Arezzo:
Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta facade revealed: 12 painstaking years of restoration work have returned the 13C masterpiece the Allegory of the Months to its original polychromatic glory. The 68 sculptural scenes in high relief realistically depict activities from daily medieval life. The successful completion of the restoration marks a second recent milestone in Arezzo's artistic life: the restoration of the incomparable Piero della Francesca so cycle The Story of the True Cross in the church of San Francesco was much-acclaimed when reopened last year. (Source: Bell' Italia)

Firenze:
David all washed up: Michaelangelo's famous sculpture is currently receiving its first cleaning in 129 years. Visitors to the Accademia will be able to view the work in progress. (Source: The Seattle Times)

Perugia:
National Gallery of Umbria reorganized: Long one of the most spectacular "provincial" collections in Italy, this special museum is unforgettably housed in the 13th C Palazzo Pubblico in the heart of Umbria's capital city of Perugia. The gallery traces the development of Umbrian art through the 2nd half of the 15th C. One expects to find rooms dedicated to Perugia's favorite son, Il Perugino, but is one really prepared for the all-star lineup one encounters besides: Beato Angelico, Benozzo Gozzoli, Piero della Francesca, Arnolfo di Cambio, Duccio and many others. Open daily 8:30-7:30 pm. For information phone: 075/574.1400. (Source: Bell' Italia)

Rome:
Tourists can purchase for L.30,000 a cumulative ticket for entrances to such heavyweights as the Coliseum, Palatine, Palazzi Altemps and Massimo, and the Baths of Caracalla (and Baths of Diocletian and the Crypta Balbi when they open later this year). The cumulative ticket is valid for 5 days. (Source: InfoRoma and RAI TV)

Monument to Victor Emmanuel now open: The monument (sometimes "lovingly" referred to as "the Wedding Cake" because the white marble structure resembles nothing so much as a layered wedding cake) has only just reopened after a 30 year restoration. Located at the very center of Rome where the Corso meets Via dei Fori Imperiali at Piazza Venezia, the monument may be visited free daily except Monday from 10:00 to an hour before sunset. There are also free guided tours but only in Italian. Visitors may ascend 200 feet to enjoy magnificent views over the The Urbs. (Source: InfoRoma, Bell' Italia and The Seattle Times)

End of the Porta Portese flee market?: Almost anyone who has spent time in The Eternal City will have found their way to this most famous of Italian flee markets, just south of Trastevere. It even played a key role in Vittorio de Sica's classic Bicycle Thief. Alas, the 2003 version of Rome is much more gentrified. The problem is that many of the vendors are not licensed and the "black" market is seldom blacker than in Porta Portese. Final closure and probable relocation to another area is some time off yet however. (Source: InfoRoma)


Ara Pacis closed until 2004: The Emperor Augustus' Altar of Peace, next to the Tiber river and beside the Mausoleum of Augustus, has been the object of great contention since a decision to house it in a new structure. Thus tourists can expect long delays before the project is completed (hopefully) next year. (Source: InfoRoma)

New Rome Concert Hall: Musically Rome has definitely entered the 21st Century with the inauguration of beautiful and acoustically rich new auditorium for it's venerable Academy of Santa Cecilia orchestra. Located in a musical complex called the Parco della Musica in the Flaminio District north of the City, it seats 2,756, the largest concert hall in Europe. (Source: InfoRoma)

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Treviso:
Impressionism and the Age of Van Gogh is the theme of a memorable months-long exhibition in this gracious Northern Italian city. Manet, Monet, Renoir, Gauguin, Rodin and Van Gogh (with by a a selection of some 50 works) are represented. The show ends March 30. Telephone: 0438/2.13.06. (Source: Bell'Ialia)

Venice:
Venice Card Facilitates Visits: Perhaps the best way to avoid the inevitable crowds of Venice attractions may be to purchase one of the new "Venice Cards". The new museum passes come in various denominations (red, blue, orange) lasting for 1, 3 or 7 days. Besides providing reservations to the principal museums of La Serenissima, other services the cards provide include free use of the water buses (vaporetti) and reservations for parking. For reservations: 041/2.71.47.47. (Source: Bell' Italia)

The Pharaohs exhibition: One of Venice's grandest exhibition venues, Palazzo Grassi hosts this important show which focuses on the cult and history of the Egyptian rulers. 300 treasures from 34 museums worldwide. Through May 25, 9:00-7 pm daily. Telephone: 119.139.139. (Source: Bell' Italia, Gambero Rosso)

Carnivale 2003: This year's celebration occurs on March 2. InfoRoma discusses the traditions.

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Miscellaneous:
Ban on smoking coming:a ban on indoor smoking in public places has been passed by Parliament and should take effect, with large fines for violators, within 18 months. (Source: InfoRoma)

No More Biglietto Chilometrico (Kilometric Ticket): The abolishment of the kilometric ticket is a truly shocking development to those of us who, in starving-student days, traveled up and down Italy on this budget train pass. Italy continues to tighten and normalize to meet new European Union standards, occasionally sacrificing old friends.(Source: InfoRoma)