ItalyUpdate

Three Italian confectioners won first place in this year's La Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie, competing against twenty-one other teams from all over the world. Emmanuele Forcone from Abruzzo, who was also the 2014 champion, Francesco Boccia from the province of Naples, the 2013 bronze medallist, and Fabrizio Donatone from Ciampino (Rome) swept the boards in the Salone Internazionale della Ristorazione in Lyons (France) with their delicious and imaginative creations.

The MSC Sinfonia, the newly refurbished cruise ship of the MSC navigation company took its maiden bow in Naples on the 25^th March 2015. The ship, one of the four Lirica Class liners of the fleet, has been extended and re-styled to contain an additional 200 cabins, more spacious communal areas, greater restaurant choice and a new club aimed at the younger passengers with an acquatic park and games.

Riva del Garda (Trentino) ushers in Easter with the Chocolate Festival Chocomusic, Musica per il Palato! between the 2^nd -6^th April 2015. The event is centred in the Piazza Cesare Battisti, where the master chocolate confectioners will exhibit their skills, surrounded by stalls full of goodies.

Finding reasonably priced accommodation in Milan can sometimes be a problem so budget travellers will be delighted to hear of the inauguration of the Cascina Cuccagna, the new hostel in a 17^th century farmhouse situated a short distance from the Porta Romana metro stop.

With major events like EXPO Milan and Holy Year in Rome, Italy is anticipating a bumper season for tourism in 2015-2016.

The city of Bergamo (Lombardy) is holding the first ever exhibition dedicated exclusively to Venetian Renaissance artist Palma il Vecchio, a contemporary of Titian's.

The seaside resort of Jesolo (Veneto) is to host the 22^nd Edition of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, one of the most important events for wine producers and buyers in the world. Between the 1^st to 3^rd May 2015, Jesolo will welcome over 320 wine experts from over fifty nations to judge some 8000 different wines from 58 countries.

Thirty-seven Italian borghi (historic villages) have launched the project Tourism: Eco&Slow with the intention of attracting both Italian and foreign visitors who have done all the celebrated art cities.

The yearly Merano Art & Nature Festival (Merano Primavera) opens on the 28^th March 2015, when the town becomes a living exhibition of contemporary art with installatations and sculptures by twelve Italian and international artists.