Italian news
News snippets and stories from the Italian papers.
6.3 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Italy near Rome
Late Sunday night just before I was shutting down my computer I read the first reports of the Italy earthquake.
In Italy, it's All Beckham All the Time
Italians know drama. They do drama so well, you'd think it's genetic. So given the hubbub surrounding the arrival of English soccer superstar David Beckham (and his equally famous wife, Posh Spice…
Magnitude 5.4 Earthquake in Southern Italy
I just learned from someone I follow on Twitter that a 5.4 magnitude earthquake hit southern Italy several hours ago (and since there's basically no news about it online yet, I'm going to say that…
Venice Floods Hit Highest Levels Since 1986
Anyone familiar with Venice knows that the city has an issue with water. Its relationship with the water that surrounds it is complicated, and the fragility of this canal city is part of what makes…
Beckham Likely to Play for AC Milan in 2009
I'll be the first to admit that when I heard the intiial rumors trickling in earlier this year that Ronaldinho would be joining my Italian soccer team, AC Milan , I was skeptical.
Italy News: 10.19.08
Some news from Italy for your Sunday reading pleasure: The author of the book about the mafia - which has recently been made into a movie - is leaving Italy following threats on his life .
Italy News: 10.12.08
Some news from Italy for your Sunday reading pleasure: Are you one of the people who has watched Italian TV and wondered why every single show seems to require its own chorus line of skinny women in…
Italy News: 10.05.08
Some news from Italy for your Sunday reading pleasure: According to a study from 2007, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese is the #1 shoplifted food item in Italy.
Italy News: 09.28.08
Some news from Italy for your Sunday reading pleasure: As if there weren't already enough weird laws in Italy , Tui at Mental Mosaic just sent me news that an Italian town is going to be collecting…
Alitalia Puts Out "For Sale" Sign, May Only Have 3 Days Left
It's almost futile to post anything about Alitalia right now, as things seem to be changing by the nanosecond, but this morning I've noticed two stories in the news that are worth mentioning.
Italy News: 09.21.08
Some news from Italy for your Sunday reading pleasure: Y'know how I keep mentioning that Italy's national airline, Alitalia, is on the brink of collapse? Well, it is again .
Italy News: 09.14.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: Well, haven't things in Italian soccer come to a pretty pass - now they're talking about putting holding cells right inside the soccer stadiums .
Italy News: 09.07.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: A group of switchboard operators who were fired from their jobs at a hospital in Legnano, Italy did a striptease in an effort to get their jobs…
Italy News: 08.31.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: Now I'm really disappointed - that nun beauty contest the Italian priest was trying to run online has been canceled .
Catholic Priest in Italy to Hold a Beauty Contest for Nuns
If you thought the Roman Catholic church was so last century, there is a priest in Italy who'd like to change your mind.
Italy News: 08.24.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: An Italian court has ruled that teachers are not allowed to spit at principals. Good, I'm glad we cleared that up.
Italy News: 08.17.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: Okay, folks, this is just too good... Wondering what to give that friend in your life who has everything?
Italy News: 08.10.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: Police in Bologna say they've detained five people on suspicion of recruiting for terrorist organizations in Iraq & Afghanistan, and of planning…
Italy News: 08.03.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: Everyone's still looking for quiet corners of heavily traveled places to find one spot no one's heard of.
Italy News: 07.27.08
Before we begin, here's a quick announcement - I'm sure you noticed, when you looked at this post that something was different this week. (You noticed, right?
Italian News Snippets: 07.20.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: What's going on in Italy lately?
Italian News Snippets: 07.13.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: An Etruscan tomb has been discovered in Perugia , removing one thing from what I imagine is still a miles-long list of really cool stuff still…
Italian News Snippets: 07.06.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: World happiness studies indicate that people in Italy aren't as happy as some of their European neighbors - Italy ranks only 45th in overall…
The Most Popular Museums in Italy for 2007
Anyone waiting in the long line to get into the Uffizi Gallery or the Vatican Museums on a hot summer day will recognize that they're standing outside one of Italy's top museums.
Italian News Snippets: 06.29.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: If the idea of a "Pope Casanova" seems surprising to you (as it did to me), then check out this Times Online article about the young man's entry…
Milan #41 in World for Overall Quality of Expat Life
Mercer has just released its 2008 Quality of Living survey - it ranks cities around the world in terms of cost of living, personal safety, recreation opportunities, public transportation, and many…
New "Homemade Gelato" Label in Italy Points You to the Real Thing
There are so many things to keep in mind when you're hunting down a scoop of high-quality gelato in Italy , you'd be forgiven for just giving up and choosing whichever gelateria is closest to you.
