ItalyUpdate

Chianti, probably Italy's most famous wine, proudly announced its three hundredth birthday this year. The actual date will fall on the 24^th September when Grand Duke Cosimo III de' Medici back in 1716 fixed the standards of the local wine that he was exporting to Britain and other northern European countries.

A special performance of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina's choral works was the highlight of a celebration held in his birthplace, the town of Palestrina (Lazio), on the 5^th March 2016. Organized by the Foundation G.P da Palestrina, the event focussed on the presentation of the volume The Papal Choir During the Pontificates of Julius II to Sixtus V (1503-1590) by American researcher, professor Richard Sherr.

Italy's Marche Region with its gentle hills and peaceful historic towns (promotional slogan: the ideal place for a better life) is to celebrate Pope's Francis' Holy Year of Mercy with a series of art exhibitions in four different centres.

The Egyptian Museum of Turin is launching an exciting joint venture event with Naples and the Campania Region in 2016 that aims to emphasize the influence of Egyptian culture and its importance in the Mediterranean world.

The 433 members of the Venice Gondoliers Association have now adopted a standardized uniform with a new logo incorporating typical symbols of their trade, including the distinctive gondola iron comb bows and the lion of St. Mark on the banner of the Serenissimo Republic.

Mantova (Lombardy), a listed UNESCO World Hertage Site, is this year's Italian Capital of Culture and the city has prepared a programme of over 1000 special events between March and December 2016 to satisfy all interests, ages and tastes.

Italy's State Property Agency (il Demanio) has announced plans to put some 30 case cantoniere (houses once rented to the roadmen responsible for maintaining a certain section of road) on the market. The buildings, familiarly referred to as the red houses because of their distinctive Pompeiian red painted walls, were originally set up in 1830 and are now managed by ANAS (Azienda Nazionale Autonoma delle Strade), the state road management agency.

Art works by the famous Italian film director, Michaelangelo Antonioni, are on show at the Galleria Piazza di Pietra, Rome, until the 29^th February 2016. The exhibition, a selection of abstracts in acrylic on canvas or cardboard canvas, is curated by the artist's wife, Enrica, and by the Gallery director Francesca Anfosso.

The historic city of Siena (Tuscany) is dedicated to art and culture during the entire month  of February. The many initiatves involve the Civic Museum (one of the most important examples of Gothic architecture in the world), the Town Hall (Palazzo Comunale), the ancient hospice of Santa Maria della Scala, the Cathedral, the Jewish Sinagogue, the Accademia Musicale Chigiana and the Botanical Gardens.

In Italy, gastronomy, wine and art are never far apart. The 19^th February 2016 will see the opening of the first major exhibition dedicated to the Vivarini, the Venetian family of artists of the '400 and '500 who ushered in the Renaissance artistic revolution.