August 10 is the night of the shooting stars or "La Notte di S. Lorenzo" (St. Lawrence's Night). This is the day where Italians look at the night sky and have their wishes - and their wine glasses - ready.

The 15 instead is mid-August (Ferragosto in Italian), the most popular of all the 11 Italian public holidays.

Like every year the south of the Puglia region is dancing to the "La notte della Taranta", a free tarantella event spread around 13 town and villages.

Easy Italia is a multi-lingual Italian site which will help the hapless tourist to navigate the services of that crazy country.

Do you like Italian Fashion? "Valentino Retrospective" is on show at GoMA in Brisbane till the 14 of November.