The seven-year-old title makes the shift to online as its website reaches 1.5 million users

Italy magazine has moved firmly into the 21st century with the decision to stop its print edition and concentrate only on its very successful website.

Launched by Poundbury Publishing in 2002, Italy soon became established as the number one magazine for Italy lovers. However, the world has changed dramatically in the last seven years, and, over time, Italymag.co.uk—the online edition of the magazine—overtook the print one to become one of the most popular resources on Italy across all media.

Today, Italymag.co.uk reaches more than 1.5 million users across the world, bringing Italian news, travel, food, property and culture to a lively community of Italophiles. It also has a strong presence on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

"Italy magazine has always run hand in hand with its website www.italymag.co.uk," says magazine editor and publisher Peter Shaw. "When we started, our mission was to bring the real Italy to the English speaking market. However, in media terms, we have now reached the crossover point where our mission is best served by continuing to develop our website."

As a result, the current edition of the magazine, which goes on sale today, will be the last one to appear in print. But the editorial mix that made Italy magazine so popular—a mouthwatering selection of genuine Italian culture, lifestyle, gastronomy and traditions—will be available in even greater depth and breadth on Italymag.co.uk.

From October 1, the website will be published, under license from Poundbury Publishing, by Istos srl, an Italy-based company specialised in online content development and marketing, which has long been running the site on behalf of Poundbury Publishing. Peter Shaw will remain as an advisor.

"Focusing solely on the web edition will allow us to harness the power of technology to bring English-speaking Italophiles a wealth of independent, authoritative, multimedia content covering Italy from every angle—whether travel, food, language, culture or ways to live the Italian lifestyle at home," say Italymag.co.uk editor Carla Passino and Istos director Ronald Ashri. "Not to mention that out users will benefit from having a stronger framwork for their vibrant community, where they can engage, support and advise one another."

"Going web-only," add Ashri and Passino, "will also enable us to service our advertisers more effectively, as many of them seem to have shifted towards the online platform and the obvious advantages it offers in terms of quantifiable results."

Poundbury Publishing Ltd continues to publish Dream Italian Weddings Magazine and a variety of one off magazine publishing projects.