Economy – On this topic, this week, the world’s press has focused on the growth of Italian companies abroad. The German financial daily, Boersen Zeitung printed details of its interview with Carlo Messina, CEO of the Intesa Sanpaolo, during which he spoke of the bank’s future prospects and how it is determined to become the leading bank in Europe in terms of market capitalization (May 1 – Intesa Sanpaolo pocht auf Alleingang*). Meantime Reuters provided news of Enel’s foray into Brazil and its plans to acquire a local operator (April 26 – Italy’s Enel raises takeover bid for Brazil’s Eletropaulo to $1.54 billion), whilst another piece by the same news agency was all about the Milan based construction and building business, Salini and how, following its success in the American market it is now considering listing on the US Stock Exchange (April 30- Italy’s Salini considers listing in the United States and the very same article also appeared in the New York Times on the same day – Italy’s Salini Considers Listing in the United States*). Les Echos wrote about Lavazza and its new Headquarters in Turin, describing it as one of the “greenest” in the world (May 2 – Chez Lavazza, le siège social est une vitrine de la RSE*).
Culture was also featured this week, with El Pais, on 1 May, writing about Giordano Bruno, the Dominican friar, philosopher and poet, known as the “the hunter who was passionate about the truth” and how he honed his skills in Naples when it was ruled by Spain (May 1 – Giordano Bruno, cazador apasionado de la verdad). Meantime the New York Times printed its review of the latest biography on Enzo Ferrari, written by Luca Dal Monte (April 25- ‘In Italy, There Was the Pope and Then There Was Enzo Ferrari’).
Style – Milan and Florence both featured in articles about Italian style that appeared in the foreign press this week. The Wall Street Journal was in the Lombard capital to determine the top 5 trends to come out of the 2018 Furniture Fair (April 27 – The 5 Hottest Trends from Milan’s 2018 Furniture Fair*). However, El Pais had been out in the city’s southern suburbs to check out the Prada Foundation’s new tower, designed by Koolhass as an exhibition space (April 26 – La obra que redefine el ‘skyline’ de Milán), whilst its lifestyle supplement Icon, shifted the focus to Florence and Ferragamo’s HQ of 80 years in the Palazzo Spini Feroni “a 14th century jewel” that acts a reminder of the motto adopted by the company’s founder, Salvatore, who believed that “you have to be surrounded by beautiful things if you want to create beautiful things” (May 1 – Así es el fastuoso palacio en Florencia de Salvatore Ferragamo).
Food & Wine was as popular a subject as ever this week and El Pais Semanal interviewed Massimo Bottura, the chef “who took Italy into the Champion’s League of culinary art where, given that popular Italian cuisine was already number one throughout the western world, artistry and creativity are all important” (April 29 – Massimo Bottura: Obsesiones de un cocinero), the New York Times explored what lies behind the traditional Roman way of preparing artichokes (May 1 – Is This Artichoke Kosher? Rome Defends a Classic Jewish Dish*) although asparagus was the main ingredient in the particularly rich frittata recipe – accompanied by some burrata cheese – featured in the same paper (April 27 – A Deluxe Asparagus Frittata, Topped With Burrata*). On the other hand, Der Standard wrote about panna cotta, wondering if it is “Italy’s best loved dessert” (May 2 – Panna Cotta: Das beliebteste Dessert Italiens?). The New York Times featured TV presenter Giada De Laurentis’ suggestions on where to eat in Rome, Florence and Naples (May 1- Where Giada De Laurentiis Loves to Go in Italy*) having previously featured the Re Store in Perth, declaring it is where to sample the best “ Italian subs” Australia has to offer (April 26 – The Best Italian Subs — at Least in Australia*). The same US paper also featured Italian wine in an article all about Fiano (April 26 – Your Next Lesson: Fiano). A useful guide to the 148 types of pasta to be found in Italy appeared in Liberation (May 2 – Les Italiens toqués des pâtes), whilst the Washington Post mused about the secret to pruning olive trees correctly (May 1 – Pruning olive trees is a balance of art, lore and science*).
*Article available for pay / at registration