Buongiorno Italy readers!

Get out those scarves and gloves, say goodbye to 2019 and make this a January to remember in Italy. We have the best roundup of events and festivals from around the boot. Think snow sculptures up north, a book fair in Milan and the "Feast of the Fanòve" in Italy's Castellana. 

If you’d like to talk about your new year’s resolutions in Italy, then you’ll need some key vocabulary to get you started. 

Here’s a round-up of some of our favorite ITALY Magazine stories from 2019, before we delve into new and exciting stories for 2020. Buon Anno!  

If you have a Sicily admirer in your life, this box was designed for them. Sauce alla norma is rich with eggplant and fresh tomatoes, recommended with pasta or even on its own - it’s that good! Same goes for the olive oil... see what else is inside here.

Have you ever taken a trip to Italy and had a piece of your heart stolen by the beautiful country in a way that made you think, “I want to own my own home here!” You are not alone, but when most people dream of purchasing property in Italy, the fear of what could go wrong overrides the dream. Here’s where to get support. 

Dozens of shoe models, from those worn by ancient Romans to those designed for Hollywood stars, are currently on display at the Museum of Fashion and Costume in Palazzo Pitti in Florence for an exhibition titled “Ai piedi degli dei,” At God’s Feet. 

Here’s what you’re likely to find on the table if you attend a New Year’s Eve dinner in Italy, what we call ‘cenone di San Silvestro.’

A special new opening will welcome 2020 visitors to Pompeii: the Casa del Frutteto, or House of the Orchard. 

Almost every region of Italy has its own sweet dessert ravioli with variations in fillings, shapes and cooking methods. In Puglia and Basilicata, ravioli called panzerotti, which means“tummy” in the regional dialect, are irresistible bundles of sweet crisp dough filled with mashed chickpeas and jam and date back centuries. 

This new item in our shop is a staff favourite! This design-friendly table lamp is a blend of glass fusion lamp and fabric in a cream color. It has been made in Italy by artisan's Sandro Moro Glass Design. 

Italian music artists have enjoyed and continue to enjoy global success with their hits. The UK is no exception, with a slew of Italian acts taking its charts by storm. We found some notable examples, so here is a countdown of the 10 – in no particular order, but chronological.

Country home for sale in beautiful Umbria: The house is situated on the hillside, just one km from the ancient castle of Cibottola on a little private road overlooking the Nestore valley where you can clearly see the town of Assisi in the distance. 

Wishing you all a wonderful (first) weekend of 2020 from Georgette, your editor, and the Italy Magazine team. Also don't forget to download our FREE winter recipe eBook - here's where to get your copy!