ItalyUpdate

The splendid 17th century Corsini Gardens in Florence provide the backdrop for the "ArtigianatoePalazzo" (Crafts and Palace) event running from the 16-19 May 2019. This year's edition concentrates on the city's long ties with the local Russian community, and is subtitled "Memories of Russia in Florence".

On the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci, the popular Reggio Emilio seaside resort of Rimini offers free painting laboratories for children every Friday throughout May 2019, as well as an "Avventure nell'Orto" (Adventures in the Garden) event every Sunday in the precincts of "Italy in Miniature".

 The Associazione Rotta di Enea (On the Track of Aeneas) is stirring up renewed interest in Virgil's Eneide with a trans-Mediterranean trek that traces the mythical journey of the Trojan hero, alleged forefather of the Romans.

Italian wine producers have instituted Rosautoctono, the Institute for Italian Autocthonous Rosè wines, to protect the image of Made in Italy rosè. With "pinks" becoming increasingly important in world export markets,

The Vatican Museums are opening their doors for evening visits again this year. Between the 26 April -25 October 2019 visitors can view the treasures of the unique Vatican collections every Friday between 19.00-23 (last entrance at 21.30).

What better start to the spring than an alfresco meal under the olive trees? An after-Easter event which has acquired ever more popularity over the last twelve years is the picnic in the Fascia Olivata olive plantations at Trevi, major producer of extra virgin olive oil.

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A permanent display of Italian Design objects has opened in concurrence with the Milan XXII International Triennale exhibition of design. The exhibition, which aims to become the most important international centre dedicated to Italian design, according to architect Stefano Boeri, President of the Triennale Milano, contains an initial collection of 200 objects chosen from among the 1,600 representative pieces in the Triennale collection.

The new excavations in the hitherto unexplored Regio V area of Pompeii continue to bring to light unexpected discoveries. After the as-yet-unresolved mystery of the true date of the eruption, then the remains of a commander's horses, archaeologists have now uncovered a Thermopolium

"Leonardo da Vinci. La Scienza Prima della Scienza", a major exhibition currently running at the Scuderie del Quirinale exhibition hall in Rome, to mark the 500th anniversary of the death of the renaissance genius, gives a new prospective towards understanding one of the greatest minds of western civilization.