ItalyUpdate

The musicians of four of the most prestigious conservatories and orchestras of Florence are getting together for a virtual concert every Sunday and Thursday at 6 pm as their contribution to morale boosting during the present Covid19 epidemic.

In 1798 when Napoleon invades Rome, Cardinal Henry Stuart, last direct heir of the royal House of Stuart, is forced to flee from Frascati to seek refuge in the Kingdom of Naples. This is only the beginning of an adventurous two-year journey that drives him to Sicily, Corfu, Padua and Venice, bringing him into contact with many key figures of the period, like Horatio Nelson, Lord and Lady Hamilton...

The present epidemic is not stopping Italian culture. Some months ago, the Italian authorities decided that the 25th March should become an annual celebration day dedicated to the great Italian poet Dante Alighieri, famed author of the Divine Comedy and considered father of the Italian language.

Unfortunately temporarily suspended, due to the present outbreak of coronavirus, the exhibition of art works recovered from the earthquake zone of the Marche region, is programmed to remain in Rome until the 5th July 2020. Rinascimento Marchigiano. 

All over the Italian peninsula, people are confined to home to avoid spreading further infection. How do they cope without the customary daily passeggiata, the gathering of friends for Happy Hours in cafes and pubs, the convivial evenings in pizzerie and restaurants?

Filming of the Italo-Chinese production of the movie The Italian Recipe is to go ahead as planned despite the problems of the current Coronavirus epidemic, according to the film company press office.

Meletti, the exclusive liqueur of Ascoli Piceno (Marche) chalks up its 150th birthday this year.

Latin is generally supposed to be a dead language and, in fact, it is not longer taught in many schools, especially in Northern Europe.

The American pop artist Keith Haring was a lover of Italy and left many works in various Italian towns and cities. On the 30th anniversary of his death he is being honoured in several places where he left his distinctive mark.

The great neo-classical sculptor Antonio Canova is honoured in both Rome and Milan with major exhibitions of his work. In Rome, Canova.