graffiti and murals in an open-air museumArt and Culture Nestled at the foot of Mount Gariglione, in the Sila Piccola (Sila National Park) Petilia Policastro is a mountain village in the province of Crotone that tells its story through street art and the now famous Petilia Policastro murals Murals and graffiti in a veritable open-air museum which through the visionary gaze of artist Giuseppe Caruso restores the contemporary slice of an ancient history The built-up area of Petilia Policastro has Byzantine and Greek origins which are still alive today in the toponymy in some ancient local customs and in the presence of the Karst Caves surrounded by rivers and underground lakes (such as the Basilian Caves of San Demetrio) Petilia Policastro has been able to reinvent itself through the contemporary tool of street art entrusting a great muralist with the task of narrating and reworking its identity telling of the old and the new in a succession of bright colours the remains of an ancient castle and a number of aristocratic palaces we turn into Vico Leone and immerse ourselves in the artistic face of Petilia Policastro: graffiti made using various techniques and brightly coloured murals embellish the façades of buildings and old abandoned houses giving new light to what was in danger of falling into shadow who with Renato first and Giuseppe later restored the vitality of colours to Petilia Policastro cannot fail to be moved by the charge of humanity expressed through its wonderful gallery of murals Looking closely at the Petilia Policastro murals we discover a series of subjects that range from the local to the universal opening up parallel worlds that inspire adults and children alike one on a swing and the other watering plants has been mentioned nationally as one of the 6 most touching murals in the world The gesture of "taking flight" from a small reality is one of the themes dearest to the Petilia Policastro artist who also takes it up in another famous mural depicting the great wings of Icarus understood as a tutelary deity and guardian angel the tradition of actually living and playing in the street returns in the iconic representation of children playing "hopscotch" with a work that takes up the numbered boxes of the famous game is to re-appropriate public spaces and abandoned villages just as Giuseppe Caruso did in Petilia Policastro https://calabriastraordinaria.it/en/news/walking-among-the-graffiti-of-petilia-policastro You might be interested inArt and CultureWhat to see and do in Tropea in autumn2024-02-15 11:27:33 Last update: May 6, 2024 8:58 AMContent owned by the Calabria Region | Tourism and Commerce Department issued under CC-BY License Download OFFICIAL TOURIST INFORMATION SITE © 2022 Calabria Region Tourism and Commerce Department filled the kitchen with a tantalizing aroma but also evoked nostalgic memories that comforted Jackie DiCicco Fullen of Patterson Township body and soul is something we all seek during stressful times perhaps now more than ever with the current COVID-19 pandemic grilled cheese and tomato soup — all are among foods we think of as comforting “Lots of carbohydrate is what we turn to for comfort,” said Chris Fennimore beloved producer and host of “QED Cooks” on public television station WQED in Pittsburgh and contributor to and editor of numerous community cookbooks Face it: Nouvelle cuisine won’t satisfy most of us full belly — that feeling of really being satisfied,” he said We want a big portion of mashed potatoes.” Fennimore had a brainstorm last week to have the station re-air his “C is for Comfort” and “Easy Recipes for Thrifty Cooking” shows — both were broadcast March 21 — so that viewers could “relive comfort food recipes.” Fennimore also posted recipes and pictures of food he’s been cooking while sheltering in place — like most Americans — to the QED Cooks Facebook page He asked people to share what they’ve been cooking and their recipes “It shows that people are spending more time on Facebook and spending more time concentrating on food,” he said Shepherd’s pie made with lean beef or ground lamb “It’s one of those things you put together You never make a little bit of shepherd’s pie.” made something sweet – coffeecake or muffins for example — “because she knew people would come by and sit at the table or on the porch and have a muffin and coffee or something That was a comfort to have something ready to share with whoever would come by.” Fullen’s ancestors hailed from Italy — her grandmother from Petilia Policastro in Calabria; her father from Abruzzo east of Rome — and comfort food in her family “generally involved something carbohydrate” like gnocchi stuffed peppers with mashed potatoes or her mom’s “beautiful meatloaf with “It just seemed like that settles into your heart as well as your stomach That was very satisfying to us,” Fullen said when he compiled cookbooks that accompanied the television shows “People harken back to their childhoods for recipes and sometimes they weren’t what we traditionally think of as comfort food but it was a recipe that was comforting to them because they remember it as a child — as something their mother or grandmother made that was satisfying to them at that time in their life fulfilled a long-held dream and opened Sisters Eatery on Seventh Avenue in Beaver Falls that featured made-from-scratch items like her mom and late grandmother who encouraged everyone to use this time to pull out a recipe — even a simple one or box mix — and involve children or grandchildren in the process “You know what they say: ‘Never let a crisis go to waste,’” she said “We don’t want to make this a time of painful remembrance,” she said “We want to make it a time for some good memories We can do that around the table with everyone sitting down to eat,” especially now when restaurants can only serve takeout or delivery especially at a time like this,” Fullen said Create that feeling that makes the best of a crisis.” Rosanne Robinson of Hopewell Township turns to soups for comfort and a