{"id":18412,"date":"2025-03-24T21:55:21","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T01:55:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/?p=18412"},"modified":"2025-04-10T18:54:43","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T22:54:43","slug":"march-2025-american-student-blogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/march-2025-american-student-blogs\/","title":{"rendered":"March 2025 American Student Blogs"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"18412\" class=\"elementor elementor-18412\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0edafbf elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0edafbf\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e200244\" data-id=\"e200244\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6709b59 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6709b59\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Italian Design<\/b><\/p><p>By Ellie Kim<\/p><p>The designs of the Italians are very beautiful, and intricate. When I travel to Italy, the architecture and design of Italy is so magnificent and I never want to leave! Everywhere I go, there is an interesting design or architecture that I take a picture of! An Italian designer that I admire is Mario Bellini. He creates very high quality and comfortable sofas that many people love and admire. I read magazines about Bellini and think about how luxurious the couch looks. Bellini\u2019s furniture is loved by people all over the world and I want one myself! Thank you, Mario Bellini!\u00a0<\/p><p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-18415 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.49.00-PM-300x214.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"214\" srcset=\"https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.49.00-PM-300x214.png 300w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.49.00-PM-768x547.png 768w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.49.00-PM-24x17.png 24w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.49.00-PM-36x26.png 36w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.49.00-PM-48x34.png 48w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.49.00-PM.png 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p><p>Another Italian architect I admire is Michelangelo, a very famous and inspirational renaissance architect. A very famous building in Italy is called the St. Peter\u2019s Basilica and was created by Michelangelo. This building is very famous in Italy and many people travel to Italy to see it! I love the design St\u2019 Peter\u2019s Basilica because of its intricate interior and exterior design. To me, it is the most beautiful structure and I love to see it in Italy. Thank you, Michelangelo!<\/p><p>Italian design is very unique and beautiful, making it a very pleasant view. When I look at my pictures from Italy, I remember the beauty of the country. It is the most magnificent view!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><div><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-18414 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.49.05-PM-300x159.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"332\" height=\"176\" srcset=\"https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.49.05-PM-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.49.05-PM-1024x544.png 1024w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.49.05-PM-768x408.png 768w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.49.05-PM-24x13.png 24w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.49.05-PM-36x19.png 36w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.49.05-PM-48x26.png 48w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.49.05-PM.png 1110w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 332px) 100vw, 332px\" \/><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ce876ce elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ce876ce\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-efe8f1f\" data-id=\"efe8f1f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15b10d3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"15b10d3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Traduzione Italiana<\/span><\/p><p>Il design d&#8217;Italia \u00e8 molto bello e intricato. Quando io viaggio in Italia, l&#8217;architettura italiana \u00e8 molto magnifica e non voglio partire. In italia, c&#8217;\u00e8 molto design e architettura interessante e fare molte fotografie. Un designer molto incredibile italiano \u00e8 Mario Bellini. Lui crea divani comodi e di alta qualit\u00e0, e molta gente ama i divani di Mario Bellini. Io leggo le riviste di mario bellini e i suoi divani sembrano molto lussuosi. Tutte genti del mondo amano i mobili di Mario Bellini, e io desidero il suo divano! Grazie, Mario Bellini! Un altro famoso designer d\u2019Italia \u00e8 Michelangelo e lui \u00e8 molto architetto ispiratore del Rinascimento. Un edificio molto famoso d&#8217;Italia \u00e8 la Basilica di San Pietro di Michelangelo. Molta gente viaggia in Italia perch\u00e8 loro vogliono vedere questo edificio. Amo il design di San Pietro di Michelangelo per l\u2019interno e l\u2019esterno della struttura. \u00c8 una struttura bellissima per me e la amo vedere. Grazie, Michelangelo! Il design italiano e\u2019 molto unico e bello. E\u2019 bellissimo, e quando vedo le mie fotografie d\u2019Italia, io ricordo la bellezza dell\u2019Italia.\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">About the Author<\/span><\/p><p>Ciao ragazzi! My name is Ellie Kim and I attend Cresskill High School in Cresskill, New Jersey. I am a freshman currently studying Italian II honors with Signorina Zoino and I strive to speak Italian fluently in the future in order to learn and communicate with others. Aside from my studies, I love to play and listen to music and I also enjoy travelling with my family.