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| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italian Regions LOMBARDIA (LOMBARDY) Official Website: www.regione.lombardia.it The Territory In the North of Italy along the border with Switzerland, with very high mountains such as Mount Bernina (4050m), Pizzo della Presolana, Adamello (3554m) the region is crossed by the Po river, the largest in Italy, in the South, and by many of its most important tributaries, the Ticino, Adda, Oglio, Mincio, that all form a number of lakes, making the region the richest of large lakes in Italy: Lago Maggiore, Lago di Varese, Lago di Lugano, Lago di Como, Lago d'Idro and Lago di Garda. The main crops, especially in the wide Pianura Padana, are wheat, rice, maize, barley, and the region is first in Italy for farming, with a considerable production of meat, milk and dairy products. It is also the region where industry and finance are most developed, and Milan is the seat of the Italian Stock Exchange (Piazza Affari). Tourism is also a remarkable activity in the mountain resorts, in the area of the lakes and in the art cities of Bergamo, Mantua, Como and Milan. Provinces of Lombardia (Lombardy) Province of Milano (MI), Province of Bergamo (BG), Province of Brescia (BS), Province of Como (CO), Province of Cremona (CR), Province of Lecco (LC), Province of Lodi (LO), Province of Mantova (MN), Province of Monza-Brianza (MB), Province of Pavia (PV), Province of Sondrio (SO), Province of Varese (VA) History Originally inhabited by populations of Celtic stock, the region was occupied by the Gauls until the Roman conquest in the 3rd century BC, when the area was named Gallia Cisalpina and became an important base for the Romans, who founded the cities of Milano (=Mediolanum), Cremona, Como, Brescia, Lodi, Pavia, in their conquest of Europe. After the fall of the Roman empire the region was occupied first by the Goths and later by the Lombards, who established their capital at Pavia and gave their name to the region. In 774 the Lombards were defeated by the Franks, who introduced the feudal system. In the early 13th century the Visconti family of Milan rose in power and unified the whole region under the strong central authority of the family, who gave way after the death of Gian Galeazzo Visconti in 1428 to the Sforza. The decadence for the Granducato of Milano began with the coming to Italy of Charls 5th of Spain, and a true revival only took place in the mid-18th century when the region was under the Austrians who, after the Congress of Vienna in 1815 established in Northern Italy the Lombardo-Veneto Kingdom, always under their influence. During the Second War of Italian Independence the region was among the first to be annexed to Italy, in 1859, when population of Milan rose against the Austrians in the glorious "Five Days" and saluted the coming of Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of Italy. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italian Genealogy HOW TO OBTAIN Information and Documents of your Ancestors in ITALY Here are our Step by Step, Detailed, and Useful Suggestions: 1- Go to PAGINE BIANCHE.it Web Site, by clicking HERE. 2- In the "Cognome o nome Azienda" box, Write the word "municipio", or "comune", or "archivio di stato", if you are looking for Registry Offices and State Archives, or Write the word "parrocchia", or "chiesa", or "curia", or "diocesi", or "arcidiocesi", if you are looking for Parish Churches and Dioceses, where to Request Information, and Documents, as Extracts, Acts, Certificates of your ITALIAN Ancestors. 3- In the "Nome" box, Leave the space blank. 4- In the "Dove" box, Write the Names of the Towns, or Provinces, or Regions of Birth, Matrimony, Death of your ITALIAN Ancestors. 5- Click on the button "Cerca": a List of the Registry Offices and State Archives, or of the Parish Churches and Dioceses, with their full names, addresses, and telephone numbers will appear! They are the Places where you can Request Information, and Documents, as Extracts, Acts, Certificates of your Ancestors in ITALY! 6- Write Informal and Personal Letters in ITALIAN to all them, with ALL Information, and Details! If you are not able to write in ITALIAN, Click on ITALIAN TRANSLATION, in this Page, and/or Contact us! 7- With your Letters to ITALY, include fees and costs for each Certificate requested (just a few U.S. Dollars or Euro Each), explain ALL the reasons for your Letters, and indicate Full Names, and Dates or Years of Birth, Matrimony, Death of your ITALIAN Ancestors that you are requesting Information, and Documents, as Extracts, Acts, Certificates, and wait for their Answers, and Results (usually after two or three months, up to a year, depending from cases and areas)! HOW TO FIND Places of your Ancestors and Living Relatives in ITALY HOW TO CONTACT your Living Relatives in ITALY |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italian Recipes Simply Lasagna Ingredients 1 pound ground beef 2 1/2 cups Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese, divided 1 (15 ounce) container Natural Part Skim Ricotta Cheese 1/2 cup 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 (26 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce 1 cup water 12 lasagna noodles, uncooked Nutrition Info Per Serving Calories: 213 kcal Carbohydrates: 22 g Dietary Fiber: 1 g Fat: 7 g Protein: 12 g Sugars: 1 g Cooking Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Brown meat in large skillet on medium-high heat. Meanwhile, mix 1-1/4 cups of the mozzarella cheese, the ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese, the parsley and egg until well blended; set aside. Drain meat; return to skillet. Stir in spaghetti sauce. Pour water into empty sauce jar; cover and shake well. Add to skillet; stir until well blended. (You should have about 5 cups sauce.) Spread 1 cup of the meat sauce onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish; top with layers of 3 lasagna noodles, 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture and 1 cup of the meat sauce. Repeat layers two more times. Top with remaining 3 noodles and the remaining sauce. Sprinkle with remaining 1-1/4 cups mozzarella cheese and remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Cover tightly with greased foil. Bake 45 min. Remove foil; continue baking 15 min. or until center is heated through (160 degrees F). Let stand 15 min. before cutting for easier serving. Yield: 12 servings -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italian Companies Fiat Fiat S.p.A. Type: Public (BIT: F) Founded: July 11 1899 Headquarters: Turin, Italy Luca Cordero di Montezemolo Chairman John Elkann Vice Chairman Sergio Marchionne C.E.O. Industry: Automotive, publishing, finance, and metallurgy Products: Automobiles, Commercial vehicles :Trucks, Buses, Agricultural and Construction Equipment, Components and Production Systems, Services, La Stampa Revenue: ▲ €58.529 billion (2007) Net income: ▲ €2.054 billion (2007) Employees: 172,012 (2006) Subsidiaries Automobiles: Ferrari S.p.A., Maserati S.p.A., Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A., Abarth & C. S.p.A., Alfa Romeo Automobiles S. p.A., Fiat Automobiles S.p.A., Fiat Light Commercial Vehicles S.p.A., Lancia Automobiles S.p.A. Agricoltural and Construction Equipment: CNH Global N.V. Commercial Vehicles: Iveco S.p.A. Components and Production system: Fiat Powertrain Technologies S.p.A., Magneti Marelli Holding S.p.A., Teksid S.p.A., Comau S.p.A. Other Business: Itedi S.p.A., La Stampa Official Website: www.fiatgroup.com Fiat S.p.A., is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial and industrial group based in Turin, Northern Italy. Founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli, the company name FIAT is an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (Italian Automobile Factory of Turin), and it also means "let there be" in Latin. Fiat also manufactured tanks and aircraft during the Mussolini years. Fiat branded cars are constructed all around the world besides Italy, the biggest industry of the company outside Italy is in Brazil (best seller), also has factories in Poland and Argentina. Joint Venture productions in France, Turkey, Egypt (with the state owned Nasr car company), South Africa, India and China. Agnelli's grandson Gianni Agnelli was Fiat chairman from 1966 until his death on January 24, 2003. However, from 1996, he only served as an "honorary" chairman, while the chairman was Cesare Romiti. After their removal, Paolo Fresco served as chairman and Paolo Cantarella as CEO. Umberto Agnelli then took over as chairman from 2002 to 2004. After Umberto Agnelli's death on May 28, 2004, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo was named chairman, but Agnelli heir John Elkann became vice chairman at age 28 and other family members are on the board. At this point, CEO Giuseppe Morchio immediately offered his resignation. Sergio Marchionne was named to replace him on June 1, 2004. Activities FIAT Group Revenues by Industry in 2004The group's activities were initially focused on the industrial production of cars, industrial and agricultural vehicles. Over time it has diversified into many other fields, and the group now has activities in a wide range of sectors in industry and financial services. It is Italy's largest industrial concern. It also has significant worldwide operations, operating in 61 countries with 1,063 companies that employ over 223,000 people, 111,000 of whom are outside Italy. Automobiles Fiat 500 Fiat Grande Punto Fiat Group is the largest automobile manufacturer in Italy, with a range of cars starting from small Fiats to sports cars made by Ferrari. Car companies includes Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A, Ferrari S.p.A., Iveco S.p.A. and Maserati S.p.A.. The Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A consist companies: Abarth & C. S.p.A., Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A, Fiat Automobiles S.p.A, Fiat Professional and Lancia Automobiles S.p.A. . Ferrari S.p.A. is owned by the Fiat Group, but is run autonomously. The European Car of the Year award, Europe's premier automotive trophy for the past 40 years, has been awarded twelve times to the Fiat Group, more than any other manufacturer. Most recently the Fiat Nuova 500 has won the award for European Car of the Year 2008. List of Fiat Group models which have won European Car of the Year: 1967: Fiat 124 1970: Fiat 128 1972: Fiat 127 1980: Lancia Delta 1984: Fiat Uno 1989: Fiat Tipo 1995: Fiat Punto 1996: Fiat Bravo/Brava 1998: Alfa Romeo 156 2001: Alfa Romeo 147 2004: Fiat Panda 2008: Fiat 500 Agricultural and Construction Equipment Fiat Group owns CNH Global (which includes Case Construction, Case IH, Flexi-Coil, Kobelco, New Holland, New Holland Construction, and Steyr); and Fiat-Hitachi Construction. CNH is the second largest agricultural equipment manufacturer in the world after Deere & Company. It is also the third largest producer of construction equipment after Caterpillar Inc. and Komatsu. CNH accounts for around 20% of revenues. CNH is the most prized company inside Fiat because it has driven growth and is very profitable. It also shows great promise for growth in third-world markets. Commercial Vehicles The New Fiat Professional Logo Commercial vehicles (Iveco and Seddon Atkinson), buses (Iveco and Irisbus) and firefighting vehicles (Camiva, Iveco and Magirus). For information on their military vehicles, see Ariete. On 17 April 2007 "Fiat Veicoli Commerciali" was rebranded as "Fiat Professional". Some of Fiat's Light Commercial Vehicle products include; Fiat Ducato, Fiat Scudo and Fiat Doblò Cargo. See Fiat Professional for more details on Fiat's Light Commercial Vehicle Products. Motorcycles and Aeronautics In 1959, Piaggio came under the control of the Agnelli family. Resultantly, in 1964 the aeronautical and motorcycle divisions split to become independent companies; the aeronautical division was named IAM Rinaldo Piaggio. Today the airplane company Piaggio Aero is controlled by the family of Piero Ferrari, which also still hold 10% of the carmaker Ferrari. Vespa thrived until 1992, when Giovanni Alberto Agnelli became CEO - but Agnelli was already suffering from cancer, and died in 1997. In 1999, Morgan Grenfell Private Equity acquired Piaggio Fiat itself was an important aircraft manufacturer, focused mainly on military aviation. After the World War I, Fiat consolidated several Italian small aircraft manufacturers, like Pomilio and Ansaldo. Most famous were Fiat biplane fighter aircraft of the 1930s, Fiat CR.32 and Fiat CR.42. Other notable designs were fighters CR.20, G.50, G.55 and a bomber, the Fiat BR.20. In 1950s, the company designed the G.91 light ground attack plane. Then, in 1969 Fiat Aviazione merged with Aerfer to create Aeritalia. Components The major Italian component maker Magneti Marelli is owned by Fiat, and in turn owns the other brands Carello, Automotive Lighting, Siem, Cofap, Jaeger, Solex, Veglia Borletti, Vitaloni, and Weber; other accessory brands include Riv- Skf and Brazilian Cofap. Metallurgical Products Fiat owns a metal company, Teksid. Production Systems Production systems are made mainly through Comau S.p.A. (now Comau Systems), which bought the American Pico, Renault Automation and Sciaky and produces industrial automation systems. In the 1970s and 1980s, the company became a pioneer in the use of industrial robotics for the assembly of motor vehicles. Fiat assembly plants are among the most automated and advanced in the world. Services An important insurance company, Toro Assicurazioni, allows Fiat to control a relevant part of this market (also with minor companies like Lloyd Italico and Augusta Assicurazioni) and to interact with some associated banks. Toro Assicurazioni was acquired by the giant insurance company Assicurazioni Generali and now is not related to the Fiat Group anymore. Construction Ingest Facility and Fiat Engineering work in various fields of construction, while IPI is a mediation company that also deals with the management of real estate properties. Information Technology Fiat Group is present in IT fields and in communications with ICT - Information & Communication Technology, Espin, Global Value, TeleClient, and Atlanet. Leisure The Fiat group owned the Sestriere skiing facilities (The village in the Alps is a creation of Agnelli family). The Sestriere skiing facilities was been sold by the group in 2006. Publishing and Communication Fiat group also owns important editorial brands, like La Stampa (created in 1926 for the famous newspaper), Itedi, and Italiana Edizioni. Some national and local newspapers are owned or otherwise controlled by the different companies. A specialised advertising space reseller is Publikompass, supported by the Consorzio Fiat Media Center. Other Activities Fiat Gesco, KeyG Consulting, Sadi Customs Services, Easy Drive, RM Risk Management and Servizio Titoli are minor companies that work for public services, delivering services in economics and financial fields. Other activities include industrial securitisation (Consorzio Sirio), treasury (Fiat Geva), Fiat Information & Communication Services. Fiat supports the Fondazione Giovanni Agnelli, an important foundation for social and economic research. Palazzo Grassi, a famous ancient building in Venice, now a museum and formerly supported by Fiat, was eventually sold to the french businessman François Pinault in January 2005. Fiat has recently begun sponsoring the Jamaican bobsledding team and promoting this sponsorship through commercials. Many like Jamaican athletes because they see them as underdogs and as people who enjoy life. While Volvo sponsors golf, Mercedes tennis, and Hyundai soccer, Fiat is trying to look unique and more light-hearted. Further, the team is relatively cheap to sponsor. The group is present in many countries, not only in the West. Notably, it was one of the first companies to build factories in Soviet-controlled countries, with the best known examples in Vladivostok, Kyiv and Togliatti. The Russian government later continued the joint venture under the name AutoVAZ (known as Lada outside the former USSR). The venture was most notable for the Lada Riva. Fiat also has a subsidiary in Poland at Tychy, (formerly called FSM) where Fiat's small cars (the 126, Cinquecento and now Seicento) are made. Fiat also has factories in Argentina, Brazil, and Italy. In addition, its cars are produced through licensing and joint-venture agreements in China, Egypt, France, India, South Africa, Turkey, and Vietnam. Local