De Rada Sample of Guests 

No other summer programs in Italy

will offer you these great opportunities.

     Special guests 2010

• Tommaso Affaldano, gelato-maker (gelato is the Italian ice-cream). Considered one of the best "gelataio" in the world, Tommaso Affaldano was born in Ortona, in the region of Abruzzo.  He studied the art of making gelato at the very well known school "Copac" in Milan, and he worked in Italy (Ortona and Reggio Emilia), in Germany (Frankfurt a. M., Munich, and Travemunde) and in the United States (Cambridge and Natick, MA).    He was elected twice among the best gelato-maker in the world in Longarone, Italy, and he offered seminars on the history and art of making gelato at Harvard University, MIT, University of Rhode Island, GE School. Many articles were written about Tommaso's gelato in different newspapers such as Boston Globe, Herald, USA Today, Natick Daily News; an article was also published by Cooking Light on the back cover of the magazine (see on the left).  Recently he has also been interviewed by the Italian public TV RAI International. Tommaso Affaldano is one of our special guest and he will stay with us for about ten days to teach to our students what gelato is, how it's made, and even how students can make their own gelato at home.

• Carmine Abate writer and poet. In the Summer 2010 Abate will be back to our program to present his new book edited by Mondadori, Milan. Last year he presented Gli anni veloci, winner of the Premio Tropea 2009. In his visit to our Institute four summers ago, Abate considered the De Rada students' public presentation of his book Tra due mari (winner of 5 National Prizes) to be the best presentation in Italy.  One of the best Italian writers of the moment, in the summer 2006 Abate presented his book, Il mosaico del tempo grande, published by Mondadori (the most important Italian publisher).  
• Franco Azzinari, painter.  Born in San Demetrio, Franco Azzinari is considered one of the best painters in Italy.  He is famous not only for his landscapes of Calabria, but also for his painting of Cuba. Azzinari, who has been with us already in the Summer 2006 and 2007, will direct the art project I Colori del Mediterraneo (Mediterranean's Colors). Inspired by the Mediterranean colors and culture students can paint, make pictures, write poems, etc. The work will then be selected and exposed in an art exhibition.
• Walter Valeri is the author of several successful essays, plays and collections of poems, including Deliri Fragili. He has co-edited as standard sourcebook on Dario Fo, Fabulazzo and on Franca Rame, Franca Rame a woman on stage. From 1980 to 1996 he worked with Dario Fo, serving as his personal assistant and organizer for his tours abroad. 
• Giovanni Morello, President of the Foundation for "I Beni e le Attività artistiche della Chiesa", Global Coordinator of Art Exhibitions for the Vatican Museums, director of some of the most important art exhibitions in the world, Giovanni Morello  will offer seminars and a public lecture on artists such as Michelangelo, Bernini, and Caravaggio.
• Francesco Sisci, journalist for "La Stampa", and Director of the Italian Institute of Culture in China.  Author of the book Another China, Doctor Sisci will offer special lessons on journalism to the Advanced students and will give a public lecture on the political and economical aspects of China.    
• Dante Della Terza, Emeritus Professor of Italian, Harvard University-Università Federico II di Napoli.  Considered one of the best Professors and Critics of Italian Literature in the World, author of many books including Da Vienna a Baltimora, Della Terza will teach the Italian Literature class and part of the Advanced class.  He will also give a lecture on Italian Literature.          
• Alessandro Ghisalberti, Professor of History of Medieval Philosophy and Theoretics, and Chair of the Department of Philosophy at the Università La Cattolica, in Milan.  Expert of Hoccam and St. Thomas Aquinos, Prof. Ghisalberti will give seminars on the philosophy of the twentieth century and on the works of Pirandello and Svevo.  Professor Ghisalberti will also give a lecture on Medieval Philosophy.   

Donations to our non-profit organization

Thank you very much for your kind donation which will be be used to improve our program. If you want to establish an endowment for scholarships given on your name, or if you want to sponsor our movie production or any other activity please contact us and let us know.

The De Rada Italian Institute is a 501 C3 non profit organization and therefore your donation is tax deductable. For your tax deduction, please contact your tax consulter.