My cousin's blog

My cousin Maurizia (from Sonnino) has a blog that highlights local events and issues. It's in Italian but you can translate using Google. Check it out: www.maurizianews.blogspot.com

Rastime: Te Pozzeno Fa Na Ricognizione Angima A Na lastra De Marmo (sp?)

This weeks rastime means, as written by my cousin translates to: "I hope a doctor makes you an autopsy!"

Sonnino in the news

Sonnino has been getting some international press for a court case regarding the wearing of burqas. Here's the link:

Villagers st Sonnino

This is a very old picture of villagers from Sonnino that I found on this webiste:
http://www.romeartlover.it/Pinelli1.html

Here is the text that follows the picture:

Picturesque Brigands

In 1587 a medal coined by Pope Sixtus V announced that "Law and Order" was re-established in the Papal State: it portrayed a pilgrim peacefully resting at the foot of a tree and the inscription Perfecta securitas.

This pope and his immediate successors implemented policies to stop assaults and robberies along the roads leading to Rome. The popes pursued their objective by a series of actions: a) a small army chased the brigands in their sanctuaries in the woods; b) rewards were paid to those who provided information on the hiding places of chief brigands; c) brigands who had committed only minor crimes were offered enrolment in the Catholic armies which fought in the Thirty Years' War (1618-48).

Order Sonninese olive oil

This is a Sonninese olive oil producer called "Madeccia. I haven't tried their olive oil before but they are the first Sonninese producer that I've found that has an english language site. It looks like you can contact them to order olive oil. If anybody has tried them please let me know. The link to their website is below.



http://www.madeccia.com/home.php

Old postcard of Sonnino

Olio Nuovo:The freshest olive oil around

I have had the distinct pleasure of being in Sonnino right after the the first olives have been pressed for their oil (olio nuovo). This oil taste amazing and only last for few months. I recently found a place in California that gets high grades for its olio nuovo and sells it at a reasonable price.

The company is called the "California Olive Ranch". You need to pre-order the olio nuovo in the early fall...mine is being shipped right now! The link to "California Olive Ranch" is below as well as some more information about olio nuovo.

http://chefs.californiaoliveranch.com/

------------------
– For starters, Olio Nuovo is the freshest possible extra virgin olive oil you can find. It’s practically like drinking milk from a cow. When you put a spoonful of Olio Nuovo in your mouth, you experience a peppery, fruity, pleasantly bitter burst of fresh olive oil taste.

– Chefs like to use our Olio Nuovo with freshly harvested vegetables such as tomatoes to accentuate the taste of the vegetable. It’s also a great way to celebrate the fall harvest. When he’s at home in his own kitchen, Georges at the Cove chef Trey Foshee simply likes to toss Olio Nuovo with pasta.

– Olio Nuovo heralds the new olive oil season. But it’s fleeting. Its limited shelf life means the oil must be used within a few months. California Olive Ranch employees bottle Olio Nuovo only once a year, in the first half of November. It’s an olive oil you can’t get every day. We make it to order – and we’ve just begun taking orders.

– Olio Nuovo also is the healthiest extra virgin olive oil. It delivers a higher level of polyphenols – the chemical substances found in plants that may reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Sonninese Holiday Sweets: Cannelicchi

Someone recently left a comment looking for Sonninese holiday sweets/cookies. I talked with my cousin in Sonnino and she said that "Cannelicchi" are a traditional dessert. The ingredients are in Italian with an admittedly poor English translation below them (I used a free translation service. Enjoy!


Ingredienti:

4 uova
circa 1/2 kg. farina
un barattolo di miele
olio
fogli di limone o piccoli cestini di carta


Preparazione:

Impastare le uova con la farina, fino ad ottenere una pasta abbastanza consistente, ma non tropo dura.
Lavorare la pasta e tagliare a bastoncini della grandezza di un mignolo. Ritagliare come piccoli gnocchi.
Friggerli nell'olio ben caldo e scolarli.
Versare il miele in una padella, scioglierlo al fuoco e, unire i cannolicchi. Amalgamare bene il tutto fino a quando non si sente il profumo del miele.
Togliere dal fuoco e disporre i cannelicchi in piccole porzioni sulle foglie di limone, precedentemente lavate e asciugate oppure dentro cestini di carta o ancora tutti insieme dentro un piatto (v. foto).
---

