The Arena Star

Benvenuti…

A very warm welcome to this new issue of Italia!, and

THIS MONTH News & Views

There’s no doubt it’s been a difficult year – in Italy

5 reasons to Visit Trentino

1 Traditionally a speciality of German towns, Italy

You tell us…

We asked our friends on Facebook to tell us their favourite

On top of the world

A new observation platform set more than 3,000 metres

Online this month

The eternal joy of visiting Rome is the very visible

Wineries offer a hand (sanitiser)

Italy’s wine producers and exporters have been hit

Going up, going down…

• For anyone who’s planning an adventure by rail, a

THIS MONTH News & Views

EMAIL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS: italia@anthem.co.uk

Give yourself Molise

A small comune in Molise received more than 8,000 applications

Italia! recommends

Explore a much-loved Italian brand, a new hotel in Puglia and an Italian supper club in London

THIS MONTH Readers’ Photos

Send us your favourite Italian travel photos, and each

THIS MONTH In Print

Christine Smallwood, Bloomsbury Absolute, £20 (hardback)

THIS MONTH Top Picks

If you’re in need of festive shopping inspiration take a look at our pick of Italian gifts and ideas!

THIS MONTH Top Books

From food and wine to fine art and classic fiction, you’ll be inspired by these great reads

VIEWPOINT

Meet the bagpipe-playing shepherds of southern Italian festive folklore

Venice revisited

Venetian Sara Scarpa takes a look at the city’s cultural re-emergence after the long Covid-19 lockdown and considers what the future holds…

GAZZETTA ITALIA!

In this edition of our bilingual feature, Tom Alberto Bull explains how Italy’s arts and culture industry has had to adapt in the face of Covid-19.

AHEAD OF HER TIME

The most celebrated and accomplished female painter of the 17th century, Artemisia Gentileschi (1693-1653) is arguably one of Italy’s most outstanding artists

ROD DUDLEY Our Local Hero

Internationally renowned sculptor Rod Dudley is Australian, but the heart of his art is in Besozzo on Lake Maggiore. Lifelong friend Rosalind Milani Gallieni pays him a visit…

An Alpine Carnival

Add this to your Wishlist list for 2021. We follow Marina Spironetti in her discovery of one of Italy’s most beautiful and lesser-known winter carnivals in the Alpine town of Bagolino…

Standing at the crossroads

Amy McPherson steps into Gorizia’s multilayered culture to discover a charming fusion city…

THE Perfect GIFT FOR Christmas…

It’s better than socks!

VISIT VIGEVANO

Ten reasons to look forward to returning to Italy

The Tuscan Christmas

Mario Matassa looks to classic Tuscan cuisine for inspiration in creating a special menu to make your Christmas dinner one to remember for years to come

SEASONAL TREATS

We are all tempted by sweet and savoury treats at Christmas and New Year. Here are seven of our favourites.

TASTES OF Winter

Create a cosy Italian supper with these deliciously authentic recipes by Christine Smallwood

Celebration Bakes

Bring a little Italian style to your holiday season baking with these traditional recipes…

CHRISTMAS DRINKS

Here’s our yearly round up of fine Italian wines and spirits to take you through this season’s celebrations and into 2021 – and to make excellent gift ideas for friends and family

NEXT MONTH IN Taste ITALIA!

Bitter Honey The flavours of Sardinia

QUICK CONVERTER

We know that many of you may prefer to use imperial or US weights and measures to cook our recipes – use our handy conversion tables to translate from metric

PROPERTY ON A BUDGET

We asked two Italian property experts about the buying opportunities in the housing market for homes under €250,000

Property Under €250k

This excellent value and delightful 5-bedroom detached

Property Showcase

Great rental potential. This apartment forms part of

ITALIA! HERITAGE

Standing between the cities of Messina and Catania, this icon of Sicily is perhaps the world’s most famous volcano