Ciao a tutti! 

Italy is revving its tourism motor as the world starts to shake off its cabin fever and look to il bel paese for upcoming trips. But who can travel to Italy? It’s been a confusing few days of conflicting reports about whether US nationals can enter the country for leisure travel, but we break it down based on the actual government decrees, not hearsay. Read our detailed and updated report that answers the hot-button question, “Can Americans travel to Italy for tourism?”

When travel does pick back up, avoiding crowded cities and sights will be a priority for many visitors. Here are five quiet spots in Florence where you can head when you need a break from the throngs in the historic center.

One place where you can get away from the teeming cities and into the wide-open countryside is Castelluccio di Norcia, a high plain set on the border between Umbria and Le Marche that explodes with color each spring as the wildflowers bloom. Learn about this uniquely spectacular spot in both English and Italian in this week's dual-language article, and be sure to listen to the audio clip for pronunciation tips.

Italians are spread across the world, from North America to Oceania. Even cities as far-flung as Melbourne have vibrant Italian communities teeming with shops, restaurants, and cafés that lend an authentic Italian flavor to the urban cultural patchwork. We took a virtual stroll down Lygon Street to explore this historic Little Italy.

We marked World Bee Day this past week with a fantastic roundup of nine ways you can support the bee population in Italy, even from afar. Take a look at bee-friendly options from “beespoke” jewelry to honey tasting and hive tours that raise awareness and funds to protect Italy’s precious pollinators.

Last week we went over the Italian pronunciation of the letter “c”, so it only made sense to brush up on how to pronounce the letter “g” this week. The rules are similar and will help you avoid embarrassing mispronunciations of words like “Lamborghini” and “tagliatelle” in the future.

Now that we can gather together again with friends and family, you may have unexpected guests dropping by for a cuppa and chat. These ring-shaped “torcetti” cookies, common in central and southern Italy, are made with olive oil and wine, plus spiked with just a touch of aniseed...perfect for setting out on the table with coffee or tea. 

Coffee and chocolate go together like, well...coffee and chocolate! This Coffee O-Clock gourmet box celebrates them both with a luxurious cappuccino spread, dark chocolate bars with coffee filling, and milk-chocolate-covered coffee beans.

For sale: A stunning 16th-century Tuscan villa gorgeous enough to be a film set. Carefully renovated and set on a hilltop between Umbria and Tuscany, this dream home boasts views over the town of Montepulciano. The villa has a fascinating history, as it was once part of the Laviano estate owned by Napoleon. 

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