Italian News Snippets: 06.22.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: Yay! After a disastrous start, the Italian soccer team has actually made it out of the first round at the Euro 2008 soccer tournament .
"Unicorn" Found in Italian Nature Park near Florence
Who says genetic flaws are inherently bad? This baby deer found in a park in Tuscany would be just one of the crowd if not for its genetic mutation - instead of two horns, this little fellow has one.
Italian News Snippets: 06.15.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: Remember the couple who was caught having oral sex in a cathedral confessional box ?
Couple Caught Having Oral Sex in Cathedral Confession Box
Italy is, not surprisingly, a profoundly Catholic country - in name at least, if not in practice.
Italian News Snippets: 06.08.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: After a couple was caught having sex in the Cesena cathedral's confessional box , the cathedral had to be purified before it could be used again…
Leaning Tower of Pisa Pronounced Stable for Next 300 Years
Engineers proudly reported last week that a long effort to stabilize the Leaning Tower of Pisa has been successfully completed .
Naples Garbage Crisis Continues
For months now, there's been no end to the news stories with the words " Naples " and "garbage" in the same sentence, and it's not like a garbage crisis in Naples is something that's never happened…
Italian News Snippets: 05.25.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: If you're heading to Rome and you like dead people, check out the newly restored mausoleum underneath St. Peter's Basilica.
Wine Tourism in Italy Growing in Popularity
Even people who aren't into wine know that Italy is famous for its wine production - which is one reason wine tourism is such big business in Italy.
New Flights on AirOne: Milan-Boston & Milan-Chicago
The Italian soccer league's season is done now, but in the last few months of watching the games I started noticing a particular advertisement around the billboards at the perimeter of some of the…
Discounts for American Travelers to Florence in 2008
I love finding travel deals, so I was happy to find this discount program for Florence .
Italian News Snippets: 05.18.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: News Flash - all Eurofly flights from New York to Italy in May are only $499. Do not pass go, do not stop for lunch, just buy these tickets now !
Italian News Snippets: 05.11.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: News Flash - all Eurofly flights from New York to Italy in May are only $499. Do not pass go, do not stop for lunch, just buy these tickets now !
Italian News Snippets: 05.04.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: News Flash - all Eurofly flights from New York to Italy in May are only $499. Do not pass go, do not stop for lunch, just buy these tickets now !
Italian News Snippets: 04.27.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: I know I should eat less red meat, but when in Florence I can't resist La Bistecca .
Italian News Snippets: 04.20.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: Lots of articles about the election results, and what they mean for Italy - including this one wondering whether Berlusconi can deliver what…
Italian News Snippets: 04.13.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: It's election day in Italy today! Well, the first of two (April 13-14).
Italian News Snippets: 04.06.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: Apparently the wine you drink can offer a clue to your sexual identity . Who knew?
Italian Supreme Court Rules Nepotism Illegal
I keep re-reading this article , and I still can't stop shaking my head in disbelief: Italy's Supreme Court has ruled that nepotism is an offence, despite the almost universally held belief that it…
Dioxin Found in Some Buffalo Mozzarella
Just a quick note to mention that if you're in Italy right now, there may be an excuse not to splurge on the "upgrade" to buffalo mozzarella on that pizza you're ordering: Over the past week, Italian…
NPR Story on Upcoming Italian Elections
As I've mentioned, I'm going to be in Italy for the next six weeks, during which there is likely to be lots of campaigning for the upcoming April election.
Italian News Snippets: 01.27.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: Some knucklehead has actually proposed moving "David" out of Florence to relieve tourist congestion . WTF ?!?
Italian News Snippets: 01.06.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: Italy ranks first among international vacation destinations for U.S. travelers for the 5th year in a row .
Italian News Snippets: 12.09.07
It's been a few weeks since the last news snippets post - between my recent trip to Milan and having been sick almost constantly for the last three weeks, I haven't been up to it.
Italian News Snippets: 11.04.07
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: Plans are being put into motion to create a Truffle Nature Park near Pisa in 2008, which will eventually include truffle-related tourism.
Italian News Snippets: 10.28.07
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: Ryanair isn't the only low-cost airline that's increasing their presence at Milan's Malpensa airport - now easyJet will expand service at Malpensa…
Italian News Snippets: 10.21.07
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: We've heard of the great Bernini because of his masterpieces of sculpture, but he was also a painter - and a new exhibit in Rome is showing off…
Italian News Snippets: 10.14.07
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: If you're looking for a great meal in Siena , the Osteria le Logge gets high marks from Concierge.
