WTF Fun Fact 13600 – Italian Mother Evicts Sons

You know things have to be bad at home when you read a headline that says “mother evicts sons from home.”

In the scenic city of Pavia, Italy, a landmark case highlights the sometimes strained dynamics between parents and their adult children. A 75-year-old mother, frustrated and worn out, took her two sons to court to have them evicted from her home. The central bone of contention? The mother, who is retired, alleges her two adult sons have lived off her pension, not contributing financially or assisting with household chores, despite both being gainfully employed.

The Sons’ Defense: Cultural and Legal Ties

The sons, aged 40 and 42, labeled as “bamboccioni” (big babies) in court, didn’t take the eviction lightly. Resorting to legal representation, they countered that Italian law compels parents to support their children indefinitely. This argument alludes to a cultural phenomenon in Italy, where many adults live with their parents into their late twenties and beyond. The term “mammoni” (mama’s boys) is often used to describe such men who are heavily reliant on their mothers, even in adulthood.

In the court ruling, Judge Simona Caterbi upheld the mother’s plea. She emphasized that adult children don’t have an inherent right to inhabit a property owned solely by their parents. Particularly when that goes against the parents’ wishes. Caterbi acknowledged the law’s provision for parents to maintain their offspring. But she deemed it unreasonable for men over 40 to continue exploiting this provision.

Judge Caterbi’s verdict: the sons have until December 18 to pack up and leave.

What Lies Ahead After Mother Evicts Sons?

Italy is no stranger to such cases. In 2020, the nation’s Supreme Court ruled against a 35-year-old part-time music teacher who sought financial backing from his parents. He claimed his 20,000 euros annual income was insufficient. It seems Italy grapples with a unique cultural challenge – a significant number of adults delay their departure from the parental nest.

According to Eurostat 2022, Italians, on average, venture out of their parents’ homes around age 30. This trend is relatively high when juxtaposed with northern European countries like Finland, Sweden, and Denmark. In these countries, young adults commence their independent journey at roughly 21.

As the sons ponder an appeal, this case underscores the evolving dynamics between Italian parents and their adult children. With the court’s ruling, other parents might be empowered to establish boundaries, especially with adult children who can support themselves. Furthermore, it’s an essential commentary on cultural shifts and the legal system’s role in mediating familial disputes.

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Source: “‘Parasites’: Mother wins court case to evict two sons in their 40s” — CNN

WTF Fun Fact 13469 – Giant Stuffed Rabbit in Italy

Yearning to travel and eager to visit a giant stuffed rabbit in Italy? Probably not, but it is worth knowing about.

In Piedmont, a region tucked away in the Italian countryside, this attraction might leave you speechless.

Meet Pinky, the Giant Stuffed Rabbit in Italy

Nestled on the Colletto Fava hill near Artesina in the Piedmont region, Pinky is not your usual sight. As you trek up the hillside, a Pepto pink greets you from the green landscape. The source? A colossal, 200-foot-long stuffed rabbit.

Pinky, officially named “Hase,” is the quirky brainchild of an artist collective named Gelitin hailing from Vienna. In 2005, the artists conceived the idea of bringing an unusual slice of joy to hikers traversing the picturesque Piedmont countryside. The result was this enormous pink rabbit. No one asked for it, but it certainly lends a little something extra to summiting the hill.

According to Gelitin’s website, the rabbit is both a representation of love and joy and a “decaying corpse.”

Pinky’s Unforgettable Presence

The magnanimity of Pinky, or Hase, is truly overwhelming. Rumor had it that Pinky was visible from space due to its sheer size, a testament to its unexpected grandeur. While personal spacecraft might not be available to us for verification, Google Maps provides a bird’s-eye view of the hillside, with Pinky clearly visible.

However, time hasn’t been kind to Pinky. The structure, now slowly decaying, is expected to last only until the mid-2020s, according to Gelitin’s prediction. It’s

Visiting Pinky

Despite Pinky’s deteriorating state, the strange fascination the giant rabbit offers hasn’t waned. The rabbit continues to be a popular feature on Instagram, with numerous visitors sharing snapshots of their unexpected encounter.

If you’re intrigued and wish to visit Pinky, the town of Artesina is approximately two hours by car from Turin and Genoa in Italy, or Nice in France. A combination of buses and trains can also get you there, but it might take significantly longer. However, considering Pinky’s state of decay, you might be just as well-advised to enjoy its spectacle via Google Earth.

You can even picnic on or near the bunny and slide down its legs. As long as you don’t mind being extra stinky when you get back downhill.

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Source: “This Gargantuan Stuffed Bunny Looms Over Piedmont, Italy” — Trip Savvy

WTF Fun Fact 12431 – The Disappearing Tuscan Village

Lake Vagli in Tuscany is a man-made reservoir created in 1946 when a dam was built nearby. At the time, the hydroelectric dam forced the 150 residents of the 12th-century medieval village to abandon it entirely and be relocated to the nearby town of Vagli Sotto.

However, when maintenance is done on the dam, the lake drains, and the village reemerges and becomes a popular tourist attraction. People have only seen the village four times since the dam was built – in 1958, 1974, 1983 and 1994. However, there will be another opportunity in 2023 when 34 million cubic meters of water are removed yet again.

In 1994, the last time the village was visible, nearly 1 million people came to see it, providing a significant tourism boon to the area. Visitors can see medieval homes, bridges, a cemetery, and a church.

If you’re planning a trip to Italy next year, plan to stop in Tuscany’s Lucca province for a look. But you may want to check on its progress first. The lake was supposed to be drained in 2021, and presumably, the pandemic stopped that. It takes an amazing amount of effort to reveal the village though, so the Italians are likely to make a big deal out of it. – WTF fun facts 

Source: “Italian village underwater since 1994 could resurface” — CNN