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Italian historian makes major Mona Lisa breakthrough

<p dir="ltr">A small town in Tuscany is revelling in excitement after it was claimed that a bridge in the backdrop of the Mona Lisa belongs to the town. </p> <p dir="ltr">Italian historian Silvano Vinceti determined that the bridge in the background of the most famous portrait in the world is in fact the Romito di Laterina bridge in the province of Arezzo: about 80km southeast of Florence. </p> <p dir="ltr">Leonardo da Vinci painted the masterpiece in Florence in the early 16th century, and ever since, it has been subject to disputes over the inspiration for the portrait. </p> <p dir="ltr">The identity of the woman in the painting - who is widely believed to be Lisa del Giocondo – has triggered as much speculation as the distant backdrop.</p> <p dir="ltr">Past theories have identified the bridge as Ponte Buriano, close to Laterina, as well as Ponte Bobbio in the northern Italian city of Piacenza.</p> <p dir="ltr">Using historical documents and drone images, and by making comparisons between the painting and photographs of the area, Vinceti said he is confident it was “the Etruscan-Roman bridge, Romito”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Vinceti told reporters in Rome that the most telling detail of the bridge’s identity is the number of arches. </p> <p dir="ltr">The bridge in Leonardo’s painting had four arches, as did the Romito. Ponte Buriano, on the other hand, has six arches, while Ponte Bobbio has more than six.</p> <p dir="ltr">Another telltale sign, according to Vinceti, is the fact that the bridge was once a “very busy, functioning bridge”, that provided a shortcut between Florence and Arezzo.</p> <p dir="ltr">Simona Neri, the mayor of Laterina, said Vinceti’s theory had caused a lot of excitement in the town of just over 3,500 people. </p> <p dir="ltr">She said, “We need to try to protect what’s left of the bridge.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Art

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An Italian lodge jumps the Swiss border

<p dir="ltr">The borders in the European Alps have been the source of some strange happenings recently, including a border-jumping ski lodge.</p> <p dir="ltr">Refugio Cervino, a two-storey lodge built on the Italian side of Theodul Glacier, has been slowly moving towards Switzerland - and its international movement has called its ownership and national boundaries into dispute.</p> <p dir="ltr">The border between Italy and Switzerland has previously been defined at the boundary of the Theodul drainage divide, the point where melted water either flows south to Italy or north towards Switzerland.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, rising temperatures have changed the flow of water.</p> <p dir="ltr">As a result, two-thirds of the Refugio sits in Switzerland while the remaining third is in Italy, and has become a subject of diplomatic negotiations.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to Agence France Presse, a compromise to redraw the boundaries was reached last year - but that doesn’t stop the ever-increasing glacier melt.</p> <p dir="ltr">Swisstopo, which stays on top of the official boundaries of the Confédération Helvétique, will be changing the boundaries in 2023.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We agreed to split the difference," chief border official Alain Wicht told AFP.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though international surveyors have previously been brought in to determine where the boundary should sit previously, Mr Wicht says the Refugio is a sensitive issue as the Theodul Glacier is “the only place where we suddenly had a building involved”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Swiss have taken a more neutral stance in the debate, but the Italians are unwilling to part with the building without compensation, </p> <p dir="ltr">"The refuge remains Italian because we have always been Italian," Refugio’s caretaker, 51-year-old Lucio Trucco, says.</p> <p dir="ltr">For now, the refuge will be an enclave of Italy within Switzerland until the borders are changed.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-3d7b9463-7fff-3769-cf91-d68e9a97682f"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

International Travel

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Why Richard Gere is set to testify in Italian kidnapping trial

<p dir="ltr">Actor Richard Gere has been named as a witness in a high-profile Italian kidnapping trial involving former government minister Matteo Salvini. Salvini, the populist leader of the right-wing League Party, is facing kidnapping charges for refusing to let a migrant ship dock in the country. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in jail and being barred from running for office.</p> <p dir="ltr">Gere was in Italy in August 2019, when Salvini refused for days to let a boat carrying about 150 migrants rescued at sea to dock in Italy. The vessel was operated by the NGO Proactiva Open Arms, and Gere visited the boat in an effort to draw international attention to the situation. Activists described the conditions on board and the Italian government’s failure to act as a humanitarian crisis at the time.</p> <p dir="ltr">Salvini has said that the inclusion of Gere in the list of witnesses proves the case against him should not be taken seriously. "Now you tell me how serious is a trial where Richard Gere comes from Hollywood to testify on how bad I am," Mr Salvini said. Other witnesses include former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, as well as other senior Italian political figures.</p> <p dir="ltr">Proactiva Open Arms told the court that Gere could give a direct account of the conditions on board the vessel, which was stranded off the Italian island of Lampedusa for 19 days before prosecutors ordered its evacuation. At present, it is not clear whether Gere will appear in person or via video.</p> <p dir="ltr">Salvini, a populist known for his anti-immigrant campaigns, argues that he was simply doing his duty as minister by refusing to allow the migrants to disembark. He said, "Defending a country's borders, security, honour and dignity is not just a minister's duty but everyone's duty.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Being put on trial for just doing my duty is surreal. A Spanish boat refusing to go to Spain commits an abuse. If Spain gives its flag to boats it does not manage to control, then there is a problem".</p> <p dir="ltr">The next hearing is scheduled for December 17.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Michael Loccisano/WireImage/Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

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An Italian museum’s innovative way of tracking viewer interactions

