Economy – In economic news, Les Echos celebrates the “record year” of Euronext, the “pan-European bourse” that achieved a € 1.3 billion turnover “thanks to the integration of Borsa Italiana” (February 10 – Euronext boucle une année record grâce à Borsa Italiana*). Meanwhile, Reuters outlines the future of MSC, telling the story of shipping entrepreneur Gianluigi Aponte and covering the prospects for integration with the Italian airline ITA (February 14 – A new Onassis? Italy’s sea captain swoops on reborn Alitalia). The press agency also devotes coverage to the improved performance of Autogrill, which has posted smaller losses and higher cash flow, “sending shares higher” (February 15 – Italy’s Autogrill sees smaller 2021 loss, sending shares higher).
Culture – In art, El País recounts how, in Barcelona, the La Pedrera house-museum is reopening to the public after two years, with a show of 103 works by Giorgio Morandi, offering visitors “the opportunity to see and feel the Italian artist’s most intimist painting” (February 15 – La oportunidad de ver y sentir la pintura intimista de Giorgio Morandi*). In the meantime, in cinema, coverage is devoted to Monica Vitti, whose life is celebrated by Sueddeutsche Zeitung through the film The Eclipse (February 14 – Liebe erleben), and to the world preview, at the Italian Institute of Culture Mad’Art, of the documentary by Marcello Bivona and Alfonso Campisi devoted to Sicilian emigration in Tunisia (La Presse, February 13 – Mes odyssées en Méditérranée – Institut Culturel Italien présente le film documentaire de Marcello Bivona et Alfonso Campisi: “siciliens d’Afrique, Tunisie terre promise” ). The New York Times reviews another documentary, For Lucio, made by Pietro Marcello and dedicated to Lucio Dalla, the “popular and passionate” singer and the “voice of Italy for four decades” (February 15 – ‘For Lucio’ Review: The Voice of Italy for Four Decades*). Lastly, El País emphasizes how the Sanremo Music Festival, which “has chosen good candidates for Eurovision and garnered high ratings,” is a model for Spain’s Benidorm Fest (February 11 – Lecciones de San Remo para el futuro de Benidorm Fest*).
Luxury and lifestyle – The Washington Post relates how Dolce&Gabbana has become “the first Italian fashion house to bring its beauty division in-house” with the objective of relaunching the business thanks to growing attention to Generation Z (February 15 – Dolce&Gabbana relaunching beauty with an eye on Gen-Z*). The automotive sector is again prominently featured in the luxury and lifestyle reporting, with the new Alfa Romeo Tonale, proof of the brand’s “metamorphosis” (L’Economiste, February 11 – Nouveau Tonale : Alfa Romeo marque «sa métamorphose»), and with Maserati presenting the new SUV Grecale (Reuters, February 15 – Stellantis’ Maserati to unveil new Grecale luxury SUV on March 22). Another Maserati, a “uniquely customized” 3500 GT, “an exotic Italian sports car” from the 1960s, is being sold at auction (Financial Times, February 14 – A unicorn Maserati goes under the hammer*).
Italian style is also represented by the longevity of the Sardinian municipality Perdasdefogu, whose population of just over 1,700 includes 10 over-100s (The Guardian, February 14 – ‘I’ve met 10 popes, from Pius X to Bergoglio’: tiny Italian town sets record as 10th resident turns 100). The dailies also devote coverage to the rediscovery of organic wines, with the recommendation, among bottles from all over the world, of Ca’ de Noci Emilia Rosso (The New York Times, February 15 – 12 Natural Wines to Drink Now*), and to espresso, “the ritual of the Italians” that has been nominated for UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List (Le Nouvel Observateur, February 15 – Le rite de l’expresso, un trésor italien à l’assaut de l’Unesco).
Tourism – In tourism, Reuters reports on Venice’s hopes for a Carnival less conditioned by Covid (February 12 – Venice’s ‘Carnival of hope’ kicks off as COVID worries ease), with a “hybrid” calendar between online and in-person events (Sueddetsche Zeitung – Venedig startet hybrid in den Karneval), while Financial Times recommends “five extraordinary walking holidays” in Italy, on less-trodden paths from the Dolomites to the Aeolian islands, passing by way of Maremma and Aspromonte (February 13 – Five extraordinary walking holidays*). Lastly, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung covers the importance of the St. Valentine festival in Terni, interviewing the Umbrian city’s bishop (February 14 – Der Heilige der Liebenden).
*article available upon payment/at registration