Tuesday 7 October , 6:30pm
The Italian Library #15
The Kiss That Changed the World
Ornella Tarantola presents Paola Jacobbi and Daniela De Rosa
Drawing from the Spagnoli family archives, Paola Jacobbi, in conversation with Daniela De Rosa, weaves together Luisa Spagnoli’s visionary rise with her courageous personal story, set against the backdrop of major historical events—from the vibrant hopes of the early 20th century to the dark winds of fascism. This narrative captures the complexity of a woman who never feared going against the current. Thanks to her, a small chocolate shop in Perugia became one of the most important industries and, above all, an Italian brand renowned worldwide. Because the Perugina kiss is a kiss that you can never forget.
In Italian
Book HERE
Paola Jacobbi is a journalist and film critic. She collaborates with various publications, including Venerdì di Repubblica, Esquire, and Harper’s Bazaar. Always attentive to fashion and culture, she has written several books for Sperling & Kupfer, including Voglio quelle scarpe (2004), Pazze per le borse (2006), Sotto i tre carati non è vero amore (2011), and Scostumate (2021), a biography of designer and entrepreneur Marisa Padovan. In 2023, she published Lasciateci perdere (Rizzoli), co-written with Oscar-winning director Gabriele Salvatores. She also contributed as a screenwriter to the film The Girl in the Fountain (2021), starring Monica Bellucci and directed by Antongiulio Panizzi, and to the documentary Mostruosamente Villaggio (2024), featuring Luca Bizzarri and directed by Valeria Parisi.
Born in Milan, Daniela De Rosa is a professional journalist. She founded www.permesola.com, a web magazine focused on women’s travel. She writes female-oriented travel guides and produces the podcast La Viaggiatrice Femminista, available on all platforms. She has authored travel guides for Ulyssenet and directed the magazines Insight Venice and The IT Factor. She currently collaborates with Dove, Latitudeslife, and Il Giornale di Vicenza.