Have you ever noticed that Italian hotels never have a 17th floor? (Yes, we know, most of them don’t go that high, but when they do, they don’t, if you see what we mean.)
Apparently, Italians dislike the number so much that in some tall hotels the floors go from 16 to 18. And you’ll be pushed to find a Room 17 in many hotels, too. You might call it heptadecaphobia!
The Italian airline Alitalia doesn’t have a row 17 in its planes.
And Friday 17th is the Italian equivalent our Friday 13th: Here’s a picture of sign on a shop door: Oggi Venerdi 17. Chiuso per scaramanzia. ‘Today is Friday 17. Closed for Good Luck.’
There seems to be a number of explanations. First, the number 1, written with that conspicuous continental tick, resembles a hanged man, while 7 looks like a gallows. Then, if you re-arrange 17’s Roman numerals you get VIXI, often engraved on gravestones and meaning ‘My life is over’. So, you’re tempting Death to pay you a visit. (Stick with VIVIT, ‘He’s alive’, which sounds like a fine acronym for living well in Italy.)
While 17 sends shivers down Italian spines, they rather like 13. It’s associated with the old pagan mother goddess Cybele and with lunar cycles and fertility: it will bring you life and prosperity. The Italians think that’s good news, even though 13 sat down to the Last Supper.
Ghirlandaio’s last supper in the Ognissanti refectory in Florence
Learn more about life in Italy on our Italian language course this Summer:
We’ve teamed up again with the prestigious Florence language school, Langues Services, and tutor Giulia Balestri to design a week in which people can learn Italian in the most natural and enjoyable way ever. There will not only be formal lessons under the vine verandah (some 20 hours in the week), but we’ll also be making trips and excursions to enjoy the natural beauty of Lunigiana, the area surrounding the mill, to explore its history and culture, to sample its traditional foods – and above all, to meet the people, speaking Italian, practising what you’ve learned.
A couple of comments from last year’s language course: “We would like you to know how much we appreciated our stay with you at Posara. As hosts, you made us feel most welcome; and the combination of language lessons, food and excursions was excellently balanced. We were unaware of the Apuan mountain region – it is spectacularly beautiful. Altogether a unique and delightful experience. With fond memories of your lovely home and very personal hospitality.”
“What an amazing week. Thank you, Bill, Lois and your excellent team. Giulia was great, and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip. Can’t wait to do it all again….”
We’ve 12 people booked in for the week, one a non-participating partner, so we have room for two or three more people. Come and join us!
Giulia Balestri
30 June to 7 July 2018
Italian language week
To learn more about Giulia and her course at The Watermill, please click here.