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Art researchers in Italy have discovered a new way to help more accurately curate popular museum exhibitions. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Working with the Italian national agency for new technologies, the Istituzione Bologna Musei in Bologna has installed 14 small cameras that use artificial intelligence (AI) to study the reactions of viewers. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The cameras pick up facial expressions, posture and positioning of those who pass through the gallery on a daily basis. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The data collected by these cameras is then used to draw broader conclusions about future exhibits and specific artworks. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Researcher Riccardo Scipinotti came up with the initiative, referred to as ShareArt, to record how long visitors look at art, the paths they take through galleries, where their eyes are drawn to on particular canvases.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All of these factors make up each piece of art’s “attraction value”, as well as analysing which exhibits are the most popular. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The ShareArt technology has the potential to revolutionise the museum and art world, as the data shared from the AI could determine placement of certain works in a gallery, how works are lit or hung, or how works are displayed in relation to one another.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The team of researchers began to roll out ShareArt in early July as COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in Italy, and has already started to yield interesting results. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The technology is also fitted to detect if museum-goers are flouting making-wearing rules.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The AI device is programmed to flash red if a visitor is wearing their mask incorrectly, or not wearing one at all. </span></p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p>

Art

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Bargain Italian homes sell for under $2

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Houses in Italy are selling for as little as one euro, thanks to a new initiative started by several Italian municipalities.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 1 Euro House Project hopes to revitalise particular areas of the country and stem the rate of residents moving away.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sambuca di Sicilia, a municipality in the region of Sicily, has seen incredible success from the initiative, with approximately 16 dwellings being purchased since the scheme was announced in 2019.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CODg8wLNIqu/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CODg8wLNIqu/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Bell’Italia (@bellitalia_magazine)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since then, Sambuca has attracted reporters and foreign buyers looking for a bargain home.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though the reasons behind Sambuca’s huge popularity in comparison to other unpopulated towns involved in the scheme are unknown, the area has hopes to replicate its initial success.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A second batch of abandoned homes have been put on the market for a symbolic two euros (NZD $3.38).</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CKG2wZbslyR/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CKG2wZbslyR/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Sambuca di Sicilia (@sambucadisicilia)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since the 2019 scheme, local authorities have continued to receive requests from foreigners interested in buying a bargain property. In response to the continued interest, they have decided to sell about 20 abandoned buildings, many of which are adjacent houses, giving buyers an opportunity to buy more than one and knock them through.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The chosen properties are all within the old “Saracen” neighbourhood, which were abandoned after a catastrophic earthquake devastated the area in 1968.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQbEoqpsUP8/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQbEoqpsUP8/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Sambuca di Sicilia (@sambucadisicilia)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The homes will be going to auction at a starting price of two euros and will be sold to the highest bidder.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Most of the homes are in need of repairs, while others are still filled with forgotten items and broken furniture.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Any who are interested in partaking can complete and submit an application - available from the </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.comune.sambucadisicilia.ag.it/Case%20a%202%20Euro/Index.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">town’s website</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> - until November 5, with the public auction likely to take place several weeks later.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2019, the homes sold for prices ranging from one euro to </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">€</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">25,000 (approximately $40,000 NZD).</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, most went for somewhere between </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">€5000 and €10,000 (NZD $8000 to $16,000).</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: irusya_busya / Instagram</span></em></p>

International Travel

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Lost Italian village emerges after decades under water

<p>A "lost" village has emerged from an Italian lake after 71 years under water.</p> <p>Curon is a village in north Italy that was purposefully drowned in 1950 to become a reservoir for a hydro-electric plant.</p> <p>The reservoir is known as Lake Resia and usually the only sign of the 163 lost homes beneath it is a 14th-Century church tower that protrudes above the surface.</p> <p>Temporary draining at the lake has revealed the former alpine village, which was flooded despite protests from residents.</p> <p>It was flooded when a dam was built to merge two natural lakes and create the local hydro-electric plant.</p> <p>Lake Resia quickly became a tourist attraction due to the scary abandoned church tower sticking up in the middle.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CO9-7DYpRYx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CO9-7DYpRYx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Luisa A. 🇮🇹 (@luisa2506)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Around 1000 people were displaced when the village was purposefully flooded in 1950.</p> <p>Around 400 of those created a new village close by while the rest are said to have moved away.</p> <p>The past has been brought to life once again as repairs at the site have revealed quite eerie remains.</p> <p>Tourists and locals have been able to walk over the site and that’s resulted in some cool photography.</p> <p>Some great examples can be seen on Instagram account luisa2506 which shows some spooky buildings and rubble.</p> <p>The Instagram belongs to a local called Luisa Azzolini who has also been tweeting the amazing images.</p>

International Travel

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Find your Italian dream home for just $1.50

