ItalyUpdate

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. 

For the fifth year running, Ferrari sparkling wine is to grace the glasses at the Emmy Awards ceremony at Los Angeles on the 22nd September 2019. 

Lovers of sweet peppers will be in plenty of time to enjoy the many varieties of this colourful vegetable that has become a staple of Mediterranean cooking. 

 Â 

When the Certosa of San Martino Museum, Naples, opened its special exhibition of classic and contemporary art centered on the theme of volcanos, no-one could have foretold that the spectacular eruptions of Stromboli, in Sicily, would make front page news just over a month later.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OUR READERS!

Eike Schmidt, curator of the Uffizi Museums in Florence, announced his satisfaction in being able to hang up A Vase of Flowers, by the celebrated 17th century Flemish still life artist Jan van Huysum, in what had formerly been its original place on the wall of Palazzo Pitti. 

Little Lake Nemi, in the Albano Hills near Rome, continues to make news. A local winemaker and entrepreneur has submerged three hundred bottles of Caligola Roma DOC, in the deepest waters of the lake, where they will lie on the bed for a year to mature in the absense of oxygen and at a constant temperature.

Italy gained another nomination at the recent session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO, held in Baku, when the Prosecco wine-producing area of Treviso between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene was unanimously voted to become part of the worldwide family of World Heritage Sites.