Here are some websites for those interested in Italy and things Italian. Practise your Italian reading skills at any one of them!!

TELEPHONE LISTINGS

For telephone numbers nationally, there are two sites. www.paginegialle.it gives the classified listings we are familiar with from Yellow Pages. And its companion for full unclassified listings is www.paginebianche.it In the latter you will see that it is possible to enter a telephone number only and obtain the name and address of the subscriber — so much for Privacy!! Useful in some instances you might think, but it does mean that you have to be careful about publishing your own number. So if, for example, you are putting something in the Notes area of Grapevine and want to add a contact number without betraying your location, it may be better to use your mobile number, for which (as far as is known) there are no published directory listings.

ITALIAN NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS

Corriere.it

Lastampa.it

Repubblica.it

OTHER SITES FOR ITALY

Intoitaly.it

For a site giving all sorts of information about what is happening in the country, you could try www.ilsole24ore.com Contains all sorts of information. Worth a browse to see if it’s for you.

THEATRE, CINEMA, MUSIC, THE ARTS

The Umbria regional capital is home to Perugia Musica Classica. Each year, a season of concerts is organised, running mainly over the winter. The standard is extremely high, with international artists taking part. Last season, Vladimir Ashkenazy gave an unforgettable recital. Just two imminent concerts from this year’s programme: Christian Zacharias in recittal next Sunday, 25 January; Choir of New College Oxford on 21 February. See www.amicimusicapg.it for full details of the season’s programme, and for how to book seats, which unfortunately, even in this day and age, cannot be done online.

ROME

If your thinking of a trip to Rome, take a look at www.wantedinrome.com Although based around living and working in Rome, it also gives listings of what’s on in Rome and elsewhere in Italy, and details of cultural institutions in the capital. In the opinion of Grapevine, not particularly complete, but you may find what you want.

TRAINS

And if your taking the train, you’ll need to check the timetable and maybe even book a ticket. You can do this at www.trenitalia.it Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to provide up-to-date news of the network operationally. So if there is another of those strikes imminent around the day you want to travel you’ll have to use other means to find out about it.

MAPS

Road maps and town and city street maps for Italy can be found at www.tuttocitta.it Areas can be accessed by city and address, and there is also a route planner. You may find the viewing area a bit small, and zooming and navigating may be slow.

AND FINALLY …..

Bruno Bozzetto has made a couple of animated films about driving in Italy. They’ll ring a bell with those who have driven here, and you’ll have a chuckle or so. They can be accessed at www.flashplayer.com/animation/yesandno.html and www.flashplayer.com/animation/europeanditaly/html They aren’t long, but do take a minute or two to load