<p><span>If you’ve ever dreamt of living in Italy, this special option might just be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.</span><br /><br /><span>The depopulated town of Laurenzana, located in Southern Italy's Basilicata region, has set itself apart from the number of home schemes up for grabs in the country.</span><br /><br /><span>Last month, potential buyers were given the option to buy a dilapidated home without having to put down a deposit guarantee that would ensure they finished renovations on their property.</span><br /><br /><span>The mayor of the town Michele Ungaro, said they were making the process a heck of a lot easier.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840249/italian-home-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/19a75d6fe76047c492624c11d812f2c0" /><br /><br /><span>"We want to help newcomers purchase the house of their dreams without making it hard for them to follow tedious procedures and tight requirements," Ungaro explained.</span><br /><br /><span>"At times it can be difficult to navigate through regulation, particularly if you're a foreigner. We want this adventure to be a pleasure, not a burden.”</span><br /><br /><span>She continued: "That's why we are not asking for any deposit guarantee to ensure the works are speedily carried out. It sounds as a sort of threat.</span><br /><br /><span>"We rely on the good faith and commitment of buyers, but we will be constantly monitoring the work-in-progress and status of the renovation."</span><br /><br /><span>To entice buyers, authorities have also kept paperwork costs to a minimum, and has assured them that they will benefit from southern Italy's relatively low local taxes.</span><br /><br /><span>However, as with most one euro ($1.50) home schemes, buyers must agree to complete the renovations on their property within a certain time frame.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840248/italian-home-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/72764117d3f04324bb734455c3434ca6" /><br /><br /><span>In Laurenzana, work needs to start no longer than three months after purchase and has to be completed within three years.</span><br /><br /><span>Buyers are also required to give in a detailed restyle plan before their offer is considered.</span><br /><br /><span>"If we are flooded with emails of people just saying 'I want to buy a house for one euro' without any further details, we'll get nowhere," Ungaro said.</span><br /><br /><span>"Targets are paramount. It would be of great help in speeding up the process if interested buyers get in touch straight away with a draft plan of what they intend to do with their new property and how much money they plan to invest in the restyle."</span><br /><br /><span>The abandoned houses for sale in Laurenzana come in different shapes and sizes, so Ungaro has encouraged those interested in buying to make clear what size home they are interested in, or what purpose they will use their property for – whether that be a private summer home, B&amp;B or shop.</span><br /><br /><span>The homes available range from 40 to 150 square metres.</span></p>

Real Estate

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The crazy pizza toppings that are actually delicious

<p>Sure, you've been eating your pizza with extra cheese, pepperoni, and mushrooms for years, but that's child's play compared to the craziest new pizza toppings out there.</p> <p>Try not to cringe when there is pineapple on a pizza. There’s a ton of other wild stuff happening out there more concerning.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Corn</strong></p> <p>Does corn pizza seem totally crazy to you?</p> <p>You’re probably more used to veggie pizza toppings like sun dried tomatoes or olives, but some fresh roasted sweet corn is actually delicious on a classic pizza thanks to its delicately sweet flavour.</p> <p>If you want add a little zest to your corn, try adding some chilli flakes to give your pizza a sweet heat.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Crab meat</strong></p> <p>Remember that old adage that seafood and cheese never go together by Italian culinary tradition?</p> <p>Apparently, American pizza experts are throwing that to the wind, because trend-setting pizza chains in New York are topping their famous pizzas with real lump crab meat and people are loving it.</p> <p>Crab meat is loaded with zinc, so you can tell yourself a slice isn’t the worst decision you could make today.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Sriracha</strong></p> <p>People are going crazy for Sriracha sauce-topped pies thanks to the gentle heat of this popular pepper-infused topping and low calorie content.</p> <p>Asian and Italian flavours may not seem like a natural fit, but one bite of a fresh pizza drizzled in spicy Sriracha sauce will make you question what other weirdly wonderful flavour combos you’ve been missing out on.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Kale</strong></p> <p>If you’re not the type to order a salad on your pizza, think again—kale is delicious when cooked.</p> <p>It’s one of the best pizza toppings for veggie lovers thanks to high vitamin C and fibre content.</p> <p>Kale-topped pizzas are currently trending in veggie-friendly areas like Los Angeles, where a popular local joint, Pitfire Pizza, tops their pizzas with black kale, field mushrooms, cheddar, chilies, and garlic. Yum!</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Hummus</strong></p> <p>Hummus sounds like a seriously crazy pizza topping, doesn’t it? It should, but the truth is it’s gaining steam in the health-conscious food blogger seen, and even US brands like Sabra have created limited-time pizza-flavoured hummus lines because surprisingly, the flavours pair really well together.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Cashew cheese</strong></p> <p>It turns out cashew cheese is the vegan cheese of choice for foodies these days, and some pizza shops are going to great lengths to satisfy their vegan and dairy-free customers’ pizza cravings.</p> <p>Matthew Kenney, a vegan chef and expert who teaches workshops on going vegan at Turnberry Isle Miami, has been leading the cashew cheese pizza movement in New York and Florida.</p> <p>Try not to cringe when there is pineapple on a pizza. There’s a ton of other wild stuff happening out there more concerning.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Nectarines</strong></p> <p>Nectarines, peaches, and other stone fruit have a tangy-sweet flavour that is similar in some ways to the flavour profile of BBQ sauce.</p> <p>If you’re the type who likes a good BBQ-themed pizza, you need to try one topped with nectarine slices and an especially sharp or bold cheese.</p> <p>Milo &amp; Olive, a popular pizzeria in the US state of California, has been serving up a salty-meets-sweet nectarine and bacon pizza that’s topped with Fontina, thyme, balsamic glaze, and deliciously ripe stone fruit.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Spicy mac and cheese</strong></p> <p>Mac and cheese is already great, and adding spice is always the next level of excitement, but if you haven’t tried adding fresh jalapeños and gooey mac and cheese to your pizza, have you even really lived?</p> <p>Vinnie’s, a popular local pizza spot in Brooklyn, has lines out the door for their magical, new-age comfort food slices.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Eggs</strong></p> <p>Cooked, runny, semi-solid—you name it. Eggs are one of the best weird pizza toppings to be found in both the United States and Italy, the birthplace of pizza.</p> <p>Eggs are healthy, too, so adding a few to your pizza gives you an excuse to have a slice for a responsible brunch.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Entire Mexican dishes</strong></p> <p>Why add just a little Mexican seasoning to your pizza when you can throw an entire plate of chilaquiles right on top of your favourite simple pizza.</p> <p>This recipe was the brainchild of Chef Martin Gonzalez in San Diego, California, and includes crunchy tortilla chips, warm green tomatillo sauce, red onion, and queso añejo (a Mexican cheese that is very similar to Parmesan) and crema fresca.</p> <p>There’s no reason this can’t be recreated at home, and you’ll be a hero for combining the world’s most addictive flavours.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Avocado</strong></p> <p>Your favourite, trendiest salad addition is also great on pizza. Avocado’s creamy texture is actually similar to that of some soft cheeses, and the mildly nutty flavour pairs well with everything from tomatoes to garlic.</p> <p>Avocado is one of the best pizza toppings you never expected because it can easily be combined with all the other weird toppings too, like corn, crab, and even Sriracha.</p> <p>Plus, avocados are a brain food, so you can feel good about loading your plate up.</p> <p class="p1"> </p> <p class="p2"><em>Written by Bryce Grubern. This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/recipes/11-crazy-pizza-toppings-are-actually-delicious"><span class="s1">Reader’s Digest</span></a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.co.nz/subscribe"><span class="s1">here’s our best subscription offer</span></a>.</em></p> <p class="p2"> </p>

