SPEAK ITALIAN - Language Class:
Would you like to speak Italian? Courses are available in: Italian for Travelers, and Conversation for beginners, intermediate and advanced students. All courses are taught by a native Italian speaker at the HOI.

Cooking Classes:
Once a month there is a chance to learn to cook those favorite Italian specialties with the instructors from the House of Italy.  Times and dates are announced in advance.

You will be able to watch the preparation, taste the foods and take home recipes. A small material fee is collected to buy the ingredients.

Craft Classes:
These classes are being organized as demand for it arises, not on a regular basis.  Different projects are taught as the season for it approaches.  For instance, you can learn to make masks for the event  “Carneval in Venice” or learn to make costumes for different occasions, and many other crafts that members are interested in.

For more information call (858) 831-1717 or email at: info@houseofitaly.net

Lawn Program:
The month of August is the time when the members host their yearly lawn program. The entertainment for this event features singers and dancers who will create a musical show that makes you feel that are on a visit to Italy.  The highlight is the “Roman Holiday”.  This is a complete reenactment of an Italian wedding staged by the members, with all the traditions and music and costumes, which create the scene for a typical Italian wedding.

The food you can enjoy for the Lawn Program as well as the Ethnic Food Fair and the December Holidays are a typical Italian fare: Pasta and sausage, pizza, canoles, tiramisu, Italian sodas,
cappuccino and espresso.

Bus trips:
According to popular demand the members plan one-day bus trips several times a year. The destination is mostly a place of Italian interests, like museums, Italian painters and musical performances.

Christmas Celebration:
In December the members of the House of Italy are hosting a Christmas Party in the Hall of Nations.  This is a time to enjoy good Italian food, holiday music and just having a fun time with the entire family.

The culture and social history of Europe and the entire Mediterranean region is closely linked to Italy since Roman times.  Archaeological sites are plentiful throughout the country.

The Roman Empire dominated this part of the world for many centuries.  It is the birthplace of the Renaissance (14th to 15th century) which shaped the European Philosophy and Art.

The modern Italy became a nation state on March 17th, 1861.

The Vatican became an independent enclave in 1970.

According to Mythology, Rome was founded in 753 BC by Romulus and Remus.  These two brothers were abandoned by their mother, and legends say they survived their early days by being nursed by a female wolf under a fig tree.  Romulus is considered the first King of Rome.

In today’s Italy, soccer is a national sport.  The world cup was won in 1934, 1938 and 1982.

Famous People of Italy:
Michelangelo, Buinarroti 1475-1564, painter, sculptor, architect and poet.
Leonardo da Vinci 1452-1519, painter sculptor and inventor.
Giovanni Pascoli 1855-1912, Italian poet.
Rodolfo Valentino 1895-1926, silent movie star (Hollywood California)
Enrico Caruso 1873-1921, Tenor
Guiseppi Verdi 1813-1901, Composer
Giacomo Puccini 1858-1924, Composer
Roberto Rossellini 1906-1977, Film director
Sophia Loren 1934 -  Actress

Land Area: 301,230 sq km                          
Population:  58,147,733 (July 2007 est.)
Capital City: Rome                                        
Language:  Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)
Religion:  Roman Catholic 90% (approximately; about one-third regularly attend services), other 10% (includes mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community)
Form of Government: republic
Economy:Italy has a diversified industrial economy with roughly the same total and per capita output as France and the UK. This capitalistic economy remains divided into a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and a less-developed, welfare-dependent, agricultural south, with 20% unemployment. Most raw materials needed by industry and more than 75% of energy requirements are imported.
Export: engineering products, textiles and clothing, production machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; food, beverages and tobacco; minerals, and nonferrous metals

Source: The World Factbook - Italy