Ingredients:

4 eggs about 1/2 kg. flour a lemon of sheets oil honey of can or small baskets of card

Preparation:

To mix the eggs with the flour, until to obtain an enough pasta consisting, but not hard metaphor. To work the pasta and to cut small sticks of the size of a pinkie. To clip like small gnocchi. To fry them in the quite warm oil and to drain them. To pour the honey in a pan, to dissolve it to the fire and, to unite the cannolicchi. To amalgamate well everything until does not hear itself the perfume of the honey. To remove from the fire and to arrange the cannelicchi in small portions on the leaves of lemon, previously washed and dried or inside baskets of card or still all together within a dish (v. photograph).

Sonninese olive oil gets rated one of the best!

Check out the article...I'm looking for a way


http://en.greenplanet.net/news-in-brief/news-in-brief/1174-flos-olei-the-world-best-olive-oils.html

Restoration of San Michelle Arcangelo

This a book my family sent along about the restoration of San Michelle Arcangelo. They did a beautiful job on the church and you should check it out if you visit. I'l be posting pictures of the inside of the church soon.

Rastime: Te Pozzeno Da No Lampo!

As I have writen before, "rastime" are old Sonnninese sayings that, while sounding rude, are said with love.

This weeks rastime is : Te pozzeno da no lampo

This translates to "I hope you get struck by lightening"

Zio Nicola and family

Here is another picture of my great-uncle Nicola who passed away this week. In the picture from right to left is my cousins Matteo, Mauritzia, Matteo's wife Kai, my great-aunt Adele and Uncle Nicola. This picture was taken this past Christmas. He will be dearly missed.

Pescrai - post crass

The Sonninese dialect is a living, breathing language with adaptations and inventions. My relatives in Sonnino have been a great resource in helping me understand the unique characteristics of Sonninese.

"Postcrai" is an example of a word that has ben adapted by Sonninese speakers. It means in 3 days in Sonnninese but in Latin really means in 2 days . Click below to listen.

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A sad passing

Two days ago my great-uncle Nicola D'Angelis passed away. When my wife and I first visited Sonnino, Nicola was one of the first relatives we met. He threw his arms in the air and gave us huge hugs and then immediately told us that we had to come over for lunch! He told us stories of working in the butcher shop with my great-grandmother when he was a child.

Every time we visited Sonnino we were greeted by that same excitement. Spending time with Uncle Nicola was something we always looked forward too and will miss profoundly.

Le Torce 2008...

This was our view coming down the mountain toward Sonnino Scalo.

Nganiaturo per la pittia: Pasta board

The Sonninese word for the board that you use to roll out the pasta is "nganiaturo per la pittia". My spelling is probably off. I have my great-grandmothers pasta board that I use when I make my own pasta. Click below to hear my cousin Maury.

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Sonninese wine in Tennessee?

Yes indeed. The Ippolito family, who are origionally from Sonnino, own a B&B and winery in Tennessee. They make a wine called "Sonnino Sunset". CHeck out their website below. They have information about ordering their wine.

http://www.coreyippolitovineyardbandb.com/our_wines.htm

Book of Sonnino postcards

This is a great book of Sonnino postcards that my cousins sent me a few months ago. There are some wonderful classic pictures of Sonnino. If people are interested I can try to find out where the book can be purchased. They sent along a few other books that I'll best posting about.

Sonninese word: Alluccare

I found this very interested. We often hear about the Latin roots of english word, not the other way around. My cousin Maurizia told me that the Sonninese word "Aluccare" comes from an adaptation of the english "to look". She said that this started being used when Americans were in Sonnino during WWI. Click on the button to listen to the pronunciation.

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Video of religious procession (the Madonna) in Sonnino

I found this video in a Google search. It's a nice little montage and has some good pictures of Sonnino. Click on the link to view the video.

Ogni sette anni - la processione della madonna delle grazie di Sonnino

ogni sette anni - la processione della madonna delle grazie di sonnino

Alley in old Sonnino

I took this video so that people could get a real-time experience of what it's like walking through the historical section of Sonnino. This is one of the longer alleys...it was tricky trying to video and walk down the the smooth cobblestone steps at the same time!

