Economy – As the rate that the world’s economy slows down, even the luxury sector needs to become more innovative and the Financial Times focused its attention on Milan’s “fashion square”, the high-class fashion district based around Via Montenapoleone as a way to set out the strategies now being adopted by that particular sector (May 22 – Luxury brands innovate to combat global slowdown*). The Business of Luxury supplement featured an article dedicated to Brunello Cucinelli, telling the tale of this successful entrepreneur based in Solomeo, near Perugia, his philosophical belief that businesses should aim for sustainable growth and not to push ahead “whatever the cost”( May 22 – Brunello Cucinelli, philosopher and cashmere capitalist*).
Bloomberg also wrote about strategies for growth in its profile piece about Monica Mondardini, CEO of the Espresso Editorial Group (May 24 – Italy Top Female CEO Targets Growth of De Benedetti Empire). Meanwhile, Spain’s Expansión wrote about leading passenger transport shipping company, the Grimaldi Group, and the six million investment it is making to expand its Barcelona terminal (May 20 – Grimaldi invertirá seis millones para ampliar su terminal en Barcelona).
Culture – The top cultural story this week has to be the news about the Traviata at the Opera di Roma, directed by Sofia Coppola with input from the fashion designer, Valentino (New York Times, May 19 – Valentino and Sofia Coppola Make an Opera*; Washington Post, May 20 – Sofia Coppola tries her hand at opera in Rome; Reuters, May 23- Rome opera house taps Hollywood glitz for new ‘Traviata‘).
The New York Times also carried a couple of articles on the performing arts, one about this year’s Spoleto Festival USA, based in Charleston that has managed to duplicate the atmosphere that surrounds its namesake and the Festival dei Due Mondi (May 21 – Spoleto’s 40th: ‘Porgy and Bess’ and Remembering Emanuel AME*) and the other about the Italian Dance Connection in New York (May 19 – Italian Dance: Tradition and Immigration*).
Reuters was in Italy to visit Gianni Berengo Gardin’s retrospective, currently showing in Rome’s Palazzo delle Esposizioni (May 23 – Famed Italian photographer Berengo Gardin looks back on his changing world) and el País was in Venice to report on the Architecture Biennale and its focus this year on portraying a more political and social outlook (May 24 – La Bienal de Arquitectura de Venecia pone los pies en la tierra).
Tourism – Amongst the many stories about this sector, el Mundo concentrated on providing Real and Atletico Madrid supporters all the advice they would need if they were heading for Milan and the Champions League final in that is effectively also a Madrid derby (May 24 – http://www.elmundo.es/deportes/2016/05/23/5742ffceca4741d37b8b4651.html. The New York Times, on the other hand, was in Venice to review the JW Marriot resort on the Isola della Rose (May 20 – On a Lush Island, the Splendor of Venice but Not the Crowds*), whilst Expansión was in Brescia to report on the start of the “Dolce Vita’s” very own race, the Mille Miglia (May 24 – En la carrera de la Dolce Vita). Meantime le Monde had been in Cremona to seek out “the soul of the violin” amongst the city’s string instrument makers (May 18 – L’âme du violon se trouve à Crémone*).
Florence also got a mention this week in an article that appeared in the New York Times that explained the investments being made in the city’s cultural heritage by the luxury goods sector, with new venues dedicated to the partnership between art and fashion (May 19 – Florence Exhibits Examine the Art-Fashion Dynamic*). It was the nation’s capital that featured in el País in a piece about the Pigneto, Rome’s new fashion district (May 20 – El barrio de moda en Roma) and The Guardian was also in Lazio, scoping out the Pontine Islands, “pearls” of the Mediterranean, known since ancient Roman times as being ideal destinations to rest up and unwind (May 23 – Roman roaming: a tour of Italy’s Pontine Islands). The same British paper was further south, in Sicily, showcasing photographs of Mount Etna’s latest eruption (May 24 – Explosions in the sky: why Mount Etna erupting is as pretty as a painting).
Food – This always popular topic never fails to appear, and the Wall Street Journal wrote about a fun event staged in Naples (May 19 – Italian Chefs Break World Record for Longest Pizza*), whilst the Guardian printed a variation on another traditional Italian dish (May 24 – Rachel Roddy’s baked pasta recipe). Meanwhile the Financial Times featured an interview with Carlo Ancellotti, food-loving Italian soccer coach and former player (May 20 – Lunch with the FT: Carlo Ancelotti*), and el País had suggestions for readers wanting to eat good Italian food in Spain (May 20 – ¿Sabes lo que hay que saber para encontrar buena comida italiana?).
* Article available for pay / at registration