Buongiorno Italy readers!

The better the weather, the more frequent the festivals, we share the best events in Italy this June from north to south that you definitely don’t want to miss. 

Venice will be celebrating one of its most fascinating festivals this weekend, the Festa de la Sensa, an event that goes back hundreds of years, to the times of the Republic of Venice.

It may not feel like it – if you’ve been in Italy this May, you know it’s been cold and rainy – but beach season is approaching (at least we hope so) and if you like to include a bit of beach going in your summer travels, well, you may want to head to Calabria, the southern Italian region that occupies the tip of the boot. 

In Italy spumone is the general name for a category of semi-frozen sweetened whipped cream desserts and our version comes with panforte, a traditional treat from Tuscany! 

A decade ago, IPAs and Bock were barely known on the Sicily. Now the island is a strong contender for the best beer in Italy, it can even stand up to the high standards set by Belgium and Germany. Here’s who you need to know! 

French Impressionist painter Claude Monet made the village of Dolceacqua the subject of some of his famous paintings, and called it a “jewel of lightness.”

Whatever your level of Italian, it’s happened to all of us. You’re having a conversation and you’re doing really well ... and then you’re lost and you don’t understand what’s going on. Here are some useful words and expressions that may come in handy.

If you have a passion for gelato, then you may want to check Gelato D’Essai da Geppy Sferra, a new gelato bistro in Rome, in the outlying Centocelle neighborhood, where regular dishes are served with different gelato flavors.

Looking for a piece of artisanal Tuscany for your home? New in our shop is this vase, a colorful celebration of the arts and music, handcrafted and hand-painted in the Chianti region. 

In Golfo Aranci, in a residential area (in Terrata, Sardinia) is a detached villa for sale with a large garden overlooking Capo Figaro, Capo Ceraso and Tavolara – our property of the week! 

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