ItalyUpdate

Up till the 14^th December 2014, the Balsamic Vinegar of Modena Consortium offers tastings and samples at the 39^th edition of the Modena Motorshow. With an expected influx of some 500,000 visitors, including over a thousand international members of the press, the consortium showcases its celebrated gastronomic IGP product, exported to 120 countries worldwide.

The La-Vis Trentino Wine Producers' Cooperative, in collaboration with the SIMEST organization has launched the Canaletto project to promote quality Italian wines in North America, the Far East and Russia. SIMEST is controlled by the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti banking organization that assists and sustains Italian companies in the global market,

 

The Celtica Winter Nights on the 7^th December 2014 concludes the 18^th edition of the lively Celtica Valle D'Aosta Festival, offering participants an evening of typical events with a Celtic flavour, including Celtic harp music, Irish dancing, a documentary entitled: Celtica Valle d'Aosta:

Italy's national airline Alitalia - Etihad has redecorated two of its Airbus A330-200 with the colours and logo of the Milan EXPO 2015 in honour of the event. Organizers say they expect some twenty million visitors for the six-month world fair, running between 1^st May and 31^st October 2015, a third of whom arriving by plane.

Siena's 6^th edition of the lively Mercato del Campo will reflect the theme of the Italian Pavilion at the Milan EXPO 2015: Feed the Planet with an installation performed by the EstroSi group of artists during the two days of the event. Entitled Mangiamondo (Eat the World) the work will evolve before the visitors' eyes in the Piazza del Campo.

The islands of Lampedusa and Linosa have launched a special website dedicated to winter tourism to the islands, giving details of special offers on flights, ferries and accommodation.

The prototype of a revolutionary new ceramic tile with insect repellent properties aroused great interest at this year's edition of CERSAIE, the leading ceramics industry fair at Bologna.

The opening of the long-awaited Metro C line in Rome was greeted by a festive crowd of passengers keen to be the first to travel on the new transport system which connects the Roman countryside with the city centre.

A proposal to recreate the arena of the Colosseum is stirring up a hot debate among Italy's archaeologists and conservationists. The idea was put forward by Roma3 university professor Daniele Manacorda and has been welcomed by Italy's Culture and Heritage Minister Dario Franceschini, as well as archaeologist Andrea Carandini, President of the Fondo Ambiente Italiano FAI (Italian Conservation Foundation).

The historic Moretti Caselli stained glass laboratory of Perugia is holding a special exhibition of six newly restored cartoons and photographic plates from the studio's collection until the 18^th November 2014.