ItalyUpdate

The Sistine Chapel ceiling, the masterpiece of Michelangelo Buonarotti, was unveiled by Pope Julius II on the 31 October, the eve of All Saints, 1512. To commemorate the fifth centenary of this extraordinary work, the present Pope, Benedict XVI, like his predecessor, will celebrate vespers in the chapel on the vigil of All Saints.

Celebrated Tuscany wine producer, Marquis Piero Antinori, has inaugurated the familys new wine cellar at Bargino, near San Casciano Val di Pesa (Tuscany). The structure of the vast cellar has been inspired by Florentine Renaissance architecture, with three 75m-long naves to contain the 2.5 million bottles of classic Chianti wine produced by Antinori per annum.

A large art installation in the form of a whale has been set upon the Provincial road SP del Padule, which runs between Grosseto (Tuscany) and Castiglione della Pesciaia.

Two ancient Roman ships, submerged in the sea off the Aegean coast of Turkey, were recently discovered by a team of Italian archaeologists, led by Eugenia Equini Schneider.

Until the 18 November, the Archbishop Palace of Arezzo, which is normally closed to the public, will be open to visitors  upon prior booking. The first floor rooms contain a gallery of paintings dating from the XV to the XIX century, as well as the notable cycle of 16 th century frescoes  by Arezzo artist Teofilo Torri.

The premises of the historic  Limone Foundry of Turin will be open to visitors until the 13 January 2013, offering a rare opportunity to view some of the results of just under a century of the output of one of the most successful Italian industries.

The historic Italian chocolatier Fabbri from Bologna will offer guided tastings at its Fabbri 1905 stand  at this years edition of the Eurochocolate fair at Perugia (Umbria).  

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice has acquired an additional 83 works by modern artists, donated by collector Hannelore Schulhof, who died earlier this year.

A new EU ruling in favour of Italian products has just been passed. It obliges all stores in EU countries to withdraw faked Made in Italy goods from commerce.

The 17 edition of the popular Ancient Fruits Fair at Paderna Castle (Piacenza, Reggio Emilia) will take place on the 6-7 October.