ItalyUpdate

The luxury Parkhotel Laurin near Bolzano (Alto Adige) will open its newest and most unusual suite on the 10th April. Listed in the Unusual Hotels of the World,

The guide book, Slow Wine 2011 was presented recently at the Open Colonna restaurant in Romes Palazzo delle Esposizioni. Affiliated to the Slow Food organization, the Slow Wine guide features its selection of the best of Italys oenology production, chosen from among some 2000 wine producers throughout the country.

Rome plans to throw a colossal all night street party to celebrate the 150 th anniversary of the Unification of Italy. The theme will be śRed, White and Green, the colours of the Italian flag, with the emphasis on national unity and the history of the Italian Risorgimento.

The city of Turin will be celebrating the 150 th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy in style, with a 250 day-long programme of special exhibitions and events, starting on the 17 March and running until the 20 November 2011.

The eighth edition of the Piacenza Jazz Fest will be running in the historic Reggio Emilia town until the 9 April. The programme includes a series of concerts featuring top international jazz musicians, such as Danilo Rea, Richard Galliano, Bill Frisell and Dave Douglas.Supporting events are also being held in the nearby towns of Fiorenzuola D'Arda, Cortemaggiore and Stradella, near Pavia.

For information: www.piacenzajazzclub.it

The luxury Parco dei Templari hotel at Altamura (Apulia), confiscated from the Mafia in 2002, is now to be relaunched with the help of master chef Gianfranco Vissani.

Four Italian cities are involved in a gourmet initiative promoted by the Parma Ham Consortium (Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma) this spring 2011, aimed at highlighting the famous Emilia Romagna speciality as an ideal healthy fast food for busy lunches and take away dinners.

The Flight of the Angel, was  the highlight of the opening ceremony of the Venice Carnival, Sunday, 27 February 2011. This year Angel, twenty-three year old beauty queen Silvia Bianchini,  put on her wings and glided from the top of St. Marks Bell Tower to land in the middle of the square.

The origin of the event goes back to the times of the Venetian Republic, when an unknown Carnival reveler flew along a rope above St. Marks Square as an act of homage to the Doge.

 As part of the current fourth centennial programme marking the death of the artist Michaelangelo Merisi, better known as Caravaggio, an exhibition of hitherto forgotten documents throws new light on events in the life of this irascible and restless genius.

As part of the Seasons of Oil event staged by the Enoteca Italiana (National Wine Board) at Siena, Sunday 27 February will be dedicated to Italys second (or first) most precious liquid product: extra virgin olive oil.