ItalyUpdate

The invasion of what were once wild forest and mountain animals has become increasingly worrying for Italian citizens.

Highlight of the second weekend of the annual horse chestnut festival at Vallerana (Lazio) 12-13 October 2019 will be the presentation of a book recounting the extraordinary story of Alessandro Messina, the down syndrome boy who has overcome prejudice and obstacles in his efforts to realise his dream of enrolling in the special Italian Carabinieri police corps.

New gastronomic products are launched regularly by many Italian food producers, experimenting with time-honoured ingredients to renew the made-in-Italy market.

Participant figures of this year's version of the festival filosofia centred in Modena, Carpi and Sassuolo, confirmed the increasing popularity of this unusual and thought-provoking event. Over 200,000 visitors attended the three-day festival, up on last year's figures.

Italy's oldest railway track is celebrating its 180th anniversary between the 3rd - 6th October 2019.

On the 29th September 2019 the splendidly preserved medieval town of Arezzo (Tuscany) will provide an unparalleled backdrop for the Foto Antiquaria Fair, the most important of its kind in Italy.

An exciting new museum for jazz fans: celebrated saxophone and clarinet musician Attilio Berni has opened the doors of his private collection to the public in the town of Maccarese, near Fiumicino Airport, Rome.

German artist Ha Schult has brought his army of trash sculptures to Matera (Basilicata), as part of the programme of events for the 2019 European Capital of Culture. 

Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, led the historical re-enactment procession that enlivened the annual Porchetta (roast pig) Festival at the town of Ariccia, (Rome province). 

One of the worst attacks on Italy's cultural heritage was the bombardment of the ancient St. Benedict Monastery of Cassino on the 10th September 1945.