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a1b175a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a1b175a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8323f62\" data-id=\"8323f62\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64528d7 elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"64528d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\" style=\"--divider-pattern-url: url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&#039;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&#039; preserveAspectRatio=&#039;none&#039; overflow=&#039;visible&#039; height=&#039;100%&#039; viewBox=&#039;0 0 24 24&#039; fill=&#039;none&#039; stroke=&#039;black&#039; stroke-width=&#039;1&#039; stroke-linecap=&#039;square&#039; stroke-miterlimit=&#039;10&#039;%3E%3Cpolyline points=&#039;0,18 12,6 24,18 &#039;\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;);\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-86e9dd4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"86e9dd4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d25a3fb\" data-id=\"d25a3fb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a9925e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0a9925e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>American and Italian Architecture<\/b><\/p><p>By Hailey Chung<\/p><p>American designs are modern and sleek. Many houses have simple furniture. I like modern furniture. In my opinion, buildings with pillars and large windows are beautiful because the buildings look elaborate. Americans are popular for building skyscrapers, such as the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building. In the city, these skyscrapers are stunning, but I prefer Victorian-style architecture because it has many more small details, such as carvings, finishes, etc. A famous American architect I know is Frank Lloyd Wright; he designed Fallingwater, a modern building with running water!\u00a0<\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-18418 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.59.05-PM-261x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"261\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.59.05-PM-261x300.png 261w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.59.05-PM-21x24.png 21w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.59.05-PM-31x36.png 31w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.59.05-PM-42x48.png 42w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.59.05-PM.png 402w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 261px) 100vw, 261px\" \/><\/p><p>When I went to Italy, I saw buildings like the Pantheon, which had pillars and beautiful marble. The architect of the Pantheon was Emperor Hadrian; I like his style of grandeur. The building is imposing; I love this style because it leaves a strong impression. Also, the Colosseum was amazing! The size of the Colosseum amazed me. Looking inside the stadium was a lot of fun.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd92a7b elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-htmega-galleryjustify-addons\" data-id=\"fd92a7b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"htmega-galleryjustify-addons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<div id=\"npgalleryfd92a7b\" class=\"npgallery_activefd92a7b\"style=\"display:none;\">                        <div class=\"htmega-justify-single-image\">\n                            <div class=\"thumb\">\n                                <a href=\"http:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.59.15-PM.png\" rel=\"npgallery\">\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.59.15-PM.png\" alt=\"\">\n                                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n\n                                            <div class=\"htmega-justify-single-image\">\n                            <div class=\"thumb\">\n                                <a href=\"http:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.59.11-PM.png\" rel=\"npgallery\">\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-24-at-9.59.11-PM.png\" alt=\"\">\n                                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n\n                    <\/div>        <script>\n            jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n\n                'use strict';                \n                $('#npgalleryfd92a7b').imagesLoaded( function() {\n                    $('#npgalleryfd92a7b')[0].style.display='block';\n                    $('#npgalleryfd92a7b').justifiedGallery({\n                        rowHeight: 300,\n                        maxRowHeight: null,\n                        margins: 20,\n                        border: 0,\n                        rel: 'npgalleryfd92a7b',\n                        lastRow: 'nojustify',\n                        captions: true,\n                        randomize: false,\n                        sizeRangeSuffixes: {\n                            lt100: '_t',\n                            lt240: '_m',\n                            lt320: '_n',\n                            lt500: '',\n                            lt640: '_z',\n                            lt1024: '_b'\n                        }\n                    });\n                });\n                            });\n        <\/script>\n        \t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c56eaaa elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c56eaaa\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-13673e9\" data-id=\"13673e9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-58925ad elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"58925ad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Traduzione Italiana<\/span><\/p><p>Le progettazioni americane sono moderne e lineari. Molte case hanno mobili semplici. Mi piacciono i mobili moderni. Secondo me, gli edifici con pilastri e ampie finestre grandi sono belli perch\u00e9 appaiono elaborati. Gli americani sono famosi per costruire grattacieli, come l\u2019Empire State Building e il Chrysler Building. Nelle citt\u00e0, i grattacieli sono sbalorditivi, ma preferisco l&#8217;architettura vittoriana perch\u00e9 presenta molti pi\u00f9 dettagli minuti, come intagli, rifiniture, ecc. Un famoso architetto americano che conosco \u00e8 Frank Lloyd Wright; ha progettato Fallingwater, un edificio moderno con acqua corrente!