Sonnino's on Priceline.com

Who knew. I recently typed in "Sonnnino, Italy" into Google and saw that about 7 links down there was a link for "Hotels near Sonnino". If you click on the link Priceline does indeed provide a list of hotels near Sonnino...I've even stayed a few of them. Give it a try.

NMR and statistical study of olive oils from Lazio: A geographical, ecological and agronomic characterization

If you have some time it's about olive oil from the region Sonnino is in.

ScienceDirect - Food Chemistry : NMR and statistical study of olive oils from Lazio: A geographical, ecological and agronomic characterization

Market day in Sonnino

Yummy picture from Jim Epolito

Jim recently visited Sonnino and had lunch with his relatives. According to Jim, this is a picture of the best lasagna ever, made at Teodoro Ippoliti's home. I can't vouch that it's the best lasagna ever but I will try to find out the next time I'm in Sonnino!

Sonninese Expression of the Week

I made good use of my digital recorder on my last trip to Sonnino. Here is recording I made of an expression I heard many youngish people using. They said it's Romano. I magine it's spelled something like "A-ou" and it's used to get a person's attention. Have a listen:

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Sonninese recipes from Candido's website

I recently noticed that on Candido Paglia's Sonnino website their is a hard to find section that has local recipes. This is something I've wanted to compile and put on the blog for a long time. He's done a fantastic job so please click on the link and check it out. And as always, please send me any Sonninese recipes that your family might make...I'd love to post them on the blog.


www.sonnino.info/ricette/past_mandorle.php

Sonninese Sign Language: Part 1

I asked my Zio Nicola to demonstrate some of what I call "Sonninese sign language". These are the hand gestures you see all throughout Sonnino. This first one is a classic and maybe the most common. This is the gesture one uses when you like what you've just eaten. If somebody asks, "do you like the carchofi (artichokes)", this is how you respond.

Cannateglio -nod off

This is a very usefull work to know. With all the eating I do in Sonnino...this has word has come in handy. Click to listen.

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Nommera (nicknames) in Sonnino

In Sonnino it seems that everyone has a nickname. Somtimes the nicknames are for an individual and other times they are for a whole family. With the number of Antonio's and Giacamo's in Sonnino, this makes sense.

My family is known as "the butcher". Place that at the end of any first name and you have a "nommera". Other people I meet had nicknames based on family history or family attributes. Do any Sonninese out there care to share what their "nomerra" or family nomerra is?

I'm hoping to get some more examples from my family that I can post.

The newest Sonniese bambino

On September 7th, my wife Margie and I welcomed Rafael Corcoran into our lives. He is happy, healthy, and looks like a nice little Italian boy! Zia Annunziainta even made him a beautiful "Buona Notte" blanket. Pretty soon, his Italian will be better than mine!

Sonninese song...played on the accordian

When I was in Sonnino in May I was at the grandmother of a friends. We went outside and heard an accordion playing. It turns out their neighbor is well know around Sonnino for his accordion playing. He played us a Sonninese song and we did a little waltz. I recorded him playing on my digital recorder. Have a listen

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Sonninese Proverb

In my visits to Sonnino I've heard many Sonninese proverbs. Unfortunalty, I never write them down. Hopefully this will change. Fortunately I did write one down at a meal we had with some older relatives.

We were having dinner and talking about Le Torce the next day when the homemade wine made it to me. I was told "You should drink some...wine becomes blood". The Sonninese say that wine (not to much) fortifies the blood and gives you strength.

The Lepini people

I took this picture on the grounds of the Fossanova Abbey, which is in Sonnino scalo. I've been seeing these signs around the Sonnino area for the past few years. I asked my cousins about about the structure on the sign.

The area around Sonnino is called the "Lepini Plain". The Lipini are the ancient people of the Sonnino area. This structure is a rendering of what their dwellings looked like. My cousins also mentioned that in the hills right behind Sonnino there are still ruins of ancient Lepini homes. Has anybody seen them?

The giving of the torches

This is a video I took in the church after the priest had blessed the torches for "Le Torce" and sprinkled them with holy water. They were then given to the four leaders of Le Torce to carry.