Italian News Snippets: 10.07.07
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: If you're near the Pantheon in Rome and want to try out your Italian menu translator , Shelley's got a tip on a lunchtime spot that's definitely…
Italian News Snippets: 09.30.07
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: Here's your warm fuzzy Italy story for the day: Rather than punishing a shoplifter, this Italian store owner organized other customers to make sure…
Italian News Snippets: 09.23.07
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: The FBI thinks one of its most-wanted crime bosses visited Sicily in April, so if you saw this man on your Italian vacation, the FBI wants to talk…
Italian News Snippets: 09.16.07
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: For those of you who are always looking for "undiscovered Italy" (or anything beyond what tourists normally see), I give you Badolato in Calabria .
Italian News Snippets: 09.09.07
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: A 66-year-old woman in northern Italy has apparently been beating the crap out of her 62-year-old neighbor, saying the neighbor is a witch .
Italian News Snippets: 09.02.07
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: The coach of Catania's soccer team might have been trying to teach his players how to kick arse, but he did it a bit too literally when he planted…
Italian News Snippets: 08.29.07
Here are a few mid-week newsy bits for you from Italy: Remember those "guardians of decorum" in Venice that I've mentioned?
Italian News Snippets: 08.26.07
Your Sunday news snippets from Italy: A politician in Bologna has suggested that the city create a "red light" district where prostitution would be legal - but to have that area move around the city…
Italian News Snippets: 08.19.07
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: Italian police at Fiumicino Airport recently found a catalog of weapons in a passenger's suitcase which led them to uncover an enormous arms deal…
Italian News Snippets: 08.12.07
Some Italian news bits for your Sunday reading pleasure: If you're not usually inclined to turn on Italian TV in your hotel room because you can't understand the language, you might want to change…
Italian News Snippets: 08.05.07
Some Italian news snippets for your Sunday reading pleasure: There were demonstrations in Rome this week after two gay men who were arrested for kissing in front of the Colosseum.
Italian News Snippets: 07.29.07
Some news snippets from Italy for your Sunday reading pleasure: Florence and Rome are the World's Best Cities - according to Travel + Leisure magazine readers , anyway.
Quick Italian News Snippet: Online Magazine Needs Colosseum Story
Well, it's not really Italian news, but news that might appeal to you if you're a fan of both Italy and making money.
Italian News Snippets: 07.15.07
Some Italian news and tidbits for your Sunday reading: The new seven wonders of the world have been announced, and Italy's entry - the Colosseum in Rome - made the final cut .
Italian News Snippets: 07.08.07
Some Italian news bites for your Sunday enjoyment: Venice is set to open a new bridge across the Grand Canal by the end of 2007 - the lagoon city's first new bridge in hundreds of years.
New Fiat 500 Debuts Today
Every time I visit Europe I am charmed by the tiny cars everywhere. Then when I get back home, even my Toyota Corolla seems too big, and I lament the fact that the US can't seem to get behind the…
Italian News Snippets: 07.01.07
Italian news snippets for your Sunday: Apparently, Italians are having lots of sex - it's just not very good .
Italian News Snippets: 06.24.07 (Part II)
Another dose of Italian news, because it's just that kind of day: Apparently thousands of Italian tourism websites have been infected with a nasty virus or worm or something (if you didn't already…
Italian News Snippets: 06.24.07
Some Italian news for your Sunday: The Federation of Italian Nudists (who knew there was such a thing?) says it's a real shame that in all of Italy there are only about 10 nudist camps - they'd like…
Italy Cracking Down on Tax Evasion
It's long been a joke that tax evasion is like Italy's national sport . Most good guidebooks will tell you what guesthouses will offer a lower price per night if you pay in cash (which they don't…
Italian News Snippets: 06.17.07
Some Italian news for your Sunday: A Russian ninja who had been terrorizing farmers in the north of Italy has been caught - and it seems we have Robin Hood to thank for his choice of disguises .
Italian Senator Caught in Debacle Over Fake Ambulance Call
( I was trying to save this until the next time I did a collection of Italian news snippets, but I heard "part two" of the story today and just can't resist.
Italian News Snippets: 06.10.07
Some news for your Sunday afternoon: Prostitutes in Padua have seen a dramatic drop in business ever since the city began enforcing an ordinance which fines the clients.
