Ciao a tutti,

            Welcome to the first week of February when everything feels a little frigid but this is a time not without its festivities. Carnival season kicks off closer to mid-month and though some events are scaled back this year there is still plenty to look forward to. This includes our Spring issue of Bellissimo centered around the region of Tuscany and next week's Buongiorno newsletter that we are currently working on right now. Until then, enjoy this eclectic roundup of interesting articles and recipes from the past week that features lesser-known places to bring luck in Italy and a spa escape that has me wanting to pack my robe pronto! 

Looking for a winter escape? Prices for spa packages to experience modern thermalism in Abano Terme may be one of Italy’s greatest travel bargains these days.

If you don’t enjoy cold weather, then you may want to avoid traveling to Italy during the (in)-famous ‘Giorni della Merla’(the days of the blackbird) normally considered the coldest days of the year.

Attenzione! Are you planning on hitting the slopes this season? Here is some helpful Italian vocabulary centered around skiing that you need to know.

A favorite from our archives: We know how dreamy opening up a B&B in Italy can sound but what is the experience actually like? Hear from Stefania and Roger, who bought and restored a historic villa in Tuscany and transformed it into a B&B.

This honey walnut chocolate pie is a divine specialty of Emilia-Romagna (Modena area) and is inspired by a legendary wealthy medieval woman who gave all her riches to feed Modena’s poor during a famine. Get our recipe for La Bonissima here.

There are several ‘lucky’ spots in Italy where, according to popular belief, if you visit them or perform a simple ritual (often passed down through the centuries) fortune will be in your favor. Here are five spots you don’t want to miss!

In our latest dual-language article we explore one of Italy's hidden gems. This week it’s the Anatomical Theater at the University of Padua which had a crucial role in the history of medicine.

To fully appreciate the history and craft behind some of the world’s most celebrated wines - those made in Piedmont’s Monferrato - you need to head underground.

Have you been looking for that perfect turnkey apartment in one of Tuscany's most picturesque areas? This is a hot choice located within a beautifully-restored country estate with the views to match. The apartment is located on the first floor and features an independent entrance, private garden, parking, and access to a shared swimming pool.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend from Georgette, your editor, and the Italy Magazine team