New signs of recovery – The economy recovery is getting stronger. According to the foreign press, there are numerous positive signals that demonstrate that Italy is on the road to growth. Last week, the Financial Times spoke about this, referring to the improved data on industrial production (April 13 – Italy’s production figures provide reassurance over growth*) and to the optimisim of some international optimism (April 12 – SWMC bets big on earnings recovery in Italy*). Moreover, continued the British daily, the positive performance of the Italian economy is beneficial for other sectors, such as investment funds (April 12 – Italian fund sales more than double*).
Culture, art and science – Along with the economy, the international papers also wrote about culture. The Wall Street Journal reported on a new exhibit dedicated to the extraordinary style of Modigliani at the Estorick Collection of London (April 10 – The Making of Modigliani*), while the Financial Times reviewed The Turk in Italy, the opera by Gioachino Rossini on stage at the Royal Opera House, also in London (April 14 – Il turco in Italia, Royal Opera House, London — review*). New York Times wrote instead about the artist Fabio Mauri and his works at the Biennial of Venice(April 15 – Fabio Mauri Works, Fueled by Trauma, Head to the Venice Biennale).
There was also interest in science. The Financial Times narrated the invention of a robot-chef created with the contribution of the Advanced School of Sant’Anna of Pisa (April 14 – Next-generation robot chefs create a stir*). And the Washington Post wrote of the expresso machine about to be installed on the international space station. The experimental instrument was made in Italy by Lavazza and the Turin firm Argotec with the contribution of the Italian Space Agency (April 12 – Caffeine High: Space station getting Italian espresso maker).
Tourism – The foreign press ran more articles about tourist destinations in Italy. One location discussed was Milan, where the Expo is about to open. El Mundo, El Pais and Les Echos reported on the opening at Palazzo Reale of the most complete exhibition on the genious of Leonardo Da Vinci (April 14 – La ciudad de Milán desempolva los trabajos del polifacético Da Vinci; April 15 – Leonardo: todas las caras del genio; Leonard De Vinci), and the Financial Times, also reporting from the capital of Lombardy, the opening of the new Museums of Culture (April 10 –Travel updates: Ireland and Italy*).
L’Express also travelling to Milan with a guide to the city’s best restaurant (April 16 Les adresses gourmandes à Milan).
The Times made some more classical suggestions on how to spend a pleasant weekend in Florence (April 12 – The big weekend: Florence*) and Bloomberg visited the islands of the Veneto lagoons and their business renaissance (April 15 –Venice’s Private, Undiscovered Islands Are Open for Business)
Lifestyle – There was also interest in Italian life style. The Wall Street Journal rediscovered Gavi, a wine that was popular in the 1980s but is still perfect for today’s good weather (April 10 – Gavi: Does a Wine Beloved in the ’80s Hold Up Today?*). Les Echos wrote about the democratic luxury of Italia Independent, with a profile of its founder Lapo Elkann (April 10 – Lapo ElKann – le dandy du luxe démocratique ). And Le Monde interviewed Stefano Gabbana on the new men’s fashon line Alta Sartoria (April 15 – Stefano Gabbana : « Chaque pièce doit s’inscrire dans une forme d’éternité »). Finally, L’Express paid tribute to Italy, the fatherland of design, illustrating some of the most famous creations, from Gucci to Ferrari (April 13 –Le design s’invite en Italie).
* marked articles viewable online upon payment or registration