Film: Profondo Rosso

"Profondo Rosso", (also known as Deep Red or The Hatchet Murders), is the 1975 horror classic directed by Dario Argento, which earned him the title of “heir” of Alfred Hitchcock in the genre.
Marc, a young pianist, witnesses a parapsychologist being killed, but he cannot see the face of the killer. While he investigates the homicide, with the help of an attractive female journalist, also the people he encounters are killed, one by one. The truth is unpredictable. The film is the stylistic and creative climax in Dario Argento’s work, and marks the passage from his initial “thriller” period to the more distinguished “horror” phase. The film does indeed present aspects of both genres, making it a fairly intensive cinematic experience. The cast is excellent and the plot, though sometimes overcomplicated, offers some of the spookiest creations in modern suspense cinema. Finally, a special mention need to be paid to the soundtrack by the Goblin, which is exceptionally terrifying.

Remembering the Liras

Before Euros, Liras was the official Italian currency.
On 1st January 2002, when the Euro became official, both currencies circulated and were accepted for a few months. Then, on 1st March 2002, the Liras were officially withdrawn. However, Lira coins and notes can still be exchanged at the Banca d’Italia branches until 29th February 2012.
The exchange rate is 1.936,27 Italian liras to 1 Euro.

Diabolic Artists

Since 1840, a single interpreter exhibition, occasionally accompanied by other instrumentalists, was named recital.
Although people seemed to preferred the Academies (musical evenings with a large number of performers), the exceptional virtuosity of musicians such as Paganini at the violin and Liszt on the piano gradually changed the audience’s preferences.
Virtuosity was not only the exhibition of exceptional technical skills, rather a way of performing influenced by the Romantic ideas.
The performer’s desire was to achieve the greatest knowledge of its instrument; the execution was seen as a challenge of one’s limits to let the instrument express its potentiality, to reach the core of the music.
Quite frequently, the audience indeed believed the best virtuosos to have also demonic powers, and many were the legends and bizarre anecdotes.
Before Paganini, a famous Italian violinist from the 18th century, Giuseppe Tartini (1692-1770), wrote a sonata titled "The Devil’s Trill”, which was said to be inspired by the devil appeared in person to the composer.

Radio 2 and the mystery story writer Luca Crovi

On Saturdays and Sundays, from 1 pm to 1.30 pm, the second channel of Radio RAI speaks mystery. Luca Crovi presents mystery story authors and books, with its passion and expertise.

Among the many authors already interviewed are: Ben Pastor, Andrea Camilleri, Richard Mateson, Veit Heinichen, Eraldo Baldini, Bianca Pitzorno and Valerio Varesi.

If you would like to listen to some episodes in streaming or podcast, just click here.

Pizza...untouchable!

There are things one can not give up, even in economically tough times! For Italians, one of these untouchable pleasures is dining out with friends. According to recent statistical information about Italians’ eating habits, the numbers of people eating out have decreased but not as drastically as expected.
Dining at a restaurant is still a common practice for Italians, who perceive it as something more than just eating: it means spending time with friends, it means celebrations and sharing a relaxing time...The preference goes the more economical pizzas rather than the more expensive seafood dinners; yet, the habit of enjoying a good dinner with friends is still in vogue!

Let’s venture with words!

Read the following text and fill the blanks with the words or the expressions listed below:
come un lupo - sordo - Faceva paura - tromba - felino - si slanciò - fiamme - stramazzò - con forza - In quell'istante - il pirata - pugnale


Sandokan mandò un _____________ruggito. Con un salto _____________ si impadronì di una pesante sedia e _____________ sulla tavola che stava in mezzo alla sala. _____________; i suoi lineamenti erano ferocemente contratti per il furore, i suoi occhi parevano mandare _____________ e un sorriso atroce gli errava sulle labbra. _____________si udì al di fuori uno squillo di _____________ e nel corridoio una voce, quella di Marianna, gridare disperatamente: " Fuggi, Sandokan!". _____________ sollevò la sedia e la scagliò _____________ irresistibile contro il lord, il quale colpito in pieno petto, _____________ pesantemente al suolo.

Pronto _____________, Sandokan gli fu sopra con il _____________ alzato.
E. Salgari, Le tigri di Mompracem

As usual, if you find it too difficult you can contact us anytime!

The "new" Natural History Museum in Venice

After the nearly 10 years long restoration process, the Museum of Natural History in Venice has recently reopened with a new and intriguing exposition along the eleven halls of the Fondaco dei Turchi.
The Museum of National History collections include about two million pieces, which cover a historic period of 700 million years. The collections have been divided in three parts:
1. The trail of life, or paleontology: the giant dinosaur and the Sahara expedition by Giancarlo Ligabue open the exhibition, which presents in chronology the appearance of the different forms of life on Earth.
2. Collect to amaze, or the evolution of the naturalistic collecting. One of the several new things in the museum is the space dedicated to Venetian explorers and collectors from the 19th century, Giovanni Miani and Giuseppe De Reali, and from today, Giancarlo Ligabue. An area is also dedicated to the birth and development of naturalistic museums.
3. The strategies of life, or forms and functions in living beings.