The Covid pandemic has made some changes to Italian holiday habits. Whereas tourists have been avoiding the major art cities, the small historic “borghi” (villages with under 5000 inhabitants) have been enjoying a visitor boom.

The “borghi” are charming, tranquil destinations, complete with their own historic buildings, works of art, festivals, friendly retreats and splendid surrounding scenery, which constitute just under 70% of Italy's urban reality. Most of them are little known and are by-passed by the mass tourism market.

The “Progetto Borghi” (Historic Village Project), a digital forum dedicated to the regeneration of Italy's little towns, promoted by the Host B2B organization, was launched recently in order to encourage the above trend in increasing visitor numbers.

Backed by important partners such as the Italian Touring Club, the Association of the Authentic Borghi of Italy, the Association of Responsible Tourism, and the Association of Seaside Borghi, as well as the Most Beautiful Borghi of Italy, the project is also supported by the Universities of Calabria, Messina and Cagliari.

Info: https://progettoborghi.host-b2b.com/

Posted on 16 Oct 2021 by Editor

After a seven-year closure for restoration and updating, Rome's Planetarium is due to reopen end 2021- early 2022, endowed with a brand new, state-of-the-art system of digital projectors that will replace the old optical projectors and give visitors spectacular close-up views of the surfaces of the Moon, Mars and areas of the Earth.

The original Planetarium was situated within the archaeological complex of the Baths of Diocletian, near Rome's central railway station. Opened in 1928, it was one of the world's first star-gazing installations. When the ancient building proved inadequate, the Planetarium was moved to the EUR district in 2004 and set up inside the spacious Museum of Roman Civilization along with a new,

specially created Museum of Astronomy.

Italy now has Planetariums in all major cities, but only Rome and Turin have the added facility of an astronomical museum attached.

Info: Tel.+39.06.82077.1 www.planetarioroma.it www.zetema.it

Posted on 12 Oct 2021 by Editor

A report on a promising reduction in Italy's share of Co2 emissions was presented during the recent All4Climate conference in Milan, held in preparation the UN Climate Change Conference, programmed for the 1-12 November 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland.

The positive news is that over the past ten years, Italy has been steadily gaining more trees. The country's forested areas have expanded and now occupy a total 11 million hectares, equivalent to just over a third of the entire national territory. These trees meanwhile have been hard at work absorbing the harmful Co2 emissions.

According to the latest Italian National Forest Inventory (INFC) report, the regions which have become “greener” are Tuscany, with woods covering 10.4% of its territory, followed by Piedmont and Lombardy. Another positive aspect is that Italy's forests are not confined to the mountains but they are also spreading over hilly and coastal regions, largely due to the abandonment of agricultural land in less accessible or fertile areas.

Italian woods are also rich in biodiversity, with 180 different species of plants censored. Oaks, ilex, beeches and hornbeam are the most prevalent, along with larches and various varieties of pines.

Info: www.sian.it

Posted on 08 Oct 2021 by Editor

The small town of Nemi in the Castelli Romani area near Rome, has re-opened the ancient Hermitage dedicated to St. Michael Archangel, situated in a cavern in the cliffs high above Nemi crater lake.

The Hermitage is believed to date back to the 6th century AD and is mentioned in a papal decree of 1183 in which Pope Lucius III transferred the possession of the remote holy site to the monks of Sant'Anastasio di Aquas Salvias in Rome. In a state of abandonment for many years, hidden in undergrowth and virtually inaccessible, Nemi Town Council has now created a new Nature Trail along the cliffside so that hardy walkers are able to visit this interesting site, decorated inside with wall paintings of St.Michael, the Madonna and child and a surprising depiction of Nemi village of bygone days with its distinctive watchtower.

The Nature Trail was inaugurated on the Feast of St. Michael with the first mass to be held in the cave church for 250 years and a re-enactment of the solemn religious processions that took place annually in the past,

Nemi Mayor Alberto Bertucci, declared that the opening of the Hermitage was only one of several initiatives underway to increase tourism attractions to Nemi, which include improvements to the important archaeological site of the Temple of Diana on the lakeside.

Info: www.confraternitadinemi.org

Text & photos M. STENHOUSE

Posted on 04 Oct 2021 by Editor

As part of its anti-Covid campaign, Italian railways Trenitalia continue to distribute free safety kits to all passengers on board its Frecciarossa and Frecciargento (Red Arrow and Silver Arrow) trains. The kits consist of a disposable paper bag containing a face mask, a sanitizing gel wipe and a carton of mineral water. First introduced in May 2021 when it became evident that the pandemic would continue into and over the summer, the FS (Ferrovie dello Stato - State Railways) introduced the kit as part of its customer care service. There are 38 Freccia trains operating throughout Italy.

All carriages and seating continue to be disinfected regularly at stations.

Info: www.trenitalia.com

 

 

Posted on 01 Oct 2021 by Editor

Last chance to catch up on the exhibition “Tra Dante e Shakespeare: il Mito di Verona” (From Dante to Shakespeare: the Myth of Verona) which sets out to highlight the particular attraction that the city of Verona had on Europe's two major poets.