variants of Fiats are produced at these factories as well as a world car, the Palio. As of 2005, the company holds the first position in the Brazilian automobile market with a market share close to 25%. Fiat has articulated that it wishes to focus on expanding into third-world markets because, in the words of former chairman Paolo Fresco, "those are the only markets where you can expect growth. And it is true that Fiat's specialization in smaller cars puts it at an advantage in those markets, but cars sold in third-world countries tend to be much simpler than those sold elsewhere (e.g., most lack air conditioning), and thus require much less money to develop. History Giovanni Agnelli founded Fiat in 1899 with several investors and led the company until his death in 1945, while Vittorio Valletta administered the day-to-day activities of the company. Its first car the 3 ½ CV (of which only eight copies were built, all bodied by Alessio of Turin) strongly resembled contemporary Benz, and had a 697 cc (42.5 cu in) boxer twin engine. In 1903, Fiat produced its first truck. In 1908, the first Fiat was exported to the U.S.A. That same year, the first Fiat aircraft engine was produced. Also around the same time, Fiat taxis became somewhat popular in Europe. By 1910, Fiat was the largest automotive company in Italy — a position it has retained since. That same year, a plant licensed to produce Fiats in Poughkeepsie, NY, made its first car. This was before the introduction of Ford's assembly line in 1913. Owning a Fiat at that time was a sign of distinction. A Fiat sold in the U.S.A. cost between $3,600 and $8,600, compared to US$825 the Model T in 1908. Upon the entry of the US into World War I in 1917, the factory was shut down as US regulations became too burdensome. At the same time, Fiat had to devote all of its factories to supplying the Allies with aircraft, engines, machine guns, trucks, and ambulances. After the war, Fiat introduced its first tractor, the 702. By the early 1920s, Fiat had a market share in Italy of 80%. Lingotto factory (today) In 1921, workers seized Fiat's plants and hoisted the red flag of communism over them. Agnelli responded by quitting the company. However, the Italian Socialist Party and its ally organization, the General Confederation of Labor, in an effort to effect a compromise with the centrist parties ordered the occupation ended. In 1922, Fiat began to build the famous Lingotto car factory — the largest in Europe up to that time — which opened in 1923. It was the first Fiat factory to use assembly lines; by 1925, Fiat controlled 87% of the Italian car market. In 1928, with the 509, Fiat included insurance in the purchase price. Fiat made military machinery and vehicles during World War II for the Army and Regia Aeronautica and later for the Germans. Fiat made obsolete fighter aircraft like the biplane CR.42, which was one of the most common Italian aircraft, along with Savoia-Marchettis, as well as light tanks (obsolete compared to their German and Soviet counterparts) and armored vehicles. The best Fiat aircraft was the G.55 fighter, which arrived too late and in too limited numbers. In 1945 — the year Mussolini was overthrown - the Italian Committee of National Liberation removed the Agnelli family from leadership roles in Fiat because of its ties to Mussolini's government. These were not returned until 1963, when Giovanni's grandson, Gianni , took over as general manager until 1966, as chairman until 1996. Gianni Agnelli Among the younger Agnelli's first steps after gaining control of Fiat was a massive reorganization of the company management, which had previously been highly centralized, with almost no provision for the delegation of authority and decision-making power. Such a system had worked effectively enough in the past but lacked the responsiveness and flexibility made necessary by Fiat's steady expansion and the growth of its international operations in the 1960's. The company was reorganized on a product-line basis, with two main product groups — one for passenger cars, the other for trucks and tractors — and a number of semi-independent division and subsidiaries. Top management, freed from responsibility for day-by-day operations of the company, was able to devote its efforts to more far-reaching goals. In 1967, Fiat made its first acquisition when it purchased Autobianchi; with sales amounting to $1.7 billion, it outstripped Volkswagen, its main European competitor, and in 1968 produced some 1,750,000 vehicles while its sales volume climbed to $2.1 billion. According to Newsweek in 1968, Fiat was "the most dynamic automaker in Europe...[and] may come closest to challenging the worldwide supremacy of Detroit." Then, in 1969, it purchased controlling interests in Ferrari and Lancia. At the time, Fiat was a conglomerate, owning Alitalia, toll highways, a typewriter and office machine manufacturer, electronics and electrical equipment firms, a paint company, a civil engineering firm, and an international construction company. Following up on an agreement Valletta had made with Soviet officials in 1966, Agnelli constructed the AvtoVAZ plant in the new city of Togliattigrad on the Volga. This began operation in 1970, producing a local version of the Fiat 124 as the Lada. On his initiative, Fiat automobile and truck plants were also constructed in industrial centers of Yugoslavia, Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania. In 1979, the company became a holding company when it spun off its various businesses into autonomous companies, one of them being Fiat Auto. That same year, sales reached an all-time high in the United States, corresponding to the Iranian Oil Crisis. However, when gas prices fell again after 1981, Americans began purchasing sport utility vehicles, minivans, and pickup trucks in larger numbers (marking a departure from their past preference for large cars). Also, Japanese automakers had been taking an ever-larger share of the car market, increasing at more than half a percent a year. Consequently, in 1984, Fiat and Lancia withdrew from the US market. In 1989, it did the same in the Australian market, although it remained in New Zealand. In 1986, Fiat acquired Alfa Romeo from the Italian government. In 1992, two top corporate officials in the Fiat Group were arrested for political corruption. A year later, Fiat acquired Maserati. In 1995 Alfa Romeo exited the US market. Maserati re- entered the US market under Fiat in 2002. Since then, Maserati sales there have been increasing briskly. Paolo Fresco Paolo Fresco became chairman of Fiat in 1998 with the hope that the veteran of General Electric would bring more emphasis on shareholder value to Fiat. By the time he took power, Fiat's market share in Italy had fallen to 41%[citation needed] from around 62% in 1984.[citation needed] However, a Jack Welch-like management style would be much harsher than that used by the Italians (e.g., precarious versus lifetime employment). Instead, Fresco focused on offering more incentives for good performance, including compensation using stock options for top and middle management. However, his efforts were frustrated by union objections. Unions insisted that pay raises be set by length of tenure, rather than performance. Another conflict was over his preference for informality (the founder, Giovanni Agnelli, used to be a cavalry officer). He often referred to other managers by their first name, although company tradition obliged one to refer to others using their titles (e.g., "Chairman Fresco"). The CEO of the company, Managing Director Paolo Cantarella, ran the day-to-day affairs of the company, while Fresco determined company strategy and especially acted as a negotiator for the company. In fact, many speculated the main reason he was chosen for the job was to sell Fiat Auto (although Fresco fervently denied it). In 1999, Fiat formed CNH Global by merging New Holland NV and Case Corporation. Recent Events Over time, most automotive companies around the world have become holding companies of foreign as well as domestic competitors. For example, General Motors owned a controlling interest in Saab Automobile and, until recently, in Isuzu. Fresco signed a joint-venture agreement in 2000 under which GM acquired a stake in Fiat. This made it appear as if Fiat was next, although GM has made joint ventures with other companies (such as Toyota) without acquiring them. Nevertheless, Fiat did not see the GM partnership as a threat, rather as an opportunity to off-load its automotive business. The agreement with GM included a put option, which held that Fiat would have the right to sell GM its auto division after four years at fair market value. If GM balked, it would be forced to pay a penalty of $2 billion. When Fiat tried to sell GM the company, GM chose the penalty. On May 13, 2005 GM and Fiat officially dissolved their agreement, and Fiat is now courting Ford. The current CEO views alliances such as these as the deciding factor of the future success of Fiat. As part of the recent divestitures, in 2003 Fiat shed its insurance sector, which it was operating through Toro Assicurazioni to the DeAgostini Group. In the same year, Fiat sold its aviation business, FiatAvio to Avio Holding. In February 2004, the company sold its interest in Fiat Engineering, as well as its stake in Edison. Fiat faces a multitude of threats, including rising steel prices (up by 16-30% beginning of 2008), a strong Euro, and increased competition from Japanese and Korean car manufacturers in Europe. Although the light-vehicle market share of Japanese and Korean automakers in Europe is less than in the US (12.5% and 3.9%, respectively versus 30% and 3.9% in the US), it has been increasing steadily at about a half a percent a year. Sergio Marchionne Sergio Marchionne has begun to impress investors since taking over as CEO in June, 2004. Losses have fallen steadily since 2002, and Q4 of FY2005 saw its first profit in 17 quarters, and had a profit of 196M Euros for the first 9 months of FY2006. Mr. Marchionne has succeeded more than Fresco in taking an axe to Fiat's bloated managerial bureaucracy and changing its tone to a focus on markets and profits. (Marchionne was raised in Canada by Italian parents.) While the charismatic chairman, the well-connected Luca di Montezemolo, dealt with politicians and unions, Marchionne rebuilt the car business. The success of the Grande Punto model has in large part been responsible for the turnaround in Fiat's fortunes, but the quite successful Bravo (successor to the Stilo) and the new award winning 500 have really cemented it. Fiat has formed a joint venture with India's TATA motors and China's Chery motors, and has started its second innings with a force. Under Marchionne it has also re-entered several large markets that it had exited years before, such as Mexico and Australia. Enterprises Outside of Italy Fiat was a key player in developing motor industries for a number of countries from the 1950s, particularly in Eastern Europe, Spain, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Turkey. Zastava, Serbia Its first enterprise came in 1955, when it agreed a deal with Yugoslav carmaker Zastava to assemble Fiats for Eastern Europe. The first cars to be produced by Zastava were its versions of the Fiat 1300 and Fiat 1400. By 1970, Zastava was producing parts for the newer Fiat 124 and Fiat 125 models, although these cars were actually assembled in Poland. The Zastava 750, launched in 1962, was Zastava's version of the iconic Fiat 600 minicar. It outlived the car on which it was based, with production not finishing until 1981. Zastavas were not popular outside of Eastern Europe before the 1980s, although they were exported to the US under the Yugo brand as long ago as 1973. A UK right-hand drive Zastava 101-based hatchback The most famous product launched by Zastava is the Zastava 101, a front-wheel drive car basedo on the Fiat 128, also available as a hatchback version never sold in Italy. Despite numerous bad press about build quality and reliability, it sold well in Yugoslavia thanks largely to it's low asking price, cheap maintenance costs and simple mechanical design. It remains on sale in the former Yugoslavia to this very day; it is now in its 36th year of production. With the demise of the aged Zastava 750 in 1981, the minicar gap in the Zastava range was filled by the Zastava Koral, which was best known in Britain and America as the Yugo Tempo. It was based on the 1971 Fiat 127, which was due to be replaced by the Fiat Uno in 1983. It was among the cheapest cars on sale in both countries, and it was well received in its' class in Britain, but not so much in the more competitive US market. But hostility towards Yugoslavia in the wake of the 1992 civil unrest saw a swift ceasure of imports to both Britain and America. The Zastava factory in Kragujevac was later bombed, but was rebuilt once the war was over, and production continued at another factory in Kragujevac. In 1987, Zastava came up with a new car design. The Zastava Florida - known in other markets as the Yugo Sana - was styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro at the ItalDesign studio, featured a range of refined Peugeot engines, and was mechanically similar to the forthcoming and highly acclaimed Fiat Tipo. It was sold in Britain from 1988 to 1992, but was withdrawn from sale for a number of reasons - particularly the domestic upheavels in Yugoslavia and the fall in popularity of the whole Yugo range in Britain. Sales continued in its homeland, with an update at the end of the 1990s. Zastava did not launch another new car for another 16 years. The 2003 Zastava 10 model was another Fiat design - this time the second generation Punto. It boasts similar features to the Punto and other cars in its' class such as the Volkswagen Polo. It is competitively priced compared to other similar-sized cars, including the Punto on which it is based. Four years after its launch, the Zastava 10 has not yet been sold outside of the former Yugoslavia. According to Fiat sources a new memorandum of understanding between Fiat and the Serb ministry of economic and regional development about the acquisition of Zastava's Kragujevac plant foresees a new company being set up in which the Italians would have a 70 percent stake and the Serb government 30 percent. Polski Fiat/FSO (Poland) Fiat automobiles have been made in Poland since 1920. In 1932, the Polskie zakłady Inżynieryjne (Polish Engineering Works, PZInż) started the production of Fiat 508, produced until 1939 also as a military vehicle. In 1936 the licence was extended to include the Fiat 518 model. In 1965, the Polish communist government signed a deal with Fiat to produce selected Fiat models in Poland at the FSO factory in Warsaw that had been built in 1951. Production of the new car - the Polski Fiat 125p - began in 1967. It was visually identical to the Fiat 125, but it made use of older Fiat mechanicals which dated back to 1960. The car sold very well in its homeland and was soon exported to Western Europe. After 1979, Fiat withdrew control of the FSO factory, and from then on the FSO badge was revived. A year earlier, it had appeared on a new five-door hatchback, the FSO Polonez, that made use of Fiat 125 running gear. The Polski Fiat design survived until 1991, by which time almost 1,500,000 had been made in less than 25 years. It was a cheap competitor to similar Eastern European budget cars, and by the time of its demise, many Eastern European carmakers were adopting modern Western style designs in place of the archaic three-box saloons that had barely moved out of the 1960s. FSO was taken over by Daewoo of South Korea in 1995, by which time the FSO Polonez had been replaced by the Caro, which was little more than a facelift of the 1978 design with underpinnings dating back to 1960. This car was sold in Western Europe until the end of the 1990s, and production finally finished in 2002. FSO had become independent again in late 2000, after Daewoo went bankrupt and were saved by General Motors. Despite this, FSO continued to build versions of the Daewoo Matiz and Daewoo Lanos. These cars remain in production to this day, although the target of the factory is to focus on the production of the Chevrolet Aveo which has already been introduced. In 1983, the Fabryka Samochodów Małolitrażowych (FSM) in Bielsko-Biała and Tychy started the output of Fiat 126(p). In 1991, when the Cinquecento (see Fiat Cinquecento) model was put into production. Until 2000, FSM has built more than 3.000.000 of the Fiat 126 model. In 