Italy News: 01.11.09

Some news from Italy for your Sunday reading pleasure:

• Wow – murder suspect Amanda Knox has been named the “woman of the year” in an internet/TV poll in Italy. Other close contenders? Sarah Palin and the French president’s wife, Carla Bruni.
• If you thought you were the only one getting overly bombarded with snow this winter, take heart – much of Europe is under unusually large amounts of snow. Northern Italy has been pummeled lately, and the bad weather has even forced delays and cancellations at airports in Milan, Bergamo and Turin. The snow has been blamed for a dozen deaths in Europe, including one man in Milan who was crushed under a collapsed canopy.
• Milan might be one of the most polluted cities in Europe, but it’s working on doing something about that. And at least one organization is paying attention – Milan’s a finalist for the Sustainable Transport Award 2009.
• So, there’s a pizza in Finland called Berlusconi pizza? It amuses me that it’s supposed to poke fun at the Italian Prime Minsiter, but I still don’t think I could order it…
• Even ancient Roman monuments need improvements now and then, apparently – the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum are among the attractions which are going to get a bit of a facelift over the next couple of years.
• Are you on Facebook? Did you become a member of a Mafia fan club? Be warned that you are now considered a potential mobster.
• Finding B&Bs in Italy isn’t hard – but finding ones run by expats is a bit more challenging. Alex at Blog from Italy has started to feature the expat B&Bs in Italy he knows about, which can be a great help if you’re looking for them.
• After hoofing it through Roman ruins or trudging through Tuscan hilltowns, a little pampering at an Italian spa sounds just about right. And when the spa uses chocolate in its massages as well as its menu, you know it’s going to be good.
• The Examiner posted a great list of Italian sights worth visiting year-round.
• An American tourist was stabbed this past week in Rome outside a bar.
• As if we needed more evidence that Italy’s economy is suffering, automobile giant Fiat says it’s going to be laying off some of its white-collar workers.
• Will you be visiting Florence this year? Don’t miss a stop at the Bargello Museum, which just unveiled a newly-restored “David” by Donatello, and has a few special exhibits on the calendar as well.
• A woman in Scotland is being extradited back to Italy after being convicted of armed robbery and counterfeiting in Milan.
• Alitalia workers protesting at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport caused more than 100 flights to be canceled. Unlike some worker protests in Italy, which are often scheduled and regarding contract disputes, this one is over job cuts which Alitalia will likely be forced to make when the bankrupt airline relaunches.
• Not yet being an expat in Italy, I find myself pining for Italian things I can’t get here in the U.S. But for folks who have been living in Italy for a long time, it’s the little things – like bacon, Pringles, and orange-colored cheddar cheese – that can really make a girl’s day.
• The coach of Italy’s national soccer team seems to think there aren’t any gay players in the country. Besides the fact that he’s certifiable for saying that, I particularly love the reaction by the former head of the Italian gay rights organization Arcigay, who said, “I’m sorry to say that Lippi’s eyes must be covered in ham if he can state, with frankly misplaced certainty, that there are no gays in Italian soccer.”
• A town outside Pisa made the record books last week with the longest Christmas stocking – it was a whopping 279 meters long. I’d hate to be the one who had to fill that thing with gifts.
• Italian soccer referee Roberto Rosetti has been voted the best referee in the world.
• Just getting prostitutes off the streets isn’t enough for Verona, apparently, as they’re now working to get rid of home sex workers.
• I think just by retyping the title of this news story you’ll see that there’s really nothing more to be said about it: the Italian government is set to “finance clown therapy.”
• Spending New Year’s in Venice sounded good before, but after seeing the pictures of the snow and fireworks it sounds even nicer.
• Want to know what the dates are for those moveable Catholic holidays in Italy this year? Thanks to the Moving2Italy2 blog, you’ve got your answer.
• Anyone who’s traveled has seen funny mis-translations of the local language into Italian; this one frm My Bella Vita gave me a good giggle this morning.