At Florence’s main railway station, seasoned passengers and business commuters come and go. The more timid travelers squint to read marquees. Helpers (and hecklers) intervene. 

Most people, in their eagerness to ditch their luggage and exit the chaotic scene, walk right past a brand-new gem just opposite the transport hub. The MUNDI, a national museum exploring the Italian language, recently opened in the Santa Maria Novella complex. Set to expand in 2023, now’s the time to see two of its key rooms at no charge.

Moving north, our executive editor Elizabeth Heath recently got to see the Po River and Venetian lagoon in a new light – aboard La Bella Vita, a 20-person barge hotel. But it’s what happened when the barge was docked that might really draw your attention. From feasting in a 17th-century villa where Lord Byron was once a guest to low-key evening bike rides along the river, she shares some highlights.

There’s little that seems “low-key” about Lake Como, at least from afar. When the area hosted a recent cocktail-fueled week of celebrations, writer Rob LeDonne ventured there in search of stars – okay, one particular star – and stiff drinks. What he found instead, though, was ultimately more inspiring: a crew of passion-driven producers, “mixologists” and organizers, and some surprising reconnections with his own Italian roots. 

Summery street foods were in steady supply at the Como event, but they’re a mainstay up and down the Boot. In Emilia-Romagna, a quintessential quick lunch or party-tray staple is the piadina. Though this IGP-protected flatbread is a vessel for cheeses, veggies and seasonal fillings, it’s also a delicacy in its own right.

(Pssst… as August approaches, our exclusive monthly newsletter, Buongiorno, will soon be on its way to our Premium Subscribers’ inboxes. If you enjoy these tidbits from the bel Paese, you’ll love the more in-depth intel offered in Buongiorno. Explore subscription options here).

Alla prossima,

-Mary Gray, Managing Editor