Omaggio alla Repubblica Italiana

On this 2 June 2012 National Day of Italy, we celebrate the 151th Anniversary of the Unity of Italy.
This selection is from the re-opening ceremonies of the San Carlo Opera House in Naples in 2009. The President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano is present in the Royal Box. San Carlo is one of the great opera houses of the world and we visited it before and after the renovation, the work done did justice to this wonderful building in the centre of Naples. First built by King Charles VII of the Kingdom of Naples and the Two Sicily in 1737, it is one of the oldest opera houses of the world, seating 3300 persons. The orchestra of the Opera House plays the Italian National Anthem, under the baton of Maestro Riccardo Muti.
Fratelli d'Italia composed by Goffredo Mameli in 1847, aged 20. Mameli died defending Rome from the Pope and the French Army two years later in 1849.

Buona Feste a tutti, Auguri!  Viva l'Italia!

The lyrics of the Anthem in English translation.

Italian brothers,
Italy has arisen,
With Scipio's helmet
binding her head.
Where is Victory?
Let her bow down,
For God has made her
The slave of Rome.
Let us gather in legions,
Ready to die!
Italy has called!

We for centuries
Have been downtrodden and derided,
Because we are not a people,
Because we are divided.
Let one flag, one hope
Bring us together;
The hour has struck
For us to join forces.
Let us gather in legions,
Ready to die!
Italy has called!

Let us unite and love one another;
For union and love
Reveal to peoples
The way of the Lord
Let us swear to free
Our native soil;
If we are united under God,
Who can conquer us?
Let us gather in legions,
Ready to die!
Italy has called!

From the Alps to Sicily,
Everywhere it is Legnano;
Every man has the heart
and hand of Ferruccio.
The children of Italy
Are all called Balilla;
Every trumpet blast
Sounds the (Sicilian) Vespers.
Let us gather in legions,
Ready to die!
Italy has called!

Mercenary swords
Are feeble reeds,
And the Austrian eagle
Has lost his plumes.
This eagle that drunk the blood
of Italy and Poland,
togheter with the Cossack,
But this has burned his gut.
Let us gather in legions,
Ready to die!
Italy has called!

Easter Luncheon in Rome

Today as is the tradition we went to our friends S, R, and S. for lunch. We picked up the professor who lives in Salario on our way and there we met with other guests.

Simonetta always prepares beautiful table settings, here the centre piece is Sicilian, a lamb of God made in Marzipan. The menu as always is pure Roman, we start with a  glass of Proseco, then à table, first we had a slice of cheese bread baked to look like a chef's hat, this is typically Italian Easter bread, served with hard boiled eggs which have been painted bright red or dark green or some other colour. They are placed inside a Fabergé style egg container presented to each guest at table. This is accompanied by some hard cheeses like Parmigiano and Pecorino, a hard goat cheese and green fava beans or broad beans served raw and some salami made specially for Easter served with a nice glass of red wine, in this case it was a wine from the Friuli (Northern Italy).

Professor Alberto Testa and Anita Garibaldi

Afterwards the main course was roast beef and asparagus in season at this time with oven roasted potatoes, served with another red wine from Umbria. Finally crudités of celery, carrots and radishes with a bit of olive oil and salt.

Dessert was fresh strawberries with a bit of lemon juice and sugar and Will's Pastiera with a glass of Proseco. The Pastiera was a huge success, it was Will's first try at making it from an old Neapolitan recipe. Mrs. A. Garibaldi ate 3 pieces, she declared it to be wonderful, with that sort of Official endorsement Will must be an Honorary Italian now.  We also had marrons glacés, a personal favorite with little candied violets.  

il professore and I in conversation after lunch.

Tomorrow is Pasquetta (little easter) so we are having roasted leg of lamb. The fun never stops and more guests at our house this time.