Italy’s national hospitality house, called Casa Italia, is likely to be a fan favourite among the free 2012 London Olympic attractions. We’ll be live blogging from Italy House, plus we’ve got all the essential information for you to plan your visit below:

Live Blog

Tuesday, 31 July

6:12 p.m. There’s plenty going on at Casa Italia this evening with six floors packed with activities. As you come in there is an auditorium with two big screens showing the Olympic action via Italian Sky Sports. Highlights include true Italian food and wine tasting at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. daily on the 2nd floor. At 10:30 p.m. tonight you can see live msic from Italian band J-AX on the ground floor.

Friday, 27 July

3:40pm To find Casa Italia from Westminster station, head right out of the station and towards Westminster Abbey. Carry on past and you’ll see Casa Italia in huge letters on the grass outside the QE II Conference Centre. It’s a much quieter atmosphere here, fewer English speakers for this public opening.

 1:55pm Sponsors and partners will be far more interested here. What’s on offer are brief looks at Italian Olympic history and rather more influence of the sponsors involved. Some of the art on display is lovely though. Otherwise it is a rather quiet place, very directed at the Italians and Italian business interests.
Need-to-know

Where is it: Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Broad Sanctuary

Nearest tube: Westminster or St. James Park

Hours: 12pm to 8pm

Cost: Free

Watching the Games: There will be a big screen on the bottom floor of the six-floor conference centre

Highlights: A “made in Italy” section featuring some of the most popular Italian food, wine and cars. Food and wine tasting. A performance centre for Italian artists. Exhibit of Italian photography.

Restrictions: The third, fourth and sixth floors of the centre are not open to the public.