ItalyUpdate

The Park of the Delta of the river Po, well-known for its rich variety of animal and bird life, is organizing a series of initiatives up to the end of May for nature-lovers.

A touring exhibition on Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci in on show at Romes Palazzo Venezia museum until August 30 th after a highly successful world tour, which began in 2006.

The 58 th Fish Festival at Camogli (near Genoa) is to be held on the 10 th May.....  

The parish priest of the Church of Saints Vincent and Anastasia, which overlooks the Trevi Fountain, Rome, has removed the hundreds of padlocks young couples have been attaching to the church railings.

The Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI the Italian Environment Foundation) is to undertake funding the restoration of the city of L'Aquilas most famous monument, the Fountain of the Ninety-nine Spouts, damaged in the recent earthquake.

One of Italys most important astronomical parks, the Torre del Sole at Brembate di Sopra near Bergamo (Lombardy), is staging a programme of special events to mark International Year of Astronomy 2009.

A precious illuminated bible, commissioned by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles the Bald in 866, is on view for the first time in the Abbey of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Rome.

The third festival of the Via Francigena, or French Road, that took medieval pilgrims from Canterbury to Rome and thence onwards to the Holy Land, is being celebrated in many of the towns and villages in Italy along the route between the 17 th to 19 th April.

The city of Genoa is having to cope with an invasion of some two hundred wild boars that trot into the outskirts in the evenings looking for food.

The editor and staff of Italyupdate wish to offer all their sympathy and support to the people of the beautiful region of Abruzzo, who have been so badly hit by the earthquake around L'Aquila.

Normally, our website is dedicated to basically good news from Italy of cultural events, food and wine, new tourist attractions and exhibitions. However, an event of these tragic proportions cannot be passed over in silence. We can only bow our heads.

Signed: Julie Davidson, Harry Reid, Margaret Stenhouse, Antonio Rigillo