MAMA Mia, Southend can’t get enough of il bel paese – the beautiful country of Italy.

Today, Southend BID is hosting its popular Italian Festival and will aim once again, to recreate the atmosphere, sights and smells of Italy across the town centre and seafront.

It comes to Royal Square, where local artists will display their talents along the railings outside Royals shopping centre.

As well as the display, there will be free art activities for families to get involved with.

The exhibition will be set up between 10am until 4pm, as part of the Italian Festival, Southend.

The High Street will be where much of the action takes place, with offerings from the very best (and authentic) Italian food producers, restaurants and bars.

Visitors can also expect to see the Delights of Italy team offering pizza making workshops in The Royals Shopping Centre with a buonissimo Italian food market to the north of the high street, alongside live entertainment.

The event promises to be an immersive town-centre wide celebration that embraces Southend’s surprisingly rich Italian food scene and heritage.

From 11am through to 4pm there will be lots of great activities for all ages from nonnas to bambini stretching from the BBC Essex stage at the top of the High Street, to an Italian Fun Day at Adventure Island on the seafront.

Not to be missed is the Supercar Catwalk starring gorgeous exotica from marques such as Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini and Lancia. Starting from Chalkwell Esplanade at 10:30am, the cavalcade of cars, motor bikes and scooters will parade along the seafront to The Kursaal, before being displayed along the High Street for the rest of the day.

At the Victoria, there will be fun for the kids with pasta necklace arts and crafts, as well as an Italian flag making workshop to wave passionately as you sing along to Puccini’s Nessun Dorma by the BBC Essex stage.

The popular local radio station will be on hand to provide entertainment throughout the day, including opera arias sung by Elizabeth Upsher and Veronica O’Keefe. Hetty and the Jazzato band will be performing on the main stage throughout the day to bring a taste of the Dolce Vita to this special event with vintage, classic Italian songs, swing, jive and rock ‘n’ roll - plus don’t forget to try your hand at the pizza throwing competition with Pizza Express just next to the main stage!

Take a walk up the High Street to drink in the sights and smells of the Italian Market and make a few purchases, whilst checking out the huge display of cars, motor bikes and classic scooters.

If you’ve worked up a thirst, a little further up the High Street you’ll find that other great Italian tradition, ice cream, so make sure you’ve left room for a Rossi's.