A record summer for tourism – thanks to a large increase in the number of tourists and a turnover of some 22 billion Euros that might yet get bigger, as reported in France’s financial paper, Les Echos, in an article highlighting the economic results Italy has achieved this summer (September 4 – Ça se passe en Europe : saison touristique record pour l’Italie qui peut encore mieux faire). The Guardian was another of several foreign papers also looking at Italy’s summer from the point of view of its tourism economy, producing an article on bicycle tourism in Alta Badia (August 2 – Italian Dolomites bank on ‘bike only’ days to boost cyclotourism), whilst the New York Times Magazine had a suggestion for “something different” in its piece (August 29 – 36 Hours in Trieste, Italy*). North eastern Italy also featured in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung with reportage, on the ever fascinating Jesolo (August 22 – Es muss noch Liege sein). Lake Maggiore featured in another German paper, (Die Zeit, September 10, – Lass uns mal wieder an den Lago Maggiore) while Monza was highlighted to celebrate the legend that is the Italian Gran Prix (September 1 – Der Mythos von Monza).
For El Mundo suggested in an article the best things to see in Milan (August 5 – Milán: barroco y cosmopolitismo ‘made in Italy’), and although the New York Times weekly style magazine was also in the same city, its feature focused on architect Andrea Tognon’s studio in the Bicocca district (September 5 – In a Desolate Corner of Milan, an Unexpected Home). Italy’s financial capital was also the subject of an article about opportunities arising from Brexit, in the UKs Financial Times (September 10 – Milan back in vogue as Italy’s financial capital). The FT also printed a piece about how property prices are holding in Liguria, the Italian Riviera (September 4 – Portfolio: Ligurian coast, Italy*). The Wall Street Journal, started its exploration of small Italian towns in Liguria’s Lerici (August 3 – Italy’s Most Rewarding Small Towns—and Why They Beat Rome, Florence and Venice*) more satisfying than Rome, Florence and Venice, whilst for those unable to stay away from Florence, the same American financial paper ran a piece about where to buy what in lesser known parts of the city (August 31 – For the Best Souvenirs in Florence, Skip the Ponte Vecchio*). Spain’s Expansion was also in the Tuscan capital to talk about the newly restored Adoration of the Magi by Leonardo da Vinci now being exhibited at the Uffizi (August 31 – La nueva vida de ‘La Adoración’ de Leonardo en Florencia).
The New York Times wrote about its visit to the Ferrari and Lamborghini museums in Emilia (September 4 – Among the Masters at the Ferrari and Lamborghini Museums*), whilst Liberation was at the Castel Gandolfo for the opening, for summer visitors, of the Pope’s sumptuous “holiday home” (July 28 – Castel Gandolfo : habemus palace*). The Guardian, on the other hand, had something to say about Ivanka Trump’s trip to Apulia, commenting that she was the latest celebrity to discover the fascination of this south eastern part of Italy (August 30 – Monopoli waits for Ivanka to seal Puglia’s celebrity status). The New York Times Style Magazine was in the same region, and ran an article all about the Apulian villa owned by Peter Benson Miller, the American Art Historian and Curator (September 10 – A Picturesque Retreat in a Tiny Town in Puglia). ***
Italy’s economic recovery is well underway according to various articles that appeared in the foreign press this summer, Bloomberg and the Financial Times in particular, giving positive news on the improved trust experienced by businesses and consumers alike. (Bloomberg , August 9 – Italy Industrial Output Jumps, Pointing to Faster Recovery*; Bloomberg, August 16 – Italian Economy Expands, Boosting Optimism on Recovery*; Financial Times, August 28 – Italian economic confidence hits post-financial crisis high*; Financial Times, September 1 – Italy excels in ‘summer surge’ for eurozone manufacturers*; Financial Times, September 11 – ‘The recovery is in place’: Italian industry beats forecasts*).
Fashion, luxury and lifestyle are all emblematic of Italian style and all continue to drive the country’s economy, in part due to the internationalization underway. And, whilst the Italian Stock Exchange is attempting to come up with an appropriate “index” that encompasses all of that is “Made in Italy” (Reuters, September 5 – Italy stock exchange plans “Made in Italy” index), other foreign papers printed articles about Italian luxury goods. The New York Times wrote about clothes designed by Stefano Ricci, affordable by only ”0,001% of the world” (August 10 – Stefano Ricci, Clothier to the 0.001 Percent*) and El Mundo described how Prada’s MD, Patrizio Bertelli took part in the Copa de Rey Panerai regatta in Minorca, dedicated to classic boats (September 2 – Patrizio Bertelli: estilo, vela y gastronomía en Menorca). German language papers found yet more to write about Mario Moretti Polegato, who founded Geox (with Handelsblatt, August 27 – Millionen mit Löchern) and Lavinia Biagiotti Cigna, Laura Biagiotti’s daughter and the fashion brand’s new CEO (Der Standard – Lavinia übernimmt Ruder des Modehauses Laura Biagiotti).
