Ciao a tutti! 

Italy is in the grip of the UEFA European Football Championship (that’s soccer for our US readers), so every day we get treated to a head-to-head between European powerhouses on the field. But what about a cultural comparison between two geographic neighbors? France and Italy may share a border, but their national "moods" are worlds apart. Writer Kasia Dietz attempted to tease out what may be behind this vast divide through a series of interviews last week.

Sure, you may have heard of wine tasting...but do you know how to taste extra virgin olive oil to judge its quality and authenticity? Take a look at our “how-to” guide to tasting and choosing an excellent Italian EVOO sponsored by Pomora olive oil last week.

Since ancient times, cameos and coral work have been part of the artisan culture on the Italian peninsula. Join historian and writer Laura Morelli in a fascinating journey through the history and culture of this meticulous craft and learn where to purchase authentic handmade cameo and coral works from Venice to Naples.

With pandemic-related travel restrictions, the fractional ownership company Appassionata had to come up with creative ways to connect with prospective clients who wanted to make their dream of owning a second home in Le Marche come true—despite not being able to visit in person. We reached out to owner Dawn Cavanagh to see how they managed to make it work over the past year and what they see for the future in "Purchasing Property in a Pandemic: One Professional’s Take".

Tuscany's Pietra di Bismantova is so striking that it is said that Dante took inspiration from it for his description of the mountain of Purgatory in the Divine Comedy. Learn about this dramatic flat-topped mountain rising like an island in English and Italian (and listed to the audio clip for pronunciation pointers) in this week's dual-language article!

In keeping with the Dante theme, 2021 marks 700 years since his death and Italy has scheduled a number of events celebrating the author of the "Divine Comedy". One of the most unique is “il treno di Dante,” a vintage train that runs this summer between Florence and Ravenna (the cities where the poet was born and where he died) stopping in four villages along the way where Dante visited. Read more about the route of this themed rail journey.

Though travel is starting back up, many visitors to Italy's cities are still wary of big crowds. If you're looking for a respite from the throngs on your next trip to Rome, consider exploring one of these quieter sights in the Eternal City. Each is rich in history and culture, but receives much less foot traffic than A-listers like the Colosseum and the Vatican.

Verbs are one of the most important building blocks to learning any language, and Italian is no exception. We are going to be brushing up on verbs over the next few weeks, beginning with regular and irregular -are verbs. Review the rules and then test your skills with the short quiz at the end!

The Domus Aurea, Emperor Nero's sumptuous pleasure palace, reopened its doors to inaugurate a special exhibit illustrating how the Renaissance master Raphael introduced the grotesque style by lowering himself into the ancient underground ruins to copy its frescoes. Learn more about the “Raphael and the Domus Aurea, the Invention of the Grotesque” show that runs until January 7, 2022.

Barbecue season is here! Fire up the grill and add a touch of Italy to your al fresco meal with Francine Segan's pasta shish kebabs. Scallops, peaches, red onions, and pasta (yes, pasta) make these a unique and tasty skewered treat right off the grill.

Highlight your beach-bronzed skin this summer with this striking "silver snake" necklace made with onyx and crystal beads with a statement metal clasp. 100% made in Italy by GStone Fashion Jewels and sure to turn heads as a casual or dressy accessory.

For sale: This meticulously renovated 4-bedroom detached country house, surrounded by almost 1.25 acres of garden with olive grove and lovely panoramic views, is located in the area of Prato d’Era, just 8 km from Volterra. With the seaside and the Pisa airport both less than an hour away, this delightful home is easy to access and the perfect holiday base.

Buon weekend from Rebecca, your acting editor, and the Italy Magazine team!