Today is ferragosto, when everything finally grinds to a halt in Italy, after threatening to do so for the previous fortnight.

Last night in Capena we had the yearly Incontro festival complete with running statues, marching bands and fireworks. Today absolutely everyone is on holiday and the pools, lakes and beaches will be packed.

The owner of my current favourite bar – who makes all his own cornetti, cakes and ice-cream –   is very happy indeed: he is the only bar open for miles around and his home-made cornetti and cakes had all sold out by 9.30 this morning. Because the cornetti are not made from frozen dough but take time to make because they must be left to rise and so on, he won’t have any fresh ones until tomorrow morning.

The bar is located next to the Conad ‘Margherita’ supermarket on Via Morlupo and I’ll be first in line tomorrow morning!