Italian fashion also featured in other papers. Liberation wrote about the blogger and designer Chiara Ferragni and her new business model (August 16 – Chiara Ferragni, une vie à faire vitrine) whilst Expansion ran an article on style as expressed by the architect and designer Ettore Sottsass, and his Tahiti lamp, the iconic symbol of the Memphis Milan movement (August 11 – Tahiti de Ettore Sottsass, una lámpara icónica del movimiento Memphis Milano).
With Ferrari celebrating its 70th anniversary, it is little wonder that it has featured in numerous articles all talking about the “prancing horse”. The Wall Street Journal celebrated the new Ferrari 812 Superfast that now sports the company’s most powerful engine (August 17 – Ferrari 812 Superfast: The Italian Icon Lives On) whereas articles published in both El Mundo and Expansion featured the legendary auction held in Maranello that starred models from every era (September 1 – Una subasta ‘de leyenda’ por los 70 años de Ferrari), also mentioning its contribution to charity (El Mundo, September 6 – El último LaFerrari Aperta irá destinado para la asociación Save the Children).
Other iconic cars emblematic of Italian style also attracted attention, as the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale currently on exhibit in the auto manufacturer’s museum in Arese (Expansion, August 31 – Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale celebra su 50 aniversario con una exposición en el Museo Storico Alfa Romeo de Arese), and the Fiat 500 that represented the optimism that swept through Italy in the 50s and La Dolce Vita of that time (El Mundo, August 29 – Cinquecento; la máquina de la ‘dolce vita’).
Culture featured regularly in the foreign press towards the end of summer. Venice attracted much attention, firstly with regards to its Theater Biennial (El Pais, August 8 – La Bienal de Venecia entra en su recta final con montajes de gran calado) and then because of the Film Festival full of glamour and determination (New York Times, August 29 – Venice Film Festival Offers Grit, Glamour and George Clooney; El Pais, September 3 – El talento derrota al tiempo en Venecia). Italian cinema also featured in Liberation in a tribute to Alberto Sordi (August 29 – Alberto Sordi, cabotinage d’or), whilst it was literature that was the focus of El Pais in a piece all about “spaghetti” crime novels and the new authors writing them (August 22 – El ‘spaghetti crime’ se dispara). Italian author Paolo Cognetti featured in an article in Le Monde (September 9 – Paolo Cognetti, disciple de la montagne*) and the ever popular Elena Ferranti “one of the best authors of our time” was the focus of a piece in the Sueddeutsche Zeitung (September 12 – Elena Ferrante gehört zu den besten Geschichtenerzählern unserer Zeit).
Food – Various Italian gastronomic delights featured in an array of articles this summer. There were a few praising the success of New York’s Eataly store and the quality of the products it sells, (New York Times, August 29 – Eataly Draws Tourists, but Its Produce Lures Regulars*; El Pais, August 9 – El ‘gourmet’ italiano en la Gran Manzana). Other papers had recommendations about where to eat good Italian food both in Italy and elsewhere: starting from Verona (Financial Times, September 1 – My addresses: Chef Carmine Calò on Verona) to Rome (Der Standard, August 6 – Gourmet-Tour durch Testaccio: Im Bauch von Rom) passing through London (Financial Times, September 1 – Enoteca Turi, London: excellent wine list and savoury courses*) and Munich (Sueddeutsche Zeitung, August 14 – Italienische Küche wie sie sein soll).
Quite a few recipes were printed too. Der Standard explained how to cook “gnocchi alla romana” (September 12 – Gnocchi alla Romana: Überbackene Grießnockerl) and the traditional Sicilian blancmange (milk pudding) made with almonds (September 5 – Delikatesse aus Mandelmilch: Biancomangiare). It was still Austria’s Der Standard to take a look at the origins of Tiramisu – claimed by both Veneto and Friuli (August 7 – Tiramisu-Streit zwischen Venetien und Friaul) whilst the Guardian described the discovery of a wine dating back to truly ancient times (August 31 – Traces of 6,000-year-old wine discovered in Sicilian cave). Wine was also the focus of an article in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, with an interview to the winemaker Axel Heinz from the Tenuta dell’Ornellaia, who declared that in Tuscany, “wine is a cult” (July 29 – Warum Wein aus der Toskana Kult ist). Die Welt featured an interview with Paolo Barilla in which he spoke about the family “empire” and that pasta is good for us all (August 28 – „Pasta macht nicht dick. Das übernimmt eher die Soße“) whilst der Standard wrote about Illy and its decision to use chocolate as its “in” to both the Austrian and American markets (September 5 – Illy will mit Schokolade in Österreich wachsen).
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