Italian Food Lovers

On the road again … with Academia Barilla. Join us as we travel to Venice, Parma, Rome and Sicily. 

It’s that time of year again. What time you ask? Time to start planning your next trip to Italy, of course.We all know that the Italian peninsula is home to an infinite number of things to see and do and taste. But why make it hard on yourself, when you can let Academia Barilla and their team of Italian food, wine and culture experts plan your trip for you. Join us for a behind the scenes tour of your favorite region in Italy, or allow us to introduce you to someplace new.

Speaking of new, we have designed two new tours for 2009: Venice, Parma, Rome: A Trio of Italian History and Sicily for Food Lovers. 

If you have never been Italy or just breezed through on your last whirlwind tour of Europe, we invite you to get to know three of Italy’s most spectacular cities – Venice, Rome, and Parma. You will begin your adventure in Venice, where a local guide will show you around the local markets and introduce you to some of the city’s incredible craftsmen Read more…

NOTE August 7, 2008: due to publishing rights on the photographic images of this exhibition, we have been asked to remove the images published in this post… =(

If you are interested in seeing new authorized photo images from the exhibition at the Academia Barilla Culinary Center, please refer to this new blog post. Sorry!

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Within the frame of activities of the already mentioned GNAM Festival, the cultural event promoted by City of Parma and Solaris Fondazione per le Arti, and dedicated to the celebration of Gastronomy in Contemporary Art.

As final show within the Festival, Academia Barilla will be hosting a collection of photographs by Marcello Geppetti (24 photographies total). The exhibition, which opened to the public last April 16, will be accessible at the Academia Barilla Culinary Center until November 16, 2008.

With over a thousands of unforgettable shots of famous celebrities capturing moments of the Italian “Dolce Vita” of the 50’s, ’60’s and 70’s. A unique, unrepeatable, marvelous period for post-war Italy, and Rome in particular, immortalized by the special touch of Geppetti.

(Jane Fonda and Roger Vadim dining in Rome - photo: Marcello Geppetti)
NOTE: image removed due to publishing right issues.

Celebrities, politicians, actors, artists, everyone had to pass through Rome - at that time, the centre of the Universe, of the Dolce Vita - and stop by the social scene of Via Veneto, Via Condotti and Piazza di Spagna. These places are those where everything happened around a drink, a banquet, a dinner, a party, a cocktail, a concert. And everyone who wanted to be seen and be part of this glamour life needed to pass by, to stop for a dinner at the Grotte del Piccione, or at Meo Patacca Restaurant, for a drink at Club 84.

(Alberto Sordi entertaining friends after dinner in Rome - photo: Marcello Geppetti)
NOTE: image removed due to publishing right issues.

Marcello Geppetti, one of the founders of Café de Paris, made the history of photography. For 40 years Geppetti was in every place and in every event. Thanks to his beautiful images depicting big celebrities around a table, in happy and vital portrait of simple gestures such as eating and drinking, he contributed to create the myth around that dreamlike period of time of Italy, giving eternity to these marvelous Dolce Vita characters and memorable moments.

(Lauren Bacall enjoying an ice cream in Rome - photo: Marcello Geppetti)
NOTE: image removed due to publishing right issues.

Claudia Cardinale, Liz Taylor, Vittorio Gasmann, Richard Burton, Brigitte Bardot, Kirk Douglas, Audrey Hepburn, Jacqueline Kennedy, James Stewart, Gina Lollobrigida, Sophia Loren, Totò, Fellini, De Sica, Alain Delon, Romy Schneider, Marcello Mastroianni - just to name a few of the many celebrities that Marcello Geppetti knew and captured in his photographies during their stay in Italy.

(Audrey Hepburn shopping for food in Rome - photo: Marcello Geppetti)
NOTE: image removed due to publishing right issues.

At fashion stores, while working on movie set, along Rome’s street, at restaurants, everywhere. Geppetti with his special touch added a deep sense of humanity to celebrities’ pictures. David Schonhauer, director of “American Photo Manager” recently highlighted the talent of Marcello Geppetti and defined him a real artist of the shot, capable of unveal the human side of celebrities.

(Monica Vitti and Alain Delon dining in Rome - photo: Marcello Geppetti)
NOTE: image removed due to publishing right issues.

The name of Marcello Geppetti is mentioned in the history of photography next to big names such as Man Ray, Richard Avedon, Cecuil Beaton, Andy Warhol, and his photographies have been published by major international magazines headings such as Life, Photoplay, Daily Mirror, Bunte, El Pais and Washington Post - now they are available at the Academia Barilla Culinary Center, don’t miss this exhibition!

The address to the Academia Barilla Culinary Center is Largo Piero Calamandrei, 3/A (c/o Barilla Center), 43100 Parma, Italy. Please call +39 0521 264060 for further information and opening hours. Driving directions? Please use the Google map here below.