele independente San Marino si Vatican sunt incluse in Peninsula Italiana. Teritoriul cunoscut ca Italia in zilele noastre a fost leaganul multor culturi si popoare europene precum etruscii si romanii, si mai tarziu a fost locul nasterii universitatii, Renasterea a inceput in Toscana si s-a intins preste tot in Europa, Omul Vetruvian, stiinta moderna si astronomia, heliocentrismul si opera. Capitala Italiei, Roma, a fost timp de secole, centrul civilizatiei din vest. Italia era posesoarea unui imperiu colonial din a doua jumatate a secolului XIX pana la jumatatea secolului XX. Astazi, Italia este o republica democrata si o tara dezvoltata ocupand locul opt la nivelul de trai al oamenilor. Este un membru fondator a ceea ce este acum Uniunea Europeana, semnand Tratatul de la Roma in 1957 si este si unul din membrii fondatori ai NATO. Italia este o tara din spatiul Schengen. Ocupa locul sapte in ceea ce priveste bugetul apararii si imparte armele nucleare NATO. La 1 ianuarie 2007, Italia a inceput un termen de doi ani ca membru non-permanent in Consiliul de Securitate al Natiunilor Unite.

Italia este impartita in 20 de regiuni (regioni), Cinci dintre aceste regiuni au statut special autonom care le permite sa stabileasca legislatia asupra unora din problemele locale. Tara este mai apoi divizata in 109 provincii si 8.100 de municipalitati. (comuni)

Tivoli, the classical Tibur, is an ancient Italian town in Lazio, about 30 km from Rome, at the falls of the Aniene river, where it issues from the Sabine hills. There are spectacular views out over the Roman Campagna / Tivoli, clasicul Tibur, este un oras vechi din Lazio, la aproape 30 de km de Roma, in panta raului Aniene, care izvoraste din dealurile Sabine. Se pot vedea peisaje spectaculare ale campiei romane.

Comune di Tivoli - The Coat of Arms/Stema




Main sights in Tivoli/Locuri importante din Tivoli:

• Villa Adriana - UNESCO World Heritage site (1999)

• Villa d'Este - UNESCO World Heritage site (2001).

• Villa Gregoriana
  

• Rocca Pia

• Temple of Tiburtine Sibyl
  

• Temple of Hercules
  

• Cathedral of St. Lawrence (Duomo, rebuilt in 1635–40)

Culture/ Cultura

Art/ Arta

Italian painting is traditionally characterized by a warmth of colour and light, as exemplified in the works of Carvaggio and Titian, and a preoccupation with religious figures and motifs. Italian painting enjoyed preeminence in Europe for hundreds of years, from the Romanesque and Gothic periods, and through the Renaissance and Baroque periods, the latter two of which saw fruition in Italy. Notable artists who fall within these periods include Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello, Boticelli, Fra Angelico, Tintoretto, Carvaggio, Bernini, Titian and Raphael. Thereafter, Italy was to experience a continual subjection to foreign powers which caused a shift of focus to political matters, leading to its decline as the artistic authority in Europe. Not until 20th century Futurism primarily through the works of Umberto Boccioni and Giacomo Balla, would Italy recapture any of its former prestige as a seminal place of artistic evolution. Futurism was succeeded by the metaphysical paintings of Giorgio de Chirico, who exerted a strong influence on the Surrealists and generations of artists to follow.

Pictura italiana este traditional caracterizata prin caldura culorii si a luminii asa cum apare in lucrarile lui Caravaggio si Titian, o preocupare cu figurile si motivele religioase. Pictura italiana s-a bucurat de mare succes in Europa timp de sute de ani, de la perioadele romane si gotice si prin perioadele Renasterii si Barocului, ultimele doua inflorind in Italia. Artisti cunoscuti care intra in aceste perioade sunt Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello, Botticelli, Fra Angelico, Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Bernini, Titian si Raphael. Ulterior, Italia a experimentat o supunere continua unor puteri straine care au dus la schimbarea atentiei catre problemele politice, ducand astfel la declinul autoritatii artistice in Europa. Deabia in Futurismul secolului al XX-lea, in principal prin lucrarile lui Umberto Boccioni si Giacomo Balla, Italia isi recuupereaza fostul prestigiu ca un loc seminal al evolutiei artistice. Futurismul a fost urmat de picturile metafizice ale lui Girogio de Chrico, care a avut o influenta puternica asupra Suprarealistilor si generatiilor de artisti care vor urma.