1992 90% of stock of FSM (Fiat Auto Poland, since 1993) was purchased by Fiat Auto. since then it produced Cinquecento, Uno, Seicento, Siena and Palio Weekend (see Fiat Cinquecento, Fiat Uno, Fiat Seicento, Fiat Siena and Fiat Palio Weekend) models with the capacity up to 200.000 cars a year. In 2003, FSM become the sole producer of Fiat Panda, and in 2007 of new Fiat 500 model. The capacity was increased to ca. 280.000 cars a year, and due to new investments in 2006-2007 will reach over half a million in 2008. This will enable Fiat Auto Poland to include a new model of Ford in it's prodction. It is worth noting both Panda and 500 were selected European car of the year, respectively in 2004 and 2007. Other Fiat investment in Poland is a joint Fiat-GM venture of Powertrain, producing multijet (see JTD engine) car engines both for Fiat and GM models. Lada (Soviet Union/Russia) In 1966, Fiat built a new car factory (AvtoVAZ) on the banks of the Volga river. A new area called Togliatti (named after an Italian communist) was developed around the factory, which started producing a "people's car", the Lada. It was based on the new Fiat 124, but aimed at the budget end of the market to target buyers of cars like the Volkswagen Beetle and Citroën 2CV - except the Lada was a more practical and spacious offering, in four-door saloon and five-door estate guise. Fiat installed British-built machine tools supplied by Herbert-BSA[1] of Birmingham for the manufacture of many Lada parts. The 124's design was mechanically upgraded to survive treacherous Russian driving conditions and freezing Siberian winters. Imports to Western Europe began in 1974, and after a few years of slow sales, the cars began to sell well thanks largely to their low asking price. This car was upgraded to become the Lada Riva in 1980, a year after the launch of a four-wheel drive - the Lada Niva - which was specially designed for the Soviet army. It failed to match the on-road handling of similar small off-roaders like the Suzuki SJ, but off the road there were few vehicles that could match it. In 1984, Lada made its first attempt at a modern front-wheel drive hatchback. The Samara was an all-new design that was a superb engineering achievement considering the years of technical isolation in Eastern Europe. But it was let down by a dreadful plasticky interior and dismal finish. Even though it was a rugged car capable of dealing with the worst road conditions, many Western European buyers stuck with the old Riva. Western European imports of the Samara began in 1987 - the year in which the Lada range totaled more than 21,000 sales in Britain. The low asking price of the Lada range was not enough, and by 1996 the Lada range sold just over 6,000 cars in Britain. The following year this, and ever-tougher emissions requirements, forced Lada out of Britain and many other export markets. In 1996, Lada did make another attempt at an all-new modern front-wheel drive car. The Lada 110 was a more modern looking car than the rest of the Lada range, but its modern looks were not carried through to the engineering design or build quality. Production of the Samara ceased in 2004, but the ancient Riva and Niva remain in production, alongside the newer 110 as well as another new car, the Lada Kalina. Launched in 2004, this small car is available as a hatchback, saloon (sedan), or estate (station wagon), and sets new standards for Russian small cars in terms of specification and design. AvtoVAZ, the firm who makes Ladas, hopes to have the Kalina on sale in Western Europe in the near future. Turkey In Turkey, the Fiat 124 was produced under licence by Tofaş as the Tofaş Murat. This was replaced by a version of the Fiat 131, known as the Tofaş Şahin. Spain in Spain, SEAT was set up with Fiat assistance, producing Fiat models under its own brand name until 1981, when Fiat withdrew its support. However, production of the Fiat-based models continued, with the final Fiat-based SEAT (the Marbella) not finishing until 1996. By this stage, SEAT had become part of German manufacturer Volkswagen after several years of ownership by the Spanish government. South Africa In South Africa, the Fiat Uno was assembled under licence by Nissan, which marketed it through its dealerships as the Uno, without Fiat branding. Ethiopia the Fiat 131, known as the Holland Car DOCC. Helwan, Egypt As part of Nasser's regime he made a way to protect the national economy, he ordered EGID (General Intelligence Agent) to establish Nasr. Producing some Fiat models, then is formed with Turkey new models now which called Şahin till now El Nasr Product Fiat 128 and Şahin. Fiat Auto's Position in Europe Today Fiat Auto's sales in Europe grew by 20% in 2006, with sales totalling 1.2 million units. So far this year Fiat Auto's European sales are up by almost 8%, with sales of more than 1 million units over the first nine months of the year. Market share was 7.5% in 2006, with Fiat's market share this year expected to be around the 8.3% mark. The Fiat brand is the fastest growing element of the group, with sales up 10% in Europe so far this year. Fiat makes up more than 80% of Fiat Auto's sales in Europe, with sales to date of almost 800,000 units. The next largest part of the group is Alfa Romeo, sales so far in Europe this year are 115 thousand (Up 2%), Fiat Auto is completed by Lancia, which has accumulated 100 thousand sales to September 2006] (Up 5%). Fiat Auto is the 6th biggest selling car group in Europe, while Fiat is the 5th largest individual brand. Italy is by far Fiat's largest market in Europe--more than two thirds of all Fiat Auto products sold in Europe are sold here. Fiat Auto expects to sell 1.35 million cars in Europe this year,[when?] of which 800 thousand or so will be sold in Italy. France is the next largest market with 150 thousand sales expected. The UK, Germany, and Spain are other large markets for Fiat Auto. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italian Provinces Province of MILANO Region LOMBARDIA (LOMBARDY) Official Website: www.provincia.milano.it The Province of Milano has a surface area of 1,984 square km, with a total population of over 3,700,000 inhabitants. It is administratively divided into 135 Municipalities. The new Monza-Brianza Province is being created from part of the province of Milan. This new province (capital Monza) covers 363 sq km, and includes 53 communes with approx. 740,000 inhabitants. The Comuni in the Province of Milano Comune of Abbiategrasso | Comune of Albairate | Comune of Arconate | Comune of Arese | Comune of Arluno | Comune of Assago | Comune of Bareggio | Comune of Basiano | Comune of Basiglio | Comune of Bellinzago Lombardo | Comune of Bernate Ticino | Comune of Besate | Comune of Binasco | Comune of Boffalora sopra Ticino | Comune of Bollate | Comune of Bresso | Comune of Bubbiano | Comune of Buccinasco | Comune of Buscate | Comune of Busnago | Comune of Bussero | Comune of Busto Garolfo | Comune of Calvignasco | Comune of Cambiago | Comune of Canegrate | Comune of Caponago | Comune of Carpiano | Comune of Carugate | Comune of Casarile | Comune of Casorezzo | Comune of Cassano d'Adda | Comune of Cassina de Pecchi | Comune of Cassinetta di Lugagnano | Comune of Castano Primo | Comune of Cernusco sul Naviglio | Comune of Cerro al Lambro | Comune of Cerro Maggiore | Comune of Cesano Boscone | Comune of Cesate | Comune of Cinisello Balsamo | Comune of Cisliano | Comune of Cologno Monzese | Comune of Colturano | Comune of Corbetta | Comune of Cormano | Comune of Cornaredo | Comune of Cornate d'Adda | Comune of Corsico | Comune of Cuggiono | Comune of Cusago | Comune of Cusano Milanino | Comune of Dairago | Comune of Dresano | Comune of Gaggiano | Comune of Garbagnate Milanese | Comune of Gessate | Comune of Gorgonzola | Comune of Grezzago | Comune of Gudo Visconti | Comune of Inveruno | Comune of Inzago | Comune of Lacchiarella | Comune of Lainate | Comune of Legnano | Comune of Lentate sul Seveso | Comune of Lissone | Comune of Locate di Triulzi | Comune of Magenta | Comune of Magnago | Comune of Marcallo con Casone | Comune of Masate | Comune of Mediglia | Comune of Melegnano | Comune of Melzo | Comune of Mesero | Comune of Milano | Comune of Morimondo | Comune of Motta Visconti | Comune of Nerviano | Comune of Nosate | Comune of Novate Milanese | Comune of Noviglio | Comune of Opera | Comune of Ossona | Comune of Ozzero | Comune of Paderno Dugnano | Comune of Pantigliate | Comune of Parabiago | Comune of Paullo | Comune of Pero | Comune of Peschiera Borromeo | Comune of Pessano con Bornago | Comune of Pieve Emanuele | Comune of Pioltello | Comune of Pogliano Milanese | Comune of Pozzo d'Adda | Comune of Pozzuolo Martesana | Comune of Pregnana Milanese | Comune of Rescaldina | Comune of Rho | Comune of Robecchetto con Induno | Comune of Robecco sul Naviglio | Comune of Rodano | Comune of Roncello | Comune of Rosate | Comune of Rozzano | Comune of San Donato Milanese | Comune of San Giorgio su Legnano | Comune of San Giuliano Milanese | Comune of San Vittore Olona | Comune of San Zenone al Lambro | Comune of Santo Stefano Ticino | Comune of Sedriano | Comune of Segrate | Comune of Senago | Comune of Sesto San Giovanni | Comune of Settala | Comune of Settimo Milanese | Comune of Solaro | Comune of Trezzano Rosa | Comune of Trezzano sul Naviglio | Comune of Trezzo sull'Adda | Comune of Tribiano | Comune of Truccazzano | Comune of Turbigo | Comune of Vanzaghello | Comune of Vanzago | Comune of Vaprio d'Adda | Comune of Vermezzo | Comune of Vernate | Comune of Vignate | Comune of Villa Cortese | Comune of Vimodrone | Comune of Vittuone | Comune of Vizzolo Predabissi | Comune of Zelo Surrigone | Comune of Zibido San Giacomo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Province of BERGAMO Region LOMBARDIA (LOMBARDY) Official Website: www.provincia.bergamo.it The Province of Bergamo has a surface area of 2,723 square km, with a total population of over 980,000 inhabitants. It is administratively divided into 247 Municipalities. Its valleys include Seriana and Brembana. The southern part is mainly made up of flatlands. Its rivers include the Serio, the Brembo and the Adda at the southwestern boundary. In the east, Lake Iseo forms its boundary which the Oglio from the Camonica Valley flows through. Minerals are found in the area of Trescore and San Pellegrino. The low-lying areas are rich in pastures along with corn, wine, grain, rice and flax that are cultivated. Hunting is common. Very common is also the breeding of poultry, swines with modern techniques, and the traditional sheep herding. The economy of the province of Bergamo is based on small and medium-sized industries. The main heavy industries are minerals transformation, especially iron, concrete and marble. There are also a large tractor plant, in Treviglio, and a large pipes plant, in Dalmine. Silks, metallurgical and clothing are also common. Bergamo masons and assemblers are very famous for their ability. The Comuni in the Province of Bergamo Comune of Adrara San Martino | Comune of Adrara San Rocco | Comune of Albano Sant'Alessandro | Comune of Albino | Comune of Algua | Comune of Almè | Comune of Almenno San Bartolomeo | Comune of Almenno San Salvatore | Comune of Alzano Lombardo | Comune of Ambivere | Comune of Antegnate | Comune of Arcene | Comune of Ardesio | Comune of Arzago d'Adda | Comune of Averara | Comune of Aviatico | Comune of Azzano | Comune of Azzone | Comune of Bagnatica | Comune of Barbata | Comune of Bariano | Comune of Barzana | Comune of Bedulita | Comune of Berbenno | Comune of BERGAMO | Comune of Berzo San Fermo | Comune of Bianzano | Comune of Blello | Comune of Bolgare | Comune of Boltiere | Comune of Bonate Sopra | Comune of Bonate Sotto | Comune of Borgo di Terzo | Comune of Bossico | Comune of Bottanuco | Comune of Bracca | Comune of Branzi | Comune of Brembate | Comune of Brembate di Sopra | Comune of Brembilla | Comune of Brignano Gera DAdda | Comune of Brumano | Comune of Brusaporto | Comune of Calcinate | Comune of Calcio | Comune of Calusco d'Adda | Comune of Calvenzano | Comune of Camerata Cornello | Comune of Canonica d'Adda | Comune of Capizzone | Comune of Capriate San Gervasio | Comune of Caprino Bergamasco | Comune of Caravaggio | Comune of Carobbio degli Angeli | Comune of Carona | Comune of Carvico | Comune of Casazza | Comune of Casirate d'Adda | Comune of Casnigo | Comune of Cassiglio | Comune of Castel Gabbiano | Comune of Castel Rozzone | Comune of Castelli Calepio | Comune of Castione della Presolana | Comune of Castro | Comune of Cavernago | Comune of Cazzano Sant'Andrea | Comune of Cenate Sopra | Comune of Cenate Sotto | Comune of Cene | Comune of Cerete | Comune of Chignolo d'Isola | Comune of Chiuduno | Comune of Cisano Bergamasco | Comune of Ciserano | Comune of Cividate al Piano | Comune of Clusone | Comune of Colere | Comune of Cologno al Serio | Comune of Colzate | Comune of Comun Nuovo | Comune of Corna Imagna | Comune of Cornalba | Comune of Cortenova | Comune of Costa di Mezzate | Comune of Costa di Serina | Comune of Costa Valle Imagna | Comune of Costa Volpino | Comune of Covo | Comune of Credaro | Comune of Curno | Comune of Cusio | Comune of Dalmine | Comune of Dossena | Comune of Endine Gaiano | Comune of Entratico | Comune of Fara Gera d'Adda | Comune of Fara Olivana con Sola | Comune of Filago | Comune of Fino del Monte | Comune of Fiorano al Serio | Comune of Fontanella | Comune of Fonteno | Comune of Foppolo | Comune of Foresto Sparso | Comune of Fornovo San Giovanni | Comune of Fuipiano Valle Imagna | Comune of Gandellino | Comune of Gandino | Comune of Gandosso | Comune of Gaverina Terme | Comune of Gazzaniga | Comune of Gerosa | Comune of Ghisalba | Comune of Gorlago | Comune of Gorle | Comune of Gorno | Comune of Grassobbio | Comune of Gromo | Comune of Grone | Comune of Grumello del Monte | Comune of Isola di Fondra | Comune of Isso | Comune of Lallio | Comune of Leffe | Comune of Lenna | Comune of Levate | Comune of Locatello | Comune of Lovere | Comune of Lurano | Comune of Luzzana | Comune of Madone | Comune of Mapello | Comune of Martinengo | Comune of Medolago | Comune of Mezzoldo | Comune of Misano di Gera DAdda | Comune of Moio de Calvi | Comune of Monasterolo del Castello | Comune of Montello | Comune of Morengo | Comune of Mornico al Serio | Comune of Mozzanica | Comune of Mozzo | Comune of Nembro | Comune of Olmo al Brembo | Comune of Oltre il Colle | Comune of Oltressenda Alta | Comune of Oneta | Comune of Onore | Comune of Orio al Serio | Comune of Ornica | Comune of Osio Sopra | Comune of Osio Sotto | Comune of Pagazzano | Comune of Paladina | Comune of Palazzago | Comune of Palosco | Comune of Paratico | Comune of Parre | Comune of Parzanica | Comune of Pedrengo | Comune of Peia | Comune of Pianico | Comune of Piario | Comune of Piazza Brembana | Comune of Piazzatorre | Comune of Piazzolo | Comune of Pognano | Comune of Ponte Nossa | Comune of Ponte San Pietro | Comune of Ponteranica | Comune of Pontida | Comune of Pontirolo Nuovo | Comune of Pradalunga | Comune of Predore | Comune of Premolo | Comune of Presezzo | Comune of Pumenengo | Comune of Ranica | Comune of Ranzanico | Comune of Riva di Solto | Comune of Rogno | Comune of Romano di Lombardia | Comune of Roncobello | Comune of Roncola | Comune of Rota d'Imagna | Comune of Rovetta | Comune of San Giovanni Bianco | Comune of San Paolo d'Argon | Comune of San Pellegrino Terme | Comune of Santa Brigida | Comune of Sant'Omobono Imagna | Comune of Sarnico | Comune of Scanzorosciate | Comune of Schilpario | Comune of Sedrina | Comune of Selvino | Comune of Seriate | Comune of Serina | Comune of Solto Collina | Comune of Solza | Comune of Songavazzo | Comune of Sorisole | Comune of Sotto il Monte Giovanni | Comune of Sovere | Comune of Spinone al Lago | Comune of Spirano | Comune of Stezzano | Comune of Strozza | Comune of Suisio | Comune of Taleggio | Comune of Tavernola Bergamasca | Comune of Telgate | Comune of Terno D'Isola | Comune of Torre Boldone | Comune of Torre de Busi | Comune of Torre de Roveri | Comune of Torre Pallavicina | Comune of Trescore Balneario | Comune of Treviglio | Comune of Treviolo | Comune of Ubiale Clanezzo | Comune of Urgnano | Comune of Valbondione | Comune of Valbrembo | Comune of Valgoglio | Comune of Valleve | Comune of Valnegra | Comune of Valsecca | Comune of Valtorta | Comune of Vedeseta | Comune of Verdellino | Comune of Verdello | Comune of Vertova | Comune of Viadanica | Comune of Vigano San Martino | Comune of Vigolo | Comune of Villa d'Adda | Comune of Villa d'Alme | Comune of Villa | Comune