Ciao a tutti! 

Over the past year, we’ve all had time to take stock and realize that it may be time to start making some of those bucket-list dreams come true. If one of your resolutions is to finally buy that second home in Italy, you’ll love reading our latest in the “True Stories of Buying a Property in Italy” series. This week we hear how an Australian couple became happy homeowners in Abruzzo...despite “doing it all wrong”.

You know how suddenly a particular food goes from obscure to trendy in what seems like days? Brussel sprouts, avocado toast, poke...they have all had their moment in the spotlight over the past few years. Now “pinsa” is making headlines. This pizza-like specialty from Rome suddenly seems to be popping up on menus across Italy and the globe. Food writer Luciana Squadrilli explains its surprisingly short history and shares insider intel on where to sample the best in the Eternal City. 

Gearheads and lovers of Italian design, take note. July opens with Motor Valley Fest in Modena, one of the most important events of the year celebrating iconic Italian luxury automobiles from Ferrari to Maserati. Read more about the program, which includes everything from test drives to pop-up exhibitions, in our overview this week. 

Venice's Grand Canal is among the most recognized sights in the world, stretching 3.8 km (2.4 mi) from the Santa Lucia train station to St. Mark's Square. Lined with sumptuous palaces and crisscrossed by a series of contemporary and historic bridges, this “wonder of Italy” is the most spectacular way to enter the Floating City. Learn more about the history of Venice’s famed waterway in English and Italian with this week's new dual-language article.

Speaking of Venice, the city may be known for art and architecture, but La Serenissima’s rich artisan traditions are one of its most priceless treasures. This week, we profiled five of the most unique and storied artisans and their workshops for you to bookmark for your next trip to Venice.

With travel beginning to power back up after more than a year, you may want to brush up on some useful words or phrases for both arriving and getting around in Italy. From vaccination certificates to train strikes, here is some travel-related Italian vocabulary to deal with situations you may encounter on the road in Italy.

Bio “weapons'' against art attacks? After eight years of work, restorers in Florence were almost resigned to having to leave a few stubborn stains marring Michelangelo’s 500-year-old sculptures in the Medici Chapels’ New Sacristy. Instead, they summoned an army of bacteria and the dark spots disappeared. We looked at this meeting of art and science here.

This week’s recipe harks back to the Golden Age of Italian cinema, with a pasta recipe said to have been loved by Claudia Cardinale. Was this really the bombshell actor’s favorite? We may never know, but the story of how Domenica Marchetti unearthed this recipe from her mother's collection of clippings is a delight.

Fresh basil season is upon us, so order this authentic handcrafted mortar and pestle made of Carrara marble now to transform the aromatic leaves into traditional “pesto genovese” and enjoy the bright flavor of summer for months to come.

For sale: Casale del Monte sits on a hilltop overlooking the Tuscan village of Monte San Sabino just outside Arezzo. Completely restored in 2000, this traditional stone farmhouse has plenty of space for both indoor and outdoor living. The highlight is the terraced garden with outdoor pool, making this home a prime property for use as a summer residence.

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