Buongiorno Italy readers, 

The holidays are upon us and as your editor, I am happy to end this year on a high note, as our team at Italy Magazine prepares for a 2019 with even more exciting content about Italy that we know you will enjoy. As per usual, thank you for your continued support with this project, we are all humbly grateful and appreciative of you -- our wonderful and treasured readers. Now let's check out this week's highlights! 

Learn the traditions, foods, and customs typically practiced by Italians during the Christmas holidays. Here's our top five.

The thought of sampling vinegar dribbled straight into a spoon is enough to draw anyone’s face into a squeamish pucker. But traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena, aceto balsamico tradizionale di Modena, is not just any vinegar, and it’s anything but bitter. Instead, it’s considered the king of vinegars and one of Italy's most important culinary legacies.  

Festive Italy! Take a tour of small-town Italy at Christmas time with our photo gallery slideshow.

There are some common pronunciation mistakes native English speakers make when they are speaking Italian, so it can be helpful to be aware of them and try to avoid them. Here are four more top pronunciation tips to help you speak more like a local.

There are now 22 bans in place at the archeological site of Pompeii to discourage improper behavior.

The perfect cozy stole made with faux fur fabric comes in black with a satin lining and handmade applications of little pearls, entirely an artisan-made, unique item. Here's where to get it in our online #MadeinItaly shop.  

Big news in the world of wine: the Soave wine country of the Veneto region in northern Italy was awarded a special recognition by the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) last week.

What makes the town of Lucca in Tuscany so special? Well for one, you can walk around Lucca's 16th-century walls for great views over the towers and spires of this medieval Tuscan town.

These spinach ballsare great to make during the weekday when you want something nutritious in a matter of minutes, and wrapped with a chive stem they also become a cute little “present” for a festive holiday side dish.

A dream stay in Le Marche. Borgo Belvedere is in a magnificent and secluded ancient hamlet near Camerino.

For sale in Abruzzo: Ancient country house of 140 sqm + porch 24 sqm, finely restored and furnished, with a well-kept garden of about 1700 sqm, located in a hilly and panoramic area, near the village Pozzo, municipality of Gualdo Cattaneo. 

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