Food & Wine

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Free impromptu concerts break out from Italian rooftops and balconies

<p>From Australia to Europe, the deadly coronavirus outbreak is forcing a number of people around the world to go into self-isolation, leading to not only widespread anxiety, but a little bit of positivity too.</p> <p>In Italy, opera singer Maurizio Marchini took to his balcony to serenade the town with his soulful voice, filling Florence’s empty streets with life once again after he gave a beautiful rendition of Giacomo Puccini’s famous aria “Nessun Dorma”.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">During Italy's quarantine, Italian tenor Maurizio Marchini wanted to do something to spread joy amid all the sadness in Florence.<br /><br />So climbed on to his balcony and serenaded the entire town.<br /><br />Wow.<a href="https://t.co/yVgADAU9bt">pic.twitter.com/yVgADAU9bt</a></p> — Muhammad Lila (@MuhammadLila) <a href="https://twitter.com/MuhammadLila/status/1238671011698151427?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>Footage of the heartwarming act has been viewed over four million times since it was shared on Twitter on Facebook.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">From my balcony in Turin, Italy. Free concert performed by fellow balcony dwellers. Watch with the sound on to also hear the thunderous applause from all the neighbors. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/coronavirus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#coronavirus</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Covid_19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Covid_19</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lockdown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lockdown</a> <a href="https://t.co/Fc2mCCVuRH">pic.twitter.com/Fc2mCCVuRH</a></p> — D. Schmudde (@dschmudde) <a href="https://twitter.com/dschmudde/status/1238598881719582720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>And he wasn’t the only one filling the streets with cheer, as residents in Turin took to their balconies to play instruments and sing. With one resident describing the moment as a “free concert” and shared a video of it on Twitter.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Scenes like this from Italy fill me with so much joy and hopefulness. Here is a DJ in Palermo playing a set for the whole neighborhood...music does unite! 🎶 <br /><br />Remember to spread love❤️ during these trying times. Stay safe, and very importantly, positive everyone! <a href="https://t.co/Nz5PCLPBPt">pic.twitter.com/Nz5PCLPBPt</a></p> — Andrew Arruda (@AndrewArruda) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewArruda/status/1238869074173505539?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>There was also an upbeat performance by a DJ from the city of Palermo, who set up his equipment in his balcony to keep the positive energy flowing. Cheers and whistles could be heard as the unidentified man bellowed into a microphone and waved his hands in the air.</p> <p>On Monday, multiple Italians came together to form a flash mob, as they shined lights out of their windows and balconies while other residents cheered around them.</p>

International Travel

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“You have no idea what’s coming”: Italian warns of six ‘stages’ of a global pandemic

<p>An Italian social media user has warned citizens of other countries about the impacts of the global coronavirus pandemic as the country remains under lockdown.</p> <p>The user took to Reddit to share <a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz/status/1238977743653687296" target="_blank">what it’s like living in the country</a>, where the COVID-19 pandemic has killed more than 1,800 people.</p> <p>“To the rest of the world, you have no idea what’s coming,” the person wrote.</p> <p>“This situation is bad, but what’s worse is seeing the rest of the world behaving as if it isn’t going to happen to them. We know what you’re thinking because we were in your place too.”</p> <p>The person went on to outline the six stages they experienced, which are different from the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.who.int/influenza/resources/documents/pandemic_phase_descriptions_and_actions.pdf" target="_blank">pandemic influenza phases as defined by the World Health Organisation</a>.</p> <p>The user said ‘Stage 1’ began when the first cases were reported in the country. “I’m not 75+yo so what could possibly happen to me?” the Italian wrote.</p> <p>“I’m going to live my life as usual, there’s no need to freak out.”</p> <p>The number of cases started increasing in ‘Stage 2’, when the government would declare “red zone” and quarantine small cities. “Well that’s sad and somewhat worrisome but they’re taking care of it so nothing to panic about.”</p> <p>‘Stage 3’ would see the number of reported cases doubling up in a day, along with rising death toll. In Italy’s case, a quarter of the country was under quarantine while the rest carried on as usual.</p> <p>National health emergency could be observed in ‘Stage 4’, with the health system struggling to keep up with the increasing cases.</p> <p>“Hospitals are at capacity, entire units are cleared to make space for coronavirus patients,” the post read.</p> <p>“There aren’t enough doctors and nurses … There’s no shifts any more, just work as much as you can.</p> <p>“Of course doctors and nurses are getting infected, spreading it to their families.”</p> <p>Because there were not enough places for every patient in health facilities, medical professionals would have to distribute resources as best as they could.</p> <p>“At this point is like being at war: doctors have to choose who to treat based on their survival chance,” the person wrote.</p> <p>“That means that the elderly and trauma/stroke patients can’t get treated because corona cases have priority.”</p> <p>In ‘Stage 5’, the entire country would be declared under quarantine. People could go to work and shop, but would not be allowed to move from their commune except for special reasons.</p> <p>“Now there’s fear, you see a lot of people with masks and gloves around but there are still are people who think that they’re invincible, who go to restaurants in large groups, hang out with friends to drink and so on.”</p> <p>The person said in Italy’s ‘Stage 6’, most businesses except supermarkets and pharmacies are closed. People were only allowed to move around if they had certification, and those found outside with no valid reason could risk fines.</p> <p>“That’s what the situation is like now today as of the March 12th. Keep in mind that it all happened in around 2 weeks... 5 DAYS FROM STAGE 3 TO TODAY.”</p> <p>The person warned that countries outside of Italy, China and Korea should be wary of the “consequences” that the virus brings.</p> <p>“You have no idea what’s coming to get you. I know because 2 weeks ago I was the one who had no idea and though it wasn’t bad,” the user wrote.</p> <p>“It’s hard to see all these countries act like it’s not coming and not taking the precautions that are necessary for the well-being of its citizens while they still can.”</p> <p>As of Sunday, there were 153,517 confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally, with 249 being in Australia and 6 in New Zealand.</p>

