One is never too old to learn. How did I miss this amazing looking school along my life’s journey? I want to become a student once again and study at this incredible looking place! My dream/wish is that a group of Flight Crew people would all go over together and immerse ourselves in this beautiful culture, language, and people. To sit at tables on a beautiful patio, surrounded by flowers and countryside where you view rolling hills and cypress trees as far as the eye can see, while sharing wine and our life stories with each other. To go to the market together and choose fresh ingredients, then gather around a small table in a warm Italian kitchen and learn the art of making true Italian pasta. To study and have fun learning as a group their beautiful romantic language. I may be a dreamer, but it’s a beautiful thought.
FOR OVER 30 YEARS, Il SASSO ITALIAN LANGUAGE SCHOOL …
has been running courses in Montepulciano, in the heart of Tuscany. The school offers Italian courses for speakers of other languages studying in small groups and individually. There are six different levels, corresponding to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Il Sasso also runs art history, wine, cookery,literature and current affairs mini-courses, as well as courses to prepare students for the CELI and CILS exams. The school is recognised by the Italian Education Ministry and certified to ISO 9001:2008 standards. It is a medium sized school with a reputation for excellence, and is open all year round. Students of all ages come to study here from all over the world.
Enjoy this fun video.
Article excerpt and video credits to L’Italo-Americano Newspaper
Photo of Tuscany countryside from Tuscanyphotos.com
First of all I must tell you that Ignatius here does not provide a real recipe but it is as if he were making an imitation of some Italian chef because he uses a deeply accented language in southern Italian.
Translation:
So all right,
We roast the zucchini already sprinkle with the red wine. Spadelliamo ( = stir -fry) for good as Cannavacciuolo ( famoso cuoco italiano del momento) teaches.
All right, take paper towel and clean everything. Ciao. (kiss)
It is better understood that they are zucchini cut into cubes and fry with a little oil, sprinkle the courgettes with red wine and sauté them (stir-fry), mixing the zucchini well with the wine.
Note the sharp chef’s jacket. This guy is serious about his skills!
Ignazio has always had a flair for cooking. Here he is way back in 2013, making Scaloppine alla Marsala!
This is a sweet short interview from 2013 where Ignazio talks about his favorite food and his Mammas cooking. Marie and I were lucky enough to actually go to Nina’s Pizzeria. It is a cozy little place with three smiling young women who make GREAT pizza!
Nina and her staff
Marie…Nina…Jane
So who would like this dashing chef to come and cook for them? I think we will all have to get in line BEHIND Marie and Loretta! 🙂
Ignazio’s sister, Nina, has posted this delicious looking creation on her pizzeria social media! She says it was made “in honor of Ignazio.” I’m not sure exactly what is inside of it. Ricotta? Nutella? Pistachio? I am going to try and get her recipe for all of us IL VOLO…IGNAZIO fans here to make at home!
What could be “sweeter” than these photos?
Eating one of these Ignazio Tortello’s while looking at his photos??
Look for future post with the recipe included! Wish me luck!!
I recently came across a lovely poem that speaks to the heart. For those who have been to Italy,live there, or who travel there in theirdreams, I hope this will resonate in your heart as well.
ITALY
I have fallen in love With the air, the trees The thinly paved and often cracked roads And even more so with those covered in cobblestone. I have fallen in love with the tanned locals Old shopkeepers with hats and bifocals Their calling voices The natural movement of their hands The cool sea water And hot white sands.
I have fallen in love with espresso And how it feels in my throat The smell of leather Taste of gelato Harbours full of fishing boats The sound of a vintage vespa Weaving its way through a crowd And this is a country of which to be proud.
I have fallen in love with the architecture The vast and complex history The more I learn the more I admit is a mystery. I have fallen in love with the way the sun shines brighter The air is fresher And the fruit is sweeter The men are bolder And the books are cheaper. I have fallen in love with the words they say And how those words effortlessly roll off their tongues
I breathe in their culture And try to hold it in my lungs. Pizza, pesto, cute cafes Absence of anxiety, holidays The tourists who view it all through a camera lens Adventure begins and tension ends. I have fallen in love with it all Every flower Every hue All those pairs of Italian sunglasses I love them too.
Every cloud Every ray of sunshine Every painted line Every brick Of every church On all those hills In all those tiny towns That populate the green countryside And every visionary who in them has lived and died I love But most of all I have fallen in love with the version of me That comes out when I am in Italy.
The boys have been teasing us a bit about what is next on their recording agenda. It seems that it will have a Latin flavor since they are working with their friend, EmilioEstefan. And remembering how we, the fans, love the tantalizing Latin beat of “Volare,” it would seem that we would embrace that style. But, just for fun, let’s consider some other styles of past musical icons that they might choose to emulate.
Since our boys have such a propensity for the beach, maybe they would like to try the Beach Boys’style, one that has stood the test of time with its’ catchy tunes, captivating rhythm, and great harmony. The guys would really get into spirit of fun following in the Beach Boys footsteps.
Wouldn’t it be great to hear Igna taking the falsetto part of the Jersey Boys’repertoire? He would be so good at it. He did some improvisations with the high notes of “Somebody to Love” that blew our socks off,plus he has the added asset of his adorably endearing facial expressions (those eyes!!) to go along with the voice.
Remember the Ink Spots? Most of you probably don’t. You might want to look them up. Their harmony and rhythm were so contagious they always left you wanting more. Remind you of Il Volo? Gianluca might have to dig down a bit to match the low notes, but hey, that guy can do anything he sets his mind to, right? They recorded some beautiful songs that would be great for our guys.
Speaking of great trios, let us not forget the Nat King Cole trio. Talk about sweet and mellow–just the style for Il Volo. Is anyone more sweet and mellow than our boys? Gianluca could easily handle Nat’s romantic solos with his own brand of styleand panache.
And “sweet and mellow” brings to mind the Williamsbrothers, mainly Andy. Imagine Gian doing “Moon River” what a treat that would be. Piero, being the more dramatic sort, doesn’t often show us the softer side of his vocal technique, but he sings with such passion and expression that we know he would be breathtakingly spectacular doing some of Andy’s romantic songs.
Well, we will have to wait and see what the finished product of the most recent endeavor will be, but we know that it will be all in true ILVOLO STYLE. You can’t improve on perfection, and perfection is what they are.
So stay calm and get out your dancing shoes…..Tango, anyone??
Credit to all owners of photos.
~Mary Bohling~
~~Jane~~
Come in and share the love of life, friends and Il Volo!