big pot of chicken soup with fine noodles onions and parsley — just like her mom made “when something came up” — was the first thing she assembled during the coronavirus crisis health and home improvement shows on WMBA radio and also a recent guest on Fennimore’s show said another one of her comfort staples is macaroni with meatballs and sauce I could sit with a great big bowl,” she said Mary Alice Gettings knows comfort food — often heavy on carbs fat and calories — isn’t always the healthiest choice registered dietitian with Penn State Extension said it’s OK to indulge in such dishes a couple of days a week especially last week when “everybody was sent into a whirlwind.” But she suggests staying within a consistent schedule eats a salad for lunch like she would do at the office If parents pack a lunch for their children consider it as a side with vegetables and salad non-fat Greek yogurt and packaged onion soup mix Limit pizza takeout to once a week instead of two or three times culinary arts instructor at Beaver County Career and Technology Center suggested visiting the online website choosemyplate.gov for nutritional guidance especially with regard to protein requirements “People think they need to eat more protein than they need to eat,” she said And when meat supplies have been nearly depleted or limited at some grocery stores along with being aware that meat isn’t the only source of protein nuts and seeds are considered part of the protein group We need only 4 to 6 ounces of protein a day combined and “comfort foods are great for doing just that because they usually combine starches Stews and casseroles can be flavored with pieces of sausage or bacon — food that flavors the whole recipe but trick the palate into thinking there’s a lot of protein Serve with cornbread or other filling starch and allow lots of creativity and choices with toppings like bacon Stevenson said check out www.adventuresofmel.com Fullen said presentation is a big factor in comfort she always plated food at Sisters Eatery on white china desserts on doilies and always with a “pretty napkin.” Tables were decorated with flowers or small lanterns Fullen could take a simple sandwich like grilled cheese and turn it into art by slicing bread into four rectangles Put a bowl of her homemade tomato-basil soup in the center surrounded by grilled cheese “spokes” and the presentation resembled a sunburst glass mugs at a discount store in which she layered homemade sugar cookies with yogurt For the ultimate under-the-radar Italian sojourn we’re heading south with Ceraudo founders and interiors aficionados Ristorante San Domenico in Pizzo and Incipit Restaurant in Tropea Peeking into some of the faded palazzi of Tropea A very hidden Max Mara Outlet near Lamezia Get your weekly dose of armchair travelling Do you love experiences that combine nature and culture Don't miss the literary trails in the Aspromonte National Park We take you to the centre of the most mysterious and wild Calabria that of the shepherds with their "raw life" sung by the Calabrian Strega Prize-winning writer Corrado Alvaro and the breathtaking landscapes described in pen and charcoal by the famous travellers and artists of the Grand Tour but still a source of inspiration for the writers of today and tomorrow If we want to start chronologically on the trail of writers and poets who have narrated the rough wonders of Aspromonte Calabria to the 12th century and the so-called "songs of deeds" the ballad that inspired the Carolingian Cycle is set on the Aspromonte Massif at the time of the Arab invasions have always attracted the curiosity of travellers from all over the world This was especially the case during the fashionable Grand Tour of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries when writers of the calibre of Edward Lear ventured into the "exotic" lands of the far south of Italy is dedicated the so-called "Englishman's Path" the literary trek that connects some of the Aspromontane municipalities crossed by Lear during his journey in Calabria and narrated in his famous reportage entitled Diary of a Journey on Foot (1847) The Englishman's Path can be travelled in 7 days among Grecanici villages (where the ancient Greek of Calabria is spoken) and characteristic rivers The territory it traverses is a succession of dense woods opening into sudden clearings breathtaking panoramas embracing both the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas and as far from the stereotypical Aspromonte as one can expect An itinerary that walkers should take on foot as Edward Lear did at the time of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies with only the company of a local guide and a donkey A bergamot-scented walk through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Valley of the Great Stones allows you to discover one of Europe's most evocative geo-sites in the historical centres of San Luca and Sant'Agata del Bianco we encounter two of the most important writers and intellectuals of the Italian 20th century: Corrado Alvaro and Saverio Strati The "Corrado Alvaro" Literary Itinerary includes a visit to the house where Corrado Alvaro was born the current headquarters of the Foundation of the same name and then on to discover the Alvaro places mentioned in the works of the Aspromonte writer and journalist who won the Strega Prize in 1951 with ‘Quasi una vita’ Maria della Pietà and the remains of Palazzo Stranges mentioned in both Gente in Aspromonte and L'uomo nel labirinto; the Loggia del Petto and the suggestive Fiumara del Buonamico until we reach the remains of the ancient settlement of Potamìa One of the many small abandoned centres (16th century) from which we reach the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Polsi one of Calabria's best-loved and most controversial Marian shrines to which the writer dedicated his debut work in 1912 the short story collection Gente in Aspromonte "Isn't life beautiful for shepherds in Aspromonte and the land seems to sail over the waters" Equally