News

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Italian town hopes to attract new residents by offering free rent

<p>A town in southern Italy has joined the ranks of communities attempting to boost their dwindling populations with novel approaches.</p> <p>After <span><a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/international-travel/the-charming-italian-town-that-offers-free-houses">Cammarata</a></span>, <span><a href="https://www.insider.com/2-towns-in-italy-are-selling-homes-for-just-1-2019-4">Zungoli and Mussomeli</a></span> gave away homes for one euro or less, the small town of Teora in the Campania region is aiming to lure families to move in by offering to pay their rent.</p> <p>The town said it will pay newcomers €150 per month towards the cost of renting a house for two years, or a €5,000 lump sum to buy one. It is also offering to waive local taxes and school meal fees.</p> <p>However, buyers have to commit to live in the town for at least three years. They also need to have at least one child during the time of application.</p> <p>“I don’t believe in selling empty houses for €1, that doesn’t incentivise people to stay in town,” Teora’s mayor Stefano Farina told <span><a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/italy-teora-rent/index.html"><em>CNN</em></a></span>.</p> <p>“They just come a few months a year as holidaymakers. That’s not the solution. But taking up residency and enrolling kids at the local school, that does breathe new life.”</p> <p>Farina said Teora’s population declined significantly after an earthquake in 1980 led many young people to flee the commune.</p> <p>The 1980 Irpinia earthquake destroyed Teora along with other towns, including Lioni and Conza di Campania.</p> <p>“Two babies are born [in Teora] each year versus 20 elders who die,” he said. “We’re down to barely 1,500 residents.</p> <p>“I want to invert this negative trend … New families will be the building blocks of our shrinking community, so we encourage those with more kids to apply.”</p> <p>According to <em>CNN</em>, there are nearly 100 empty buildings available.</p> <p><span>Those interested in the offer can visit the town’s <a href="http://www.comune.teora.av.it/hh/index.php">website</a> and <a href="mailto:staff@comune.teora.av.it">email the local government</a> for more information.</span></p>

International Travel

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The charming Italian town that offers free houses

<p><span>A town in the Italian island of Sicily is giving away free homes in a bid to attract new residents.</span></p> <p><span>The town of Cammarata – located about 60km southeast of Palermo – is offering homes around the town for naught in a new scheme to fight depopulation and urban decay.</span></p> <p><span>“I can’t stand to see this gorgeous, old historical center empty and turn into a ruin. It hurts me,” mayor Vincenzo Giambrone told <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/italy-cammarata-free-houses/index.html"><em>CNN Travel</em></a>.</span></p> <p><span>According to Giambrone, twelve stone buildings are available now, with “more to come shortly”.</span></p> <p><span>The scheme comes with a few conditions – interested parties must commit to renovating their new house within three years and pay the town a deposit of €5,000 (about NZ$8,648), which will be returned once the building works are done. They will also be required to present a refurbishment proposal for the property.</span></p> <p><span>While all foreigners and Italians will be considered, the town will prioritise young couples with children as buyers and grant a €1,000 bonus for couples who settle and go on to have a baby there.</span></p> <p><span>New owners are allowed to transform the multi-story buildings into a private house, hotel, guest accommodation, shop or restaurant.</span></p> <p><span>Town councillors said the locals were “deterred” from living in Cammarata due to the town’s mountainous location and “tiny, winding roads, which were nigh on impossible to get a car around”, <a href="https://www.insider.com/italy-cheap-homes-sicilian-town-of-cammarata-offers-free-houses-2019-11"><em>Insider</em></a> reported.</span></p> <p><span>Giambrone said he hoped the move will help the town go back to “being a lively, vibrant place”.</span></p>

