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Scenic "Friuli" is fortunate enough to encompass beautiful mountains and sea. The magnificent Italian Alps and sultry Adriatic sea have attracted admirers for centuries.
Udine, Trieste, Spilimbergo and Maniago are some of the most beautiful and famous towns in Friuli.
* Udine is one of the biggest cities in Friuli aside from Trieste. It is a vibrant beautiful city with a characteristic sun dial clock in the main piazza.
* Trieste is famous for it's sea side charm. It is absolutely lovely and is the most famous city in Friuli. It is only about an hour outside of Udine and is a great weekend trip.
* Spilimbergo is a charming, regal looking town, famous for the skill and art of making Mosaics.
* Maniago, a quaint mountain town nestled at the bottom of the Dolomites, has been famous for centuries for the art of making cutlery.
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| Typical Cuisine from Friuli... |
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Italian food is loved world wide, as Italy has possibly the best cuisine in the world. Most all of the food is made with fresh, natural ingredients. It is a welcome change from the over processed foods in America today. Here are a few typical dishes from the region of Fruili...
PASTA-
Gnocchi- Potato pasta eaten with sauce over it.
Polenta- Thick corn meal staple eaten with meats, cheeses, mushrooms, etc. in their juices.
Pasta porcini/ portabello- Pasta in a fresh mushroom sauce.
Tortellini or Ravioli- Pasta stuffed with meat or cheese.
Frico- Fried cheeses.
ITALIAN APPETISERS or LUNCH MEAT-
Prociutto- Thinly sliced ham, smoked or cooked. It is most famously made in the nearby town of San Daniele.
Mortadella- A bologna like cold cut. But freshly made and much better than bologna!
Salami- A long heavy cold cut cut in slices.
SALADS-
Insalata verde- green lettuce salad, sometimes with arugola.
Insalata mista- mixed salad with tomatoes, radicchio, arugola and other types of lettuce.
Caprice- Tomatoe, mazzarrella, cheese, basil salad.
Most all of these typical Italian foods will be sampled and made during the program. Let me know your requests... |
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| Typical Wines of Friuli... |
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Friuli has some of the best wines in the world. Most are dry and fruity but never too sweet. Here are some of the most popular brands of the region...
White Wines:
Tocai
Savignon
Pinot grigio, bianco
Red Wines:
Cabernet
Merlot
Italy has the best wines in Europe, competing only with France. Drinking good wine is a treat for Americans. A glass of good wine in Italy is almost as cheap as a glass of mineral water! A carafe of good wine in Italy is as cheap as a bottle of mineral water!
After Dinner Drinks-
Spumante- An Italian champagne like dry sparkling wine.
Limencello- A tart bitter sweet lemon liquor
Grappa- Harsh brandy like drink
Amarro- A thick caramel colored liquor, usually bitter sweet with a medicine feel. They say it's good for colds, etc.
*These after dinner liquors are hard to find in the States, and make great inexpensive gifts! Bring a bottle back home with you! |
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| The Fogolar Furlan |
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*"Both physically and symbolically, the heart of every Fruilian home and even many of the region's restaurants is the fogolar, a large often free- standing fireplace that is strategically situated in the living room or dining room. Even in these days of central heating and modern kitchens, the fogolar is still used for both warmth and cooking. ..."
"After meals guests sit around the fogolar on high stools or benches sipping grappa...."
A paragraph from:
The Washington Post
Wednesday, January 20, 1999
"Italy on the Edge"
Friuli Borrows From It's Neighbors
by Michele Scicolone |
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The region of Friuli is known world wide for the ancient art of making mosaics and terrazzo. The most famous town for this ancient art is Spilimbergo. Spilimbergo is just the next town over from Arba, going towards Udine. The following is a short explanation and description of the art of Mosaics.
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The Word Mosaic-
The word mosaic is derived from the word "muse", (in Greek Mythology, the muses were the nine daughters of Zeus, protectors of the Liberal Arts), through the latin noun "museaum", meaning a sacred place for the muses and therefore the arts. These are noble and distinct origins for a word that descibes a special and antique art.
What Exactly is a Mosaic?
Mosaic is an ancient art form made with pieces of marble and glass. Many pieces of cut marble and glass are carefully placed into an elaborate design. An artist creates the design, it is put into blue print type lay out, then master craftsmen carry the art form out to create a beautiful marble mosaic.