of Villa D'Ogna | Comune of Villongo | Comune of Vilminore di Scalve | Comune of Zandobbio | Comune of Zanica | Comune of Zogno -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Province of BRESCIA Region LOMBARDIA (LOMBARDY) Official Website: www.provincia.brescia.it The Province of Brescia is the largest in Lombardy, including in its territory 3 lakes, Iseo, d'Idro and Garda, and the beautiful Alpine valleys Val Camonica, Val Trompia and Val Sabbia. The territory is very varied, going from the lakes, to the plain, to the high Alpine summit, where is also the largest glacier in the Alps. Info: Area: 4,784 km² -- Population: over 1 million inhabitants -- Zip/postal codes: 25121-25136, 25010-25089 -- Phone Area Codes: 030, 0364, 0365, 035 -- Car Plate: BS -- Communes: 206 communes The Comuni in the Province of Brescia Acquafredda | Adro | Agnosine | Alfianello | Anfo | Angolo Terme | Artogne | Azzano Mella | Bagnolo Mella | Bagolino | Barbariga | Barghe | Bassano Bresciano | Bedizzole | Berlingo | BerzoDemo | Berzo Inferiore | Bienno | Bione | Borgo San Giacomo | Borgosatollo | Borno | Comune of Botticino | Bovegno | Bovezzo | Brandico | Braone | Comune of Breno | Comune of Brescia | Brione | Caino | Calcinato | Calvagese della Riviera | Calvisano | CapoDiPonte | Capovalle | Capriano del Colle | Capriolo | Carpenedolo | Castegnato | Castel Mella | Castelcovati | Castenedolo | Casto | Castrezzato | Cazzago San Martino | Cedegolo | Cellatica | Cerveno | Ceto | Cevo | Chiari | Cigole | Cimbergo | Cividate Camuno | Coccaglio | Collebeato | Collio | Cologne | Comezzano Cizzago | Concesio | Corte Franca | Corteno Golgi | Corzano | Darfo Boario Terme | Dello | Desenzano | Edolo | Erbusco | Esine | Fiesse | Flero | Gambara | Gardone Riviera | Gardone Val Trompia | Gargnano | Gavardo | Ghedi | Gianico | Gottolengo | Gussago | Idro | Incudine | Irma | Iseo | Isorella | Lavenone | Leno | Limone sul Garda | Lodrino | Lograto | Lonato | Longhena | Losine | Lozio | Lumezzane | Maclodio | Magasa | Mairano | Malegno | Malonno | Manerba del Garda | Manerbio | Marcheno | Marmentino | Marone | Mazzano | Milzano | Moniga del Garda | Monno | Monte Isola | Monticelli Brusati | Montichiari | Montirone | Mura | Muscoline | Nave | Niardo | Nuvolento | Nuvolera | Odolo | Offlaga | Ome | Ono San Pietro | Orzinuovi | Orzivecchi | Ospitaletto | Ossimo | Padenghe sul Garda | Paderno Franciacorta | PaiscoLoveno | Paitone | Palazzolo sull'Oglio | Paspardo | Passirano | Pavone del Mella | Pertica Alta | Pertica Bassa | Pezzaze | Pian Camuno | Piancogno | Pisogne | Polaveno | Polpenazze del Garda | Pompiano | Poncarale | Ponte di Legno | Pontevico | Pontoglio | Pozzolengo | Pralboino | Preseglie | Prestine | Prevalle | Provaglio D'Iseo | Provaglio Val Sabbia | Puegnago Sul Garda | Quinzano D'Oglio | Remedello | Rezzato | Roccafranca | Rodengo Saiano | Roe Volciano | Roncadelle | Rovato | Rudiano | Sabbio Chiese | Sale Marasino | Comune of Salo' | San Felice del Benaco | San Gervasio Bresciano | San Paolo | Comune of San Zeno Naviglio | Sarezzo | Saviore dell'Adamello | Sellero | Seniga | Serle | Sirmione | Soiano del Lago | Sonico | Sulzano | Tavernole sul Mella | Temu | Tignale | Torbole Casaglia | Toscolano Maderno | Travagliato | Tremosine | Trenzano | Treviso Bresciano | Urago d'Oglio | Vallio Terme | Valvestino | Verolanuova | Verolavecchia | Vestone | Vezza D'Oglio | Villa Carcina | Villachiara | Villanuova sul Clisi | Vione | Visano | Vobarno | Zone -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Province of COMO Region LOMBARDIA (LOMBARDY) Official Website: www.provincia.como.it The Province of Como has a surface area of 1288 square km, with a total population of about 530,000 inhabitants. It is administratively divided into 163 Municipalities, and the most important centers are Como, Cantù, Mariano Comense and Erba. The territory includes mountain areas and a large part of Lake Como and other smaller lakes, the Lake of Lugano and Segrino. The main feature is however the large Como Lake (also called Lario), the third largest in Italy and the deepest (410 mt) with its two main tributaries Adda and Mera, in an alpine amphitheater where the climate is made milder than in nearby mountain places. The Comuni in the Province of Como Comune of Albavilla | Comune of Albese con Cassano | Comune of Albiolo | Comune of Alserio | Comune of Alzate Brianza | Comune of Anzano del Parco | Comune of Appiano Gentile | Comune of Argegno | Comune of Arosio | Comune of Asso | Comune of Barni | Comune of Bellagio | Comune of Bene Lario | Comune of Beregazzo con Figliaro | Comune of Binago | Comune of Bizzarone | Comune of Blessagno | Comune of Blevio | Comune of Bregnano | Comune of Brenna | Comune of Brienno | Comune of Brunate | Comune of Bulgarograsso | Comune of Cabiate | Comune of Cadorago | Comune of Caglio | Comune of Cagno | Comune of Campione d'Italia | Comune of Cantu' | Comune of Canzo | Comune of Capiago Intimiano | Comune of Carate Urio | Comune of Carbonate | Comune of Carimate | Comune of Carlazzo | Comune of Carugo | Comune of Casasco d'Intelvi | Comune of Caslino d'Erba | Comune of Casnate con Bernate | Comune of Cassina Rizzardi | Comune of Castelmarte | Comune of Castelnuovo Bozzente | Comune of Castiglione d'Intelvi | Comune of Cavallasca | Comune of Cavargna | Comune of Cerano d'Intelvi | Comune of Cermenate | Comune of Cernobbio | Comune of Cirimido | Comune of Civenna | Comune of Claino con Osteno | Comune of Colonno | Comune of Como | Comune of Consiglio di Rumo | Comune of Corrido | Comune of Cremia | Comune of Cucciago | Comune of Cusino | Comune of Dizzasco | Comune of Domaso | Comune of Dongo | Comune of Dosso del Liro | Comune of Drezzo | Comune of Erba | Comune of Eupilio | Comune of Faggeto Lario | Comune of Faloppio | Comune of Fenegro | Comune of Figino Serenza | Comune of Fino Mornasco | Comune of Garzeno | Comune of Gera Lario | Comune of Germasino | Comune of Gironico | Comune of Grandate | Comune of Grandola ed Uniti | Comune of Gravedona | Comune of Griante | Comune of Guanzate | Comune of Inverigo | Comune of Laglio | Comune of Laino | Comune of Lambrugo | Comune of Lanzo d'Intelvi | Comune of Lasnigo | Comune of Lenno | Comune of Lezzeno | Comune of Limido Comasco | Comune of Lipomo | Comune of Livo | Comune of Locate Varesino | Comune of Lomazzo | Comune of Longone al Segrino | Comune of Luisago | Comune of Lurago DErba | Comune of Lurago Marinone | Comune of Lurate Caccivio | Comune of Magreglio | Comune of Mariano Comense | Comune of Maslianico | Comune of Menaggio | Comune of Merone | Comune of Mezzegra | Comune of Moltrasio | Comune of Monguzzo | Comune of Montano Lucino | Comune of Montemezzo | Comune of Montorfano | Comune of Mozzate | Comune of Musso | Comune of Nesso | Comune of Novedrate | Comune of Olgiate Comasco | Comune of Oliveto Lario | Comune of Oltrona di San Mamette | Comune of Orsenigo | Comune of Ossuccio | Comune of Pare | Comune of Peglio | Comune of Pellio Intelvi | Comune of Pianello del Lario | Comune of Pigra | Comune of Plesio | Comune of Pognana Lario | Comune of Ponna | Comune of Ponte Lambro | Comune of Porlezza | Comune of Proserpio | Comune of Ramponio Verna | Comune of Rezzago | Comune of Rodero | Comune of Ronago | Comune of Rovellasca | Comune of Rovello Porro | Comune of Sala Comacina | Comune of San Bartolomeo Val Cavargna | Comune of San Fedele Intelvi | Comune of San Fermo della Battaglia | Comune of San Nazzaro Val Cavargna | Comune of Santa Maria Rezzonico | Comune of Sant'Abbondio | Comune of Schignano | Comune of Senna Comasco | Comune of Solbiate | Comune of Sorico | Comune of Sormano | Comune of Stazzona | Comune of Tavernerio | Comune of Torno | Comune of Tremezzo | Comune of Trezzone | Comune of Turate | Comune of Uggiate Trevano | Comune of Val Rezzo | Comune of Valbrona | Comune of Valmorea | Comune of Valsolda | Comune of Veleso | Comune of Veniano | Comune of Vercana | Comune of Vertemate con Minoprio | Comune of Villa Guardia | Comune of Zelbio -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Province of CREMONA Region LOMBARDIA (LOMBARDY) Official Website: www.provincia.cremona.it The Province of Cremona has a surface area of 1,771 square km, with a total population of just over 330,000 inhabitants. It is administratively divided into 115 Municipalities. The Comuni in the Province of Cremona Comune of Acquanegra Cremonese | Comune of Agnadello | Comune of Annicco | Comune of Azzanello | Comune of Bagnolo Cremasco | Comune of Bonemerse | Comune of Bordolano | Comune of Ca d'Andrea | Comune of Calvatone | Comune of Camisano | Comune of Campagnola Cremasca | Comune of Capergnanica | Comune of Cappella Cantone | Comune of Cappella de Picenardi | Comune of Capralba | Comune of Casalbuttano ed Uniti | Comune of Casale Cremasco Vidolasco | Comune of Casaletto Ceredano | Comune of Casaletto di Sopra | Comune of Casaletto Vaprio | Comune of Casalmaggiore | Comune of Casalmorano | Comune of Casteldidone | Comune of Castelleone | Comune of Castelverde | Comune of Castelvisconti | Comune of Cella Dati | Comune of Chieve | Comune of Cicognolo | Comune of Cingia de Botti | Comune of Corte de Cortesi con Cignone | Comune of Corte de Frati | Comune of Credera Rubbiano | Comune of Crema | Comune of CREMONA | Comune of Cremosano | Comune of Crotta DAdda | Comune of Cumignano sul Naviglio | Comune of Derovere | Comune of Dovera | Comune of Drizzona | Comune of Fiesco | Comune of Formigara | Comune of Gabbioneta Binanuova | Comune of Gadesco Pieve Delmona | Comune of Genivolta | Comune of Gerre de Caprioli | Comune of Gombito | Comune of Grontardo | Comune of Grumello Cremonese ed Uniti | Comune of Gussola | Comune of Isola Dovarese | Comune of Izano | Comune of Madignano | Comune of Malagnino | Comune of Martignana di Po | Comune of Monte Cremasco | Comune of Montodine | Comune of Moscazzano | Comune of Motta Baluffi | Comune of Offanengo | Comune of Olmeneta | Comune of Ostiano | Comune of Paderno Ponchielli | Comune of Palazzo Pignano | Comune of Pandino | Comune of Persico Dosimo | Comune of Pescarolo ed Uniti | Comune of Pessina Cremonese | Comune of Piadena | Comune of Pianengo | Comune of Pieranica | Comune of Pieve d'Olmi | Comune of Pieve San Giacomo | Comune of Pizzighettone | Comune of Pozzaglio ed Uniti | Comune of Quintano | Comune of Ricengo | Comune of Ripalta Arpina | Comune of Ripalta Cremasca | Comune of Ripalta Guerina | Comune of Rivarolo del Re ed Uniti | Comune of Rivolta d'Adda | Comune of Robecco d'Oglio | Comune of Romanengo | Comune of Salvirola | Comune of San Bassano | Comune of San Daniele Po | Comune of San Giovanni in Croce | Comune of San Martino del Lago | Comune of Scandolara Ravara | Comune of Scandolara Ripa DOglio | Comune of Sergnano | Comune of Sesto ed Uniti | Comune of Solarolo Rainerio | Comune of Soncino | Comune of Soresina | Comune of Sospiro | Comune of Spinadesco | Comune of Spineda | Comune of Spino d'Adda | Comune of Stagno Lombardo | Comune of Ticengo | Comune of Torlino Vimercati | Comune of Tornata | Comune of Torre de Picenardi | Comune of Torricella del Pizzo | Comune of Trescore Cremasco | Comune of Trigolo | Comune of Vaiano Cremasco | Comune of Vailate | Comune of Vescovato | Comune of Volongo | Comune of Voltido -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Province of LECCO Region LOMBARDIA (LOMBARDY) Official Website: www.provincia.lecco.it The Province of Lecco has a surface area of 816 square km, with a total population of about 300,000 inhabitants. It is administratively divided into 89 Municipalities, and was established in 1992 with communes previously belonging to the provinces of Como and Bergamo. The territory is various, with a mountainous area - the highest summit being Monte Legnone (2609 m a.s.l.) - the central valley called Valsassina, as well as an area of lakes - Lake Lario, Annone, Pusiano, Garlate and Olginate, and the river Adda marking the boundary with the province of Bergamo. Many beautiful itineraries are possible, as those following the places described in Alessandro Manzoni's Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed), or the natural landscapes painted by Leonardo da Vinci (the lakes Oggiono and Garlate, the Lecco valley, the mountain crests in the backgrounds of Mona Lisa, the vVirgin of the Rocks and others). The Comuni in the Province of Lecco Comune of Abbadia Lariana | Comune of Airuno | Comune of Annone di Brianza | Comune of Ballabio | Comune of Barzago | Comune of Barzanò | Comune of Barzio | Comune of Bellano | Comune of Bosisio Parini | Comune of Brivio | Comune of Bulciago | Comune of Calco | Comune of Calolziocorte | Comune of Carenno | Comune of Casargo | Comune of Casatenovo | Comune of Cassago Brianza | Comune of Cassina Valsassina | Comune of Castello di Brianza | Comune of Cernusco Lombardone | Comune of Cesana Brianza | Comune of Civate | Comune of Colico | Comune of Colle Brianza | Comune of Cortenova | Comune of Costa Masnaga | Comune of Crandola Valsassina | Comune of Cremella | Comune of Cremeno | Comune of Dervio | Comune of Dolzago | Comune of Dorio | Comune of Ello | Comune of Erve | Comune of Esino Lario | Comune of Galbiate | Comune of Garbagnate Monastero | Comune of Garlate | Comune of Imbersago | Comune of Introbio | Comune of Introzzo | Comune of LECCO | Comune of Lierna | Comune of Lomagna | Comune of Malgrate | Comune of Mandello del Lario | Comune of Margno | Comune of Merate | Comune of Missaglia | Comune of Moggio | Comune of Molteno | Comune of Monte Marenzo | Comune of Montevecchia | Comune of Monticello Brianza | Comune of Morterone | Comune of Nibionno | Comune of Oggiono | Comune of Olgiate Molgora | Comune of Olginate | Comune of Osnago | Comune of Paderno d'Adda | Comune of Pagnona | Comune of Parlasco | Comune of Pasturo | Comune of Perego | Comune of Perledo | Comune of Pescate | Comune of Premana | Comune of Primaluna | Comune of Pusiano | Comune of Robbiate | Comune of Rogeno | Comune of Rovagnate | Comune of Santa Maria Hoe | Comune of Sirone | Comune of Sirtori | Comune of Sueglio | Comune of Suello | Comune of Taceno | Comune of Tremenico | Comune of Valgreghentino | Comune of Valmadrera | Comune of Varenna | Comune of Vendrogno | Comune of Vercurago | Comune of Verderio Inferiore | Comune of Verderio Superiore | Comune of Vestreno | Comune of Vigano ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italian Language Sounds Vowels Italian has seven vowel phonemes: /a/, /e/, /ɛ/, /i/, /o/, /ɔ/, /u/. The pairs /e/-/ɛ/ and /o/-/ɔ/ are seldom distinguished in writing and often confused, even though most varieties of Italian employ both phonemes consistently. Compare, for example: "perché" [perˈkɛ] (why, because) and "senti" [ˈsenti] (you listen, you are listening, listen!), employed by some northern speakers, with [perˈke] and [ˈsɛnti], as pronounced by most central and southern speakers. As a result, the usage is strongly indicative of a person's origin. The standard (Tuscan) usage of these vowels is listed in vocabularies, and employed outside Tuscany mainly by specialists, especially actors and very few (television) journalists. These are truly different phonemes, however: compare /ˈpeska/ (fishing) and /ˈpɛska/ (peach), both spelled pesca. Similarly /ˈbotte/ ('barrel') and /ˈbɔtte/ ('beatings'), both spelled botte, discriminate /o/ and /ɔ/. In general, vowel combinations usually pronounce each vowel separately. Diphthongs exist (e.g. uo, iu, ie, ai), but are limited to an unstressed u or i before or after a stressed vowel. The unstressed u in a diphthong approximates the English semivowel w, the unstressed i approximates the semivowel y. E.g.: buono [ˈbwɔno], ieri [ˈjɛri]. Triphthongs exist in Italian as well, like "continuiamo" ("we continue"). Three vowel combinations exist only in the form semiconsonant (/j/ or /w/), followed by a vowel, followed by a desinence vowel (usually /i/), as in miei, suoi, or two semiconsonants followed by a vowel, as the group -uia- exemplified above, or -iuo- in the word aiuola. Mobile Diphthongs Many Latin words with a short e or o have Italian counterparts with a mobile diphthong (ie and uo respectively). When the vowel sound is stressed, it is pronounced and written as a diphthong; when not stressed, it is pronounced and written as a single vowel. So Latin focus gave rise to Italian fuoco (meaning both "fire" and "optical focus"): when unstressed, as in focale ("focal") the "o" remains alone. Latin pes (more precisely its accusative form pedem) is the source of Italian piede (foot): but unstressed "e" was left unchanged in pedone (pedestrian) and pedale (pedal). From Latin iocus comes Italian giuoco ("play", "game"), though in this case gioco is more common: giocare means "to play (a game)". From Latin homo comes Italian uomo (man), but also umano (human) and ominide (hominid). From Latin ovum comes Italian uovo (egg) and ovaie (ovaries). (The same phenomenon occurs in Spanish: juego (play, game) and jugar (to play), nieve (snow) and nevar (to snow)). Consonants Two symbols in a table cell denote the voiceless and voiced consonant, respectively. Consonants of Italian[26] Bilabial Labio- dental Alveolar Post- alveolar Palatal Velar Nasal m n ɲ Plosive p, b t̪, d̪ k, g Affricate t̪s̪, d̪z̪ tʃ, dʒ Fricative f, v s, z ʃ Trill r Lateral l ʎ Approximant j w Nasals undergo assimilation when followed by a consonant, e.g., when preceding a velar (/k/ or /g/) only [ŋ] appears, etc. Italian has geminate, or double, consonants, which are distinguished by length. Length is distinctive for all consonants except for /ʃ/, /ʦ/, /ʣ/, /ʎ/ /ɲ/, which are always geminate, and /z/ which is always single. Geminate plosives and affricates are realised as lengthened closures. Geminate fricatives, nasals, and /l/ are realized as lengthened continuants. The flap consonant /ɾː/ is typically dialectal, and it is called erre moscia. The correct standard pronunciation is [r]. Of special interest to the linguistic study of Italian is the Gorgia Toscana, or "Tuscan Throat", the weakening or lenition of certain intervocalic consonants in Tuscan dialects. See also Syntactic doubling. Assimilation Italian has few diphthongs, so most unfamiliar diphthongs that are heard in foreign words (in particular, those beginning with vowel "a", "e", or "o") will be assimilated as the corresponding diaeresis (i.e., the vowel sounds will be pronounced separately). Italian phonotactics do not usually permit polysyllabic nouns and verbs to end with consonants, excepting poetry and song, so foreign words may receive extra terminal vowel sounds. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italian History Roman Italy According to later Roman historians, the city of ROME, founded c.753 BC -probably by local LATINS and SABINES- was ruled by Etruscan kings from 616 BC. After the expulsion of the last of these kings, the power of the Etruscans declined as the Romans began the unification of Italy. This process reached its final stage when the right of Roman citizenship was extended throughout Italy in 89 BC, and with the subsequent diffusion of Roman institutions and culture from the Alps to Sicily, and Latin as the general language. The Roman Empire The Roman Empire began effectively with AUGUSTUS' (the man who would later become Emperor) victory over Mark ANTHONY and CLEOPATRA in 31 BC. During the following centuries Roman possessions outside Italy substantially expanded, and the complexity of the imperial bureaucracy resulted in a decline in the importance of Italy itself. A growing number of emperors (whose allegiances lay elsewhere) were born outside Italy, and when Caracalla (AD 212 or 213) proclaimed an Edict which extended Roman citizenship to nearly all free provincials throughout the empire, Italy's special status had all but disappeared. The 7 emperors who reigned between 270 and 284 AD - also known as the "barracks emperors" - (Aurelian, Tacitus, Florianus, Probus, Carus, Carinus jointly with Numerianus and Carinus alone) were all chosen by the army. Only Numerianus who died during a march and Carus who was killed in battle died in an "ordinary" way. The other 5 emperors were killed by their own soldiers and generals. In an attempt to end the chaos of the "barracks emperors", emperor Diocletian (284-305 AD) established an orderly succession process and divided the power and succession into two separate empires, the East and the West halves. The East being the senior emperor. As of 286 AD, Diocletian as the Eastern emperor was joined by Maximian (286-305) in the West. Both emperors abdicated in 305 AD. Maximian was recalled in 306 AD by Galerius. In Subsequent years, that succession rule was bitterly disputed both in the East and the West. There were a total of 39 claimants to the imperial title between 305 AD and 474 AD and only 5 emperors (Constantine I [312-337], Constantius II [350-361], Julian [361-363], Jovian [363-364] and Theodosius I [392-395]) ruled both the East and the West. In 330, Emperor CONSTANTINE I transferred the capital from Rome to Constantinople, built on the site of Byzantium. Italy's administrative autonomy was lost shortly afterwards when two dioceses were joined with that of Africa to form a single prefecture. The loss of temporal power, however, was to some degree compensated for by the growing importance of Italy as a center of Christianity. Starting in the 2d Century AD several bishoprics were founded in Milan, Ravenna, Naples, Benevento, and elsewhere in addition to that of Rome. After 476, when the Germanic chieftain ODOACER deposed the last Western emperor, Romulus Augustus ( 475-476), emperor Zeno (474-491 AD) reunited the empire and continued to reign alone. Subsequently, military control of Italy fell into barbarian hands under the Ostrogothic king, THEODORIC (493-526), and in practical terms, Italian political and social ties were with the West, in spite of continuing theoretical ties with the BYZANTINE EMPIRE. By 553, however, internal feuds permitted the Byzantine emperor JUSTINIAN I to regain control. Peninsular Italy was administered from its capital at RAVENNA as merely one division of the empire, although the Byzantines gradually admitted the ecclesiastical primacy of Rome in the West. The Middle Ages During the early Middle Ages, Italian ties with the "New Rome" of the East (Constantinople) were first threatened and later severed after a series of invasions from the west and north into Italy. The severing of ties with the East was confirmed by the emergence of the PAPACY and the Italian cities as powers in their own right. The Lombards In 568 -after the Ostrogoths- another Germanic power, the LOMBARDS, arrived in Italy. Their control soon spread from the north to Tuscany and Umbria, although much of southern and eastern Italy remained in Byzantine hands. The Lombards found heavy resistance by the popes -most notably by GREGORY I (r. 590-604)- who acted as political, military as well as ecclesiastical leaders in fact, and held a band of land stretching across the peninsula that later became known as the Papal States. By the end of the 7th century, papal resistance had induced the Lombards to consolidate their power in central and northern Italy, where they achieved political unification. Meanwhile, the unrest in the Byzantine centers in the south reflected the disturbances taking place in Byzantium itself, and popular revolts broke out in Rome, Naples, Venice, and in other regions. By 728, the Lombards -under Liutprand (r.712-44)- however, extended their influence in spite of strong papal attempts at intervention. During Liutprand's reign, many of the Lombards converted from ARIANISM to Roman Catholicism. By this time they were accepting many other elements of Roman culture, including the Latin language; their law and administration reflected both Roman and Germanic influences. The Franks The success of the Lombards, however, was temporary. Under the pretense of restoring to the papacy its lost territories, Pope Stephen II (r. 752-57) persuaded the FRANKS (another Germanic tribe) to invade Italy. In 774 the Franks expelled the Lombard rulers; Lombard territory passed into the hands of the Frankish ruler CHARLEMAGNE, who was crowned emperor in Rome in 800. The following century was marked by continual battles between Franks and Byzantines, which mostly benefited the SARACENS who had recently arrived from North Africa. Contrary to their original objective of assisting rebels against the Byzantine Empire, the Saracens remained to conquer Sicily (827-78), and established outposts throughout southern Italy. In 846 they launched an attack on Rome itself. The collapse of the Carolingian empire in the 9th century, at the same time as the resurgence of Byzantium under the Macedonian dynasty, caused a brief return to eastern influence. The Ottonians By papal invitation, the German king OTTO I came to Italy and ended this constant alternation of power; he was crowned Holy Roman emperor in 962. Shortly after 1000 the Ottonian dynasty fell, leaving in the north a vacuum of power which was later exploited by the local small landowners and town merchants. Meanwhile, local insurrections started weakening the Saracens' hold on the southern coastal cities. (See Holy Roman Empire) Holy Roman Empire The (second) medieval revival of the Western Roman Empire was referred to as The Holy Roman Empire which lasted from 962 AD to 1806. By the year 1250, much of its power had vanished and by ca. 1650 the empire had lost virtually all power. Nevertheless, the Empire endured until 1806, when it was abolished by Emperor Francis II. Francis II ruled thereafter as Francis I of the Austrian Empire (established in 1804). Usually, the king of Germany became emperor -considered by Europeans the title of most prestige- as soon as he was crowned by the pope. Given the many successes of the dukes of Saxony in fighting the Hungarians during the 10th century, most were chosen kings of Germany. The first Saxonian to become king was Henry the Fowler (919-936). He was followed by his son Otto who became King Otto I in 936 and the first Holy Roman Emperor from 962 to 973. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italian Products Pane (Italian Bread) Italian bread has been one of the staple foods of Italy for as long as history has been recorded. As in other European nations, bread in Italy has been taken quite seriously for a considerable amount of time. Therefore, the Italians typically have their own rigid standards when it comes to what a good family-sized loaf of bread should be. The basic criteria for an Italian bread is that it is unsweetened, yeast-leavened, and baked into a thick oblong loaf with tapered ends. While French bread is long, thin and crusty, the typical Italian loaf is 1-2’ long and 6-10” thick with a fairly thin crust. This is due to the yeast in the bread being allowed to rise to its fullest extent, generally over the course of several hours. The inside of a well-made Italian bread is moist and porous—ideal for absorbing toppings such as olive oil and tomatoes. However, Italian breads of this sort do not store well for extended periods of time. Italian bread arrived in the United States with the immigrants that arrived in the 18th century. Requiring little more than salt, four, water and yeast for preparation, it gained popularity quickly. Many variations with seasonal or regional ingredients have been added to Italian bread recipes since it first arrived. Today it is commonly used for deli sandwiches, on the side of soup, and with olive oil for soaking as an appetizer. Italian Bread 2 1/2 cups warm water 2 tablespoons active dry yeast 8 cups all-purpsose flour, stir before measuring butter yellow corn meal 1 tablespoon water 1 egg white 1 tablespoon salt Pour warm water into a warm mixing bowl; sprinkle with the yeast. Let stand for 5 minutes, then stir in about 2 cups of the flour. Beat well; add salt and gradually beat in all but about 2 cups of the flour. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and cover with a clean dish towel; let rest 10 minutes. Knead by hand for 20 minutes or until dough is very elastic, kneading in as much of the remaining flour as necessary for smooth dough. Place dough in a lightly buttered bowl, turning to grease all of the dough surface. Cover bowl with foil then cover with a dish cloth and let rise in a warm place for about 1 1/2 hours or until doubled in bulk. Punch dough down and let rise to double again, about 1 hour longer. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide in half and form each portion into a ball. Cover with dish cloth and let rest for 10 minutes. Roll each half of the dough into a 15x8- inch rectangle about 1/2-inch thick. Roll up tightly, starting with short side, sealing as you roll. Taper ends by rolling out with hands until loaf is 10 to 11 inches long. Place loaves seam side down on buttered baking dishes which have been sprinkled with yellow cornmeal. Add 1 tablespoon of water to egg white in a bowl and beat lightly; brush over and along sides of loaves. Cover the loaves with a damp cloth without touching dough -- place glasses or cups around loaves and place towels on them. Place pans in in a warm place to rise for about 1 hour, until doubled in bulk. Place a shallow pan on bottom rack of oven; fill with boiling water. Bake loaves in center of oven preheated to 375° for 20 minutes. Brush with egg white mixture again and continue baking for 20 minutes longer, or until well-browned and done. Crusty Italian Bread 1 1/3 cups water 1 1/2 tsp salt 1 tbsp granulated sugar 1 tbsp shortening 3 2/3 cups bread flour 1 1/4 tsp bread machine yeast 1. Measure ingredients into the baking pan ( the manufacturer may recommend the order ). Insert the pan into the oven chamber and select the Dough Cycle. 2. Remove and place the dough on a lightly floured surface. Cover it with a large bowel and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes. 3. Divide the dough in half ( if the dough is sticky at this stage, flour your hands and add a small amount of flour to the board; too much flour, however, can result in a tough, heavy texture ). Form each half into a loaf measuring 10 by 4 by 2 inches. Flatten the top slightly. 4.Place the formed loaves onto a baking sheet dusted with cornmeal. Cover and let rise in a warm and draft-free place for 30 to 45 minutes, or until they double in volume. Bake at 400 degrees F ( 200 degrees C ) for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the loaves sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. Italian Cheese Bread Ingredients for a 2-lb loaf: 1 cup milk 1/4 cup water 1 egg 4 teaspoons margarine or butter 4 cups bread flour 1 cup (4 ounces) finely shredded Romano cheese 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast or bread machine yeast Directions: Select the loaf size. Add the ingredients to the machine according to the manufacturer's directions. Select the basic white bread cycle. Italian Angel Food 1/2 cup warm water 2 large egg whites 4tbsp fruity olive oil 3 tbsp sugar 1/2 tsp salt 2 cups bread flour 1-1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast Directions: Add ingredients to the bread pan according to the manufacturer's instructions. Use the Basic settings. Turn the bread out as soon as it is done and cool on a rack. Wrap Italian Angel Food bread in foil for the best storage. Focaccia It is a flat bread topped with spices and other products, which is related to modern pizza. The basic recipe is thought by some to have originated with the Etruscans or ancient Greeks, but nowadays it is particularly known as a delicacy of the Ligurian cuisine; the best "focaccia al formaggio" (focaccia with cheese) is made in Recco, near Genoa. Focaccia is quite popular in Italy and is usually seasoned with olive oil and herbs, topped with cheese and meat or flavored with a number of vegetables. Focaccia doughs are similar in style and texture to pizza doughs consisting of high- gluten flour, oil, water, sugar, salt and yeast. Focaccia is used extensively as a sandwich bread outside of Italy. It is typically rolled out or pressed by hand into a thick layer of dough and then baked in a stone-bottom or hearth oven. Bakers often puncture the bread with a knife to relieve bubbling on the surface of the bread. Large bubbles may ruin Focaccia as it creates a "pocket" of air and renders the bread useless for sandwiches. Focaccia can be used as a side to many meals, as a base for pizza or as sandwich bread ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