Song: Sonnino Bello

I was having dinner with some family in Sonnino in May and we began to talk about some songs I had heard people singing. Zia Lydia and my cousin Antonio were kind enough to lend their beautiful voices and sing me a few. They said this one is very old and is called "Sonnino Bello". Zia Lydia is in this photo on the bottom-right. Here are the words and the recording. Bonus points if you can translate it!:

"Sonnino e bello, Sonnino
e fatto a ferro, di cavallo
non te ne incarica.
Di cavallo cesta la giovenio col sangue bello, non tene
incarea."

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Friends from Sonnino

This is a picture of some friends from Sonnino. They took me on a fantastic trip to a little called Serrmoneta. It has a beautiful castle which I'll write more about in future posts. From left to right (Eliza, me, Roberto, Luca, Milcho(sp?). This is also a great way to get them to read the blog!

"Le Torce" video...the first of many!

This is a video I took of the torches right after they were lit and folks we're starting to head down the mountain. This is the first point at which the people in Sonnino could see us. It was a pretty amazing moment! There were fireworks a few minutes later. If you have speakers, turn them on and listen to people singing and firing guns.

Back fromn Sonnino

Sorry for the lack of posts. I just returned from Sonnino and had an amazing time and have some great things to post about. I went to Sonnino for Le Torce, it was an incredible experience that I'll write more about.

IN the meantime, please enjoy the picture of My Zia Annunziatina and Zio Giovanni's fabulous produce. The have some of the greenest thumbs I have ever seen! The food is always fresh at their house. In this picture there are fava beans, which are season right now, as well as a leafy green that I forget the name of. There is also some frutta secca (dried figs with an almond in the middle) perched on the basket. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

Soninese artichoke

This is a picture that my wife took of an artichoke in our relative's garden. Makes me hungry for "carchofi alla Romana"

Matteo and Graziano

This is a picture of my cousins Matteo(San Francisco) and Graziano(Sonnino). Matteo visited Sonnino for the first time last spring. He hit it just right and was in town for Le Torce. I believe they're standing in front of the home where my great-grandmother grew up.

SLEEPING VILLAGERS FROM SONNINO: An Unpublished Terracotta by Bartolomeo Pinelli.: Michael Preston Worley: Books

I'd like to thank Sandra, a reader whose family is from Sonnino, for forwarding this on. It looks like a book about Sonnino. It's one that I haven't seen before. Has anybody heard of it?

Amazon.com: SLEEPING VILLAGERS FROM SONNINO: An Unpublished Terracotta by Bartolomeo Pinelli.: Michael Preston Worley: Books

Sonnino olive oil for sale on Amazon.com

Apparently you can buy olive oil made in Sonnino on Amazon.com. Each time I go my family is kind enough to send me back with liters of amazing oil. A little taste of the home country in Boston. Has anybody triewd this brand?

Click on the link to view the Amazon.com web page.

Amazon.com: Cetrone Aromatic Orange Extra Virgin Olive Oil - 8.8oz.: Gourmet Food

Donna di Sonnino print

I found this print online. It's called "Donna di Sonnino" and it's from Italy. Anybody know where it's from? Here's what the website that is selling says:

Donna di Sonnino.
ITALY)
US$65.00

Rome. No date. Ca. 1830?

Engraving, handcolored, image platemark approximately 11 x 7 1/2 inches on sheet 14 x 10 inches. Overall light toning to paper, a small tear in upper left and middle right margins (well outside of image area), a bright and clean image on light cream colored paper.

Sonnino - Outlaw Capital

A fellow countryman from Sonnino, David, sent this interesting link along about Sonnino. He wrote:

"Thought you might find interesting this account of Sonnino’s most famous son, Cardinal Giacomo Antonelli.From all historic accounts, in the 18th and 19th Century, Sonnino was the outlaw capital of Italy."

David is doing some very interesting writing about the history of the Italian community, including Sonninese, in Syracuse. Hopefully we can get him to post some of this finds! Click on the link below to read the article.

http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/1/4/3/8/14381/14381.htm

A little Sonnino History: Sonnio's boundry lands

Sonnino – Museum of the boundary lands

Founded in 2004 and started in 2005, its development is still in progress.
The Museum of the boundary lands collects the signs of the anthropologic deeds of the boundaries of Sonnino.

