Web italianalmanc.org

Venice approved a study into a proposed restoration of the Rialto Bridge. If deemed feasible, the plan would launch the first restoration of the historic bridge on the Grand Canal in over 30 years. Restoration is estimated to take 18 months, due for completion in April 2015. "It would be a complete restoration," said Public Works Assessor Alessandro Maggioni. "It's been a long time coming for the city".

An estimated 20 million tourists trample Venice's ancient pavement every year, inevitably taking a toll on the Rialto Bridge, a city icon that for centuries was the only foot passage from one side of the Grand Canal to the other. Last year a column on the bridge's railing collapsed, and some of the marble steps have begun to crack, one of which was dislodged last summer, closing down part of the bridge.

Maggioni said the restoration would cost an estimated five to seven million euros, money the crisis-stricken city hopes to find in the form of private sponsorships. Renzo Rosso, founder and owner of the Diesel clothing company based in the Veneto region, has long been rumored as an eager donor to restore the 400-year-old landmark, but so far no offer has been formalized.

Labelled a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Venice's status as a cultural mecca is unparalleled, attracting a stream of luxury tycoons in recent years eager to lend their names and their pocketbooks to the city's long list of necessary repairs.

Former Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve drove his late father Gilles's most successful Ferrari at the Italian glamour team's test track to mark the 30th anniversary of the death of the man France's four-time F1 Formula One world champion Alain Prost once described as "the last great driver".

"I inherited my love of racing, of pushing to the limit, from Dad," said Villenueve after putting the Ferrari 312 T4 his father won three grands prix with in 1979 through its paces. "Let's say I was lucky to race in a safer F1, otherwise I would be dead too, like my father," said the 41-year-old Canadian, who won the 1997 F1 world championship with Williams after a famous clash with Michael Schumacher's Ferrari in the Spanish GP.

The younger Villeneuve, who was 11 when Gilles died at the age of 32 after an accident in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder on May 8, 1982. Speaking at a round table after the drive with today's Ferrari drivers, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, Jacques Villeneuve said drivers of his father's era had a greater awareness of the risks to others, "because if you shunted someone into a wall you could kill him. Today, maybe they're too trustful of the safety that has been attained, but you see manoeuvres you shouldn't see," said Villeneuve, prompting agreement from Alonso and Massa.

Jacques Villeneuve, who retired in 2006 after 10 years in F1, had previously avoided public events related to his father's death, but the chance to drive the storied Ferrari 312 T4 on the 30th anniversary of the death, to the very day, was different.

Gilles Villeneuve was a character who had a big impact on the sport even though he never won the world title and was in F1 for just over four seasons. Fans loved Gilles for his supreme car control and his daring, never-say-die approach which earned him the nickname the Aviator. He started out by competing in snowmobile races in his native Quebec before moving to drag racing and then the Formula Ford and Formula Atlantic series.

Grappa is the traditional grape-based brandy made by distilling the skins, pulp, seeds and stems left over from wine-making after pressing the grapes. Enjoyed straight, grappa packs a potent punch with an alcohol content of 35%-60% alcohol by volume, or 70 to 120 proof, prompting most consumers to drink it after a hefty meal.

Like wine, quality and price can vary, with finer varieties fetching over 100 euros, while most bottles cost less than 15 euros. Long a household item in Italy, a surge in international popularity - and overseas imitation - is bringing grappa into the mainstream.

According to the European Union and the Italian government, only grappa made in Italy can rightfully be called grappa. The trademark is protected by the EU's prestigious PGI certification, short for Protected Geographical Indication, which guarantees the unique qualities of foodstuffs and specialities which are made or grown according to traditional methods in specific areas.

To raise awareness and to protect the 136 grappa distilleries in Italy, Mazzetti's National Grappa Institute recently relaunched the website grappait.it where visitors can read, in both English and Italian, about the history, laws and upcoming events regarding the iconic Italian spirit.