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| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Famous Italians Michelangelo Buonarroti Chalk portrait of Michelangelo by Daniele da Volterra Birth name: Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni Born: March 6, 1475(1475-03-06) near Arezzo, in Caprese, Tuscany, Italy Died: February 18, 1564 (aged 88) Rome, Italy Field: sculpture, painting, architecture and poetry Training: Apprentice to Domenico Ghirlandaio Movement: High Renaissance Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (March 6, 1475 – February 18, 1564), commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet and engineer. Despite making few forays beyond the arts, his versatility in the disciplines he took up was of such a high order that he is often considered a contender for the title of the archetypal Renaissance man, along with his rival and fellow Italian Leonardo da Vinci. Michelangelo's output in every field during his long life was prodigious; when the sheer volume of correspondence, sketches and reminiscences that survive is also taken into account, he is the best-documented artist of the 16th century. Two of his best-known works, the Pietà and the David, were sculpted before he turned thirty. Despite his low opinion of painting, Michelangelo also created two of the most influential works in fresco in the history of Western art: the scenes from Genesis on the ceiling and The Last Judgment on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. Later in life he designed the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in the same city and revolutionised classical architecture with his use of the giant order of pilasters. In a demonstration of Michelangelo's unique standing, two biographies were published of him during his lifetime. One of them, by Giorgio Vasari, proposed that he was the pinnacle of all artistic achievement since the beginning of the Renaissance, a viewpoint that continued to have currency in art history for centuries. In his lifetime he was also often called Il Divino ("the divine one"). One of the qualities most admired by his contemporaries was his terribilità, a sense of awe-inspiring grandeur, and it was the attempts of subsequent artists to imitate Michelangelo's impassioned and highly personal style that resulted in the next major movement in Western art after the High Renaissance, Mannerism. Early life Michelangelo was born on March 6, 1475 in Caprese near Arezzo, Tuscany. His father, Lodovico di Leonardo di Buonarroti di Simoni, was the resident magistrate in Caprese and podestà of Chiusi. His mother was Francesca di Neri del Miniato di Siena.The Buonarroti claimed to descend from Countess Mathilde of Canossa; this claim was probably false, but Michelangelo himself believed it. However, Michelangelo was raised in Florence and later, during the prolonged illness and after the death of his mother, lived with a stonecutter and his wife and family in the town of Settignano where his father owned a marble quarry and a small farm. Michelangelo once said to the biographer of artists Giorgio Vasari, "If there is some good in me, it is because I was born in the subtle atmosphere of your country of Arezzo. Along with the milk of my nurse I received the knack of handling chisel and hammer, with which I make my figures." Michelangelo's father sent him to study grammar with the humanist Francesco da Urbino in Florence as a young boy. The young artist, however, showed no interest in school, preferring instead to copy paintings from churches and seek the company of painters. Michelangelo was apprenticed in painting with Domenico Ghirlandaio when he was thirteen and in sculpture with Bertoldo di Giovanni. Michelangelo's father managed to persuade Ghirlandaio to pay the fourteen year old artist, which was highly unusual at the time. When in 1489 Florence's ruler Lorenzo de' Medici asked Ghirlandaio for his two best pupils, Ghirlandaio sent Michelangelo and Francesco Granacci. From 1490 to 1492, Michelangelo attended Lorenzo's school and was influenced by many prominent people who modified and expanded his ideas on art, following the dominant Platonic view of that age, and even his feelings about sexuality. It was during this period that Michelangelo met literary personalities like Pico della Mirandola, Angelo Poliziano and Marsilio Ficino. Michelangelo finished Madonna of the Steps (1490–1492) and Battle of the Centaurs (1491–1492). The latter was based on a theme suggested by Poliziano and was commissioned by Lorenzo de Medici. Young Adult Lorenzo's death on April 8, 1492 brought a complete reversal of Michelangelo's circumstances. Michelangelo left the security of the Medici court and returned to his father's house. In the following months he produced a Wooden crucifix (1493), as a gift to the prior of the church of Santa Maria del Santo Spirito who had permitted him some studies of anatomy on the corpses of the church's hospital. Between 1493 and 1494 he bought the marble for a larger than life statue of Hercules, which was sent to France and disappeared sometime in the 1700s. He re-entered the court on January 20, 1494, when, after a great deal of snow had fallen, the young Piero de Medici commissioned a snow statue from him. The same year, however, the Medici were expelled from Florence after the rise of Savonarola, while Michelangelo had left the city before the end of the political upheaval, moving to Venice and then to Bologna. Here he was commissioned to finish the carving of the last small figures of the tomb and shrine of St. Dominic, in the church with the same name. He returned to Florence at the end of 1494, as Charles VIII had suffered defeats and Florence was no longer in danger of being sacked by the French. He did not receive any commissions from the new city government under Savonarola, and so linked up with the Medicis. During the half year he spent in Florence he worked on two statuettes; a child St. John the Baptist and a sleeping Cupid. Supposedly, his commissioner, Lorenzo de Pierfrancesco 'de Medici, for whom Michelangelo had sculpted St. John the Baptist, asked that Michelangelo "fix it so that it looked as if it had been buried" so he could "send it to Rome…pass [it off as] an ancient work and…sell it much better." Both Lorenzo and Michelangelo were unwittingly cheated out of the real value of the piece by a middleman. Cardinal Raffaele Riario, to whom Lorenzo had sold it, found out that it was a fraud, but was so impressed by the quality of the sculpture that he invited the artist to Rome. This apparent success in selling his sculpture abroad as well as the conservative Florentine situation may have encouraged Michelangelo to accept the prelate's invitation. Rome Michelangelo's Pietà was carved in 1499, when the sculptor was 24 years old. On June 25, 1496 at the age of twenty-one, Michelangelo arrived in Rome. On July 4 Michelangelo started to carve an over-life-size statue of the Roman wine god, Bacchus, commissioned by Cardinal Raffaele Riario; the work was rejected by the cardinal, and subsequently entered the collection of the banker Jacopo Galli, for his garden. Subsequently, in November of 1497, the French ambassador in the Holy See commissioned one of his most famous works, the Pietà. The contemporary opinion about this work — "a revelation of all the potentialities and force of the art of sculpture" — was summarized by Vasari: "It is certainly a miracle that a formless block of stone could ever have been reduced to a perfection that nature is scarcely able to create in the flesh." The contract was agreed in the August of the following year. Though he devoted himself mainly to sculpture, during his first stay in Rome Michelangelo never stopped his daily practice of drawing. In Rome, Michelangelo lived near the church of Santa Maria di Loreto: here, according to the legends, he fell in love (probably a Platonic love) with Vittoria Colonna, marquise of Pescara and poet. His house was demolished in 1874, and the remaining architectural elements saved by the new proprietors were destroyed in 1930. Today a modern reconstruction of Michelangelo's house can be seen on the Gianicolo hill. Statue of David Michelangelo created the colossal Statue of David, one of the most renowned works of the Renaissance. Michelangelo returned to Florence in 1499–1501. Things were changing in the city after the fall of Savonarola and the rise of the gonfaloniere Pier Soderini. He was asked by the consuls of the Guild of Wool to complete an unfinished project begun 40 years earlier by Agostino di Duccio: a colossal statue portraying David as a symbol of Florentine freedom, to be placed in the Piazza della Signoria, in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. Michelangelo responded by completing his most famous work, the Statue of David in 1504. This masterwork, created out of a marble block from the quarries at Carrara that had already been worked on by an earlier hand, definitively established his prominence as a sculptor of extraordinary technical skill and strength of symbolic imagination. Also during this period, Michelangelo painted the Holy Family and St John, also known as the Doni Tondo or the Holy Family of the Tribune: it was commissioned for the marriage of Angelo Doni and Maddalena Strozzi and in the 17th Century hung in the room known as the Tribune in the Uffizi. He also may have painted the Madonna and Child with John the Baptist, known as the Manchester Madonna and now in the National Gallery, London. Sistine Chapel Ceiling Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. In 1505 Michelangelo was invited back to Rome by the newly elected Pope Julius II. He was commissioned to build the Pope's tomb. Under the patronage of the Pope, Michelangelo had to constantly stop work on the tomb in order to accomplish numerous other tasks. Because of these interruptions, Michelangelo worked on the tomb for 40 years. The tomb, of which the central feature is Michelangelo's statue of Moses, was never finished to Michelangelo's satisfaction. It is located in the Church of S. Pietro in Vincoli in Rome. The major interruption on the tomb was the commission to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, which took approximately four years to complete (1508–1512). According to Michelangelo's own account, reproduced in contemporary biographies, Bramante and Raphael convinced the Pope to commission Michelangelo in a medium not familiar to the artist, in order that he might be diverted from his preference for sculpture into fresco painting, and thus suffer from unfavorable comparisons with his rival Raphael. However, this story is discounted by modern historians on the grounds of contemporary evidence, and may be merely a reflection of the artist's own perspective. Michelangelo was originally commissioned to paint the 12 Apostles, but lobbied for a different and more complex scheme, representing Creation, the Downfall of Man and the Promise of Salvation through the prophets and Genealogy of Christ. The work is part of a larger scheme of decoration within the chapel which represents much of the doctrine of the Catholic Church The composition eventually contained over 300 figures and had at its centre nine episodes from the Book of Genesis, divided into three groups: God's Creation of the Earth; God's Creation of Humankind and their fall from God's grace; and lastly, the state of Humanity as represented by Noah and his family. On the pendentives supporting the ceiling are painted twelve men and women who prophesied the coming of the Jesus. They are seven prophets of Israel and five Sibyls, prophetic women of the Classical world. Among the most famous paintings on the ceiling are the Creation of Adam, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the Great Flood, the Prophet Isaiah and the Cumaean Sibyl. Around the windows are painted the ancestors of Christ. Under Medici Popes in Florence Michelangelo's Moses. In 1513 Pope Julius II died and his successor Pope Leo X, a Medici, commissioned Michelangelo to reconstruct the façade of the basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence and to adorn it with sculptures. Michelangelo agreed reluctantly. The three years he spent in creating drawings and models for the facade, as well as attempting to open a new marble quarry at Pietrasanta specifically for the project, were among the most frustrating in his career, as work was abruptly cancelled by his financially-strapped patrons before any real progress had been made. The basilica lacks a facade to this day. Apparently not the least embarrassed by this turnabout, the Medici later came back to Michelangelo with another grand proposal, this time for a family funerary chapel in the basilica of San Lorenzo. Fortunately for posterity, this project, occupying the artist for much of the 1520s and 1530s, was more fully realized. Though still incomplete, it is the best example we have of the integration of the artist's sculptural and architectural vision, since Michelangelo created both the major sculptures as well as the interior plan. Ironically the most prominent tombs are those of two rather obscure Medici who died young, a son and grandson of Lorenzo. Il Magnifico himself is buried in an unfinished and comparatively unimpressive tomb on one of the side walls of the chapel, not given a free-standing monument, as originally intended. Michelangelo's The Last Judgment. Saint Bartholomew is shown holding the knife of his martyrdom and his flayed skin. The face of the skin is recognizable as Michelangelo. In 1527, the Florentine citizens, encouraged by the sack of Rome, threw out the Medici and restored the republic. A siege of the city ensued, and Michelangelo went to the aid of his beloved Florence by working on the city's fortifications from 1528 to 1529. The city fell in 1530 and the Medici were restored to power. Completely out of sympathy with the repressive reign of the ducal Medici, Michelangelo left Florence for good in the mid-1530s, leaving assistants to complete the Medici chapel. Years later his body was brought back from Rome for interment at the Basilica di Santa Croce, fulfilling the maestro's last request to be buried in his beloved Tuscany. Last works in Rome Michelangelo designed the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, although it was unfinished when he died. The fresco of The Last Judgment on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel was commissioned by Pope Clement VII, who died shortly after assigning the commission. Paul III was instrumental in seeing that Michelangelo began and completed the project. Michelangelo labored on the project from 1534 to October 1541. The work is massive and spans the entire wall behind the altar of the Sistine Chapel. The Last Judgment is a depiction of the second coming of Christ and the apocalypse; where the souls of humanity rise and are assigned to their various fates, as judged by Christ, surrounded by the Saints. Once completed, the depictions of nakedness in the papal chapel was considered obscene and sacrilegious, and Cardinal Carafa and Monsignor Sernini (Mantua's ambassador) campaigned to have the fresco removed or censored, but the Pope resisted. After Michelangelo's death, it was decided to obscure the genitals ("Pictura in Cappella Ap.ca coopriantur"). So Daniele da Volterra, an apprentice of Michelangelo, was commissioned to cover with perizomas (briefs) the genitals, leaving unaltered the complex of bodies. When the work was restored in 1993, the conservators chose not to remove all the perizomas of Daniele, leaving some of them as a historical document, and because some of Michelangelo’s work was previously scraped away by the touch-up artist's application of “decency” to the masterpiece. A faithful uncensored copy of the original, by Marcello Venusti, can be seen at the Capodimonte Museum of Naples. Censorship always followed Michelangelo, once described as "inventor delle porcherie" ("inventor of obscenities", in the original Italian language referring to "pork things"). The infamous "fig-leaf campaign" of the Counter-Reformation, aiming to cover all representations of human genitals in paintings and sculptures, started with Michelangelo's works. To give two examples, the marble statue of Cristo della Minerva (church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome) was covered by added drapery, as it remains today, and the statue of the naked child Jesus in Madonna of Bruges (The Church of Our Lady in Bruges, Belgium) remained covered for several decades. Also, the plaster copy of the David in the Cast Courts (Victoria and Albert Museum) in London, has a fig leaf in a box at the back of the statue. It was there to be placed over the statue's genitals so that they would not upset visiting female royalty. In 1546, Michelangelo was appointed architect of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, and designed its dome. As St. Peter's was progressing there was concern that Michelangelo would pass away before the dome was finished. However, once building commenced on the lower part of the dome, the supporting ring, the completion of the design was inevitable. Last Sketch Found On December 7, 2007, Michelangelo's red chalk sketch for the dome of St Peter's