ItalyUpdate

The Campi Flegrei, the legendary Burning Fields, on the Gulf of Pozzuoli near Naples is undoubtedly one of Italy's most fascinating geological and archaeological areas. What is not so well known is that it is also an extremely interesting nature park, rich in biodiversity.

Experts of prehistoric artefacts are puzzling over an unusual terracotta tablet which is part of the collection of the Museum Ladin Ciastel De Tor in the Dolomite resort town of San Martino in Badia.

After a difficult year marked by various cases of structural damage caused by neglect and adverse weather conditions, the world's most famous buried city finally announces some good news.

A major exhibition of rare Etruscan antiquities is running till the 15 July 2012 at the newly restored Palazzo Mazzetti in Asti (Piedmont). 300 objects, many of which on show to the public for the first time, trace the story of daily life and customs of these ancient inhabitants of central Italy, whose influence extended as far north as the River Tanaro.

Where better to celebrate the coming spring than in the most beautiful parks and gardens of Italy? The National Network of Parks and Gardens has published a calendar of special openings and events, starting on  the 17 March 2012 at the Villa Carlotta on Lake Como, where visitors can admire the 150 varieties of rhododendrons and azaleas.

Over a thousand visitors poured into the stylish marquee in the grounds of the Aranceta di San Sisto in Rome to attend the first Spirit of Scotland Festival to be held in Rome. The two day event (10-11 March 2012) was a showcase of Scotch whisky, with more than 400 labels present and available for tastings.

 Inaugurated two years ago, in February 2010, Palermo's luxury Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa continues to be one of the most important novelties in the long process of upgrading the old city centre. The Costa degli Ulivi Hotels, a Sicilian hotel group headed by the Di Giovanni family,  spent five years on the costly restoration and transformation of the former bank building that dominated Piazza Borsa in the heart of the old city, a stone's throw from Corso Vittorio Emanuele and many of Palermo's most famous monuments and tourist sights.

Rome city council found an unusual way to celebrate International Women's Day on the 8 March 2012 by bathing some of its most famous female statues....

The city of Venice is to introduce a special waterbus service for tourists from the 1 June 2012. The Art Vaporetto will cover Venice's main cultural sites along the Grand Canal and around the basin of St. Mark's.

The Great Masters seen as never before! Until the 11 March, the National Museum of Science and Technology, Milan, is hosting a fascinating exhibition of some of the most famous works by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael projected on to a maxi screen.