\u00a0<\/p><p>Quando sono stato in Italia, ho visto edifici come il Pantheon, che ha pilastri e bellissimi marmi. L\u2019architetto del Pantheon era l\u2019imperatore Adriano; mi piace il suo stile maestoso. L&#8217;edificio \u00e8 imponente; amo questo stile perch\u00e9 trasmette un\u2019impressione forte. Anche il Colosseo era fantastico! Le dimensioni del Colosseo mi hanno sbalordito. Guardare all\u2019interno dello stadio \u00e8 stato molto divertente.\u00a0<\/p><div><p><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">About the Author<\/span><\/p><p>Hailey Chung is a freshman in Signorina Zoino\u2019s Italian II Honors course at Cresskill High School. She wants to pursue Italian studies throughout high school and is interested in continuing them during college. Outside of school, she likes to swim, write, and listen to true crime podcasts.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-861f7ae elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"861f7ae\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3313ee9\" data-id=\"3313ee9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ec7be79 elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"ec7be79\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\" style=\"--divider-pattern-url: url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&#039;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&#039; preserveAspectRatio=&#039;none&#039; overflow=&#039;visible&#039; height=&#039;100%&#039; viewBox=&#039;0 0 24 24&#039; fill=&#039;none&#039; stroke=&#039;black&#039; stroke-width=&#039;1&#039; stroke-linecap=&#039;square&#039; stroke-miterlimit=&#039;10&#039;%3E%3Cpolyline points=&#039;0,18 12,6 24,18 &#039;\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;);\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ef9b17b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ef9b17b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-39d7fe7\" data-id=\"39d7fe7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b4d8fd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0b4d8fd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Glasses: From Medieval Invention to a Symbol of Italian Excellence in the World\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p><p><b>By Gabriel Harmetz\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For many, glasses are an essential accessory, blending functionality with style. But when were they invented? And how did they become a fashion phenomenon? It\u2019s a fascinating story\u2014one with deep roots in Italy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first corrective lenses date back as far as the Roman Empire, when Seneca described using a magnifying glass to read. However, true eyeglasses, complete with a frame, emerged much later, around the 13th century. The first known models were likely developed in Italy, probably in Pisa or Venice, around the year 1280.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These early glasses were rather rudimentary: two convex lenses mounted in a wooden or metal frame, with no side arms to rest on the ears (they had to be held in place by hand). They were primarily used by monks and scholars for reading lengthy religious texts. The master glassmakers of the tiny Venetian island of Murano played a crucial role in refining the art of lens-making.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As for sunglasses, Venetian gondoliers were already using darkened lenses in the 18th century to protect themselves from the glare of sunlight reflecting off the water.\u00a0 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-18473 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_9056-300x225.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_9056-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_9056-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_9056-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_9056-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_9056-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_9056-24x18.jpeg 24w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_9056-36x27.jpeg 36w, https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_9056-48x36.jpeg 48w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it wasn\u2019t until the 20th century that sunglasses became a true fashion statement. In the 1930s, the American company Bausch &amp; Lomb developed the first **Ray-Ban Aviators** for military pilots. It didn\u2019t take long before they became a symbol of allure and mystery, thanks to Hollywood icons like Audrey Hepburn and James Dean.\u00a0 In Italy, celebrities such as Marcello Mastroianni and Sofia Loren helped popularize sunglasses in different styles, and Italians now wear them year-round, even on cloudy days: it\u2019s part of their signature look.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If Italy today is synonymous with excellence in eyewear, we have one visionary to thank: Leonardo Del Vecchio. Born in 1935 in poverty and raised in an orphanage, Del Vecchio founded Luxottica in 1961 in his small workshop in Agordo, a mountain village in the Veneto region.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His winning idea? To integrate the entire production chain\u2014from design to distribution. By the 1980s, Luxottica had acquired prestigious brands such as Oakley and Persol, and secured exclusive licensing deals with luxury names such as Armani, Prada, Versace, and Dolce &amp; Gabbana. In the 1990s, Luxottica also acquired Sunglass Hut, LensCrafters, and Pearle Vision, to control retail and distribution. The real breakthrough came in 1999, when Luxottica purchased the legendary Ray-Ban brand, transforming it from a fading label into a global icon.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After merging in 2018 with Essilor, today Luxottica is part of the international giant EssilorLuxottica, the world\u2019s leading eyewear group, and continues to innovate with cutting-edge materials and outstanding designs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From the medieval invention of glasses to the rise of Luxottica, Italy has always played a central role in the world of eyewear. By combining artisanal tradition with technological innovation, the country continues to lead the industry, proving that Italian creativity knows no bounds.