The face of the new Italy – New districts, recently opened art galleries, a crowded calendar of events: Milan regales international tourists with a host of novelties introduced in occasion of Expo. El Mundo, in the travel pages of its web site, suggestions ten stopping off points that are a must for visitors (May 18 – Milán está de estreno), Financial Times returns to the theme of the city’s architectural rebirth and wonders in a podcast whether the Lombard capital might not be the face of the new Italy (May 18 – Milan: face of the new Italy?).
The Universal Exposition is still the catalyzing agent of the reports in the international press, with The Times offering its readers a visit among the pavilions to see the world in a weekend (May 17 – Milan Expo: see the world in a weekend*). But Milan’s growing importance as a tourist center is clear in other articles, for example that of the choice of the Spanish chain Meliá, to open the first Italian hotel with the ME brand name in the heart of Milan (El Mundo, May 19 – ME by Meliá elige Milán para abrir su primer hotel en Italia bajo esa marca; Expansion, May 19 – ME by Meliá aterriza en Italia).
The agrifood sector: International growth and culinary ideas – In conjunction with Expo, there was also a great deal of interest in Made in Italy food production. Valor Economico discussed the strategies of Eataly in the Italian market (May 18 – Eataly quer receber “da recepcionista ao presidente”*), while Reuters mused over the coffee giant Massimo Zanetti’s market listing and its plans for international acquisitions (May 18 – Italy’s Massimo Zanetti eyes acquisitions in two countries; May 18 – Coffee group Massimo Zanetti to use flotation cash for acquisitions).
Along with article on the economy, there was also news about culinary achievements. Liberation wrote about the cuisine of Massimo Bottura (May 15 – Massimo Bottura, la Botte secrète), while Valor Economico tasted some of the white wines of Friuli (May 14 – A excelência dos brancos (e tintos) do Friuli*). The Wall Street Journal also wrote about wine, telling the story of the Antinori, the family that invented the Tuscan super wines (May 14 – The Family That Invented Super Tuscan Wines*). Finally, Die Welt reported on the innovations in the pizza recipes of a group of young chefs (May 17 – Pizza Rivoluzione).
Culture – Culture was another strong leitmotif in the foreign press. Bloomberg posted a video interview with Patrizio Bertelli on occasion of the inauguration of the Fondazione Prada in Milan, explaining that made in Italy was a cultural asset and that products of excellence cannot exist without culture (May 15 – ‘Made in Italy’ Concept Is Cultural Asset: Bertelli). The New York Times went to Bergamo to report on the exhibition of Palma il Vecchio, the Venetian painter who lived and worked at the very end of the 15th century (May 14 – Venetian Master Finally Gets His Own Show*), while the Financial Times published a piece on the Fondazione Sandretto Re Baudengo, a virtuous example of public-private collaboration in the museum sector (May 19 – Private galleries form alliance to share works of art*).
Other papers turned their attention to the Italian directors presenting at the Cannes Film Festival. The Financial Times reviewed some of the films in competition (May 18 – Cannes Film Festival: reviews of My Mother, Son of Saul, Amy, and more*), Reuters and Liberation concentrated on “Mia Madre” by Nanni Moretti (May 16 – Moretti blends humor with death in ‘Mia Madre’ Cannes film; May 17 – «Mia Madre», haute mère), and El Pais wrote about Matteo Garrone’s film “Tale of Tales” (May 14 – El terrible cuento de Matteo Garrone).
There was also interest in literature, and in Umberto Eco’s latest novel (L’Express. May 13 – Umberto Eco s’en prend au monde des médias dans “Numéro zéro”).
The economy – After the news the previous week of the postive data coming from ISTAT, Bloomberg analyzed the recovery of the Italian economy (May 15 – The Renzi Recovery? Italy Shows Signs of Growth). And the Wall Street Journal explained to its readers that there are good prospects for the banking sector that could start to blossom thanks to the recent reforms (May 18 – Italian Banks Have Chance to Bloom*).
There was also news from some industrial groups. Enel, explained its CEO Rancesco Starace, is becoming a world leader in renewable energy (Financial Times, May 17 – Enel chief: ‘Carbon era is going to end’*; Les Echos, May 20 – Francesco Starace : « Enel va devenir un leader mondial dans les énergies renouvelables »*). Then, there was an article about the bonus given to Luxottica employees by the company’s owner, Leonardo Del Vecchio, to celebrate his 80th birthday (Reuters, 19 – Luxottica owner to give employees shares to celebrate birthday).
* marked articles viewable online upon payment or registration