Mosaic is one of the most skilled and specialized arts. It is a technical art where many highly trained workers are involved; the marble cutters to form the cubes or pieces, and the glassmakers to form the glass, before the mosaic craftsmen can complete the art. These master craftsmen are then able to carry out any style of mosaic. The use of marble and glass offer an unlimited choice of color, size and design. Furthermore, the materials are extremely durable and resistant over time, thereby being very practical. A mosaic is a treasured design made with marble or glass pieces... to last for centuries! |
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Historic Origins of Mosaics-
The first documented mosaics are considered to be the Mosaics of Olynthus in Greece, made from pebbles before 300 B.C.. By 40 B.C., Italy became the most important producer of Mosaics.
Modern Day Mosaics-
The present period has seen a return of Mosaics, in no way subservient to the painter. Today, modern painters are producing traditional designs for mosaic work. World famous artists have arrived in Spilimbergo to assist and collaborate in the transfer of their designs into mosaic.
The Spilimbergo School For Mosaic Making-
Spilimbergo has been known worldwide for centuries, for being the mosaic capitol of the world. In 1922, the world famous "Scuola Mosaicisti di Friuli" was opened. The school is unique in teachings and productive methods of mosaics. The course lasts three years, during which time, the student acquires a deep understanding of design in all aspects, from classical to geometrical. A student learns all the mosaic techniques from Roman and Byzantine periods up to Modern day. In the three years, theory is gradually put into practice. By the second year, student works a long side of his or her instructor. At the end of the three year course, students are fully qualified professionals in the art of Mosaics. They may then be contacted to create mosaics for elaborate buildings such as museums, or churches throughout the world. |
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| Mosaic by Silvio Arban circa 1900 |
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The Arban family has been influencial in the art of making mosaics for hundreds of years. They brought this art form and trade throughout Europe and into America. Silvio Arban, my great grandfather, made a successful career of mosaic and terrazzo making. He won first price competitions for his work in Germany in the early 1900's. The villa in Arba is filled with mosiac family heirlooms. Mosaics are proudly displayed all throughout Friuli since the art was born there! |
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| The Alps are a magnificent mountain range in South Central Europe that extend from South France, through Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and Austria into Slovenia to Albania. The highest part of the Italian Alps is on Italy's border with Switzerland and France. The highest peak is Mont Blanc, South France. The Dolomites are located in Northern Italy, a subdivision of the Eastern Alps and part of the Tirolese Alps. Some peaks are made of dolomite, a common mineral found primarily in rock masses as dolomitic limestone. The Dolomites reach their greatest height in Mount Marmolada; 3,342 m or 10,965 feet above sea level. Many of the sharp peaks of the mountain range were first ascended in the latter parts of the 19th century by British mountain climbers. |
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| The first person to fly across the Alps, was Francisque Arban, in September of 1849. He was one of the most celebrated pioneers of balloon travel in his time. He departed Marseilles, France and arrived a day later in Torino, Italy. He lost his life the same year, over Barcellona, on his next ballon flight. |
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| The Dolomites of the Alps |
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| One The Road |
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| Panoramic View |
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| Discovering Characteristics of Other Cultures |
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As you begin to discover other cultures, remember that cultures vary internally and are changeable. There are usually many cultural differences within a single race or nationality. It will be useful to keep in mind the following principles.
1. First-hand experience is necessary to understand the many subtleties of any culture.
2. Feelings of apprehension, loneliness or lack of confidence are common when visiting and experiencing another culture.
3. Differences between cultures are often experienced as threatening.
4. What is logical and important in a particular culture may seem irrational and unimportant to an outsider.
5. In describing another culture, people tend to stress the differences and overlook the similarities.
6. Stereotyping due to overgeneralization may be inevitable among those who lack frequent contact with another culture.
7. Personal observations of others about another culture should be regarded with skepticism.
8. All cultures have internal variations.
9. Cultural awareness varies within individuals.
10. One's own sense of cultural identity often is not evident until one encounters another culture.
11. Cultures are continually evolving.
12. Understanding another culture is a continuous process.
*13. One should understand the language of a culture to best understand that culture.
*Little Interesting Tidbit...
- 13 is not an unlucky number in Latin Europe (and probably the latin world). That number is 17. In my opinion, it's because in English, the language changes at the number 13. Thirteen is the beginning of the teen numbers. Whereas in Italian, the pattern does not change at 13 (dodici, tredici). It changes at 17; (sedici, diciasette). Not suprisingly, in Italy the unlucky number is 17, not 13. So superstitions are very culturally determined. So don't be superstitious, take that flight on the 13th... |
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