Economy – As Brexit and its consequences continue to create more than a few ripples in the European economy, the focus of the international media has been, somewhat inevitably, on London rather than other capital cities across the Old Continent. Even so, amidst the outpouring of news reflecting the uncertainties of the financial markets, Italy has managed to set itself apart thanks to articles featuring a few of the nation’s excellences. The fashion sector has been leading the way, with the financial daily, les Echos, publishing an analysis of the men’s’ catwalk shows that have just graced Florence and Milan, explaining that the two cities continue to be “essential” to the luxury market and buyers for that sector (June 24 – L’Italie en mode professionnel*). The Financial Times also dropped in on the Lombardy capital to explain how, in the wake of the impetus and increased vitality that followed Expo, the city has become the latest favorite base for start-ups (June 29 – Milan, Italy’s biggest start-up hub*). Milan is also central to the Reuters story about Italgas, the Italian gas distribution company that mother company Snam is now planning to launch on the Stock Exchange (June 29 – Snam to list Italgas unit to help Europe push).
Culture – New archaeological discoveries in Pompei have featured heavily in this week’s cultural news (Washington Post, June 24 – Skeletons, coins found in dig of ancient Pompeii shop), although it was Italian photographer Clara Vannucci’s images portraying the heritage of one-time Italian colony, Eritrea that were published in Time (June 27 – Exploring Eritrea’s Italian Past). The New York Times also went with a photographic piece exploring the work of Luigi Ghirri, “possibly the most influential Italian photographer of the 20th century”(June 28 – Luigi Ghirri’s Brilliant Photographic Puzzles).
The leading story in this section this week however, was undoubtedly the passing of Bud Spencer, “the spaghetti western star” (Time, June 28 – Bud Spencer, Spaghetti Western Star, Dies At 86; Reuters, June 27 – Italian Actor Bud Spencer dies at age 86; Le Monde, June 28 – L’acteur italien de western spaghetti Bud Spencer est mort; Les Echos, June 28 – Disparition de Bud Spencer, star des western spaghetti*). El Mundo declared, in its nostalgic eulogy to this cinematic genre, that the actor had earned a place in the “history of the seventh art” (June 29 –Elogio sentimental del ‘Spaghetti western’).
The German press reported on the same event, pointing out that Spencer’s films had been seen by “millions of people”, that their particular brand of humor had made them a firm favorite in Germany, (on June 28 in die Welt – Die große Sportkarriere des Bud Spencer); in Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Terence Hill hat seinen Duettpartner verloren and in die Zeit – Das Leben ist ein Bohnengericht).
Tourism – As befits the season, there was also advice for travelers this week, with the Guardian writing about the “magical monastery” of San Fruttuoso in Liguria (June 25 – Your own slice of Italian Riviera: a remote stay in Liguria), and printing a brief guide to one of Sicily’s great cities Palermo (June 27 – Insider’s guide to Palermo). Meantime Les Echos suggested readers might like to consider spending time in the Salento district of Apulia (June 24 – Le repaire: La Fiermontina, chambres arty à Lecce*).
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