ItalyUpdate

According to research by Jfc, an American consultancy company that focuses on travel and trends, Italy is seen as the most romantic place for weddings. In 2012 six thousand couples from different countries chose to marry in Italy.

The region of Veneto welcomes more foreign visitors than any other Italian region, according to the latest figures released by the Agenzia Nazionale del Turismo and ENIT (the Italian state tourism authority) and recently published in the national daily newspaper Corriere della Sera.

Rome is not just ancient monuments and churches. Cinecittà World is a brand new family attraction linked to the city's long history as the Hollywood on the Tiber. The spectacular theme park, which will open its doors on the 24^th July 2014, covers the site of the former De Laurentiis studios at Castel Romana, 30 kms from Rome and half way to the coast.

Between the 15-27 July, the historic town of Narni (Umbria) will welcome some 150 music students and teachers from the world's most prestigious music academies, including the Juilliard school of New York, the Mozartuem of Salisburg, the Vienna Universitat fur Musik und darstellende kunst, the University of Miami, USA, and the Accademia del Teatro della Scala, Italy.

After a two-year break, the International Festival of Arts in the ruins of the Roman Emperor Hadrian's Villa at Tivoli, Rome, has made a welcome comeback. The month-long programme, which began on the 18^th June 2014, stars world famous dance and theatre companies who perform against the majestic backdrop of the Roman ruins under the stars.

Rosè used to be the Cinderella of the wine world, relegated to the back shelves of specialist shops and dismissed by connoisseurs as a kind of by-product, not much worthy of interest. But all that has changed fast since Hollywood star Brad Pitt launched his Chateau Miraval rosè produced by his estate in Provence, France, winning accolades from the prestigious Wine Spectator magazine. Italian rosè vintners have not been slow to pick up the gauntlet, emphasizing their long tradition and the excellence of their products.

Mauro Gabba, President of the Associazione Alberghi del Libro D'Oro, founded in 1991, has announced the chain's latest literary initiative of the creation of a Digital Library for the benefit of guests.

Working holidays on the land for international students is not a new idea. This summer, however, the Island of Ventotene in the Pontine archipelagus (Lazio) is offering young people an opportunity to sojourn gratis on one of Italy's most unspoiled islands, in return for a few hours work each day alongside local farmers.

The hilly Langhe-Roero and Monferrato regions of Piemonte have been added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, giving Italy the grand total of fifty nominations of more than any other country. The region covers some 100 sq kms with twenty-nine historic towns and villages in six areas of the provinces of Alessandria, Asti and Cuneo.

The Veny Valley and the towns of Courmayeur and Saint-Didier will welcome some 350 artistes from Italy, Scotland, Wales, Poland, France and Canada between the 3^rd -6^th July 2014 for the 18^th Great Celtic International Festival of music, art and culture.