ItalyUpdate

The aristocratic Castle of Racconigi, a former summer residence of Italys royal family, has been nominated the Most Beautiful Garden in Italy in this years edition of the Briggs & Stratton competition.

MSC CAKE ON CRUISE

The MSC cruise line has launched a novel attraction for cruise passengers sailing between the 13-20 November 2010 on its newest liner, the MSC Magnifica.

The sale of the precious Vasari archive has been strongly contested by the Rome Court of Justice, which suspects some underhand dealings, and the town of Arezzo,  where Vasari was born in 1511.

Michaelangelos colossal statue of David is probably the best-known symbol of Florence and a major attraction in the Galleria dell'Accademia, where visitor takings amount to the desirable sum of 8 million a year.

For the first time in many years, two of Romes most famous monuments are to be open to the public at night.  

VENICE: FIRST WOMAN GONDOLIER

24-year old Giorgia Boscolo has become the first official female gondolier to transport visitors on the Venice canals. Giorgia passed her theory and punting exams after a years apprenticeship to become a fully-fledged  gondolier, breaking a tabu lasting nine centuries that barred women from the profession.

An attractive blonde, married with two children, she is sure to attract a lot of custom!

Romes Leonardo da Vinci Airport, more commonly referred to as Fiumicino, after the Tiber fishing town and port nearby, celebrates its fiftieth birthday this month.

August ends with a flourish at the northern tip of Sardinia with the Music at the Bocche di Bonifacio festival, now in its 10 th edition.   

Police in Parma have confiscated 2,500 counterfeit monodose bottles of one of Italys most celebrated gastronomic products, the  balsanic Vinegar of Modena, distributed among local restaurants and food shops...

Parmigiano cheese, one of Italys most famous gastronomic products, has just won an important battle against German imitators. ....