Le Pieta - Michelangelo

Lady with an ermine - Da Vinci

St Iohn - Donatello


Umberto Boccioni - Canal di Venice


Giacomo Balla - Victorie

Literature/ Literatura

The basis of the modern Italian language was established by the Florentine poet Dante Alighieri, whose greatest work, the Divine Comedy, is considered amongst the foremost literary statements produced in Europe during the Middle Ages. There is no shortage of celebrated literary figures in Italy: Giovanni Boccaccio, Giacomo Leopardi, Alessandro Manzoni, Torquato Tasso, Ludovico Ariosto and Petrarch, whose best-known vehicle of expression, the sonnet, was invented in Italy. Prominent philosophers include Giordano Bruno, Marsilio Ficino, Niccolo Machiavelli and Giambatista Vico. Modern literary figures and Nobel laureates are nationalist poet Giosue Carducci in 1906, realist writer Grazia Deledda in 1926, modern theatre author Luigi Pirandello in 1936, poets Salvatore Quasimodo in 1959 and Eugenio Montale in 1975, satirist and theatre author Dario Fo in 1997. Regarding the Italian theatre, it can be traced back to the Roman tradition which was heavily influenced by the Greek; as with many other literary genres, Roman dramatists tended to adapt and translate from the Greek. For example, Seneca's Phaedra was based on that of Euripides, and many of the comedies of Plautus were direct translations of works by Menander. During the 16th century and on into the 18th century, Commedia dell'arte was a form of improvisational theatre, and it is still performed today. Travelling troupes of players would set up an outdoor stage and provide amusement in the form of juggling acrobatics, and, more typically, humorous plays based on a repertoire of established characters with a rough storyline, called canovaccio.

Bazele limbii Italiene moderne au fost stabilite de catre poetul florentin Dante Aligheri, a carui cea mai mare lucrare, Comedia Divina, este considerate printre primele declaratii literare produse in Europa in timpul Evului Mediu. Sunt foarte multe figuri celebre in literatura italiana: Giovanni Boccaccio, Giacomo Leopardi, Alessandro Manzoni, Torquato Tasso, Ludovico Ariosto si Petrarca, a carui cea mai bun modalitate de exprimare, si anume sonetul, a fost inventat in Italia. Printre folosofii importanti se numara Giordano Bruno, Marsilio Ficino, Niccolo Machiavelli si Giambattista Vico. Figuri literare moderne si laureati Nobel se numara poetul nationalist Giosue Carducci in 1906, scriitorul realist Grazia Deledda in 1926, dramaturgul modern Luigi Piandello in 1936, poetii Salvatore Quasimodo in 1959 si Eugenio Montale in 1975, autotul de satire si dramaturg Dario Fo in 1997. In ceea ce priveste teatrull italian, acesta poate fi regasit in traditia romana care a fost mult influentata de catre Greci, la fel ca si alte genuri literare, dramaturgii romani aveau tendinta de a adapta si a traduce de la greci. De exemplu, Fedra a lui Seneca a fost bazata pe cea a lui Euripide, si multe din comediile lui Plautus a fost traduceri directe din operele lui Menander. In secolul XVI si pana in secolul XVIII, Commedia dell’arte a fost o forma de teatru imporvizat care este jucat si in zilele noastre. Trupe de artisti calatori pun o scena in aer liber si ofera distractie sub forma jongleriilor, acrobatii si, mai tipic, comedii bazate pe un repertoriu cu personaje stabilite cu o linie dramatica dura, numita canovaccio.

The world does not belong to the modest, but to the energetic/ Lumea nu apartine celor modesti, ci celor energici- Dante Alighieri

Ave, o rima! Con bell’arte

Su le carte

Te persegue el trovadore

Ma tu brilli, tu scintilli

Tu zampilli

Su del propolo dal cuore

O scoccata tra due braci

Ne i rapaci

Volgimenti de la danza

Come accordi ne’ due giri

Due sospiri

Di memoria i di speranza! Giosue Carucci - Commedia dell'arte

Music/ Muzica

From folk music to classical, music has always played an important role in Italian culture. Having given birth to opera, Italy provides many of the foundations of the classical music tradition. Instruments associated with classical music, including the piano and violin, were invented in Italy, and many of the prevailing classical music forms, such as the symphony concerto, and sonata, can trace their roots back to innovations of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Italian music. Italy's most famous composers include the Renaissance composers Palestrina and Monteverdi, the Barowue composers Alessandro Scarlatti, Corelli and Vivaldi, the Classical composers Paganini and Rossini, and the Romantic composers Verdi and Puccini. Modern Italian composers such as Berio and Nono proved significant in the development of experimental and electronic music. While the classical music tradition still holds strong in Italy, as evidenced by the fame of its innumerable opera houses, such as La Scala of Milan and San Carlo of Naples, and performers such as the pianist Maurizio Pollini and the late tenor Luciano Pavarotti, Italians have been no less appreciative of their thriving contemporary music scene. Introduced in the early 1920s, jazz took a particularly strong foothold in Italy, and remained popular despite the anti-American cultural policies of the Fascist regime. Today, the most notable centers of jazz music in Italy include Milan, Rome, and Sicily. Later, Italy was at the forefront of the progressive rock movement of the 1970s, with bands like PFM and Goblin. Today, Italian pop music is represented annually with the Sanremo Music Festival, which served as inspiration for the Eurovision song contest, and the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto. Singers such as pop diva Mina, classical crossover artist Andrea Bocelli, Grammy winner Laura Pausini, and European chart-topper Eros Ramazzotti have attained international acclaim.