International Travel

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Hearty cheat's lasagna

<p>It’s quick and easy to make and it’s packed with flavour. Try it out for yourself! You won’t regret it.</p> <p><strong>Serves:</strong> 6</p> <p><strong>Prep:</strong> 20 mins</p> <p><strong>Cooking time:</strong> 50 mins</p> <p><strong>Ingredients</strong></p> <ul> <li>1 tbs olive oil</li> <li>2 red onions, peeled, finely chopped</li> <li>2 garlic cloves, crushed</li> <li>500g beef mince</li> <li>3 x 400g cans diced tomatoes</li> <li>1 tsp white sugar</li> <li>1⁄2 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped</li> <li>625g packet fresh ricotta and spinach tortellini</li> <li>250g piece mozzarella, thickly sliced</li> <li>fresh basil leaves, to serve Béchamel sauce</li> <li>40g butter, chopped</li> <li>1⁄4 cup plain flour</li> <li>3 cups full cream milk</li> <li>Pinch ground nutmeg</li> </ul> <p><strong>Method</strong></p> <ol> <li>Preheat oven 220°C fan forced. Lightly grease a large, deep ovenproof dish.</li> <li>Heat oil in a medium, deep frying pan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally for 6 minutes, or until onion is soft. Increase heat to high, add mince. Cook, stirring to break up mince, for 4 minutes, or until browned.</li> <li>Add tomatoes and sugar. Bring to boil. Gently boil, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes, or until sauce thickens slightly. Stir in basil. Season.</li> <li>Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large saucepan of boiling, salted water for 3 minutes. Drain.</li> <li>For béchamel sauce, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until foaming. Add flour. Cook, stirring for 2 minutes, or until bubbling. Remove from heat. Slowly add milk, whisking constantly, until smooth. Return to the heat. Cook, whisking until sauce comes to the boil. Remove from heat. Stir in nutmeg, season.</li> <li>To assemble, spoon half the pasta into the prepared dish. Spoon over half the beef mixture. Spoon over half the béchamel sauce. Repeat with remaining pasta, beef mixture and béchamel sauce. Top with mozzarella.</li> <li>Place onto a tray and bake for 25 minutes, or until cheese is golden. Sprinkle with extra basil leaves and pepper. Serve.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Serving suggestion:</strong> Delicious served with rocket and baby spinach tossed with balsamic dressing.</p> <p><strong>Tip:</strong> Tortellini can be replaced with other types of filled pasta i.e. agnolotti or ravioli.</p> <p><strong>Tip:</strong> Try adding 2 teaspoons dried chilli flakes with onion and garlic for a spicy kick.</p> <p><strong>Make ahead tip:</strong> You can make the lasagna to the end step 5 the night before. Cover and place in the fridge. It will take about 40 minutes to cook from fridge temperature.</p> <p><em>Photo and recipe courtesy of </em><a href="https://www.australianonions.com.au/#Weo4XWk0tYlugxcw.97"><em>Australian Onions</em></a><em>.</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Jamie Oliver's restaurant chain collapses leaving 1,000 people jobless

<p>Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has been “deeply saddened” after his British restaurant chain collapsed into administration, leaving more than 1,000 people out of work.</p> <p>The Jamie’s Italian Limited firm – which includes 23 Jamie’s Italian restaurants and 15 Barbecoa outlets – confirmed that it had gone into administration and appointed financial firm KPMG to oversee the process.</p> <p>“I am deeply saddened by this outcome and would like to thank all of the staff and our suppliers who have put their hearts and souls into this business for over a decade,” the 43-year-old said in a statement.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">I’m devastated that our much-loved UK restaurants have gone into administration. I am deeply saddened by this outcome and would like to thank all of the people who have put their hearts and souls into this business over the years. Jamie Oliver</p> — Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver) <a href="https://twitter.com/jamieoliver/status/1130796738292408320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>“I appreciate how difficult this is for everyone affected.</p> <p>“I would also like to thank all the customers who have enjoyed and supported us over the last decade, it’s been a real pleasure serving you.”</p> <p>Oliver opened his first Jamie’s Italian in 2008, and expanded the business across the UK in the following years.</p> <p>“We launched Jamie’s Italian in 2008 with the intention of positively disrupting mid-market dining in the UK high street, with great value and much higher quality ingredients, best in class animal welfare standards and an amazing team who shared my passion for great food and service. And we did exactly that.”</p> <p>His restaurant chain had been in trouble for <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-22/jamie-oliver-restaurant-chain-collapses-uk/11136594">at least two years</a>, despite the celebrity chef’s fame with his cookbooks, TV shows and public health initiatives. Last year, it closed 12 of its 37 branches in Britain, while five of its Australian arms were sold off and another put into administration.</p> <p>Oliver said he had spent <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2018/aug/30/jamie-oliver-spent-13m-to-save-italian-chain-hours-before-bankruptcy">£13 million of his own money</a> to save the business from bankruptcy. </p> <p>“We had simply run out of cash,” he said in an interview with the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.ft.com/jamieoliver" target="_blank"><em>Financial Times</em></a> in October.</p> <p>“I think that the senior management we had in place were trying to manage what they would call the perfect storm: rents, rates, the high street declining, food costs, Brexit, increase in the minimum wage. There was a lot going on.”</p>

Money & Banking

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“Shameless”: Roger Federer fans left speechless over controversy

