The Dedication of Saint Mary Major, previously known as Dedicatio Sanctae Mariae ad Nives (Dedication of the Church of our Lady of the Snows), will come back in Rome on 5th August.

It is a liturgical feast commemorating the dedication of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, restored by Pope Sixtus III, just after the First Council of Ephesus.

This basilica, located on the top of the Esqueline Hill in Rome, is called the Basilica of Saint Mary Major because it’s the largest church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Rome.

A friend of Newsblog About Italy sent us a letter that resume her recently romantic travel to Italy. Thanks to Meaghan for sharing with us her experience!

Italy is often associated with nature, an abundance of succulent food and the crystal clear waters of the Med. It’s no wonder that this country is also thought of as bubbling pot of romance and passion with hidden beaches and olive groves for you and your lover to explore.

Let me say thanks to Jazzed (jazzedfreedating.co.uk), where I met my partner :-)

There are many things to do in Italy while on a romantic vacation. I chose Italy for a romantic break, and these were my best Italian excursions:

Boating on Lake Como

Just an hour’s train ride out of Milan lie the tranquil waters of Lake Como, nestled in the foothills of the Alps. Como is a popular and extravagant destination frequented by movie stars and politicians alike.  George Clooney have found the lake a romantic place to get away from the humdrum of life and have owned a house here.

Take a guided boat trip around the lake to take in the sights and enjoy views of the forest-covered mountains as they soar high above the water’s edge. There are many good restaurants for a cosy dinner in the hills and town that surround the harbour.

Opera in Venice

Venice is known as one of the world’s great romantic cities. It has winding canals and waterways to traverse tucked up in a gondola for two, breath-taking architecture and an abundance of intimate cafes and restaurants.

If you are looking for something with a little more passion why not book an evening at the opera at Venice’s Teatro or an open-air city venue?

Relax on Capri

Capri Island has been an enchanting place to holiday since Roman times and today it is still hugely popular with couples looking for rest and relaxation. You can visit Capri on a day trip excursion form the mainland city of Naples, but for those who want to explore the island further, rent a room and enjoy early morning walks through the forests and along beautiful beaches.

Dine al fresco in Portofino

Portofino was once the most popular resort on the Italian Riviera but since its 1950s heyday it has remained a favourite destination for romance and adventure. For those who want to be seen or people-watch the rich and famous, there are plenty of luxury hotels and restaurants to hang out in.

When you want some time to yourselves the azure waters of the Mediterranean make the perfect playground for activities such a diving, snorkelling and swimming. A hike up into the wooded hills behind the town is well worth doing too.

For all cinema addicts, this year one of the best events in the Province of Imperia, the International short film festival, will take place from 31st July to 4th August.

The opening evening, in collaboration with the Circolo Parasio, will be held in Santa Chiara Square, the historical centre of Porto Maurizio.

In the evening, besides two short documentary films, a medium-lenght film will be presented: “Voyage en Sol Majeur” by Georgi Lazarevski (France, 2006 – winner of the audience award at the Lisbon Festival).

It is the diary of a film director who takes his ninety-years-old grandfather on a trip to Marocco, where the latter has always dreamed to go to but has never been able to because of his wife’s abhorrence for traveling.

On 24th and 25th July 2012, the great celebration comes back in the beautiful city of Levanto, in the province of La Spezia (Liguria Region): the 44th edition of the Festival of the Sea.

Since 1968, the event is celebrated every year in honor of St Giacomo, the protector saint of the seafaring community.

At the beginning, the feast had a purely religious character, but soon it was integrated with the medieval birth of the Municipality of Levanto in 1230.

You still have time until July 29th 2012 for visiting the exhibition entitled “Return to Itaca” by the Ligurian artist Carmen Spigno.

From Friday 6th July 2012 the painter’s works are put on display at the “Fortezza del Priamar” in the city of Savona (Liguria Region).

The artist chose not to use traditional colours and all paintings have been created with soil colours, which have been dried in the sun and then amalgamated with resin produced by trees formerly dissolved in water.

The exhibition’s title “Return to Itaca” comes from the novel of the writer Paolo Coelho, “The Zahir”, which tells about the troubled journey of a man who is searching for the meaning of his existence, just as Ulysses, who travelled to Ithaca for seeking knowledge.