De la folk la clasic, muzica a jucat mereu un rol important in cultura italiana. Dand nastere operei, Italia ofera multe fundatii ale traditiei muzicii clasice. Instrumente asociate ci muzica clasica, inclusiv pianul si vioara, au fost inventate in Italia, la fel ca si celelalte forme de muzica clasica precum simfonia, concertul si sonata, care isi regasesc radacinile in inovatiile secolului XVI- XVII din muzica italiana. Cei mai faimosi compozitori italieni ii includ pe compozitorii renascentisti Palestrina si Monteverdi, compozitorii din Baroc Alessandro Scarlatti, Corelli si Vivaldi, compozitorii clasici Paganini si Rossini, si compozitorii romantici Verdi si Puccini. Compozitorii italieni moderni precum Berio si Nono s-au dovedit importanti in dezvoltarea muzicii experimentale si electronice. In timp ce traditia muzicii clasice inca rezista in Italia, lucru dovedit de nenumaratele opere precum La Scala din Milano si San Carlo din Napoli, si interpreti precum pianistult Maurizio Pollini si regretatul tenor Luciano Pavarotti, italienii totusi au apreciat si scena muzicala contemporana. Aparut la inceputul anilor 1920, jazzul a ocupat un loc puternic in peisajul Italiei si a ramas popular in ciuda polictii anti cultura americana din regimul fascist. Astazi, cel mai importante centre de jazz din Italia includ Milano, Roma si Sicilia. Mai tarziu, Italia a fost in fruntea miscarii de rock progresiv din anii 1970 cu formatii precum PFM si Goblin.Astazi, muzica italiana pop este reprezentata anual de Festivalul de Muzica de la Sanremo, care a fost sursa de inspiratie pentru concursul Eurovision si Festivalul celor doua lumi din Spoleto. Cantareti precum diva pop Mina, artistul clasic Andrea Bocelli, castigatoarea premiului Grammy Laura Pausini si cantaretul din topurile europene, Eros Ramazzotti, au obtinut aprecierea internationala.

Andrea Boceli at Sanremo



La Scala - Milan

Cinema/ Cinema

The history of Italian cinema began a few months after the Lumiere brothers began motion picture exhibitions. The first Italian film was a few seconds long, showing Pope Leo XIII giving a blessing to the camera. The Italian film industry was born between 1903 and 1908 with three companies: the Roman Cines, the Ambrosio of Turin and the Itala Film. Other companies soon followed in Milan and in Naples. In a short time these first companies reached a fair producing quality, and films were soon sold outside Italy. The cinema was later used by Benito Mussolini as a form of propaganda until the World War II. After the war, Italian film was widely recognised and exported until an artistic decline around the 1980s. World-famous Italian film directors from this period include Vittorio De Sica, Federico Fellini, Sergio Leone, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Michelangelo Antonioni and Dario Argento. Movies include world cinema treasures such as La dolce vita, Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo and Ladri di biciclette. In recent years, the Italian scene has received only occasional international attention, with movies like La vita e bella directed by Roberto Benigni and Il postino with Massimo Troisi.

Istoria cinematografului italian a inceput la cateva luni dupa ce fratii Lumiere au inceput expozitiile cu imagini miscatoare. Primul film italian a fost de cateva secunde aratandu-l pe Papa Leo XIII dandu-si binecuvantarea in fata camerei. Industria de film italian a aparut intre 1903 si 1908 cu trei companii: Cineastii Romani. Ambrosia din Turin si Italia Film. Alte companii au aparut in curand dupa acestea in Milano si Napole. Intr-o perioada scurta acestea companii au atins o productie relativ calitativa si in curand se vindeau filme si in afara Italiei. Cinema-ul a fost folosit mai tarziu de Benito Mussolini ca o forma de propaganda pana in al doilea Razboi Mondial. Dupa razboi, filmul italian a fost larg recunoscut si exportat pana in jurul unui declin artistic din jurul anilor 1980. Regizori italieni faimoisi in toata lumea din aceasta perioada ii includ pe Vittorio De Sica, Federico Fellini, Sergio Leone, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Michelangelo Antonioni si Dario Argento. Filmele includ comori cinematice recunoscute mondial precum La Dolce Vita, Il buono, il brutto, il cativo si Ladri di biciclette. In anii recenti, scena italiana a primit numai ocazional atentie internationala cu filme precum La vita e bella, regizat de Umberto Benigni si Il Postino cu Massimo Troisi.