The whole history of Sonnino is, in fact, impregnated of “boundaries”: from the century old conflicts with Priverno, to the brigands in the free zone between the Papal State and the Kingdom of Naples. And each year, the boundaries are passed along by the night procession, the Feast of the Torches, which has become the symbol of the community.

Sonnino, a small town castled on the Musoni mounts, is placed on the southern extreme pieces of land of the Ciociaria, which, up to the ‘30ties, belonged to Frosinone and that once was the extreme limit of the State of the Church (the “Marittima”).

Finally, the boundary in the exhibition is represented as the arrival point of the community process and, at the same time, point of escape in order to get in relation with the external world.

Dinner at Nicola and Adele's

This is a photo my cousin Matteo from San Francisco who visited Sonnino with his wife Kai took. They were having dinner at our great-uncle/aunt Nicola and Adele's home. Anybody want to guess what was on the menu? Maybe I'll give a prize for the person who guesses correctly.

Market day in Sonnino

Every Saturday these big trucks role into Sonnino for a movable market. You can buy clothes, housewares, fruits, vegetables and pretty much anything else you can think of. It's quite a sight on the narrow main street in town.

Reggae a Sonnino

Here's a link to a video of a couple of kids playing Bob Marley on piazza in Sonnino. I found it when I was looking around Youtube. It's funny more than anything. Click on the link below to watch the video.

reggae a sonnino

Sonnino's own Robin Hood?

Sonnino’s Robin Hood

Sonnino is a small town in the province of Latina. It can be reached in different ways, from Rome or Naples: it is enough to get on the Appia or the Mediana, the SS 148. Also by means of the highway A1, exit Frosinone, direction Priverno. It is 40 km far from Latina and 25 from Terracina and Sabaudia.

Built on the peak of the St. Angelo hill, Sonnino, in Latin Sumninum, was founded probably towards the end of the IX century by the people of Priverno, who escaped from the destruction of their town.

Towards the end of the XVIII century, Sonnino had a bad reputation owing to smuggling, to brigandage and to brigands.

Among these latter, there was Antonio Gasbarrone: our Robin Hood!

Beyond its real history, the reputation of Gasbarone overcame the boundaries of Italy even before his death and a lasting myth arose his figure and made him become one of most famous bandits of history.

The ability to run away and avoid being caught and to aim the criminal action often in defence of the poorer fuelled the legend on this “gentleman bandit”, whose figure was in synchrony with the social rebel spirit of Sonnino.


*I found this on an Italian website about the Latina region

The impact of mining on Sonnino?

This is a picture I took from the back side of Sonnino. It's the area you reach if you continue up the mountain past the village. Though you can't see them, to the left if Terracina and to the right is Rocca Gorga. I'm not sure what is being mined across the valley but I have seen larger chunks of the mountain disappear each time. The tan sections are are areas being mined. Hopefully, this sort of mining won't effect Sonnino.

The D'Angelis Butchers of Sonnino!

Here is a picture of my family taken this past April. From left to right we have my great uncle Italo, my aunt Susan from California, my great uncle Nicola and my cousin Alberto. They run three butcher shops in Sonnino!

Book about Sonnino...Including dialect

This is a great book that my Uncle Nicole and Aunt Adele gave to me the last time I was in Sonnino. It has poetry written about Sonnino, and most importantly, it has a glossary in the back that has Italian/Sonnino dialect translations. It was written by a man named Gaspare Ventre. If anybody would like more information please email me at caseyc@gmail.com

Sounds of Sonnino: Jone

Here is audio of my great uncle Nicola saying "Jone". Jone is Sonninese for "Oh God" or "Oy Vey". I recorded him saying a number of Sonninese words and hopefully I'll get to posting them soon.

Double-click the play button and enjoy...it takes a few moments before the talking starts.

