Buongiorno Italy readers!

Since 2014, Pasta Grannies has introduced the world to 250 nonne from Italy and the diaspora. Through YouTube, they show off their skills making pasta by hand, honed over decades of cooking for friends and family. The channel has gone on to be profiled in the likes of the New York Times and the Guardian, and October 2019 saw the release of ‘Pasta Grannies: The Official Cookbook.’ We spoke to Pasta Grannies’ British creator, Vicky Bennison.

Don't miss this month's interview from our Back to Your Italian Roots series and learn about new DNA technologies to search for your ancestors.

Italian TV continues to make it big around the world. Some of its most popular telly exports are sold to eager stations around the world. Here's our guide to some of the best known Italian TV programmes around today! 

If you wish to escape the crowds of Florence’s historic center for a while and better understand one of the Renaissance’s great engineering feats, a visit to Anconella Park and the dome’s model may make for pleasant afternoon. 

New in our shop. We love this ceramic pitcher made by wheel, and painted by hand with a lovely flower pattern. Produced and painted by hand in Italy by Ceramiche D'Arte Il Castelluccio, in Montelupo F.no, Province of Florence. 

Set in a beautiful natural landscape between the Apennine mountains and the Adriatic Sea, the medieval town of Piobbico boasts an unusual title: it promotes itself as the world capital of ugly people. 

As English speakers, we can often stumble over how to translate the ‘on’, as in ‘on Saturday evening’.You may be surprised to find out that no translation is needed in Italian!

Yes, the holidays are over and for many of us January is the month of diets and resolutions, but in Italy it is also a period in which fried treats are enjoyed guilt-free, as Carnevale draws near. So, fry away with these delicious fried apple rings! 

The Rhaetian Railway in Italy is known as the ‘trenino rosso del Bernina,’ a mountain railway line that happens to be the highest in Europe and connects the Italian town of Tirano to the Swiss town of St. Moritz, crossing the majestic Alps. 

Built on the foundations of an ancient Roman watch tower, the main building of this grand Manor House for sale was built in two stages, the first part in 850 a.d. (including the tower) and the second part in the XIIth century. Just 20 kilometres from Orvieto. 

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