• Blog

    Molise Beckons

    Molise Beckons

    Live Italian – fabulous history, authentic tradition, local artisans and food producers 

    We are happy to share this new offering from our friend Jenifer Landor who spoke at an AMHS luncheon recently. Jenifer directs the Live and Learn program in Agnone (Molise) – a language and cultural immersion experience. Both Albert Paolantonio and Maria D’Andrea-Yothers spent time in July of 2017 living like Molisani and learning Italian with Jenifer and wonderful instructors, artisans, and townspeople.

    For those with less time to study Italian in a small town setting, she has developed a new program for the interested traveler to experience a glorious part of the region.  Jenifer explains, “So if you are not so keen to study during a holiday, come explore the history, traditions and culinary heritage of Alto Molise.”

    Next LIVE ITALIAN date is October 2018, but visits can be organized pretty much any time for groups with a minimum of 6 people.  Click here for an idea of what to expect and some information on cost and contact.

  • Blog

    Make Memories in Molise

    Have you been promising yourself that you will hunker down in a quiet (not too quiet) village to improve your Italian?

    Taking one or two weeks to brush up or even get started on speaking Italian makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? A program in charming Agnone in Molise allows you to study hard and take a holiday at the same time. Jenifer Landor and Alessandro Aucelli say it all in the name – Live and Learn Italian. They are a local, independent business whose aim is for a small number of students to integrate themselves into the fabric of the town, to experience the local customs, and engage in the crafts – as a welcomed friend!  Sounds like paradise!

    AMHS members met one of the founders a few months ago and we were smitten with her and her program. get to know about Live and Learn Italian in Molise on their website and in our interview with Jenifer below. Then make a resolution to give yourself this experience.

    What makes Live and Learn Italian different from a typical language school?

    We are so different from a standard language school – with never more than 12 guests at a time, the emphasis is on integrating everyone into the community during their stay. We do offer classes (3 hours daily + homework!), yes – but the focus is on practicing the language, and the rest of the time we join in community events, visit the local artisans and their workshops, or cook and share meals with local families. These activities, and so many others, are all in Italian because the community is not English speaking at all – and our guests really do get to feel part of it, and that they are living in an authentic town – come and discover your inner Italian!

    How can a week or two of study also be a holiday? 

    Well, it’s a learning holiday – no doubt about that. Talks and visits include hearing about the cultural history of the region, and learning a language does take some effort. But combine that with enjoying exceptional produce, visiting family restaurants, local festivals and events, getting out into the incredible nature of the region and relaxing over meals and drinks with a small group of like minded individuals – and everyone, without exception, has a very fulfilling holiday.

    How many years has L&L been in business and what are its origins?

    2017 will be our 5th season. I came here to stay with cousins and learn Italian myself, and discovered a unique opportunity – a community that does not speak English and is protector of ancient traditions and world-class artisans. The idea came to me to share this with a few others – to give learners of the language an environment in which they can engage with anyone and everyone! We are mindful of the great gift we have in working with an authentic community, off the beaten track, and we play a small part in keeping aspects of this ancient culture and its traditions alive, without in any way compromising the authenticity. We encourage our guests to explore, learn, and discover while respecting, protecting and valuing the modest way of life of the region. Working directly with many local families, individuals, and businesses, we are not only providing valued income, but an opportunity to tell their stories, and share their crafts and produce.

    Typically, who comes to Molise to study with L&L?

    Most of our guests are 50+, professionals who have been learning Italian for some time or who have started later in life. Some are recently retired – active people, learning for family reasons, or because they love Italy and the culture and language, and want to be able to converse when they travel. Many are lovers of music, art and architecture, and occasionally we get literature lovers keen to read Dante in the original! We also get second and third generation Italians who are discovering the language of their ancestors.

    We here at AMHS fully endorse this learning holiday. A few of us are making the trip in July!  

    www.liveandlearnitalian.com

     

  • Abruzzo Presto and Domenica Marchetti
    Blog

    New Ways to Visit Abruzzo & Molise

    Abruzzo Presto and Domenica Marchetti

    Maybe you haven’t been back to “Abruzzi” for decades. Perhaps your grandchildren have never seen their ancestral towns. Have you traveled to the hill towns in Tuscany but didn’t quite know what to do in the cliff hanging villages in Abruzzo or where to find remote castles in Molise?