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Today's picture of Sonnino, Italy

Bed and Breakfast in Sonnino, Italy

I've posted before about places to stay around Sonnino (look in the old post or email me if interested, but this appears to be a relatively new Bed and Breakfast. It looks like it's even in the upper part of town. Here's the link:


Bed and Breakfast Sonnino - Inns and Guest House in Sonnino




Sonnino, Italy

Children from Sonnino folk dancing

This is a link to a website that has children from Sonnino doing traditional folk dances. You can view the video by clicking on the image on the Right side of the page.
Musiche del Lazio

Google Blog Search...find posts about Sonnino

Google blog search is a great way to find out if there are people posting information, pictures, stories, etc. about Sonnino online. I've found some great pictures and travel logs using it. I've included the link below. When you search, my Sonnino blog is the fourth entry down.

Google Blog Search

The Sonninese dialect

The last time I was in Sonnino my great uncle Nicola and cousin Luciano gave me book that has an Italian/Sonninese glossary. I plan to post the the translations on the blog...starting today with words that begin with the letter A. I've included a picture of took looking down on Sonnino scalo at dusk.





Sonnino, Italy

Sonnino has an Italian Wikipedia page

Here is the link to the Wikipedia page on Sonnino. It was in Italian so I used the automatic translator. For those that don't know about Wikipedia, it is an online encyclopedia whose content is generated by users. That means it's not always accurate.

Translated version of http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnino

An Italian website that talks about how artichokes are prepared in Sonnino

Sonnino: tra carciofini sott\'olio e fichi secchi

- Sonnino: tra carciofini sott\'olio e fichi secchi - Riviera di Circe

A unique view of Sonnino

Google Earth is a fantastic piece of software that allows you to look at satellite images of any place in the world. You can get some fantastic views of Sonnino and the surrounding towns. It takes a minute to download but is well worth. I've put the link below.

www.earth.google.com/

D'Angelis family home

This is a photo taken from the roof of the home where countless generations of D'Angelis family members lived. It is now owned by someone else, but when my family and I were in Sonnino in April, the current owners were nice enough to let us in and take a look around. We all got a little misty eyed thinking about the the history of this very old building. This is the view looking down the mountain.

My Grandfather's obituary

Bernardini, Angelo

August 29, 2007 Angelo Bernardini, 82, of East Syracuse, died peacefully Wednesday morning at home with his family. Angelo was a native of Syracuse. He worked at Estabrook Printing for 40 years, retiring in 1991. He is survived by his wife, Elsie (Chinchar) whom he married on January 31, 1948; predeceased by his sister, Jean LaRosa and survived by his brother, Nicholas Bernardini (Anne) and his sister, Lucy Potato. Angelo was the father of five children, Susan Bernardini (Howard Lamcke), Carol Bernardini (John Becker), Joseph Bernardini (Christine), Jeffrey Bernardini (Lisa DeSilva), and Angela Martino (David Simmons); also 10 grandchildren, Tracy (Dan), Matthew (Kai), Casey (Margie), Taisia (Ross), Corey, Leah, Lauren, Sarah, Jessica and Anthony; four stepgrandchildren, Craig, Chris, Nicole and Lisa; two great-grandchildren, Angelo and Declan. Funeral services will be held Saturday, 8:30 a.m. at Forani & Cline Funeral Home and 9 a.m. in St. Matthew's Church, East Syracuse, with burial in Woodlawn Cemetery. Calling hours on Friday, 4 to 8 p.m. at Forani & Cline, 206 Kinne St., East Syracuse. Contributions may be made to Hospice of Central New York.

A very sad passing

Last night my Grandfather and the patriarch of the D'Angelis/Bernardini , Angelo Marie Bernardini, passed away. He died at home and surrounded by family and loved ones. He was one month shy of his 83rd birthday. I will be posting pictures stories in the comming days and weeks that will try to do justice to greatness of this man.

Sonnino's "Festa della Madonna 2007"

Thanks to Mario for sending in a few pictures of the Festa della Madonna. I'll be posting more pictures from Mario soon.

Send me your stuff!!!

I am looking for stories, pictures, recipies, etc to post on the blog. Send them to me or email me with an idea and we'll work on it and post it. I would love to make this a place where we can share things as a community. Thanks! -Angelo

Sonnino note cards

I recently made note cards out of pictures I took in Sonnino. I have a couple beautiful note cards of old Sonnino and some of great pictures of olives, artichokes and lemons grown in Sonnino. I'll put up the pictures and if anybody would like to order note cards from Winkflash.com they can.

