Italian Gift Ideas - Dagli Nostri Amici

There are holiday gift ideas everywhere we look during this time and more specifically - Italian gift ideas are no exception.  We thought we would gather these ideas for you to make gift-giving a bit easier and enjoyable for you!

1) If you or someone you know has a bit of an adventurous side, take a look at whaiwhai Tour Books, which New York Times is calling "a high-tech Italian touring game that is part 'Amazing Race' and part treasure hunt, with a bit of DaVinci Code-style storytelling mixed in."  Allowing you to learn more about the city's history, culture, and architecture, whaiwhai Tour Books currently feature one city in the U.S. (New York City) and five Italian cities including Milano, Verona, Venezia, Roma, and Firenze.

Learn more about whai whai Tour Books here.
Price: $16.95/book
Suggested by: Select Italy
Find more of Select Italy's gift ideas here.

2)  The Italian language seems to be increasingly in demand.  Italian Children's Book: I Grandi Libri Tocca e Senti con Topo Tip Big Books is a way to engage your child with the language.  Don't worry, we won't tell anyone if you choose to use this for yourself!  

Please click here for purchase information.
Price: $21
Suggested by: La Piazza di Carolina
Find more of La Piazza di Carolina's gift ideas here.




3) Fiasconaro Panettone - Who needs fruit cake when we have a wonderful panettone? Panettone (a type of sweet bread loaf originally from Milan) comes in so many varieties nowadays, it would truly be hard to not find one to like.  A small piece of advice: dunk it in your coffee!  Try Fiasconaro Panettone this year.


Please click here for purchase information.
Price: $24
Suggested by: All Things Italian Specialty Food Store
Find more gift ideas from All Things Italian here. 


4) Michelin Atlas Italy (Atlas Michelin)

Nowadays a GPS seems to be a must for travel anywhere in the world, but for the moments in which technology may fail in providing the smallest locations (as in Italy's tiniest streets), Michelin Atlas Map may really come in handy for the next trip to Italy.

Please click here for purchase information.
Price: $15
Suggested by: La Tavola Marche
Find more gift ideas from La Tavola Marche here.

I Proverbi da Ricordare - Some Proverbs to Remember

We have gathered some new - yet old - proverbs to live by because we know you love them!  Please keep in mind that the very loose English translations are included, but do not sound as culturally rich as the ones originally written in Italian.  We welcome your versions of translations but more importantly want to hear more of your own Italian proverbs, quotes, and sayings!  Feel free to share them on our Facebook group page dedicated to proverbs, tweet them to @modernitalian or email them at modernitalian@modernitalian.org so we can share them with the community!

Fai bene e scordati, fai male e guardati. (Do good and forget it, do bad and watch your back).

Un pranzo senza il vino e’ come una giornata senza il sole. (A meal without wine is like a day without the sun).

Impara l’arte e mettila da parte. (Learn your skill and keep it to the side).

Vizio di natura fin alla morte dura. (A habit stays ‘til the death).

Per fare una bella insalata, poco aceto e assai ogliata.  (To make a good salad, use little vinegar and much olive oil).

A Special Offer from a Door to Italy - Scuola di Italiano per Stranieri

    Our friends at A Door to Italy - Scuola di Italiano per Stranieri would like to meet members of the Modern Italian Network!  Located in Genoa, Italy this school offers Italian language and cuisine courses ranging from beginner to advanced levels.  Their students come from all over the world!  A Door to Italy has offered a 10% discount on the course package to Modern Italian members with an option of also making lodging arrangements as follows:

-   Language Course – 20 lessons of Italian Monday through Friday from 9:10AM until 1:00PM

-         Cuisine Course – 3 lessons plus 3 buffet dinners; lessons last about 3 hours each with an in-house teacher; at the end of the lesson, we will eat the meal prepared in class

-         Lodging – double room in Bed and Breakfast guest house in the city relatively close to the school (travel time on foot: approximately 10-15 minutes).  Services include:

o     Room equipped with a television

o      Self-serve Italian breakfast  

o      Sheets – changed weekly

o      Water, gas, heat, electricity, use of the washing machine once a week

o        Kitchen to use in the evening on your own and cook your own meals (food for meals not included in this package)

o        Housekeeping is done daily in the common areas; bedroom housekeeping is done once a week

For those who would like to make their own housing arrangements, the offer for the 10% discount on the courses will remain intact.

For more information on this offer and to register please send an e-mail to info@adoortoitaly.com; send a fax to: 0039 010 2542240; call by telephone: 0039 010 2465870 and mention Modern Italian to redeem your discount.

Please click here to visit the A Door to Italy website for further details.