Dante spent the first period of his exile from the Florentine state in Verona and expressed his gratitude for the hospitality he received in his “Paradise, XVII, 70”. We don't know whether Shakespeare, on the other hand, ever visited Verona (or Italy) during the years of obscurity when no documentation regarding his life has come to light. However, he set two of his plays in the “Fair City”: “Two Gentlemen of Verona” and the world's most famous love story - “Romeo and Juliet”, inspired by a 16th century writer Luigi da Porto.

The exhibition contains a selection of over 100 paintings, sculptures, illuminated manuscripts and documents as well as original books from the Verona public library and various museums, spanning a period from the 14th to the 19th century. Among the important works on show there are three rare drawings by Botticelli on loan from the Kupferstichkabinett (Berlin), depicting “Dante and Beatrice. Paradise II”.

The exhibition is closes on the 3rd October 2021.

Galleria d'Arte Moderna Achille Forti. Tel.+30.045.8001903

Info: gamforti@comune.verona.it

Posted on 28 Sep 2021 by Editor

 

 

 

The favourite wine of the Bourbon monarchs of Naples is making a come back after several centuries of oblivion. The San Silvestro vineyards once covered 5 hectares of land, bordering on the Palace of Caserta royal gardens, but had been abandoned and left to grow wild for over a century. Three years ago Mauro Felicori, the then curator of the royal Palace, decided to restore the vineyards.

The contract was awarded to the local Tenuta Fontana wine-growers, who are about to enjoy their first harvest, from which they hope to produce an initial thousand bottles of both red and white wine. The new, organic vineyard has been planted with the traditional native grape, known as pallagrello, which was one of the grape varieties selected for the original vineyard in the 18th century by the celebrated architect Vanvitelli, responsible also for the Palace design.

The vineyards border on the nature reserve of the Forest of San Silvestro, a WWF conservation area.

Info: www.tenutafontana.com www.reggiadicaserta.beniculturali.it

Posted on 25 Sep 2021 by Editor

The Connecting Europe Express, the special train commemorating EUROPEAN RAILWAYS YEAR 2021, recently concluded the Italian part of its itinerary, which began in Lisbon on the 2nd September 2021 and will terminate in Paris on the 7th October.

The Italian tour touched Turin, Milan, Rome, Genoa, Verona, Bolzano and the Alps with the last stop at the Brennero pass, Italy's historic frontier station, situated at 1371 metres asl. The entire 5-week journey through Europe covers over 20,000 kms, passing through some 33 border stations.

The train trip is organized in collaboration with the EU Commission and the Community of European Railways (CER), (including Italian State Railways FS) and aims to promote the ability of rail travel to unite peoples, countries and business enterprises.

Source: FS News

Posted on 21 Sep 2021 by Editor

This year's edition of the traditional procession in honour of Santa Rosa, the patron saint of Viterbo (Lazio) has had to be cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. However, for the past couple of weeks, it has been possible to have a rare close up view of the spectacular 30 metre-high tower set up in front of the City Hall.

The “Macchina” is re-designed every few years according to a chosen theme. This year's version is “Gloria”, which succeeds “Flower of Heaven”. Constructed with fibre glass, resin and other materials supported by a steel frame, it is covered in elaborate carvings and weighs something like 5 tons. In normal years it is carried along a steep 1 km route through the narrow streets of the historic centre by over 100 “Facchini(bearers). The task is almost superhuman and the difficulties involved in transporting such a heavy and unwieldy construction have caused some dramatic incidents in the past, fortunately without fatal consequences.

The “Macchina di Santa Rosa” event is listed in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Info: www.italybyevents.com

Text & Photo M. STENHOUSE

 

Posted on 17 Sep 2021 by Editor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a year's delay, due to Covid restrictions, Rimini has finally inaugurated its multi-museum dedicated to its celebrated son, film director Federico Fellini, creator of masterpieces like “La Dolce Vita” and “8½”.

The museum is distributed in three different venues: the Sismondo Castle, the Palazzo del Fulgor and Piazza Malatesta. Piazza Malatesta is already the cultural hub of Rimini, with the recently restored Galli theatre, inaugurated by Giuseppe Verdi, the PART modern art centre and the Sculpture Garden. The Fellini project included the restyling of the vast square in front of the Castle including the controversial creation of a pool of water to recall the original moat (since filled in and paved over). The Sismondo fortress is one of Italy's most important castles, designed with the contribution of Brunelleschi in 1438. It is to host exhibitions and projections. The Cinema Fulgor, on the ground floor of the 18th century Vallone Palace, is the iconic movie theatre featured in “Roma” and “Amarcord”, familiar to all Fellini fans

The opening of the Museum was originally planned for 2020 to celebrate the Fellini Centenary Year, but had to be postponed due to the pandemic.

M. STENHOUSE

Info: Tel. +39.0541.704494 www.museocomunalirimini.it

Posted on 14 Sep 2021 by Editor

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