Buongiorno Italy readers! 

The art of glass bead making is the latest Italian addition to Unesco’s prestigious list of intangible cultural heritage (other additions in recent years include the art of Neapolitan pizzaiuolo and transhumance.

It turns out fast food isn’t a modern invention. In the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, archeologists have discovered a well-preserved ‘thermopolium’, a commercial establishment where, in the ancient Greek-Roman world, it was possible to purchase ready-to-eat food (literally, “a place where (something) hot is sold”).

We know that 2021 and beyond is a time when most people will consider what they want to get the most out of their trips, whether that be looking to travel more sustainably and connecting with locals on a deeper level. With safety in everyone’s mind, one such getaway that everyone dreams about at least once in their life is an adventure to Italy’s floating jewel box of a city, Bella Venezia, a place that has inspired people for centuries and rightfully so.

In our feature of the week, discover the interesting history of how Barolo, one of Italy’s most prestigious wines, was born.

Italy has some of the best skiing in the world, concentrated around resorts like Cortina d’Ampezzo, Madonna di Campiglio, and Courmayeur. And to hit those great “piste” (ski slopes), you need to have some basic ski-related vocabulary under your belt. 
Here are important skiing terms you may want to know when hitting the Italian slopes.

Pasta e patate takes many different forms across Italian households. In this case, the result is not a brothy minestra or soup, but a distinctly rich plateful of cheese-encased pasta. Comfort food at its stringy finest! 

With a mix of street interviews and easy-to-follow explanations, Matteo and Katie of Easy Italian give us not only a fantastic tool for improving our Italian.

For our #DualLanguage series, we begin a journey through Italy’s landmarks, famous and less famous, most visited and hidden gems, monuments and museums, archeological sites and natural wonders - one for each week of the year ahead, starting with Venice’s “bridge of sighs”. 

Maybe you’re planning a future trip/move to Italy, or are simply enthralled with the idea of being able to speak and understand this undeniably lyrical language. In that case, this handy eBook bundle aimed at #learningitalian is for you. 

An affordable find in Tuscany. The charming “Casale Fonte Regina” could be perfect as a main residence or a second home where to spend relaxing holidays.

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