Buongiorno Italy readers!

Share your Italy with us! We have big news to share with you all this week, today we are unveiling a photo contest showcasing your Italy in several different categories! Winners will get special prizes from our online shop and we can’t wait to see what you upload. For all of the rules and details please visit this page.

Trust us when we say you don't want to miss what's on this April in Italy, especially if you are the type to appreciate a food festival dedicated to artichokes! 

The Veneto is full of hidden gems: castles, villas, unexpected vistas, great art…Here is yet another castle tucked away in an idyllic setting in the Euganean Hills less than an hour from Venice (15 km south of Padova) and with a fascinating story to tell.

You can discover the local history of wine, and taste it too, on the ‘Etna Wine Route,’ which, on board a historic train and a ‘wine bus,’ takes visitors on a tour of wineries, farms, and restaurants, while admiring changing scenery that alternates between mountain to sea.

This week’s language lesson is about how to use the passive form in Italian.

Exploring small towns and villages is one of the pleasures of a trip to Italy. Our Trentino-Alto Adige expert and avid hiker Silvia selects some of her favorites in the top region for mountain lovers.

Spring is the ideal season to visit the beautiful gardens of Italy. One to take note of, which is about to reopen for the season, is the Garden of Ninfa in Cisterna di Latina, near the walled hill town of Sermoneta, about 80 km south of Rome; it’s possible to plan it as a day trip from the Italian capital.

This rustic apple cake or "torta di mele" is a classic in Italy, the equivalent of America’s apple pie and featured in the beloved cookbook known by many Italians across Italy: "Manuale di Nonna Papera". 

Made by hand by an artisan based in Lombardy. These beautiful artisanal bowls are made of black stoneware, glazed internally and externally in a green enamel teal. They come in a set of two.

The secret to happiness may be in a slice of pizza – at least for Italians. Discover why in our latest dual-language read. 

Ever dreamt of living near a castle? Get your chance with this week's featured #propertyoftheweek! This villa for sale overlooks a castle on the hills of Bordighera, 1km from the center of Vallebona and 5km from the sea in beautiful Liguria!

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