Ciao our ITALY Readers, many of you might know of Lake Como as one of the most beautiful spots in Lombardy, and also the part-time home of celebrity resident of George Clooney, but what about a certain curse on one of the prettiest, least well-known islands on the lake? We have the scoop. Curious about art you see on the street? Check out our list of 10 street artists making waves in Italy. We also interviewed an expert on walking 550 Kilometers along one of the world's greatest pilgrimages -- you won’t want to miss this.

We’re always on the hunt for the most beautiful secret villages around Italy, and our latest find is the town of San Leo between Romagna and Le Marche. Wine lovers should head 40 kilometers north of Lake Como to the area of Valtellina where the vineyards have been built on mountain slopes, at an altitude of 2,500 feet.

Our Italian-language tips of the week include a dual-language article on the current restoration of the Spanish steps in Rome and a handy article to help you understand the Italian way of deciphering dates (in time).

Our recipes of the week explore fall flavors with a tasty recipe for pumpkin tortelli and this delicious calamari vegetable stew, which will surely warm up any palate.

Start your Christmas shopping early and browse the unique Italy-themed items in our shop. This week we are featuring an Eco-leather bag inspired by the classic Falcone model gas tank shape, it features a zipper front pocket. Or splurge on this ‘super gulliver’ stainless steel tomato strainer for your next kitchen creations.

Featured properties for sale this week in Italy include a beautiful top floor apartment with stunning view in the floating city of Venice, or this stately apartment in the heart of the Monteverde Vecchio neighborhood  in Rome.

Have a question about ITALY? Join and participate in our online community, we will help you get answers. Add us on Instagram, we love to see your Italy pics, tag them with #italymagazine to get featured on  our official account.

Off for espresso number 35, Until next time…