As the weather in Italy slowly (it's been a hard spring this year) turns warm and hospitable, we focus on the new, fresh, and welcomingly warm parts of the country this April.

Image © Italian Concierge

As the weather in Italy slowly (it's been a hard spring this year) turns warm and hospitable, we focus on the new, fresh, and welcomingly warm parts of the country this April.

And this month in Joyce's Little Black Book we're proud to introduce the newest addition to the Italian concierge family: my new assistant Anne Csipkay.

Anne was bitten by the travel bug - specifically the Italian travel bug - young, and spent her junior year abroad in Florence soaking up everything she could, from Italian culture to renaissance art history to medieval literature. After graduating from Rutgers, she was able to spend a year teaching in Italy, mainly in Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, and now she is thrilled to be working with Italian Concierge.

Here's what else you missed:

• Traveler Tip: Packing for Italy
  Get an exclusive look at my suitcase and shoulder bag (my wardrobe and my office) and how I fit all the essentials into such a small space.

• Feature Article: Via Appia Part 1
  The original Roman road, the "Queen of Roads" - the Via Appia is and was the most well-known in the system. Today you can still walk the first ten miles of the road just as the Ancient Romans did.

• Things We Love: Gloria Astolfo
  A bit of zazz can brighten up any outfit, and these floral, brilliantly colored jewels from singular designed Gloria Astolfo will stand out even in a sea of accent jewelry.

• Tis the Season for…Spring Sagras
  To really get to know Italy, Italians, and Italian food, head to a spring sabra, where they celebrate the seasons' best produce in true Italian style, with lots of eating, drinking, and dancing!

• March Recipe: Asparagus Risotto
  Asparagus deserves to be cooked fresh and lightly. Here's a great way to highlight and stay true to its delicate flavor.