THE LAST ITALIAN MEETING of the 2018-2019 PROGRAM YEAR
IS THIS COMING WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24 at St. Patrick's Church, Social Hall, 815 East Edgar Street, Seattle 98102
Our speaker will be Matteo FitzGerald, a Dante Alighieri member who grew up in Catania. Matteo will explore his native Sicily with us, the largest Mediterranean Island, known as the "Granary of Empires", and, in the ancient Greek, the Triangle. It is the largest region of Italy, and the 4th most populous, with over 5 million people.
In his presentation Matteo will touch on the history, language, terroirs and culture of Sicily.
Sicily has a rich and ancient history, going back to the original tribes that moved onto the island, to the Classical era, when Greece, then the Romans, maintained large presences in the area. In the modern eras, the island has been occupied by a variety of empires, and it is of tremendous strategic importance in the Mediterranean, due to several deep water ports, location in the center of the sea, and the vast agricultural bounty of the land. The Sicilian language has influences from the Greek, Italian, Arabic and more.
There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion. The presentation will be in Italian and in Sicilian, and there will be a handout with words in English, Italian and, for some parts, in Sicilian.
MEETING DETAILS
As usual, the evening will begin with food and conversation at 6:30. There is no cost for the meeting, but you are encouraged to bring along an antipasto, dolce or vino to share. The presentation which will be mainly in Italian will start at 7:30.
The meeting will take place in the Parish Social Hall at St. Patrick's Church, 815 East Edgar Street, on the North side of Capitol Hill.
Parking is available in St. Patrick's parking lot, off of E. Edgar street. The meetings take place in the Parish Hall, located in the basement of the church and is entered on the West side of the church from the parking lot.
To reach St Patrick's from the North, follow I-5 S. Take exit 168A for Boylston Ave toward Roanoke St. Merge onto Boylston, turn left at light onto E Roanoke St. Turn left at the first cross street onto Harvard Ave E. and then take the first right onto E. Edgar Street.
To reach St. Patrick's from the South, follow I-5 N. Take exit 168A for Lakeview Blvd E. Turn left onto Lakeview Blvd E, and continue onto Boylston Ave E. Turn right at the light onto E Roanoke St. Turn left at the first cross street onto Harvard Ave. E. and then take the first right onto E. Edgar Street..
Feel free to come early to help set up the room and start visiting. And, in any case, please come.
A presto -
Dan DeMatteis,
President, Dante Alighieri Society of Washington