    Now is the time to connect or reconnect with our regions and I don’t mean on a big tour bus either. I have been exploring Abruzzo each summer since 2006, and this July I am finally tipping into Molise. Car rental works for me and allows for the independence that I prefer. That said, I have benefited from ditching the car and signing on with experienced, passionate people to teach me more about food, wines, and local secrets.

    Experiential tours and excursions are popular now. They combine hands on doing with sightseeing.  A half day excursion can go like this: after breakfast, your group of 6-8 jumps in a van to hunt for truffles (yes, they abound in our regions), make maccheroni alla chitarra for lunch with a sauce from your truffle haul, sit down together to talk and eat, and make a mental note as you say your goodbyes to send these lovely people a Christmas card with photos of your day in their home and fields.  After lunch, a museum visit awaits.

    Acclaimed Italian cookbook author Domenica Marchetti, who lives in nearby Alexandria, leads an annual culinary tour to her beloved Abruzzo. This trip combines a unique experience of hands-on professional cooking classes with private workshops from artisan food producers. The photo above is taken in the beautiful dining room of Casale Centurione Manoppello  where Giulia Scappaticcio welcomes guests and offers cooking lessons of her own. Domenica partners w

    aGNONE

    ith Michael and Nancy Morizio of Abruzzo Presto who seamlessly and expertly guide eight lucky souls to i borghi piu belli di Abruzzo. The deadline for signing up for this year’s September 20-27th tour is fast approaching. http://www.domenicacooks.com/tours/   http://www.abruzzopresto.com/

    I keep promising myself that I will hunker down in a quiet (not too quiet) village to improve my Italian. Taking one or two weeks or even five days to brush up or get started on speaking Italian makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? A program in charming Agnone in Molise allows you to study hard and take a holiday at the same time. Jenifer Landor, Allesandro Aucelli and Davide Tanzj say it all in their name – Live and Learn Italian. They make it clear that they are a local, indepen

    dent business whose aim is for a small number of students to integrate themselves into the fabric of the town and to experience the local customs and crafts as a welcomed friend.  Sounds like paradise to me. http://www.liveandlearnitalian.com/

    You can have it all on holiday in Abruzzo and Molise – personal attention, small groups, divine locations, authentic experiences and passionate guides and instructors who would be happy if you stayed a while.

  • Constantino Brumidi, in memory of Joe Grano
    Blog

    The Legacy of AMHS Member Joe Grano

    Constantino Brumidi, in memory of Joe Grano
    Constantino Brumidi painting in memory of Joe Grano

    On Saturday, June 20, 2015, around 40 people gathered at Casa Italiana for the unveiling of the painting of Constantino Brumidi, in memory of Joe Grano.  Joe was a member and an officer of AMHS until his death on November 24, 2013.  As President of the Society, I was quite honored that Father Marchetto asked me to unveil the painting, which was done by Raffaele De Gregorio.

    Joe was a larger than life figure, involved in various causes which he took on with passion and
    dedication – historic preservation of sites within
    the Washington community and, of course,
    securing the legacy of Constantino Brumidi.  Joe founded the Constantino Brumidi Society about 15 years ago.  This group became Joe’s vehicle for getting Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Brumidi, the Italian immigrant whose frescos decorate the U.S. Capitol.  One of Joe’s kindest acts for AMHS members was to set up a private tour of the Capitol and Brumidi’s frescos; this was about 4 years ago.  We even met with the artist entrusted with restoration of the frescos.

    On January 19, 2014, a magnificent gathering of Joe’s friends came together in Casa Italiana, to remember an extraordinary man and to celebrate his life. Many individuals who attended that event were present for the unveiling (Bill Brown, President of the Association of Oldest Inhabi

    josephgrano

    tants of DC; Bill Rice; Nelson Rymensnyder, and Jan Fenty (mother of former DC mayor Adrian Fenty).  It was good to see everyone gathered together in the celebration of Joe and his legacy.  Special thanks to AMHS members who came to the event:  David Ciummo, Nancy DeSanti, Dick DiBuono, Francesco and Anna Isgro, Joe Lupo, Maria Marigliano, Albert Paolantonio, Sarah Scott, Carmela Ventresca, and Sam Yothers.

    Joe, you are gone but certainly not forgotten. “No longer in our lives to share, but in our hearts you are always there.”