Record Temperatures Expected in Italy this Summer
I know I've mentioned before how hot this summer in Italy is supposed to get and mentioned a few tips for staying cool in the Italian heat , but allow me a moment to reiterate this information with…
Italian Research: Asthma-Sniffing "Noses" and Biotech Vaginas
As I've been perusing the Italian news sites for things to post on the Italy Logue, I've found that Italian scientists come up with some pretty amazing things.
Italian News Snippets: 06.03.07
A few newsy bits for your Sunday afternoon reading... If you visited Rome recently and found the air simply intoxicating, you weren't far off - they recently found traces of cocaine and marijuana in…
Naples Streets Full of Burning Garbage
Anyone traveling to Naples right now should be warned - the streets are full of garbage.
Crop Circles in Ancona?
Lest you thought that crop circles were a uniquely American phenomenon, let this video be a lesson to you - it's a look at some crop circles which turned up in an Ancona field recently.
Italian News Snippets: 05.19.07
Italians might not be shocked by much, but a gigantic naked man floating above a park in Milan is causing some raised eyebrows.
Italian News Snippets: 05.12.07
Want to learn your way around one of Italy's cities while also adding a little whimsy to your home? Why not pick up a fly swatter in the form of Milan's street system ?
Italian News Snippets: 05.04.07
A woman took a dip recently - naked - in Rome's Trevi Fountain . Her defense? " The water belongs to everyone and it was hot.
On the Anniversary of Mussolini's Execution
April 28th marks the anniversary of the execution of Il Duce , Benito Mussolini . He, his mistress and other Facist party leaders were shot in the village of Mezzegra on this day in 1945 and their…
Italian News Snippets: 04.27.07
Some Italian news to get you through the weekend: Mediterranean diet holding firm - Most Italians still cling to traditional diet, not foreign junk food Trevi Fountain raiders nabbed - Two men were…
Italian News Snippets: 04.22.07
Some Italian news tidbits for an April Sunday: When a real estate agent tries to sell you an "unspoilt" piece of land in Abruzzo , make sure it's not the site of an illegal toxic waste dump .
Italian News Snippets: 04.13.07
Some Italian news snippets for your reading pleasure: It's not like we haven't heard this before, but now it seems more true than ever - Venice Under Water in "Few Decades" This is recycling at its…
It Still Seems that Soccer = Violence in Italy
So, after the Italian Senate recently passed what's being called an "anti-hooligan law" - a reaction to the killing of a policeman during a post-soccer game riot in early February - it's now the…
Italian News Snippets: 03.31.07
Some Italian news to get you through the weekend: The largest whale fossil ever recovered in Italy was found recently in a Brunello vineyard Italian researchers tell us what different emotions dogs…
Italy's Warm Winter: What Will Summer Be Like?
Italy, along with much of Europe, has just gotten through the hottest winter in years - in January some regions were recording temperatures in the 70s.
Videos of Stromboli Volcano Erupting
Stromboli is one of Italy's active volcanoes and, along with Mt. Etna on Sicily, it belches every once in awhile. Stromboli's been grumbling lately, although it's apparently calmed down since...
Italian News Snippets: 03.25.07
A few newsy tidbits for your Sunday afternoon reading: Italy is surprised by negative reactions to hostage exchange , and recent hostage Mastrogiacomo won't go back to Afghanistan - he recounts his…
Sanremo Song Festival Review
If you just can't get enough of the Sanremo Song Festival (like me!), here's a great review from a guy called Joe Grima in Malta who watched the whole thing this year - and is very glad he did: This…
US & UK Not Happy with Taliban/Italian Hostage Exchange
Not surprisingly, the US and British governments aren't thrilled that the Italian government apparently traded jailed Taliban officials for the Italian reporter who was being held : The United States…
Italy's Foreign Minister Says Italian Reporter Released
It's now been confirmed by the Italian government - Daniele Mastrogiacomo, the Italian reporter who was kidnapped by the Taliban recently, is in safe hands .
"Pensa" by Fabrizio Moro - Song Lyrics Translated to English
When the husband and I were listening to and reading about the song which won the Sanremo Song Festival this year, " Ti regalerò una rosa ," the husband did a bit more investigating and found the…
"Ti regalerò una rosa" - Song Lyrics Translated to English
With a little help from my friend Alessandro , here are the lyrics to this year's Sanremo Song Festival winner, " Ti regalerò una rosa " by Simone Cristicchi.