Economy – Having followed the privatization of Poste Italiane, the foreign press is now focusing its attention on the sale of another of Italy’s public assets with several newspapers reporting, on November 23, that 40% of the State Railways – Ferrovie dello Stato – is to be sold off in 2016. The article in London’s Financial Times was headed – Italy plans part-privatization of railway group Ferrovie dello Stato*, whilst the New York Times reported – Italy Looking to Sell Up to 40 Percent of Railways Group-Minister* and in France, Les Echos ran with – Rome veut céder jusqu’à 40% de sa compagnie ferroviaire-ministre.
After a brief period out of the spotlight, this week there have been more articles about Ferrari and its announcement that as of next year, the group will be trading on the Milan Stock Exchange, with the Wall Street Journal, for example, reporting November 23 that – Ferrari to List Shares on Italian Stock Market*). On November 20, however, it was Geox that caught the attention of Reuters, who reported that – Italy’s Geox signs distribution contract in China.
Culture – Culture has occupied more than a few column inches this week, beginning with two literary articles on November 23 in the New York Times’ Sunday Book Review each featuring an iconic Italian author, one being Primo Levi – ‘The Complete Works of Primo Levi’* and the other, Umberto Eco – Umberto Eco’s ‘Numero Zero’*.
It was an Italian scientist, Carlo Rovelli, who featured in The Times in a piece, on November 25, about the success of his book on physics, written to appeal to and be understood by the masses – Carlo Rovelli: the quantum physicist who wrote a bestselling loo book . A day earlier, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung published a portrait of the South Tyrolean author from Merano, Joseph Zoderer – Heimat gibt es nicht.
As to art, on November 24, the Wall Street Journal wrote about the “surprising” Giotto exhibition underway in Milan’s Palazzo Reale – Giotto, l’Italia’ Review: The Artist Who Baptized the Renaissance*, whilst on the same day, it was an exhibition in Ferrara, dedicated to founder of the Metaphysical art movement, Giorgio de Chirico, that featured in the New York Times – Review: Giorgio de Chirico, Under an Italian City’s Spell*.
Food and Wine was also well-reported this week. On November 21, the Financial Times wrote about the current interest in Italian wines by investors, and whether it is a trend likely to continue – Does the love affair with Italian fine wine have a future?* and a day later, Spain’s El Mundo had advice on where to eat the best “antipasti” in Madrid – Ginos y el secreto de sus antipasti.
On November 23, the New York Times featured an interview with Lidia Bastianich, the Italo-American “nonna” par excellence, and her part in teaching Americans to cook and enjoy Italian food – Lidia Bastianich: From Refugee to Matriarch of a Food Empire*. Meanwhile, on the same day, the New York Times turned its attention to Italy’s liquid gold, with a photographic journey centered on the olive harvest in Lucca – Olive Oil in Lucca, Italy*, whilst on November 25, there was a piece in Bloomberg all about Lavazza, the Espresso “King”, and it’s plans to win over American coffee-lovers – The King of Little Italian Coffees Prepares a Big Push for American Connoisseurs.
Tourism – The sector that contributes so much to Italy’s economy never fails to feature somewhere in the foreign media and this week, on November 23, El Mundo’s website carried a photographic feature that followed in the footsteps of the “Grand Tour” – La Italia del Grand Tour. Earlier, on November 19, the Great Homes & Destinations section in the New York Times published a piece on Cumuli and the stretch of Italian coastline that has bewitched so many celebrities over the years, including Greta Garbo, Frank Sinatra, Steven Spielberg and Beyoncé – Along a Byway on the Italian Riviera*. The beauty of Venice in November is what interested Die Zeit, also on November 19 – In Venedig ist immer Herbst, whereas on November 25, the Wall Street Journal headed for Lake Como, to report on the continuing rise of the real estate market there, particularly as far as high end properties are concerned – Lake Como Rises Again.
*Article available for pay/with registration