Sonninese word of the week: Mangia

My wife and I just returned from a great trip to Sonnino. I was lucky enough to record my uncle Nicola with my digital recorder. I had him say or pronounce Sonninese words so that I could post them on the blog. Enjoy!

Important archeological find close to Sonnino

News: Lost city of Amyclae discovered

News: Lost city of Amyclae discovered.

Sonnino's "Festa tricolore" article that mentions my cousin Luciano

Evangelici.net - Notizie: Sonnino, una "Festa tricolore" benefica

Grandma and Grandpa talking about making pasta

This is part of the oral history I recently did with my grandparents. In this clip they're talking about how my Great-Grandmother (Guessipina Bernardini) used to make pasta by hand. Just click on the play arrow to listen.

Is the Sonnino blog going to have sound soon?

The answer is yes. I’m looking for tools to add audio to the blog. My hope is that people will send me audio files as well as pictures. I recently did a bit of oral history with my grandfather and grandmother that I would love to post.

Additionally, I would like to add audio to my “Sonninese Word of the Week” posts. When I’m in Sonnino April, I plan to record my Sonninese relatives pronouncing the Sonninese words. Residents of Sonnino, beware of me approaching you with my digital recorder!

Places to stay around Sonnino

I'm keeping a list of placed to stay around Sonnino. Please add any that aren't mention on the blog. You can even leave reviews. Here are the first two. One in Fossanova and the other in Terracina.

www.albergoanticoborgo.it/index.htm

www.villaida.com/home.html

Olive di Sonnino

This picture makes me happy every time I look at it. It's a picture we took when we were in Sonnino in November. It makes me think of the all of the amazing Sonninese olive oil we had.

Boots in the Oven: Driving Lazio

This is link to a couples' travel log. They were driving down the Lazio coast and just picked Sonnino off a map and decided to stop. It's neat to see Sonnino thought the eyes of tourists. They even posted pictures. Enjoy.

Boots in the Oven: Driving Lazio

Jews in Italy (and what is has to do with Sonnino)

This is an interesting article about the history of the Jewish people in Italy. More interesting is the fact that "Sonnino" was one of the more common Jewish last names. You can find the reference about halfway down the article.

Tracing the Tribe: At the ICJG: Jews in Italy

Short video of chanting in the Fossanova Abbey (click twice to view)

This is a short video of the inside of Fossanova Abbey, a very famous abbey next to Sonnino. I found the video on Youtube.com. Enjoy.

Video of the view from Sonnino (click twice to play)

This is the view from the backside of Sonnino. You can see the sea and the town of Terracina in the distance.

My first batch of pasta

Inspired by Lydia and Annunciantina Bernardini, I tried my hand at making fresh pasta last week. I went on a website called Craigslist.org where people buy and sell things they don’t want or need. I was able to pick up an Atlas pasta machine for $25. The women who sold it to me even threw in a ravioli attachment. With help from my wife Margherita and friend James, we were able to make some delicious artichoke ravioli and tagliatelle. Margherita made a white wine sauce with butter and garlic that was fabulous. I’ve never had so much fun or had such fresh ravioli. On top of that, the pasta machine gave me quite a workout. I’m hoping that as I get better at making the pasta, I’ll be able to cut down on the time.

All this leads me to a request or a request for recipes. I would love to create a place on this blog where family recipes can be shared…so start sending them in. You can even take a picture of the dish! My next batch of pasta is this weekend, wish me luck.

Sonninese Word of the Week

Since I come from a family of butchers I figured this would be a good one to add to our Sonninese dictionary:

Butcher in standard Italian: Macellaio

Butcher in Sonninese: Maceglio

Thoughts and Prayers please

My grandfather, Angelo Bernardini, starts chemotherapy tomorrow. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. On a happier note, I was able to do some oral history recording with my grandmother and him over Christmas. Once I figure out how to post audio clips, I'll post samples.

