Resources
Items on this page link our members and guests to
various subjects we hope will be of interest.
"All About Italy" Online Compendium
The Dante Alighieri Society of Santa Cruz worked with the Santa Cruz Public Library (SCPL) Research Librarian Leslie Auerbach to create a special "Readers Link" online compendium of books, CDs and DVDs for all things Italian, called "All About Italy."
The All About Italy "Readers Link" online compendium is organized by category,
and includes:
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non-fiction (history, art, architecture, cooking, etc.);
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fiction (novels, short stories, etc.);
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audio books;
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music CDs;
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film DVDs;
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kids’ books;
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and travel guides.
Click here for directions on how to use and link to the All About Italy Reader’s Link
To reach the "All About Italy" Reader's Link online compendium directly, go to:
http://www.santacruzpl.org/readers/booklists/43/
We hope you find this new resource useful as you explore Italian culture, food, language, history, or whatever else interests you about Italy. Contact us at dantesantacruz1265@gmail.com if you have any questions or problems with the site, or if you know of other items you would like to see added to the Readers Link.
Parliamo Italiano!
Italian Language Learning Resources
Here are some online language learning resources that our Dante Instructors use for their classes:
We hope these links are helpful as you learn “la bella lingua”-
And if you have or know of other language learning resources you'd like to share, please send them to us and we will try to add them to the list.
We have selected three sites that provide an effective support for those learning Italian (the three sites listed are certified for Secure Sockets Layer, a global standard security technology):
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_language#Grammar
Its explanations, schemes, and examples are effective and clear. It is recommended as a grammar reference site.
Recommended (and secure) sites for studying Italian Verbs are:
On the opening page you will find the box to write the verb you are interested in. Below the box is a selection of widely used Italian verbs.
https://www.italian-verbs.com/
Presents verbs in multiple languages
Main Italian newspaper
Corriere della Sera
News, politics, economics and sports with photos, images and videos. Weather, Health, Travel Guides, Music and Online Games.
Il Sole 24 Ore
Economic news, Italian and foreign news, stock exchange quotes in real time and finance, regulations and taxes, funds and bonds, mortgages, loans and jobs.
La Repubblica
Newspaper updated 24 hours a day on politics, news, economics, sports, foreign affairs, shows, music, culture, science, technology
La Stampa
Newspaper with constantly updated news and videos on politics, economics, sports, shows, technology, engines, travel, health and foreign countries.
Radio Rai
Listen 12 channels radio and audiobooks
Holidays and Festivals Celebrated in Italy
Here is a list of the Italian national holidays plus feast days for some of the major Italian cities
and a representative sample of festivals.
Bocce Ball – An Italian pastime
The popularity of Bocce in America has been on the rise since it swept California in 1989. There are more than 25,000,000 Bocce enthusiasts that have heard of the sport, play recreationally, or play on structured courts in the United States today. Learn more about the history of this Italian pastime and how to play bocce, then come join Dante Santa Cruz at one of our bocce activities.
Santa Cruz Sister City – Sestri Levante
Did you know that Santa Cruz has a sister city in Italy?
For more information on Sestri Levante, check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sestri_Levante
For more information on the Santa Cruz Sister Cities program, check out:
http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/government/city-departments/parks-recreation/advisory-bodies/sister-cities-committee
For Our Dante Film Fans
Since we can’t get together for our Dante Film Series right now due to the current pandemic, we asked Mary Altier, our Dante Film Series Curator for over a decade, to give us a list of Italian films that folks can watch at home on their own streaming services.
Here are eight of Mary's personal recommendations :
(Titles in English because that is how you will find them; original Italian titles provided.)
Found on Amazon Prime:
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*Mid-August Lunch (Pranzo di ferragosto), 2008, Dir. Gianni Di Gregorio
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*The Medicine Seller (Il venditore di medicine), 2013, Dir. Antonio Morabito
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*A Five Star Life (Viaggio sola), 2013, Dir. Maria Sole Tognazzi
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*Caro Diario (Caro diario), 1993, Dir. Nanni Moretti
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*Shun Li and the Poet (Io sono Li), 2011, Dir. Andrea Segre
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Hamam: the Turkish Bath (Hamam), 1997, Dir. Ferzan Ozpete
( *Films screened previously as part of Dante’s Italian Film series at Cabrillo College.)
Found on Netflix:
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Welcome Mr. President (Benvenuto Presidente!), 2013, Dir. Riccardo Milani
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Happy as Lazzaro (Lazzaro felice), 2018, Dir. Alice Rohrwacher
Disclaimers:
1. The Dante Alighieri Society is not promoting any particular streaming services.
2. These films are not rated and may not be appropriate for children