Buongiorno Italy readers!

For our series ‘Back to Your Italian Roots,’ where we share stories of readers who have traveled to Italy to reconnect with relatives and visit their ancestral towns, we talk today to Laura Battaglini, whose father emigrated from Pacentro, Abruzzo, to Detroit.

You may be surprised to learn, however, that one of the most historic street foods in Naples is possibly one of the mussiest and fussiest of all dishes, and was once so ubiquitous along the working-class quarters of the historic center that it earned Neapolitans a nickname that stuck for over a century: i mangiamaccheroni.

Plagued, as of late, by corruption, mafia, debt, poor infrastructure, a pothole crisis and garbage spilling onto the streets, Rome apparently does have one functioning facility: its airport.

This finial is in the style of Pugliese pumi, handcrafted and hand-painted in Montelupo Fiorentino, Tuscany by the renowned artisans ND Dolfi. The textured details add to the rustic elegance of the piece. 

Traditionally a specialty reserved for All Saints Day celebrations, a fugassa cö formaggio (meaning 'focaccia with cheese' in the local dialect) won over the growing flock of summer visitors to the Ligurian coast in the 1950s with its uniqueness and simplicity: a generous layer of oozing, melted soft cheese sandwiched between two transparent, paper-thin layers of dough. 

When you first start learning Italian you will often learn the verb ‘volere’. This verb means ‘to want’. A verb is a doing word, a word which expresses an action. In this particular case, the action is ‘to want’ or ‘to desire’ something. 

While the North of Italy is well known for gems such as Milan, Venice and the lake district. Few are aware of the stunning (and delicious) area of Lombardy called Valtellina.

As part of this year’s celebrations for the 500th anniversary of Leonardo's death,Florence is hosting an exhibition dedicated to Andrea del Verrocchio, master of the Renaissance genius – and of many others who would go on to become major artists of the time.

In the midst of the Mediterranean Sea, approximately at the same distance between Sicily and Tunisia, Linosa is a small island of volcanic origin, part of the archipelago of the Pelagie Islands. 

For sale in Bomba, Abruzzo. This recently-renovated stone town house comes with two sunny terraces and features the most amazing mountain views. 1km to an open public swimming pool and 3km to a very beautiful lake. 

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