Il Palagio, a 400-year-old villa in Tuscany, is a summer house that the singer-musician Sting, and his wife, Trudie Styler, bought for a song or two. They’ve fixed it up, and brought the olive groves, vineyards and vegetable gardens back to life. Sting and Trudie talk with correspondent Alina Cho about music, raising a family, and revitalizing a cherished homestead. Source

The rich chocolate-hazelnut creation has been a staple for generations of cooks in Piedmont, Italy Source

In a country where thousands of little towns are being deserted, one village is thriving, mainly due to the work of one extraordinary man: designer Brunello Cucinelli. His company, which makes some of the finest and priciest clothing in the world, has raised the fortunes of Solomeo, restored the town’s ancient buildings, and upheld the dignity of local workers by forging what has been called a “humanistic enterprise in the world of industry.” Tracy Smith reports. Source

Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the 17-foot-tall statue of David, stands front-and-center at the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence. Jane Pauley reflects on the quintessence of Renaissance art. Source

The designer’s company, which makes some of the most exclusive clothing in the world, has raised the fortunes of the Italian town of Solomeo by upholding “the moral and economic dignity of the human being” Source

Rose water was just one creation of the Dominican monks who in the 13th century began experimenting with alchemy at Florence’s Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy Source

With a sense of adventure, the writer restored her 300-year-old house, making it the star of an international bestseller Source

The singer-musician and his wife bought the dilapidated, 400-year-old Il Palagio, in Tuscany, for a song or two, and have brought the olive groves, vineyards and vegetable gardens back to life Source

The tiny Tuscan town of Collodi is where the wooden puppet who would become a live boy was born – the protagonist of a coming-of-age story much darker than the familiar Disney film Source

The proposal would provide educational or vocational scholarships in exchange for a service commitment Source