ItalyUpdate

Rome's most famous spa – the Acque Albule (White Waters) at Tivoli, has a lively entertainment programme to enliven the summer evenings until the 21^st July 2016. Along Came Jazz is one of the most important jazz events in Italy, starring international and Italian artistes.

Between the 15^th -17^th July 2016, the town of Fabrica di Roma, near Viterbo (Lazio) is hosting iuts annual Sheep Festival, where visitors can taste all the delectable products that derive from the useful Ovis aries species, such as sheep's cheese ricotta and other cheeses.

Restorers are now ready to move into the second phase of a delicate extensive restoration project concerning Rome's most famous monument. The first phase, involving the cleaning and reparation of the travertine stone, was completed within schedule, Italy's Heritage Minister, Dario Franceschini, announced last week. The second phase concerns the rooms and passageways under the former arena, at the moment exposed to the elements and subject to deterioration.

Beach season back again and there's no need to leave your four- footed friend behind when you take off for Italy's sea and sand. There are now many Italian beach establishments and resorts that welcome pets.

Ten thousand candles illuminate Palazzo Farnese at Viterbo (Lazio) during the nights of the nine-day gourmet festival, when the many specialities of the surrounding area will be available in all the local restaurants, as well as inside the Palace itself.

Six historic sites in the Lake Trasimeno area (Umbria) provide an unforgettable backcloth for the series of concerts featuring in this year's Trasimeno Music Festival, directed by well-known Canadian concert pianist Angela Hewitt.

The Rome edition of the Gambero Rosso Food Guide (the Italian equivalent of the Michelin Guide) celebrated its 30^th anniversary in grand style, with a mega prize giving ceremony at the Rome Sheraton Hotel.

The Sudtirol Jazz festival Altoadige gets off to an unusual start on the 24^th June 2016. The opening night will be held among the crates of apples in the Frangarto Fruit-growers Cooperative. The programme, entitled Kinzelbinder's Melting Orchestra, will be a lively fusion of Italian and Austrian folk music traditions and jazz.

The Veregra Street Festival, one of the most important Italian annual events featuring street performers, street art and street food, is set to transform the historic centre of Montegranaro (Marche) into one big playground between the 18^{th _} 25^th June.

The historic Federico II University of Naples, founded by the Holy Roman Emperor, King Federico II of Sicily in 1224, has been celebrating its 792^nd birthday with a series of cultural events. The university is believed to be the oldest public lay university in the world and has produced many eminent scientists, politicians, writers, philosophers, doctors and physicists throughout its long history. Today the university has five faculties and 22 degree courses.