ItalyUpdate

Walkers will greatly appreciate the new guide to the 200 km tract of the Via Francigena, the historic pilgrims route to Rome from Canterbury, that runs between Radicofani in Tuscany to the Eternal City.

In order to raise funds to complete the restoration work of Berninis monumental colonnade at St. Peters, the Vatican has announced that it will issue two commemorative stamps, complete with certificate of authenticity.

The consortium of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP has embarked on an extensive promotional drive to make consumers aware of the difference in quality of the genuine product and its many imitators.

Italy expert restorers of old buildings, monuments and works of art recently demonstrated their skills during the Restauri Aperti (Open Restoration work-in-progress) project involving a number of prestigious Venetian buildings, including the famous Gritti Palace hotel, Palazzo Papadopuli, the Church of the Jesuits and  Corner della Regina. 

Milan magnificent gothic cathedral has 135 spires, all in desperate need of restoration and the Venerando  Fabbrica del Doumo, which has been in charge of maintenance since the Duomo was built in 1387, has launched an appeal for sponsors to help with repairs.

The Patchwork idea Association of Treviso (Veneto) is holding the XVII edition of its exhibition of quilts created by members, inspired by the traditional handmade patchwork developed in America at the time of the pioneers.

The 2012 edition of Girolio, the olive oil progression around Italy, organized by the Associazione Nazionale Città˝ dell'Olio (national association of Olive Oil towns) continues to make its way up the Italian peninsula from Apulia to Trentino, stopping at dozens of olive oil producing areas on the way.

Verona city council has decided to take drastic steps to halt the systematic defacing of its most famous monument,  the Casa del Cappello, the alleged home of Juliet Capulet, Shakespeare doomed heroine.

The archaeological site of Pompeii, one of Italys major tourist attractions with an average of 15,000 visitors per day, is to be protected by 400 closed circuit cameras to prevent theft and vandalism.