<p>Fans in Rome were ecstatic when tennis legend Roger Federer announced that he was returning to the clay courts in the Italian Open after a three-year hiatus.</p> <p>Federer took to his Instagram account to let fans know that he would be playing in Italy. The video says:</p> <p>“Just finished speaking to the team and happy to say I’m coming back to Rome to play in Italy,” he said.</p> <p>“Can’t wait. It’s so exciting. It’s been too long. I’ll see you there. Ciao tutti. Bye bye.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxUkTOugJDl/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxUkTOugJDl/" target="_blank">😃🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🎾</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/rogerfederer/" target="_blank"> Roger Federer</a> (@rogerfederer) on May 11, 2019 at 4:56am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>However, that joy quickly turned to anger once fans realised that tournament organisers had doubled the ticket prices after the announcement.</p> <p>The tickets have been bumped from €60 to €132 ($96 to $212). The Italian Tennis Federation tried to justify the price bump by saying:</p> <p>“We want to reward fans who had bought tickets before they knew Federer would play.”</p> <p>But many fans weren’t happy with that explanation.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Federer plays the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IBI19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IBI19</a> in Rome. The President of the Italian Federations: "We have doubled the price of tickets for Wednesday, the day Federer will play. We want to reward fans who had bought tickets before they knew Federer would play"<br />That's one way of looking at it</p> — Vanni Gibertini (@vgibertini) <a href="https://twitter.com/vgibertini/status/1127616616244625408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">12 May 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">The most ridiculous reason for a price increase I have evr heard. I mean, if Federer wasn't coming, wouldn't they still prefer to sell the tickets?😂</p> — Timi Tennis (@tennisrambling1) <a href="https://twitter.com/tennisrambling1/status/1127619791378890752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">12 May 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Boo hiss to this tournament for the shameless grifting. It really is adding insult to injury to then try to spin it by saying the motivation was to reward those who'd already bought their tickets. Yuck.</p> — 2centsannandale (@2centsannandale) <a href="https://twitter.com/2centsannandale/status/1127637286332530688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">12 May 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Federer himself isn’t a fan of the decision either. He recently explained in Rome that it was “disappointing to hear”.</p> <p>“That’s obviously disappointing to hear,” said Federer to <a rel="noopener" href="https://scroll.in/field/923554/disappointing-federer-criticises-italian-open-organisers-for-increasing-ticket-price-of-his-match" target="_blank"><em>Scroll</em></a>.   </p> <p>“They made it in a way like they rewarded the fans who bought tickets earlier, which is sort of strange,” he added, saying there wasn’t anything he could do about it.</p> <p>“Look, I just really hope it doesn’t take away the fact I’m really happy to be here. There’s going to be good crowds hopefully, good atmosphere. I’m pumped up to play well. I mean, my excitement couldn’t be bigger.”</p> <p>Federer explained that his decision to play in Italy is to get more match practice on clay.</p> <p>“I think I was playing well in Madrid, so I just said, again, ‘Let’s come to Rome, a city I like so much as well’.</p> <p>“Madrid is a tough place to play. I felt like playing somewhat maybe more sea level conditions would be good for me. There would be excitement, more excitement than me coming to a practice court in Switzerland,” he said on his last-minute decision to play.</p> <p>“I think this week, then next week in Paris, it’s going to be interesting to see how I play the points, how I do it all.”</p>

Travel Trouble

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5 mistakes home cooks make whilst cooking traditional Italian dishes

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cooking pasta sounds like a task that should be easy, but creating an authentic Italian pasta dish is trickier than you think.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">From the exact formula that makes up Bolognese sauce to how the pasta should be cooked is up for debate by many home chefs.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, Giovanni Rana, who has been making pasta since the 1960s in Italy, has revealed the secrets to capturing the authentic taste of Italian cooking in your home.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He’s shared a few tips to the </span><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6872245/How-cook-traditional-Italian-dishes-home.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Daily Mail:</span></a></p> <p><strong>1. Follow the instructions on the pasta packaging</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“There are a lot of urban legends about al dente pasta but in Italy not everybody loves al dente pasta,” revealed Giovanni’s daughter-in-law Antonella.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“In the North they love it a little softer, into the South they love their pasta almost raw.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’d suggest always following the time printed on the packet. Fresh pasta is the quickest. We’re talking about just two minutes.</span>”</p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Antonella revealed her personal way to cook pasta.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I personally love to drain the pasta 15 seconds before the full cooking time. If it’s written two minutes, I drain at 1:50 and in the very last 10 seconds I use a mixing bowl to mix the sauce in. This way you don’t overcook your pasta.”</span></p> <p><strong>2. Don’t add too much sauce</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although it might seem like a good idea to cover your pasta in sauce, too much sauce could be a bad thing. Using the wrong proportion of sauce to pasta can be a dead giveaway to an inexperienced chef preparing Italian food.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“When you're speaking about fresh pasta tortellini, the filling has its own taste and power, as Italians we try not to cover it too much with the sauce. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Especially ricotta and spinach which is so delicate and so pure, that if you add a lot of sauce, you will see the pasta swimming in the sauce. It’s not a good sign,” Antonella explained.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“In general, the most traditional way to eat fresh filled pasta is to be very respectful of the proportions. The queen is the pasta and the sauce is the tool.”</span></p> <p><strong>3. Never add ketchup!</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Using tomato ketchup instead of fresh tomatoes in sauce is another common mistake that is made by home chefs. According to Antonella, it’s just not the same.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Tomato ketchup for me, means burgers and casual food.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“In the tomato sauce you can really play with more veggies, for example garlic, onion, carrot, celery or you can play with extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is a way to make contemporary Italian sauce. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If you want to do something more, try to work on doing tomato sauce in the Italian way. Roughly chop onion, garlic, fresh ripe tomatoes and cook for a few minutes. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Then add fresh basil, this is the most contemporary Italian sauce.”</span></p> <p><strong>4. Loss of flavour by adding already grated cheese</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although it might be easier to use already grated cheese, you’ve already lost half the flavour in parmigiana.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Always buy parmigiana reggiano in a whole piece where you can see the crust and the stamp. Never buy it already grated, as you’ve already lost half the flavour,” Antonella said.</span></p> <p><strong>5. Not using extra virgin olive oil</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to Antonella, extra virgin olive oil is a must-have in authentic Italian dishes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Extra virgin oil, it's a facilitator and platform that you can’t miss, never buy just olive oil as this means the olive fruits have been pressed two, three times and also their bones,' said Antonella. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“When you buy extra virgin it means they’ve pressed the olives just once and they press the pulp – the colour, flavour, nutrients and everything is better.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If you like light flavour buy from the North of Italy, if you like medium body then you go for the centre such as Tuscany. If you like bold, spicy flavour, you buy from Sicily.”</span></p>