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Glasses are no longer just a tool for better vision; they are a symbol of style and identity. And after all, what could be more Italian than the perfect blend of beauty and functionality?<\/span><\/p><p><strong>ABOUT ME:<\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My name is Gabriel (\u201cGabo\u201d) Harmetz and I live in New York City, where I am a 12th grader at Ramaz Upper School. I love sports, especially skiing and basketball, and spending time with friends.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I am a dual national (U.S.A. and Italy.)<\/span><\/p><p><b>Gli Occhiali: Da Invenzione Medievale a Simbolo dell\u2019Eccellenza Italiana nel Mondo<\/b><\/p><p><b>By Gabriel Harmetz\u00a0<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gli occhiali sono per molti un accessorio indispensabile, che unisce funzionalit\u00e0 e stile. Ma quando sono stati inventati? E come sono esplosi nel mondo della moda? \u00c8 una storia affascinante con profonde radici in Italia.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Le prime lenti correttive risalgono addirittura ai tempi dell\u2019Impero Romano, quando Seneca descriveva l\u2019uso di una lente d\u2019ingrandimento per leggere. Tuttavia, gli occhiali veri e propri con la montatura nacquero molto pi\u00f9 tardi, all\u2019incirca nel XIII secolo. Pare che i primi esemplari siano stati sviluppati in Italia, probabilmente a Pisa o Venezia, intorno al 1280.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Erano degli aggeggi piuttosto rudimentali: due lenti convesse montate in una struttura di legno o metallo, senza aste per le orecchie (venivano sorretti con la mano.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Li usavano soprattutto monaci e studiosi per leggere lunghi testi religiosi. L&#8217;arte dei maestri vetrai dell\u2019isoletta veneziana di Murano gioc\u00f2 un ruolo cruciale nello sviluppo delle lenti da vista.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Per quanto riguarda gli occhiali da sole, gi\u00e0 nel XVIII secolo i gondolieri veneziani utilizzavano lenti scure per difendersi dal riflesso della luce sull\u2019acqua.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tuttavia, fu solo nel Novecento che gli occhiali da sole diventarono un accessorio di moda. Negli anni \u201930, l\u2019azienda Bausch &amp; Lomb svilupp\u00f2 i primi Ray-Ban Aviator per i piloti dell\u2019aeronautica militare americana. In poco tempo, diventarono per\u00f2 anche un simbolo di fascino e mistero, grazie a star di Hollywood come Audrey Hepburn e James Dean.\u00a0 In Italia, divi come Marcello Mastroianni e Sofia Loren contribuirono alla diffusione degli occhiali da sole in diversi modelli, e da allora gli italiani amano indossarli non solo d\u2019estate ma tutto l\u2019anno, perfino quando\u00a0 cielo \u00e8 nuvoloso.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Se oggi l\u2019Italia \u00e8 sinonimo di eccellenza nel settore dell\u2019eyewear, lo dobbiamo a un uomo visionario: Leonardo Del Vecchio. Nato nel 1935 in povert\u00e0 e allevato in un orfanotrofio, Del Vecchio avvi\u00f2 Luxottica nel 1961 in un piccolo laboratorio di Agordo, un paesino sulle montagne del Veneto.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">L\u2019idea vincente? Integrare l\u2019intera filiera produttiva: dalla progettazione alla distribuzione. Negli anni \u201980, Luxottica acquis\u00ec marchi prestigiosi e ottenne licenze esclusive con brand di lusso come Armani, Prada, Versace e Dolce &amp; Gabbana. Negli anni \u201890 Luxottica acquist\u00f2 Sunglass Hut, LensCrafters, and Pearle Vision, in modo da monopolizzare la distribuzione del prodotto. La vera svolta arriv\u00f2 poi nel 1999, quando acquist\u00f2 anche la mitica Ray-Ban, trasformandola da un marchio in declino a un\u2019icona globale.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dopo il merger nel 2018 con Essilor, oggi Luxottica fa parte del colosso internazionale EssilorLuxottica, leader mondiale nel settore, e continua a innovare con materiali all\u2019avanguardia e design d\u2019eccellenza.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dall\u2019invenzione medievale degli occhiali all\u2019impero Luxottica, l\u2019Italia ha sempre avuto un ruolo centrale nel mondo dell\u2019eyewear. Combinando tradizione artigianale e innovazione tecnologica, il nostro Paese continua a spiccare nel settore, dimostrando che la creativit\u00e0 italiana non conosce confini.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gli occhiali non sono pi\u00f9 semplicemente uno strumento per vedere meglio, ma un simbolo di stile e identit\u00e0. E, in fondo, cosa c\u2019\u00e8 di pi\u00f9 italiano dell\u2019unione tra bellezza e funzionalit\u00e0?<\/span><\/p><p><strong>SU DI ME:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mi chiamo Gabriel (\u201cGabo\u201d) Harmetz e vivo a New York dove frequento l\u2019ultimo anno della scuola superiore Ramaz. Adoro lo sport, in particolare lo sci e il basket, e stare in compagnia. Ho la doppia cittadinanza americana e italiana. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Italian Design By Ellie Kim The designs of the Italians are very beautiful, and intricate. When I travel to Italy, the architecture and design of Italy is so magnificent and&#8230;<a href=\"https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/march-2025-american-student-blogs\/\" class=\"more-link\" title=\"Read More\" >Read More <i class=\"fa fa-chevron-circle-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[88],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18412"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18412"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18412\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18476,"href":"https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18412\/revisions\/18476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18412"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18412"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/italianlanguagefoundation.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18412"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}