There is among UK citizens a long-standing prejudice regarding the quality of Italian Television which I feel is quite unjustified. Perhaps this may be because there continues to be a large amount of chat and games programmes occupying viewing hours. Sometimes there’s even soft-porn broadcasting bored housewives stripping off on some of the less reputable channels. Possibly it may be resentment that one is forced to pay for the ‘canone’ (Italian television licence) included in one’s electricity bill and can only get out of this enforcement by giving up the television set entirely. It could be that the language skills required for some of the best and most involved programmes may be beyond the capabilities of some of the notoriously second-language deficient British populace resident in Italy. Indeed, I have even heard of so called ‘ex-pats’ who tune-in exclusively to UK television which appears to me to consist largely of interviews with ghastly politicians inhabiting the Palace of Westminster, first-time house buyers hunting in New Malden and dog shows. How can they possibly get to grips with perhaps the world’s most beautiful language I wonder?

Of course, the quality television in any country depends on a selective choice of channels.  To help viewers there are a number of web sites that list programme schedules on the multifarious Italian TV channels. The one I like to  use is Programmi Televisivi – I programmi della serata in televisione. (programmi-televisivi.com).

(Carlotta abandoning TV viewing for balcony watching.)

Several Italian TV channels offer often inspiring viewing.  For instance, we recently found ourselves on RAI 3 ‘virtually’ seated in Verona’s Arena for a sequence of nights at the opera including a brilliant production of ‘Carmen’ by that doyen of directors Franco Zeffirelli. RAI 3 also produces a long-running programme called GEO which shows documentaries dealing with everything from Amazonian jaguars to transhumance in the Apuan Mountains. Presented by Sveva Sagramola and Emanuele Biggi we love to watch it and not just on rainy evenings. GEO’s web site is at Geo – RaiPlay. RAI 5 presents also some exceptional material including fifties and sixties Italian cinema and archival (black-and-white mostly) drama productions with such wonderful actors as Vittorio Gassman.

‘Linea Verde’ is another very interesting programme to watch (Web site at Linea Verde – Stagione 2021-2022 – Puntate – RaiPlay) It’s particularly valuable for foreign residents in Italy as it delves into local and regional practices like cookery, agriculture and traditions and displays many lovely ‘borghi’ for excursion planning.

With the world’s highest number of UNESCO-listed historical and artistic monuments Italy certainly does not lack places of interest to film and whet the appetite. In this respect it’s easy to find programmes dealing the peninsula’s sights and activities on everything from the smallest hamlet in Calabria to the major artistic centres. We find NOI TV, our regional station, essential viewing. (Web site at NoiTV – La TV della provincia di Lucca). Apart from home-grown news updates including road closures and the weather NOI TV presents interviews with local celebrities ranging from artists to herbalists to shepherds. It also informs us on upcoming events and presents a whole spread of places to explore.

Licia Colò is a well-regarded presenter of documentaries and travel programmes. She explains things beautifully and not too quickly. Known to the general public as a host of travel programmes including ‘Alle Falde Del Kilimanjaro’ and for her scientific dissemination activity she is the author of various books that tell about animals and her experiences around the world including a delightful one we have about cats. Currrently Licia is presenting a series about various fantastic places to visit in Italy. See her web site at http://www.liciacolo.it/

Channel 45 (FOCUS – web site at focus tv – Focus.it) is another gripping TV channel. It consists largely of investigative documentaries ranging from ancient Egyptian pharaohs to UFO sightings to air-crash disasters to Nazi enclaves in deepest Patagonia…Be careful, however. It can be addictive especially as many of the programmes are in English.

With regard to good TV programmes Italy mourns this week the passing of perhaps its most famous scientific documentarist, Piero Angela, at the age of 93.

Piero was an Italian science popularizer, journalist, television presenter and essayist, with a brief initial professional career as a jazz musician and pianist. He was known as the creator and presenter of popular broadcasts in a format made world-famous by the BBC and its panoply of popularizers like Richard Gregory, Raymond Baxter, Jacob Bronowski and David Attenborough.

Piero Angela gave life to a documentary strand of Italian television for the very first time in that company’s history and his programmes like Quark and ‘SuperQuark’ became (surprising RAI) prime-time viewing. Angela was also well-regarded, for his scientific journalism and non-fiction publications. It’s recognition of  Piero Angela’s importance in making science palatable to so many that his funeral this Tuesday takes place with all the highest honours the Italian republic can offer at Rome’s Campidoglio.

Significantly Angela requested a secular funeral and he left this last, moving message for his viewers and friends:

“Dear friends, I’m sorry not to be with you anymore after seventy years together. But nature also has its own rhythms. The years that have led me to learn about the world and human nature have been very stimulating. Above all, I was lucky enough to meet people who helped me achieve what every person would like to discover. Science allows us to face problems in a rational but at the same time human way. Despite a long illness I managed to complete all my programmes and projects (even a small satisfaction: a jazz record on the piano…). Also, sixteen episodes for schools on environmental and energy problems. It was an extraordinary adventure made possible thanks to the collaboration of a large group of authors, assistants, technicians and scientists. In turn, I tried to relate to others what I learned.

Dear viewers, I think I have done my little bit. Try to do your bit too for this difficult country of ours.

A big hug

Piero Angela”