Economy – In the economic news, Reuters reports on the agreement reached between Enel and the European Commission for the construction of a solar panel “Gigafactory” in Sicily; it is to be “Europe’s largest maker of bifacial photovoltaic modules,” which produce power from both sides of the panel (April 1 – Enel Green Power signs EU grant deal for solar gigafactory in Italy). The agency also reports on the growth estimates of the defence group Leonardo (April 4 – Leonardo CEO says defence spending rise could add to growth estimates).
Culture – In culture, The Guardian covers the Uffizi, now “Italy’s most visited cultural site” thanks to its “huge popularity” following “years of innovation” (April 4 – Florence’s Uffizi gallery named Italy’s most visited cultural site for first time), while El País pays a visit to the exhibition that London’s National Gallery has dedicated “to the Renaissance harmony of Raphael” (April 7 – La National Gallery celebra la armonía renacentista de Rafael). Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports on the event “Stand with Ukraine — Ballet for Peace,” in which Ukrainian and Russian ballet dancers will appear together on stage at Naples’ San Carlo Theatre (April 4 – Russian, Ukrainian Ballet Stars to Dance Together in Naples*).
In books, while The Washington Post reviews Cristina De Stefano’s The Child Is the Teacher: A Life of Maria Montessori, the biography of the famous educator (April 1 – The unconventional life and radical vision of Maria Montessori*), The Wall Street Journal covers the role of Venice in history through the pages of Robert D. Kaplan’s Adriatic: A Concert of Civilizations at the End of the Modern Age (April 1 – ‘Adriatic’ Review: Europe’s Mediterranean Roots*).
Design, fashion, luxury – In style news, The Guardian pays a visit to the Varese-area home, “full of jubilant colour and pattern,” of Rosita Missoni, co-founder of the Missoni brand (April 3 – Inside the joyful Lombardy home of Rosita Missoni), while Icon, a supplement of El País, traces the trajectory of Matteo Berrettini, “the best Italian tennis player in history on fast surfaces,” who “is launching himself into fashion with Boss” (April 5 – Matteo Berrettini: “Los tenistas solo podemos confiar en nosotros mismos, porque encaramos los partidos en soledad”).
Le Monde tells the story of Alessi, the Omegna metalworking factory that has “become an experimental place for an ambitious design” (April 6 – L’entreprise Alessi, une usine devenue laboratoire du design italien). Coverage is also devoted to Ferrari, with the new 296 GTB, a plug-in hybrid that “celebrates” the “excess” of Ferrari engines (Wall Street Journal, March 31 – Ferrari 296 GTB: A Plug-in Hybrid That Celebrates Excess*) and with the story of its founder Enzo, the main character in a new film currently being made, dedicated to the “path of sacrifices” that led to the birth of the racing team (El Mundo, April 7 – El camino de sacrificio y sufrimiento que Enzo Ferrari recorrió antes de ser milmillonario con sus coches).
And while Financial Times recounts the growing success of historic Vespas and Lambrettas that “are getting serious attention at auction” (March 31 – How vintage scooters got the market in a buzz*), German news outlets are concentrating on the return of “a great classic from the past of the Italian automobile world”: the Bizzarrini 5300GT Corsa Revival (Die Welt, April 1 – Bizzarrini 5300 GT Revival Corsa; Handelsblatt, 4 April – Rollende Eleganz – das ist der Bizzarrini 5300 GT Revival Corsa).
*Article available for pay / at registration