ItalyUpdate

The Venetian lagoon island of Poveglia, put up for auction in May 2014, has not been sold. The single bid offered by local entrepreneur Luigi Brugnaro was judged too low by the Demanio (the Italian State Property Office, which is the owner. Brugnaro's bid was 513,000, The Demanio curtly replied that this was the equivalent sum for an apartment in Venice and not for an island of 7.25 hectares.

The town of Grottaglie (near Taranto, Puglia) is best known for its ceramics and its Ceramic Quarter will take centre stage in the up-and-coming La Puglia in un Calice (Puglia in a Glass) Wine and Music event  between the 31^st July-1^st August 2014.

The celebrated San Carlo Opera House of Naples is offering discounted tickets for the three operas it will put on over the summer. Until the 2^nd August 2014, opera lovers can purchase the best seats at a discount for the following performances:

Zorba the Greek,Cavalleria Rusticana and Madame Butterfly.

Info:Tel.++39.081.7972331/412-  www.teatrosancarlo.it

According to research by Jfc, an American consultancy company that focuses on travel and trends, Italy is seen as the most romantic place for weddings. In 2012 six thousand couples from different countries chose to marry in Italy.

The region of Veneto welcomes more foreign visitors than any other Italian region, according to the latest figures released by the Agenzia Nazionale del Turismo and ENIT (the Italian state tourism authority) and recently published in the national daily newspaper Corriere della Sera.

Rome is not just ancient monuments and churches. Cinecittà World is a brand new family attraction linked to the city's long history as the Hollywood on the Tiber. The spectacular theme park, which will open its doors on the 24^th July 2014, covers the site of the former De Laurentiis studios at Castel Romana, 30 kms from Rome and half way to the coast.

Between the 15-27 July, the historic town of Narni (Umbria) will welcome some 150 music students and teachers from the world's most prestigious music academies, including the Juilliard school of New York, the Mozartuem of Salisburg, the Vienna Universitat fur Musik und darstellende kunst, the University of Miami, USA, and the Accademia del Teatro della Scala, Italy.

After a two-year break, the International Festival of Arts in the ruins of the Roman Emperor Hadrian's Villa at Tivoli, Rome, has made a welcome comeback. The month-long programme, which began on the 18^th June 2014, stars world famous dance and theatre companies who perform against the majestic backdrop of the Roman ruins under the stars.

Rosè used to be the Cinderella of the wine world, relegated to the back shelves of specialist shops and dismissed by connoisseurs as a kind of by-product, not much worthy of interest. But all that has changed fast since Hollywood star Brad Pitt launched his Chateau Miraval rosè produced by his estate in Provence, France, winning accolades from the prestigious Wine Spectator magazine. Italian rosè vintners have not been slow to pick up the gauntlet, emphasizing their long tradition and the excellence of their products.

Mauro Gabba, President of the Associazione Alberghi del Libro D'Oro, founded in 1991, has announced the chain's latest literary initiative of the creation of a Digital Library for the benefit of guests.