Buongiorno Italy readers! 

"In 1482, Leonardo da Vinci left his hometown of Florence for a new opportunity. He had managed to gain employment at the court of Milan, where Ludovico Sforza “Il Moro” reigned as the de facto duke. There, Leonardo painted one of his most remarkable portraits, a likeness of a teenaged girl named Cecilia Gallerani, who was Ludovico’s favorite mistress." We discuss "The Lady with the Ermine" and its fascinating history. 

To pay homage to Raphael on the 500th anniversary of his death, here’s a walking itinerary in the center of Rome to visit the places that contain his works or that were designed by the artist himself. This itinerary features well-known and lesser-knowns palaces and museums, so it’s a great chance to see Rome in an original way. 

In this week's #duallanguage article we discuss the ancient city of Naples, founded by the Greeks in 470 BC (Neapolis), and, for much of its history, was one of the most important port cities in the Mediterranean. 

A train ride on a historic route amid mountains, villages and the fall colors: it’s the so-called ‘Foliage Train,’ which runs along a line that, since 1923, has connected Piedmont in northern Italy with Switzerland. 

Rice pudding slow-cooked to creamy perfection, then baked with dark chocolate, pine nuts, and hints of orange---this specialty of the Lucca province of Tuscany not only tastes astonishing, but also has an adorable crust.

Considering what we have gone through with the pandemic, the desire for holiday rentals has only increased. Holiday goers are preferring to stay in holiday homes with their families versus staying in hotels. For this reason, some experts predict the short term rental industry is going to be one of the fastest growing sectors in the holiday rental industry.

As of September 16, Italian airline Alitalia has introduced two daily ‘trial flights’ from Rome to Milan where boarding is only allowed to passengers who have tested negative for coronavirus. 

The ideal gift! This box has the makings of an unforgettable bruschetta - olive oil, tapenade and pesto starring the bright flavors of black and green olives. Brush both sides of bread slices with the Frantoio d'Orazio extra virgin olive oil. 

Dream apartment for sale in Venice! Spacious elegant apartment with independent entrance, located in a sixteenth-century building which is accessed from a quiet courtyard immersed in a typical Venetian atmosphere, our #propertyoftheweek. 

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