Roof tops, views and swallows

Update on Italyâ€™s return to a cautious near-normality in the wake of a continued decline in reported Covid cases...

Now that seven of Italyâ€™s regions have been declared White Zones (at lowest risk) and many more â€“ those currently in low-risk yellow zones - set to turn white over the next few weeks, the hospitality industry is finally beginning to feel that the beginning of the end has begun.

In Cortona, bars, shops and restaurants are open and there is a general air of anticipation. We are beginning to see visitors wandering the streets (largely from Northern Europe) and there is a general air of activity; everyone preparing for what they now hope will be a busy summer and autumn.

Cortona's Duomo

Santa Margerita

View from the gardens below Santa Margerita

Apparently, more than one million Europeans have already obtained the new EU Covid Health certificate, but the scheme which also includes the Schengen countries, the UK and Israel, will not be fully operational until July 1st. Each member state will be responsible for designing and issuing its own certificate and these will be recognised across Europe.

Italyâ€™s so called â€˜Green Passâ€™, not necessary for internal travel between low-risk white zones, will become necessary only for international travel. It will be available to anyone who has either been vaccinated, has tested negative for coronavirus within the past 48 hours, or has recently contracted and recovered from Covid-19. Plans are in motion for all testing to be provided free.

Transatlantic movement has also had a boost: Covid-free flights from the US have been augmented â€“ now arriving not only in Milan and Rome, but also Venice and Naples. The scheme has been extended to also include flights from Canada, Japan and the United Arab Emirates.

Travel may not prove simple this summer, and you may require no small amount of patience to fill in all the necessary paperwork, but at least it is now possible, albeit only for the above mentioned countries.

In the meantime, more photos of Cortona for those who are missing it!

Field of poppies