Food & Wine

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Why we just can't resist coastal glamour

<p>Tourists are naturally drawn to Europe’s coastlines in the summer – but one particular type of seaside region has fascinated travellers more than most since the 19th century: the riviera. Although the word is usually used to refer to the French Côte d’Azur, the term has acquired a widely acknowledged meaning in our collective imagination. The concept of “riviera” (literally meaning “coastline” in Italian) defines a lakeside or seaside region composed of multiple resorts and small towns, all sharing a developed tourist industry. They are often, crucially, reserved for socioeconomic elites who can afford the regions’ high costs of living.</p> <p>The word riviera also denotes certain attributes. It speaks to comfort, the quietness of life and exceptional climate. Beyond its precise definition, we can easily visually imagine what a riviera looks like. It has palm trees along the sea, a clear blue sky, magnificent hotels and casinos. And, these days, it also probably has extortionate food and drinks and yachts hogging marinas that might once have been populated by fishing boats.</p> <p>This vision is epitomised by the French Riviera, with its glamorous Cannes Film Festival and the exclusive principality of Monaco, where one in three residents is a millionaire. All along the Mediterranean coast, right up until France meets Italy, holiday villas host elite visitors, seeking shelter from the paparazzi.</p> <p>Even the official summer residence of the French president is located just off the French Riviera, on a private peninsula. The current president Emmanuel Macron, for all his desire to shake things up, <a href="http://www.theweek.co.uk/95503/inside-fort-bregancon-may-invited-to-macron-s-summer-retreat">intends to keep this tradition alive</a>. His plan to build a private swimming pool there <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44562016">caused controversy at the beginning of the summer</a>.</p> <p><strong>More than just a coastline</strong></p> <p>We could easily decide to call any stretch of land along water a riviera. After all, most lakeside or seaside places feature the same environmental attributes – holiday accommodation, tourism and leisure services, transport infrastructure, usually a good climate. But a riviera is really defined by socioeconomic exclusivity. This is the ultimate factor that really turns a stretch of coastline into something more enticing.</p> <p>As the riviera is seen as the coastline <em>par excellence</em>, it captures our imagination more than any other beach resort. While sipping an overpriced spritz, one pretends, for an instant, to be part of the films, stories and social circles happening here. Not every coastal town can convey this feeling; it has to have been recognised and placed on everyone’s mental map. For instance, the entire French Mediterranean coast could not fall into this definition. Instead, only the collection of towns and cities between Cannes and Monaco truly embody the definition of France’s most exclusive coastline.</p> <p>This socioeconomic definition has enabled more areas to brand themselves as rivieras. Take the Swiss one, for example, which really only consists of a few towns around Vevey and Montreux. By travelling only a few miles too far to the west or to the east, some of the conditions of a riviera completely vanish. Switzerland has even renamed that local district “Riviera – Pays d’Enhaut”.</p> <p><strong>Can’t fake the feeling</strong></p> <p>A quick look at Wikipedia’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riviera">list of rivieras</a> shows just how many countries, in one way or another, have acquired their own riviera.</p> <p>Some use the term to recognise the already existing touristic power of a certain region. Others adopt it as a strategy to attract more tourists. In England, the region of Torbay in Devon began being advertised as “the English Riviera” in the 1980s, following a peak of popularity in the 1970s. With its collection of small coastal villages, palm trees and relatively clement weather, Torbay can indeed resemble Nice or Cannes at times. But despite a concerted effort to push the label through campaigns, the region has actually seen fewer visitors since the initiative. Meanwhile, Cornwall, much of which very much matches the definition of a riviera, has retained its popularity without using the term.</p> <p>But rivieras are now facing more dynamic competition as a result of changes to the tourism industry. “Instagrammable” has also become more than a term in the tourism world: it’s an obligation. Travellers are looking for certain visual standards – something that rivieras have offered since the 19th century. The idealised scenes depicted in the famous advertising for riviera travel are practically an analogue version of an Instagram account: a couple lazing in the sun and sipping a cocktail on their hotel’s private jetty, with yachts and palm trees in the background. We’ve all seen this scene in our social media newsfeeds.</p> <p>The ubiquity of Instagram inevitably means that other coastal regions are catching on, becoming consciously more visually attractive rather than looking as though they’ve been destroyed by mass tourism. As a result, rivieras could lose their visual originality.</p> <p>At the same time, sites like AirBnB have made it cheaper and easier to access these once “exclusive areas”. While this might not have an impact on the prices of food, drinks, and social events, the overall socioeconomic balance of rivieras could indeed change – for better or for worse.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/101637/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: http://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>Written by <span>Jordan Girardin, Associate lecturer, University of St Andrews</span>. Republished with permission of </em><a href="https://theconversation.com/a-short-history-of-the-riviera-why-we-just-cant-resist-coastal-glamour-101637"><em>The Conversation</em></a><em>. </em></p>

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