ItalyUpdate

Eike Schmidt, curator of the Uffizi Museums in Florence, announced his satisfaction in being able to hang up A Vase of Flowers, by the celebrated 17th century Flemish still life artist Jan van Huysum, in what had formerly been its original place on the wall of Palazzo Pitti. 

Little Lake Nemi, in the Albano Hills near Rome, continues to make news. A local winemaker and entrepreneur has submerged three hundred bottles of Caligola Roma DOC, in the deepest waters of the lake, where they will lie on the bed for a year to mature in the absense of oxygen and at a constant temperature.

Italy gained another nomination at the recent session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO, held in Baku, when the Prosecco wine-producing area of Treviso between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene was unanimously voted to become part of the worldwide family of World Heritage Sites.

The small Umbria town of Monteleone di Spoleto, listed as one of the most beautiful borghi d'Italia ushers in its annual agricultural Fair in honour of St. Felix with three days of events (26-28 July 2019) highlighting local food and traditions like the transhumance of herds of sheep and other animals.

The passion for brightening up ugly remnants of the industrial landscape has extended to the old town water deposit tank at San Romano (near Pisa), which has now been given a cheerful new look. 

The clifftop town of Artena (Lazio) is celebrating its most faithful friend – the team of mules that ply the steep flights of cobbled stairs that take the place of streets and alleyways.

A great combination of wine and music ushers in the summer season at Montalcino (Umbria), not to be missed by appassionati and hedonists of both disciplines.

An ancient and very rare breed of Scottish sheep has joined the Slow Food protected list.  The North Ronaldsay Sheep, which lives wild on the Orkney island of Ronaldsay, feeds on seaweed, giving its meat a unique spicy and gamey flavour.

The charming alpine town of Saluzzo (Cuneo, Piedmont) has launched a season-long programme of events to attract visitors throughout the summer.

An exceptional collection of historic maiolican art is on display in the Palazzo Madama Civic Museum of Ancient Art, Turin, until the 14 October 2019. Italy of the Renaissance. The Splendour of Maiolica shows rare '400-'500 pieces from celebrated Italian ceramic