rich in emotions is the itinerary that leads us to the town of Sant'Agata del Bianco the birthplace of the writer Saverio Strati Today's homage to this illustrious son takes the form of a veritable open-air museum of street art Sant'Agata celebrates Strati through a series of murals created on the facades of houses by great artists of the "spray can" inspired by the author's most famous writings From Ragazzo illuminato dalla luce della storia to Nascondino via the now famous portrait of Tibi and Tascia inspired by the most mati characters in his literary production the journey is intense and it sums up an entire artistic life https://calabriastraordinaria.it/en/news/aspromonte-literary-park-from-the-grand-tour-to-20th-century-calabrian-writers You might be interested inArt and CultureA day in Stilo, among The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy2025-02-06 16:00:36 ParkSan Luca Last update: May 30, 2024 7:49 AMContent owned by the Calabria Region | Tourism and Commerce Department issued under CC-BY License You only have to glance at an Italian calendar to know that patron saints are venerated across the Belpaese throughout the entire year certain communities go above and beyond to honour their patron saint in a spectacular display of .. from 46th in 2024 to 49th place in 2025 in the Press Freedom Index drawn up every year by Reporters Sans Frontières (Reporters Without Borders - RSF) Researcher and lecturer Flavia Marcello explores the fascist influence on the architecture of Rome the race for the fourth Champions League qualifying spot from Italy’s Serie A has become even tighter Napoli didn’t allow flares and delays to affect their performance as Antonio Conte’s side ground out a 1-0 win at Lecce to take firm control of Serie A in Italy Fiorentina have lost the first leg of their UEFA Conference League semifinal tie 2-1 away to Real Betis Inter Milan’s Serie A title defence is on the line with the busy champions chasing a fresher Napoli side who have the finishing line in sight Carlo Ancelotti has turned down the Brazil job and is mulling a mega offer to coach Saudi Arabia Spanish sports daily ‘Marca’ said Wednesday British director Ken Loach has blasted plans to tear down much of Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium to make room for a new home for Inter and AC Milan Barcelona and Inter Milan have delivered a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final One of the pillars of Italian culture is the union between music and wine Nicholas ‘Nick’ Renfree-Marks is somewhat of an expert on both https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084683874599 Among the places that have managed to regenerate themselves in Calabria through street art is certainly Borgo Croce Its characteristic and colourful views are among the most ‘’instagrammed‘’ of the moment so much so that this small hamlet in the municipality of Fiumara has gone from depopulation to being a destination for tourists armed with curiosity and a camera murals and all there is to see in the surrounding area.. We reach Borgo Croce (or simply Croce) following the signs for Fiumara the municipal territory of which this small hamlet is part populated by only 45 inhabitants (including 2 children) and the guide who was the first to take the initiative of bringing this area back to life through an artistic project: the murals of Borgo Croce a village near Borgo Croce that has paid homage to the writer Saverio Strati The Borgo Croce case began as a "summer game" and then continued and confirmed itself as a year-round attraction How do you turn a semi-populated village into a popular street art museum Simply put brushes and colours in the hands of simple citizens who wish to tell something about themselves and their territory create a "symbolic signpost" showing the places where the emigrants live embellish the views and paint the facades of old houses with proverbs interacting with those who have stayed behind and discovering all the gems of Borgo Croce on their own: murals the ever-present ‘’Kiss Alley‘’ with its swing the staircase-sitting room (furnished with sofas cushions and armchairs) leading up to the church and everything else needed to make an abandoned village "instagrammable" The second life of the Borgo Croce community therefore passes through active citizenship which in "muralism 2.0" has found the resources to keep its history and places of origin alive Borgo Croce, Reggio Calabria and the neighbouring villages are part of a small itinerary to be discovered on an out-of-town trip or an entire weekend Let's start with a walk through the centre of Fiumara The late singer-songwriter Mino Reitano was originally from the hamlet of San Pietro to whom the "Mino Reitano" Museum and the square near his birthplace are dedicated Following the course of the Fiumara di Catona (from which the town takes its name) on both banks one can admire the remains of the ancient mills and wash-houses that fed the agro-pastoral economy of this area We are at the foot of the Aspromonte massif, so a nice nature excursion through the woods of the Aspromonte National Park is the right "art-nature" combination.  one can easily reach the rocky site of the Tremusa Caves an extremely suggestive place where the hand of nature has much to teach man: A geological testimony of millions of years ago these mysterious caves are linked to the legend of the "Three Muses" (as the name suggests) perhaps referable to the partica of ancient pagan cults The Tremusa Caves are geologically active and within them one can observe the phenomenon of water drops that cause stalactites and stalagmites to grow making them resemble the spires of a Gothic cathedral https://calabriastraordinaria.it/en/news/a-day-among-the-colours-of-borgo-croce You might be interested inArt and CultureTrip to Morano Calabro, among The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy2025-01-30 14:49:22 Content owned by the Calabria Region | Tourism and Commerce Department issued under CC-BY License