La Dolce Vita University: An Unconventional Guide to Italian Culture from A to Z

by Carla Gambescia

La Dolce Vita University (LDVU) is the perfect sampler for anyone curious about (or already in amore with) Italy and its remarkably rich cultural gifts, both past and present. True to its lighthearted name, La Dolce Vita “U” is all about pleasurable learning, or what we prefer to call “edu-tainment.” Its dozens of entertaining yet authoritative mini-essays on a wide assortment of intriguing topics encourage random dipping at the reader’s pleasure. Even the most erudite Italophile will discover fun new facts and fascinating new insights in the pages of La Dolce Vita U.

Mini-essays treat specific topics in one or more of the following subject areas: the Italian character; the visual arts (art, artists, architects); the performing arts (music, theater, cinema); history and antiquity; language and literature; cuisine and agriculture; wine and spirits; traditions and festivals; style and applied arts; unique places. In a wink and nod to the book’s “academic” identity, the 165 mini-essays are arranged alphabetically and accompanied by charming illustrations throughout. A special traveler’s topic index is provided at the end of the book.

Genres: Travel, Italy, Nonfiction

328 pages, Paperback

First published March 13, 2018

About the author

Carla Gambescia’s passion for Italy began early – with her mother’s love of the Renaissance masters and her father’s discourses on Italian geniuses of every calling. In the ensuing decades she has toured every region of Italy (often by bicycle) and immersed herself in its astonishing array of cultural treasures. In recent years Carla has combined her passion as an Italophile with her skills as a career marketer and branding expert, acting as a consultant to and a collaborator with boutique tour operators. She conceived and co-lead the Giro del Gelato bicycle tour, winner of Outside Magazine’s “Best Trip in Western Europe.” In 2008 Carla founded Via Vanti! Restaurant & Gelateria, in Mount Kisco, New York, with the ambition of creating a unique environment and dining experience which would enable guests to feel as though they had stepped right into Italy. Via Vanti! quickly won plaudits not just for its innovative Italian cuisine, extraordinary gelato (named “Best Gelato Shop in New York”) and dazzling jewel box interior but also, under Carla’s direction, for its active program of culinary and cultural events. It is Carla’s conviction that all of us, regardless of our inherited ethnicities, share an “inner Italian” – that part of our nature which is most expressive, festive, spontaneous and fun – just waiting to be unlocked.

La Dolce Vita University: An Unconventional Guide to Italian Culture from A to Z is the natural outgrowth of Carla’s work and play in both the restaurant and boutique travel industries, as well as a lifelong love affair with the land of her ancestors.

Reviews

[Randal White · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely wonderful book! The author has written a series of fascinating short essays about Italy. Divided into an "A to Z" format, these are tidbits you would never get in the run-of-the-mill tour guides or history books. It covers subjects ranging from Gelato to Venus's Navel. Loads of insights into the Italian food and drink you love, as well as fun historical tidbits. It's the kind of book that you can pick up and read a couple of the entries, then set back down until you find some more time. You can't get lost. Or, you can be like me, and just devour the book!
As a personal note, my wife and I have been blessed to have the most wonderful foreign exchange students live with us. One of our favorites, an Italian girl, has had her family "adopt" us. We visit them, they visit us, plus we talk all the time. I brought up several of these little stories to them, and they were amazed that I, an American, would know such things! It was really fun!
If you have any interest in Italian life and culture, take a break from the "I bought a villa in Italy" books, and give this one a chance. You will be amazed!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fabulous compilation of facts about Italy from ancient times to today. It covers art, religion, food, politics, and anything else you could think of. Wonderful!

[Ray Grasshoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I learned some interesting things about Italy and its history and people from this book, I think it would be of primary interest only to people who have already visited that country and are looking for a few deeper insights into it. Otherwise, I fear, much of what it offers would be lost on someone with no real familiarity with that Mediterranean nation. And too, I found the book's extensive use of lengthy, complex sentences to impede the easy flow of words that would have made the book a bit more readable. The book's topics, arranged alphabetically rather than by subject, required the reader to move back and forth between unrelated items, which also hurt readability and easy understanding. Curiously, the index was organized by subject rather than alphabetically, which is usually the case. Bottom line is that it's not a bad book, but could have been much better.

[Be Hương · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Italy 101. A must read for me to learn about Italy, the people and culture and history. I’m very ignorant when it comes to history and geography (typical Asian) so didn’t have the right amount of knowledge when I first visited Italy. Without the knowledge, I didn’t have the right appreciation for the culture and art as well as the Italian people. I actually found Italy cities loud and messy and chaotic in my first visit, which is completely opposite to the Nordic. However, after reading this book, I somehow was imparted with the writer’s love for this country, who’s an Italian American. In my second visit, which was to Napoli, I fell in love with the people there for their friendliness and passion. La passione italiana is truly what distinguishes Italy from the rest of the world.

[Candida · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read. Highly recommend it.