Sport/ Sport

Popular sports include football, basketball, volleyball, waterpolo, fencing, rugby, cycling, ice hockey (mainly in Milan, Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto), roller hockey and F1 motor racing. Winter sports are most popular in the northern regions, with Italians competing in international games and Olympic venues. Turin hosted the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. Sports are incorporated into Italian festivities like Palio (see also Palio di Siena), and the gondola race (regatta) that takes place in Venice on the first Sunday of September. Sports venues have extended from the gladiatorial games of Ancient Rome in the Colosseum to the Stadio Olimpico of contemporary Rome, where football clubs compete.The most popular sport in Italy is football, the Serie A being one of the most famous competitions in the world. Italy's national football team is the second-most-successful team in the world, with four World Cup victories, the first one of which was in 1934. Italy is also and the current (2006) FIFA world champion. Cricket is also slowly gaining popularity; the Italian national cricket team is administered by the Federazione Cricket Italiana‎ (Italian Cricket Federation). They are currently ranked 27th in the world by the International Cricket Council and are ranked fifth amongst European non-Test teams.

Sporturi populare includ fotbalul, basketul, voleiul, polo, scrima, ciclism, hockey (mai ales in Milano, Trentino-Alto Adige si Veneto), hockey pe role si cursele de formula 1.Sporturile de iarna sunt mai populare in regiunile nordice, cu Italienii care concureaza in jocuri internationale si competitii olimpice. Torino a fost gazda Jocurilor Olimpice din 2006. Sporturile sunt incluse in festivitatile italiene precum Palio si cursele cu gondole din prima duminica din septembrie. Competitiile sportive s-au extins de la jocurile cu gladiatori din Roma antica in Colosseum pana la Stadionul Olimpic din Roma contemporana, unde au loc competitii intre cluburile de fotbal. Cel mai popular sport din Italia este fotbalul, seria A fiind cea mai faimoasa competitie in lume. Echipa nationala de fotbal a Italiei este cea de-a doua mai de succes echipa din lume, cu patru victorii la Cupa Mondiala, prima castigata in 1934.In prezent, Italia este si campioana mondiala FIFA (2006). Cricketul este deasemenea in ascensiune. Castigand usor in popularitate. Echipa nationala de cricket este administrata de Federazione Cricket Italiana‎ (Federatia Italiana de Cricket ). In prezent ei ocupa locul 27 in Consiliul International de cricket si ocupa locul cinci Echipele non-test din Europa.

The Olympic Stadium in Rome


The Olympic Games, Torino, 2006

Cuisine/ Gastronomie

The modern Italian cuisine has evolved through centuries of social and political changes, with its roots reaching back to the 4th century BC. Significant change occurred with the discovery of the New World, when vegetables such as potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers and maize became available. However, these central ingredients of modern Italian cuisine were not introduced in scale before the 18th century. Ingredients and dishes vary by region. However, many dishes that were once regional have proliferated in different variations across the country. Cheese and wine are major parts of the cuisine, playing different roles both regionally and nationally with their many variations and Denominazione di origine controllata (regulated appellation) laws. Coffee, and more specifically espresso, has become highly important to the cultural cuisine of Italy.

Bucataria italiana moderna a evoluat pe parcursul secolelor cu schimbari sociale si politice, cu radacini care duc pana in secolul 4 iH. Schimbari semnificative au avut loc odata cu descoperirea Noii Lumi, cand legume precum cartofii, rosiile, ardeii si porumbul au devenit disponibile. Totusi, aceste ingrediente centrale din bucataria italiana moderna nu au fost introduse in regim inainate de secolul XVIII. Ingredientele si felurile de mancare difera de la o regiune la alta. Totusi, multe felurie de mancare care au fost odata regionale s-au dezvoltat in diferite variatiuni de-alungul tarii. Branza si vinul sunt compponente importante in bucatarie, jucand diverse rolui atat regional cat so national cu variatiunile lor facute legale prin Denominazione di origine controllata (denominari regularizate). Cafeaua, mai ales espresso, a devenit foarte importanta pentru bucataria culturala a Italiei.