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Last broadcast on Sat, 2 May 2009, 10:00 on BBC Radio 4.
Synopsis
John McCarthy explores three very different aspects of Italy.
He hears from travel writer Peter Moore about the scooter trip he made around Italy's western coast and the islands of Elba, Sardinia and Sicily; places where, he discovered, the sight of an old Vespa can still raise the passions of the Italians.
Journalist David Lane tells John how the criminal organisations of southern Italy have infiltrated daily life there and whether their activities affect tourism.
And novelist Geoff Dyer reflects on the essentially unreal nature of Venice and why that makes it such a perfect setting for art, as exemplified by the Biennale.
Peter Moore
Peter Moore is originally from Sydney Australia but now lives in London; he is the author of several travel books. His latest book is entitled Vroom by the Sea: The Sunny Parts of Italy on a Bright Orange Vespa. Peter had been to Italy and ridden around on a scooter but, before fatherhood set in he decided on one more trip. His route was from Livorno where he picked up his Vespa to Pisa to Sardinia to Sicily to Naples to Rome and back to Livorno.
The Vespa motor scooter is an icon in Italy. The old ones are rarities because of Italy’s trade-in scheme old ones against new ones to meet EU emissions regulations.
Vroom by the Sea: The Sunny Parts of Italy on a Bright Orange Vespa
Publisher: Summersdale Publishers
ISBN-10: 1840247371
ISBN-13: 978-1840247374
David Lane
David Lane is a journalist and has written for the Guardian and the Financial Times. Since 1994 has been the Economist’s business and Finance correspondent for Italy. David first went to Italy to work in the seventies when he moved to Rome, where he still lives, on a six month assignment for the development agency for southern Italy and subsequently he became curious about the mafia and its involvement with Italian business life. He has travelled extensively in Sicily and the southern regions of Italy and recounts his experiences in his book Into the Heart of the Mafia.
Into the Heart of the Mafia: A Journey Through the Italian South
Publisher: Profile Books
ISBN-10: 184668269X
ISBN-13: 978-1846682698
Geoff Dyer
Geoff Dyer is one of Britain’s best regarded novelists. Geoff went to the first three days of the Venice biennale, an important contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years (in odd years) in the city. Geoff sees the parties and exhibitions as a valid aspect of the Venetian touristic experience. Part of Geoff’s latest novel, Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi, is set during the hectic three days of the festival before it opens to the public and the whole of the arts world seems to flock to the canals and alleys of the city boosting both its population and economy.
Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi
Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd
ISBN-10: 1847672701
ISBN-13: 978-1847672704
Broadcast
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Sat 2 May 200910:00
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