Me and Giovanni with "pertecas"

 

This is a picture of Giovanni and me shaking our "pertecas". As I learned during my last trip to Sonnino, a perteca is used to knock the ripe olives out of the tree. Giovanni and Anunciantina were nice enough to take my wife Margherita and me to the campania (countryside). Each family has a plot where they grow olives, lemons, oranges, figs, pomegranates, etc. Giovanni and Annunciantina have a beautiful plot and a great outdoor brick oven.

Christmas gift from Sonnino

This is a picture of my grandfather, Angelo Bernardini, holding some soppressata that his cousin Tonino from Sonnino sent to him. It was his favorite Chistmas gift. I'm glad customs didn't check my bags on the way back!

 

Want to look at posts from past months?

It's easy. Just click on black arrows next to the months on right side of the page. This will show you all the posts for that month. Check them out!

Refurbished church in old Sonnino

This is the church right across from the Castle in old Sonnino. It was recently refurbished and looks great. I was told it was built in the 12th century. Anybody know the name? As we were leaving the church my cousin Graziano pointed to the man in the picture who takes care of the church and said "that's another one of your relatives. I seem to meet new relatives each time I visit!

Look up where your last name is found in Italy (or the USA)

This is such a great site. You can type in you last name and the the website will show you where people with you last name live and the concentration. You can run the same search for the US as well. Apparently there are on Bernardinis in and around Sonnino. Enjoy!

- L'Italia dei Cognomi

Photo of the castle taken from the piazza in Sonnino. The photo was taken by Bob Frateschi of Syracuse, NY

Pitcure of the "torre di Antonelli"

Sonninese Word of the Week

So I've started to keep a little Sonninese dictionary (the dialect of Sonnino) and add new words each time I visit. My relatives in Sonnino will often say "It's great that you're learning Italian, now when are you going to learn Sonninese!" Maybe they don't realize there are only 6,000 or so Sonninese speakers in the world. So here's the first word...please write me with any Sonninese words or sayings that you know:

Ihoni = Oh God!

"Ihoni" is very similar to the Jewish "Oye Vey!"

Video of Roccagorga (a small village across the valley from Sonnino)

Olive Festival in Sonnino coming up

Here's a link to the Olive Festival coming up in a couple of weeks. I saw big signs for it when I was in Sonnino last week. I used a translator on the page so it reads a little strange.

Translated version of http://www.eventiesagre.it/index.php?id=1425

This is a funny picture from my most recent trip to Sonnino. My wife and I got back two days ago! The picture was taken in my family's butcher school right off the piazza. 

Going to Sonnino!

My wife Margie and I are going to Sonnino in November for 4 or 5 days. Once again, if anyone submits something to the Blog I'll bring them back a present from Sonnino. Pictures, stories, recipies....they are all great. Look for more posts soon. I'm also willing to look for your relatives in Sonnino.

Giro di Lazio Bike Race

Daily Peloton - Pro Cycling News

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN IN ITALY, 'BOSS' SOLD OUT

Ok, so this isn't about Sonnino but I love Bruce and am glad to see that our fellow Italians do as well.

(AGI) - Rome, July 7 - Bruce Springsteen is on his way to Italy and all the tickets for his concerts have already been sold out. The public's response to the beginning of selling of tickets for the first four concerts of the boss's Italian tour was unbelievable, according to organizers. The Ticketone circuit, in 10 hours, has practically sold out all of the tickets at its disposal for the 4 concerts on sale at the moment (Bologna,Turin, Verona and Rome). Between Friday and Saturday sales will begin by way of the other circuits, in particular for Springsteen fans in Rome, and tickets will be found in Feltrinelli Libri e Musica, Messaggerie Musicali, The Ticket Net, Win alla Romanina and other centres specialized in concert ticket sales. (AGI) -
071817 LUG 06

Latina lessons

A nice article about the sights of Latina above and beyond Rome. I'm going to check some of the out when I visit Sonnino in November.
Scotsman.com Living - Latina lessons

Video of the backside of Sonnino (other side of the mountain)

Another video we took in January can see Terracina in the distance.

The Giro d' Italia...an amazing bike race

The Giro d'Italia bicycle race has just started up and this sight has some of the best coverage I have seen. The Giro is the second biggest race after the Tour de France. The link is below:
Cycling - Eurosport