SELF DRIVING IN ITALY

For all you fashion lovers out there, the Italian Concierge brings you a report on the recent Fashion Week in Milan, Italy. Milan Fashion Week, presenting the Spring 2016 collections, took place from Feb 24 to March 2.

La Befana has been associated with gift giving  at Epiphany since at least the 13^th C.   She is represented as an old witch with a broomstick who descends down the chimney to delivery gifts or carbone to the bad children.  All children are known to be bad at some time so they all receive carbone,  which is made of sugar and sold at local pasticcerie.  Some regions substitute onions or garlic in replacement of the coal.

For years I have had a lovehate  relationship with the city of Milano.  In the past I have told clients, if you only have 9 days, thenk skip Milano and get right to the lakes, but now  my sentiment  has changed and that something happened with the preparation for The Worlds Fair of Food- Expo 2015- Feeding the planet which is now   in full swing at the Milano Fair grounds -October 31, 2015 . The city has removed her  dull dusty 1940's gray mask and has replaced it with new look, which is  fresh,  and reflective of her position as #1 ( move over Paris) in art and style.  The city's new identity is encouraged by the numerous  publications which  have been flashing her new look under our nose. You can't read Savour, Architectural Digest, Departures , Travel + Leisure or Conde` Nast Traveler without seeing even  a mention of something  happening that is very Milanese.  

Italy has been know to be a  socially conservative  country given  it is the seat of the Catholic church, and is the ony country remaining  in Europe that does not recognize same sex  marriages or civil unions.  With the church's anti - same sex relationship stance it is no surprise that any change to the current position  regarding man-women, women- women, man-man would take great debate.