ItalyUpdate

BIT, the annual International tourism fair of Milan, which terminated on the 21 st February 2010)introduced two new departments in this years  edition.  

The Magnifica, latest luxury cruise liner to join the MSC cruise company fleet, will be officially launched in Hamburg on the 6 th March 2010.

Most people connect the name of Fiumicino with Rome international airport, but Fiumicino is also a bustling fishing port and was once the site of Romes most important harbour at the mouth of the Tiber river.

Leading US travel magazines such as Travel Leisure Condi Nast Traveler and âecommended have predicted a rosy future for Italys incoming tourism from the USA in 2010-2011.

The small mountain resort of Alta Badia (Alto Adige) traditionally celebrates Carnival with a thrilling horse-drawn sleigh race, which takes place in the arena at the foot of the World Cup ski run.

Venices Grand Carnival officially starts at noon on the 7 th February with the traditional Flight of the Angel from the Bell Tower of Piazza San Marco. This year ângel is the 22 year-old model Bianca Brandolini D'âdda, a niece of the late Fiat magnate, Gianni Agnelli,

For information: www.carnevale.venezia.it  

The annual Viareggio Carnival, famous for its gigantic satirical floats carrying 20 meter-high papier-machè figures of leading politicians and personalities in the news, was launched with a spectacular firework display and a grand parade on Sunday 31 st January.

The town of Ravello, jewel of the Amalfi Coast, has finally inaugurated its auditorium, designed by 102-year old Brasilian architect Oscar Niemeyer...

Not many people know that the famous Renaissance painter Giorgio Giorgione was also a gifted lute player. Giorgione is known to have played and sung the popular ballads of the time among groups of friends.

OBAMA PRAISES ITALIAN CUISINE

Italian and, in particular, Tuscany cuisine received a much appreciated accolade from US President Barack Obama during a recent meeting of US mayors, attended by the Mayor of Florence Matteo Renzi, where Obama praised the quality and excellence of Italian and Florentine restaurants.

Both Lino Enrico Stoppani, president of the Italian federation of restaurants and caffè (FIPI) and Aldo Cursano, President of the Tuscan branch of FIPI, expressed their pleasure at Obama comments. Food has always been one of the main attractions for tourists to our country, said Cursano. And to hear someone like Obama say that Florence has among the best restaurants in the world is a great boost for all those who work in this sector.