Basilica, his last before his 1564 death, was discovered in the Vatican archives. It is extremely rare, since he destroyed his designs later in life. The sketch is a partial plan for one of the radial columns of the cupola drum of Saint Peter's. Michelangelo The Architect Michelangelo's own tomb, at Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze, Florence, Italy Michelangelo worked on many projects that had been started by other men, most notably in his work at St Peter's Basilica, Rome. The Campidoglio, designed by Michelangelo during the same period, rationalized the structures and spaces of Rome's Capitoline Hill. Its shape, more a rhomboid than a square, was intended to counteract the effects of perspective. The major Florentine architectural projects by Michelangelo are the unexecuted façade for the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Florence and the Medici Chapel (Capella Medicea) and Laurentian Library there, and the fortifications of Florence. The major Roman projects are St. Peter's, Palazzo Farnese, San Giovanni de' Fiorentini and the Sforza Chapel (Capella Sforzesca), Porta Pia and Santa Maria degli Angeli. Laurentian Library Around 1530 Michelangelo designed the Laurentian Library in Florence, attached to the church of San Lorenzo. He produced new styles such as pilasters tapering thinner at the bottom, and a staircase with contrasting rectangular and curving forms. Medici Chapel Michelangelo designed the Medici Chapel. The Medici Chapel has monuments in it dedicated to certain members of the Medici family. Michelangelo never finished it, so his pupils later completed it. Lorenzo the Magnificent was buried at the entrance wall of the Medici Chapel. Sculptures of the "Madonna and Child" and the Medici patron saints Cosmas and Damian were set over his burial. The "madonna and child" was Michelangelo's own work. Michelangelo The Man Michelangelo, who was often arrogant with others and constantly dissatisfied with himself, saw art as originating from inner inspiration and from culture. In contradiction to the ideas of his rival, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo saw nature as an enemy that had to be overcome. The figures that he created are forceful and dynamic; each in its own space apart from the outside world. For Michelangelo, the job of the sculptor was to free the forms that were already inside the stone. He believed that every stone had a sculpture within it, and that the work of sculpting was simply a matter of chipping away all that was not a part of the statue. Several anecdotes reveal that Michelangelo's skill, especially in sculpture, was greatly admired in his own time. Another Lorenzo de Medici wanted to use Michelangelo to make some money. He had Michelangelo sculpt a cupid that looked worn and old. Lorenzo paid Michelangelo 30 ducats, but sold the cupid for 200 ducats. Cardinal Raffaele Riario became suspicous and sent someone to investigate. The man had Michelangelo do a sketch for him of a cupid, and then told Michelangelo that while he received 30 ducats for his cupid, Lorenzo had passed the cupid off for an antique and sold it for 200 ducats. Michelangelo then confessed that he had done the cupid, but had no idea that he had been cheated. After the truth was revealed, the Cardinal later took this as proof of his skill and commissioned his Bacchus. Another better- known anecdote claims that when finishing the Moses (San Pietro in Vincoli, Rome), Michelangelo violently hit the knee of the statue with a hammer, shouting, "Why don't you speak to me?" In his personal life, Michelangelo was abstemious. He told his apprentice, Ascanio Condivi: "However rich I may have been, I have always lived like a poor man." Condivi said he was indifferent to food and drink, eating "more out of necessity than of pleasure" and that he "often slept in his clothes and ... boots." These habits may have made him unpopular; his biographer Paolo Giovio says "His nature was so rough and uncouth that his domestic habits were incredibly squalid, and deprived posterity of any pupils who might have followed him." He may not have minded, since he was by nature a solitary and melancholy person; he had a reputation for being bizzarro e fantastico because he "withdrew himself from the company of men." Relationships Drawing for The Libyan Sybil, Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Libyan Sybil, Sistine Chapel. Fundamental to Michelangelo's art is his love of male beauty, which attracted him both aesthetically and emotionally. In part, this was an expression of the Renaissance idealization of masculinity. But in Michelangelo's art there is clearly a sensual response to this aesthetic. Such feelings caused him great anguish, and he expressed the struggle between Platonic ideals and carnal desire in his sculpture, drawing and his poetry, too, for among his other accomplishments Michelangelo was also a great Italian lyric poet of the 16th century. The sculptor's expressions of love have been characterized as both Neoplatonic and openly homoerotic; recent scholarship seeks an interpretation which respects both readings, yet is wary of drawing absolute conclusions. One example of the conundrum is the story of the sixteen year old Cecchino dei Bracci, whose death, only a year after their meeting in 1543, inspired the writing of forty eight funeral epigrams, which by some accounts allude to a relationship that was not only romantic but physical as well: La carne terra, e qui l'ossa mia, prive de' lor begli occhi, e del leggiadro aspetto fan fede a quel ch'i' fu grazia nel letto, che abbracciava, e' n che l'anima vive. or The flesh now earth, and here my bones, Bereft of handsome eyes, and jaunty air, Still loyal are to him I joyed in bed, Whom I embraced, in whom my soul now lives. According to others, they represent an emotionless and elegant re-imagining of Platonic dialogue, whereby erotic poetry was seen as an expression of refined sensibilities (Indeed, it must be remembered that professions of love in 16th century Italy were given a far wider application than now). Some youths were street wise and took advantage of the sculptor. Febbo di Poggio, in 1532, peddled his charms—in answer to Michelangelo's love poem he asks for money. Earlier, Gherardo Perini, in 1522, had stolen from him shamelessly. Michelangelo defended his privacy above all. When an employee of his friend Niccolò Quaratesi offered his son as apprentice suggesting that he would be good even in bed, Michelangelo refused indignantly, suggesting Quaratesi fire the man. The greatest written expression of his love was given to Tommaso dei Cavalieri (c. 1509–1587), who was 23 years old when Michelangelo met him in 1532, at the age of 57. Cavalieri was open to the older man's affection: I swear to return your love. Never have I loved a man more than I love you, never have I wished for a friendship more than I wish for yours. Cavalieri remained devoted to Michelangelo till his death. Michelangelo dedicated to him over three hundred sonnets and madrigals, constituting the largest sequence of poems composed by him. Some modern commentators assert that the relationship was merely a Platonic affection, even suggesting that Michelangelo was seeking a surrogate son. However, their homoerotic nature was recognized in his own time, so that a decorous veil was drawn across them by his grand nephew, Michelangelo the Younger, who published an edition of the poetry in 1623 with the gender of pronouns changed. John Addington Symonds, the early British homosexual activist, undid this change by translating the original sonnets into English and writing a two-volume biography, published in 1893. Ignudo, Sistine Chapel. The sonnets are the first large sequence of poems in any modern tongue addressed by one man to another, predating Shakespeare's sonnets to his young friend by a good fifty years. I feel as lit by fire a cold countenance That burns me from afar and keeps itself ice-chill; A strength I feel two shapely arms to fill Which without motion moves every balance. — (Michael Sullivan, translation) Late in life he nurtured a great love for the poet and noble widow Vittoria Colonna, whom he met in Rome in 1536 or 1538 and who was in her late forties at the time. They wrote sonnets for each other and were in regular contact until she died, though many scholars note the intellectualized or spiritual quality of this passion. It is impossible to know for certain whether Michelangelo had physical relationships (Condivi ascribed to him a "monk- like chastity"), but through his poetry and visual art we may at least glimpse the arc of his imagination. List of works Sculptures: Faun • Madonna of the Steps (c. 1491) • Battle of the Centaurs (c. 1492) • Crucifix (1492) • Hercules • The Ark of St Dominic • St Petronius (1494–1495) • St Proclus (1494–1495) • Angel (1494–1495) • Cupid (Florence) • Cupid (Rome) • Bacchus (1496–1497) • Crucifix (1497-1498?) • Pietà (1499–1500) • David (1501-1504) • Madonna of Bruges (1501–1504) • St. Paul (1503–1504) • St. Peter (1503–1504) • Pius (1503–1504) • Madonna and Child with the Infant St. John (Taddei Tondo) (c. 1503) • Madonna and Child (Tondo Pitti) (c. 1503) • St. Matthew (c. 1505) • Tomb of Pope Julius II (1503) • Moses (c. 1513–1515) • Rebellious Slave (1513–1516) • Dying Slave (1513–1516) • Medici Chapel (1520–1534) • The Genius of Victory (c. 1532–1534) • Rachel (1545) • Leah (1545) • Tomb of Giuliano de' Medici • Tomb of Lorenzo de' Medici • Virgin and Child • Apollo (David) (c. 1530) • Crouching Boy (c. 1530-1534) • Cristo della Minerva (Christ Carrying the Cross) (1519– 1520) • Brutus (1540) • Florentine Pietà (c. 1550) • Rondanini Pietà (1552–1564) • Paintings: Doni Tondo (c. 1503–1506) · The Entombment (c. 1505) · Crucifixion (1541) Sistine Chapel: Ceiling (1508–1512) · The Last Judgment (1534–1541) Pauline Chapel: The Martyrdom of St Peter (1542–1550) · The Conversion of Saul (1542–1550) Architecture: San Lorenzo, Florence: Medici Chapel · Laurentian Library · Façade (unexecuted) Rome: San Giovanni dei Fiorentini · St. Peter's Basilica · Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri · Cordonata Capitolina · Piazza del Campidoglio · Palazzo Farnese · Porta Pia Works on Paper: Epifania (1550–1553) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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ITALIAN LANGUAGE: Sounds - Vowels - Mobile Diphthongs - Consonants - Assimilation
ITALIAN GENEALOGY: How to Obtain Information and Documents of your Ancestors in
Italy
ITALIAN REGIONS: Lombardia (Lombardy)
ITALIAN PROVINCES: Milano - Bergamo - Brescia - Como - Cremona - Lecco - Lodi -
Mantova - Monza-Brianza - Pavia - Sondrio - Varese
ITALIAN RECIPES: Simply Lasagna - Chicken Florentine Panini - Tiramisu (Make-Ahead)
ITALIAN HISTORY: Roman Italy - Roman Empire - Middle Ages - Lombards - Franks -
Ottonians - Holy Roman Empire
FAMOUS ITALIANS: Michelangelo Buonarroti
ITALIAN COMPANIES: Fiat
ITALIAN PRODUCTS: Pane (Italian Bread)
ITALIAN LATEST NEWS: Life in Italy
ITALIAN GENEALOGY: How to Obtain Information and Documents of your Ancestors in
Italy
ITALIAN REGIONS: Lombardia (Lombardy)
ITALIAN PROVINCES: Milano - Bergamo - Brescia - Como - Cremona - Lecco - Lodi -
Mantova - Monza-Brianza - Pavia - Sondrio - Varese
ITALIAN RECIPES: Simply Lasagna - Chicken Florentine Panini - Tiramisu (Make-Ahead)
ITALIAN HISTORY: Roman Italy - Roman Empire - Middle Ages - Lombards - Franks -
Ottonians - Holy Roman Empire
FAMOUS ITALIANS: Michelangelo Buonarroti
ITALIAN COMPANIES: Fiat
ITALIAN PRODUCTS: Pane (Italian Bread)
ITALIAN LATEST NEWS: Life in Italy
| In This Issue: |
| Issue # 3, May - June 2008 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italian Recipes Chicken Florentine Panini Ingredients 1 (13.8 ounce) can Refrigerated Pizza Crust 1 (9 ounce) package Frozen Spinach 1/4 cup light mayonnaise 1 garlic clove, minced 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 cup chopped red onion 1 tablespoon sugar 1 tablespoon vinegar (cider, red wine or balsamic) 2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning 1 garlic clove, minced 4 slices provolone cheese Nutrition Info Per Serving Calories: 529 kcal Carbohydrates: 57 g Dietary Fiber: 3 g Fat: 20 g Protein: 28 g Sugars: 13 g Cooking Directions Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Unroll dough; place in ungreased 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Starting at center, press out dough to edges of pan. Bake at 375 degrees F. for 10 minutes. Cool 15 minutes or until completely cooled. Meanwhile, cook spinach as directed on package. Drain well; squeeze dry with paper towels. In small bowl, combine mayonnaise and 1 of the garlic cloves; mix well. Refrigerate. Heat oil in small saucepan over medium-high heat until hot. Add onion; cook and stir 2 to 3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Add sugar and vinegar. Reduce heat to low; simmer 3 to 5 minutes or until most of liquid has evaporated, stirring occasionally. To flatten each chicken breast half, place, boned side up, between 2 pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper. Working from center, gently pound chicken with flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin until about 1/4 inch thick; remove wrap. Sprinkle chicken with Italian seasoning and minced garlic. Spray large skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Heat over medium-high heat until hot. Add chicken; cook 8 minutes or until browned, fork-tender and juices run clear, turning once. Cut cooled pizza crust into 4 rectangles. Remove rectangles from pan; spread each with 1 tablespoon mayonnaise mixture. Top 2 rectangles with chicken, spinach, onion mixture, cheese and remaining crust rectangles, mayonnaise side down. Heat large skillet or cast iron skillet over medium heat until hot. Place sandwiches in skillet. Place smaller skillet on sandwiches to flatten slightly. Cook about 1 to 2 minutes or until crisp and heated, turning once. Cut each warm sandwich into quarters. Yield: 4 servings -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italian Recipes Tiramisu (Make-Ahead) Ingredients 2 tablespoons Instant Coffee 1/4 cup boiling water 32 Reduced Fat Wafers, divided 1 (8 ounce) tub Light Cream Cheese Spread 1/4 cup powdered sugar 1 (8 ounce) tub Whipped Topping, thawed 1 cup fresh raspberries 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder Cooking Directions Stir coffee granules into boiling water until dissolved. Cover bottom of 8-inch square dish with 16 of the wafers. Drizzle evenly with 1 Tbsp. of the coffee mixture. Add 2 Tbsp. of the remaining coffee mixture gradually to cream cheese spread in medium bowl, beating with wire whisk until well blended. Add powdered sugar; mix well. Gently stir in whipped topping. Spoon half of the cream cheese mixture over wafers in dish; cover with the remaining 16 wafers. Drizzle with the remaining coffee mixture; top with the remaining cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate overnight. Top with the raspberries just before serving; sprinkle with cocoa. Store leftover dessert in refrigerator. Yield: 12 servings -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italian Provinces Province of LODI Region LOMBARDIA (LOMBARDY) Official Website: www.provincia.lodi.it The Province of Lodi has a surface area of 782 square km, with a total population of about 200,000 inhabitants. It is administratively divided into 61 Municipalities. The province was established in 1992, with communes previously included in the Province of Milan. The territory is surrounded by the right bank of the Adda river, the left bank of the Lambro and the left bank of the Po, and is almost all plain, with the exception of the Colline di San Colombano al Lambro, with a maximum altitude of 144 m a.s.l. The Province was since the Middle Ages closely connected to the history of Milan, and the need to defend the city made it necessary to build a great number of fortresses along the Adda river. The Comuni in the Province of Lodi Abbadia Cerreto | Comune of Bertonico | Comune of Boffalora d'Adda | Comune of Borghetto Lodigiano | Comune of Borgo San Giovanni | Comune of Brembio | Comune of Camairago | Comune of Casaletto Lodigiano | Comune of Casalmaiocco | Comune of Casalpusterlengo | Comune of Caselle Landi | Comune of Caselle Lurani | Comune of Castelnuovo Bocca d'Adda | Comune of Castiglione d'Adda | Comune of Castiraga Vidardo | Comune of Cavacurta | Comune of Cavenago d'Adda | Comune of Cervignano d'Adda | Comune of Codogno | Comune of Comazzo | Comune of Cornegliano Laudense | Comune of Corno Giovine | Comune of Cornovecchio | Comune of Corte Palasio | Comune of Crespiatica | Comune of Fombio | Comune of Galgagnano | Comune of Graffignana | Comune of Guardamiglio | Comune of Livraga | Comune of LODI | Comune of Lodivecchio | Comune of Maccastorna | Comune of Mairago | Comune of Maleo | Comune of Marudo | Comune of Massalengo | Comune of Meleti | Comune of Merlino | Comune of Montanaso Lombardo | Comune of Mulazzano | Comune of Orio Litta | Comune of Ospedaletto Lodigiano | Comune of Ossago Lodigiano | Comune of Pieve Fissiraga | Comune of Salerano Sul Lambro | Comune of San Colombano al Lambro | Comune of San Fiorano | Comune of San Martino in Strada | Comune of San Rocco al Porto | Comune of Sant'Angelo Lodigiano | Comune of Santo Stefano Lodigiano | Comune of Secugnago | Comune of Senna Lodigiana | Comune of Somaglia | Comune of Sordio | Comune of Tavazzano con Villavesco | Comune of Terranova dei Passerini | Comune of Turano Lodigiano | Comune of Valera Fratta | Comune of Villanova del Sillaro | Comune of Zelo Buon Persico ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Province of MANTOVA Region LOMBARDIA (LOMBARDY) Official Website: www.provincia.mantova.it The Province of Mantova has a surface area of 2,339 square km, with a total population of about 370,000 inhabitants. It is administratively divided into 70 Municipalities. It is situated in a strategic geographical position 30 Km from Verona and 100 Km from Bologna. Before the unity of Italy (1861) the province was half its present size, and a number of communes were included in the provinces of Brescia and Cremona. The Comuni in the Province of Mantova Comune of Acquanegra sul Chiese | Comune of Asola | Comune of Bagnolo San Vito | Comune of Bigarello | Comune of Borgoforte | Comune of Borgofranco sul Po | Comune of Bozzolo | Comune of Canneto sull'Oglio | Comune of Carbonara di Po | Comune of Casalmoro | Comune of Casaloldo | Comune of Casalromano | Comune of Castel d'Ario | Comune of Castel Goffredo | Comune of Castelbelforte | Comune of Castellucchio | Comune of Castiglione delle Stiviere | Comune of Cavriana | Comune of Ceresara | Comune of Commessaggio | Comune of Curtatone | Comune of Dosolo | Comune of Felonica | Comune of Gazoldo degli Ippoliti | Comune of Gazzuolo | Comune of Goito | Comune of Gonzaga | Comune of Guidizzolo | Comune of Magnacavallo | Comune of MANTOVA | Comune of Marcaria | Comune of Mariana Mantovana | Comune of Marmirolo | Comune of Medole | Comune of Moglia | Comune of Monzambano | Comune of Motteggiana | Comune of Ostiglia | Comune of Pegognaga | Comune of Pieve di Coriano | Comune of Piubega | Comune of Poggio Rusco | Comune of Pomponesco | Comune of Ponti sul Mincio | Comune of Porto Mantovano | Comune of Quingentole | Comune of Quistello | Comune of Redondesco | Comune of Revere | Comune of Rivarolo Mantovano | Comune of Rodigo | Comune of Roncoferraro | Comune of Roverbella | Comune of Sabbioneta | Comune of San Benedetto Po | Comune of San Giacomo delle Segnate | Comune of San Giorgio di Mantova | Comune of San Giovanni del Dosso | Comune of San Martino dall'Argine | Comune of Schivenoglia | Comune of Sermide | Comune of Serravalle a Po | Comune of Solferino | Comune of Sustinente | Comune of Suzzara | Comune of Viadana | Comune of Villa Poma | Comune of Villimpenta | Comune of Virgilio | Comune of Volta Mantovana ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Province of MONZA-BRIANZA Region LOMBARDIA (LOMBARDY) Official Website: www3.provincia.mi.it/monzabrianza The Province of Monza-Brianza was officially established on May 12, 2004, with its own administrative authority starting from 2009. It includes 53 communes previously part of the province of Milan. The capital is the city of Monza. The car plate and abbreviation of the province is MB. The Comuni in the Province of Monza-Brianza Agrate Brianza | Aicurzio | Albiate | Arcore | Barlassina | Bellusco | Bernareggio | Besana in Brianza | Biassono | Bovisio-Masciago | Briosco | Brugherio | Burago di Molgora | Camparada | Carate Brianza | Carnate | Cavenago di Brianza | Ceriano Laghetto | Cesano Maderno | Cogliate | Concorezzo | Correzzana | Desio | Giussano | Lazzate | Lesmo | Limbiate | Lissone | Macherio | Meda | Mezzago | Misinto | Comune of Monza | Muggiò | Nova Milanese | Ornago | Renate | Ronco Briantino | Seregno | Seveso | Sovico | Sulbiate | Triuggio | Usmate Velate | Varedo | Vedano al Lambro | Veduggio con Colzano | Verano Brianza | Villasanta | Vimercate. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Province of PAVIA Region LOMBARDIA (LOMBARDY) Official Website: www.provincia.pv.it The Province of Pavia has a surface area of 2965 square km, with a total population of about half a million inhabitants. It is administratively divided into 190 Municipalities. The territory of the province is crossed by the Ticino and Po river, with the Ticino flowing into the Po 4 km south of the capital town, and dividing the province into three areas, which have very distinctive identities: the Pavese to the north-east, Lomellina to the northwest between the two rivers, and Oltrepò to the south. The Comuni in the Province of Pavia Comune of Alagna | Comune of Albaredo Arnaboldi | Comune of Albonese | Comune of Albuzzano | Comune of Arena | Comune of Badia Pavese | Comune of Bagnaria | Comune of Barbianello | Comune of Bascapè | Comune of Bastida de Dossi | Comune of Bastida Pancarana | Comune of Battuda | Comune of Belgioioso | Comune of Bereguardo | Comune of Borgarello | Comune of Borgo Priolo | Comune of Borgo San Siro | Comune of Borgoratto Mormorolo | Comune of Bornasco | Comune of Bosnasco | Comune of Brallo di Pregola | Comune of Breme | Comune of Bressana Bottarone | Comune of Broni | Comune of Calvignano | Comune of Campospinoso | Comune of Candia Lomellina | Comune of Canevino | Comune of Canneto Pavese | Comune of Carbonara al Ticino | Comune of Casanova Lonati | Comune of Casatisma | Comune of Casei Gerola | Comune of Casorate Primo | Comune of Cassolnovo | Comune of Castana | Comune of Casteggio | Comune of Castelletto di Branduzzo | Comune of Castello d'Agogna | Comune of Castelnovetto | Comune of Cava Manara | Comune of Cecima | Comune of Ceranova | Comune of Ceretto Lomellina | Comune of Cergnago | Comune of Certosa di Pavia | Comune of Cervesina | Comune of Chignolo Po | Comune of Cigognola | Comune of Cilavegna | Comune of Codevilla | Comune of Confienza | Comune of Copiano | Comune of Corana | Comune of Cornale | Comune of Corteolona | Comune of Corvino San Quirico | Comune of Costa de Nobili | Comune of Cozzo | Comune of Cura Carpignano | Comune of Dorno | Comune of Ferrera Erbognone | Comune of Filighera | Comune of Fortunago | Comune of Frascarolo | Comune of Galliavola | Comune of Gambarana | Comune of Gambolo | Comune of Garlasco | Comune of Genzone | Comune of Gerenzago | Comune of Giussago | Comune of Godiasco | Comune of Golferenzo | Comune of Gravellona Lomellina | Comune of Gropello Cairoli | Comune of Inverno e Monteleone | Comune of Landriano | Comune of Langosco | Comune of Lardirago | Comune of Linarolo | Comune of Lirio | Comune of Lomello | Comune of Lungavilla | Comune of Magherno | Comune of Marcignago | Comune of Marzano | Comune of Mede | Comune of Menconico | Comune of Mezzana Bigli | Comune of Mezzana Rabattone | Comune of Mezzanino | Comune of Miradolo Terme | Comune of Montalto Pavese | Comune of Montebello della Battaglia | Comune of Montecalvo Versiggia | Comune of Montescano | Comune of Montesegale | Comune of Monticelli Pavese | Comune of Montu Beccaria | Comune of Mornico Losana | Comune of Mortara | Comune of Nicorvo | Comune of Olevano di Lomellina | Comune of Oliva Gessi | Comune of Ottobiano | Comune of Palestro | Comune of Pancarana | Comune of Parona | Comune of PAVIA | Comune of Pietra de Giorgi | Comune of Pieve Albignola | Comune of Pieve del Cairo | Comune of Pieve Porto Morone | Comune of Pinarolo Po | Comune of Pizzale | Comune of Ponte Nizza | Comune of Portalbera | Comune of Rea | Comune of Redavalle | Comune of Retorbido | Comune of Rivanazzano | Comune of Robbio | Comune of Robecco Pavese | Comune of Rocca de Giorgi | Comune of Rocca Susella | Comune of Rognano | Comune of Romagnese | Comune of Roncaro | Comune of Rosasco | Comune of Rovescala | Comune of Ruino | Comune of San Cipriano Po | Comune of San Damiano al Colle | Comune of San Genesio ed Uniti | Comune of San Giorgio di Lomellina | Comune of San Martino Siccomario | Comune of San Zenone al Po | Comune of Sannazzaro De Burgondi | Comune of Santa Cristina e Bissone | Comune of Santa Giuletta | Comune of Santa Margherita di Staffora | Comune of Santa Maria della Versa | Comune of Sant'Alessio con Vialone | Comune of Sant'Angelo Lomellina | Comune of Sartirana Lomellina | Comune of Scaldasole | Comune of Semiana | Comune of Silvano Pietra | Comune of Siziano | Comune of Sommo | Comune of Spessa | Comune of Stradella | Comune of Suardi | Comune of Torrazza Coste | Comune of Torre Beretti e Castellaro | Comune of Torre d'Arese | Comune of Torre de Negri | Comune of Torre d'Isola | Comune of Torrevecchia Pia | Comune of Torricella Verzate | Comune of Travaco Siccomario | Comune of Trivolzio | Comune of Tromello | Comune of Trovo | Comune of Val di Nizza | Comune of Valeggio | Comune of Valle Lomellina | Comune of Valle Salimbene | Comune of Valverde | Comune of Varzi | Comune of Velezzo Lomellina | Comune of Vellezzo Bellini | Comune of Verretto | Comune of Verrua Po | Comune of Vidigulfo | Comune of Vigevano | Comune of Villa Biscossi | Comune of Villanova d'Ardenghi | Comune of Villanterio | Comune of Vistarino | Comune of Voghera | Comune of Volpara | Comune of Zavattarello | Comune of Zeccone | Comune of Zeme | Comune of Zenevredo | Comune of Zerbo | Comune of Zerbolo | Comune of Zinasco ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Province of SONDRIO Region LOMBARDIA (LOMBARDY) Official Website: www.provincia.so.it The Province of Sondrio has a territory is mostly mountainous, and includes Alpine areas known as Valtellina, Val di Lei (partly in the Reno basin) and the Livigno territory (basin of the Inn-Danube rivers). In the heart of the Alps and bordering Switzerland, north of Lake Como, the province offers a great variety of mountain landscapes, with many protected areas, among them the largest Alpine park, the Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio. Info: Area: 3,212 km² -- Population: about 180,000 inhabitants -- Zip/postal codes: 23100, 23010-23038 -- Phone Area Codes: 0342, 0343 -- Car Plate: SO -- Communes: 78 communes The Comuni in the Province of Sondrio Comune of Albaredo per San Marco | Comune of Albosaggia | Comune of Andalo Valtellino | Comune of Aprica | Comune of Ardenno | Comune of Bema | Comune of Berbenno di Valtellina | Comune of Bianzone | Comune of Bormio | Comune of Buglio in Monte | Comune of Caiolo | Comune of Campodolcino | Comune of Caspoggio | Comune of Castello dell'Acqua | Comune of Castione Andevenno | Comune of Cedrasco | Comune of Cercino | Comune of Chiavenna | Comune of Chiesa in Valmalenco | Comune of Chiuro | Comune of Cino | Comune of Civo | Comune of Colorina | Comune of Cosio Valtellino | Comune of Dazio | Comune of Delebio | Comune of Dubino | Comune of Faedo Valtellino | Comune of Forcola | Comune of Fusine | Comune of Gerola Alta | Comune of Gordona | Comune of Grosio | Comune of Grosotto | Comune of Lanzada | Comune of Livigno | Comune of Lovero | Comune of Madesimo | Comune of Mantello | Comune of Mazzo di Valtellina | Comune of Mello | Comune of Menarola | Comune of Mese | Comune of Montagna in Valtellina | Comune of Morbegno | Comune of Novate Mezzola | Comune of Pedesina | Comune of Piantedo | Comune of Piateda | Comune of Piuro | Comune of Poggiridenti | Comune of Ponte in Valtellina | Comune of Postalesio | Comune of Prata Camportaccio | Comune of Rasura | Comune of Rogolo | Comune of Samolaco | Comune of San Giacomo Filippo | Comune of Sernio | Comune of Sondalo | Comune of Sondrio | Comune of Spriana | Comune of Talamona | Comune of Tartano | Comune of Teglio | Comune of Tirano | Comune of Torre di Santa Maria | Comune of Tovo di SantAgata | Comune of Traona | Comune of Tresivio | Comune of Val Masino | Comune of Valdidentro | Comune of Valdisotto | Comune of Valfurva | Comune of Verceia | Comune of Vervio | Comune of Villa di Chiavenna | Comune of Villa di Tirano ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Province of VARESE Region LOMBARDIA (LOMBARDY) Official Website: www.provincia.va.it The Province of Varese has a surface area of 1,199 sq km, with a total population of over 800,000 inhabitants. It is administratively divided into 141 Municipalities. Important towns in the province are Busto Arsizio, Gallarate, Saronno, Tradate, Vedano Olona. The province of Varese lies below the Alps, so mountains and hills are the main features of its territory, along with rivers (including the Ticino and Olona) and glacial lakes (Lake Maggiore, Lake Lugano, Lake of Varese and four other smaller ones). The southern part of the province is in the Pianura Padana. The Comuni in the Province of Varese Comune of Agra | Comune of Albizzate | Comune of Angera | Comune of Arcisate | Comune of Arsago Seprio | Comune of Azzate | Comune of Azzio | Comune of Barasso | Comune of Bardello | Comune of Bedero Valcuvia | Comune of Besano | Comune of Besnate | Comune of Besozzo | Comune of Biandronno | Comune of Bisuschio | Comune of Bodio Lomnago | Comune of Brebbia | Comune of Bregano | Comune of Brenta | Comune of Brezzo di Bedero | Comune of Brinzio | Comune of Brissago Valtravaglia | Comune of Brunello | Comune of Brusimpiano | Comune of Buguggiate | Comune of Busto Arsizio | Comune of Cadegliano Viconago | Comune of Cadrezzate | Comune of Cairate | Comune of Cantello | Comune of Caravate | Comune of Cardano al Campo | Comune of Carnago | Comune of Caronno Pertusella | Comune of Caronno Varesino | Comune of Casale Litta | Comune of Casalzuigno | Comune of Casciago | Comune of Casorate Sempione | Comune of Cassano Magnago | Comune of Cassano Valcuvia | Comune of Castellanza | Comune of Castello Cabiaglio | Comune of Castelseprio | Comune of Castelveccana | Comune of Castiglione Olona | Comune of Castronno | Comune of Cavaria con Premezzo | Comune of Cazzago Brabbia | Comune of Cislago | Comune of Cittiglio | Comune of Clivio | Comune of Cocquio Trevisago | Comune of Comabbio | Comune of Comerio | Comune of Cremenaga | Comune of Crosio della Valle | Comune of Cuasso al Monte | Comune of Cugliate Fabiasco | Comune of Cunardo | Comune of Curiglia con Monteviasco | Comune of Cuveglio | Comune of Cuvio | Comune of Daverio | Comune of Dumenza | Comune of Duno | Comune of Fagnano Olona | Comune of Ferno | Comune of Ferrera di Varese | Comune of Gallarate | Comune of Galliate Lombardo | Comune of Gavirate | Comune of Gazzada Schianno | Comune of Gemonio | Comune of Gerenzano | Comune of Germignaga | Comune of Golasecca | Comune of Gorla Maggiore | Comune of Gorla Minore | Comune of Gornate Olona | Comune of Grantola | Comune of Inarzo | Comune of Induno Olona | Comune of Ispra | Comune of Jerago con Orago | Comune of Lavena Ponte Tresa | Comune of Laveno Mombello | Comune of Leggiuno | Comune of Lonate Ceppino | Comune of Lonate Pozzolo | Comune of Lozza | Comune of Luino | Comune of Luvinate | Comune of Maccagno | Comune of Malgesso | Comune of Malnate | Comune of Marchirolo | Comune of Marnate | Comune of Marzio | Comune of Masciago Primo | Comune of Mercallo | Comune of Mesenzana | Comune of Montegrino Valtravaglia | Comune of Monvalle | Comune of Morazzone | Comune of Mornago | Comune of Oggiona con Santo Stefano | Comune of Olgiate Olona | Comune of Origgio | Comune of Orino | Comune of Osmate | Comune of Pino sulla Sponda del Lago Maggiore | Comune of Porto Ceresio | Comune of Porto Valtravaglia | Comune of Rancio Valcuvia | Comune of Ranco | Comune of Saltrio | Comune of Samarate | Comune of Sangiano | Comune of Saronno | Comune of Sesto Calende | Comune of Solbiate Arno | Comune of Solbiate Olona | Comune of Somma Lombardo | Comune of Sumirago | Comune of Taino | Comune of Ternate | Comune of Tradate | Comune of Travedona Monate | Comune of Tronzano Lago Maggiore | Comune of Uboldo | Comune of Valganna | Comune of Varano Borghi | Comune of Varese | Comune of Vedano Olona | Comune of Veddasca | Comune of Venegono Inferiore | Comune of Venegono Superiore | Comune of Vergiate | Comune of Viggiu | Comune of Vizzola Ticino ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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