Economy – There was more than post-referendum news covered during this period. The financial sections of the international press also included stories about the interest shown in Italy by foreign investors including, for example, the purchase of the global investment company, Pioneer, by the French group, Amundi, (December 12 in the Financial Times, – UniCredit sells Pioneer Investments to Amundi in €3.5bn deal*; Wall Street Journal – UniCredit Seals $4 Billion Sale of Asset Manager Pioneer to Amundi*). Stories about the expansion of certain Italian businesses also appeared, such as the one in Le Monde, covering Ferrero’s plans for the future following its acquisition of Delacre (December 6 – Ferrero, roi de la confiserie, s’attaque au rayon biscuits*), and another, in L’Orient le Jour, that described the recent agreement reached by Italy and the Lebanon aimed at strengthening investments in the green energy sector – (December 14 – L’Italie veut renforcer sa coopération avec le Liban en matière d’économie verte).
Culture – Various news articles covering Italian culture appeared during the same time frame. Literature featured in a interview with Erri de Luca published in El País (December 12 – Erri de Luca, un pez-piloto para el nuevo Homero que cante la tragedia del Mediterráno), and the New York Times published a report on the runaway success of the author Elena Ferrante (December 4 – ‘Ferrante Fever’ Continues to Spread*) and the same paper published a piece on the art world in which it described Christo’s “The Floating Piers” on Lake Iseo, as being emblematic of 2016 (December 8 – 2016, as Seen by 3 Artists*) and a second one described the documentary photography of Giuseppe Nucci who has spent time discovering and recording the rural traditions of Abruzzo and Molise (December 8 – Documenting Rural Italy’s Vanishing Traditions*).
There was music too, with Tunisia’s La Presse writing about the end of year concert tribute to Italian opera being staged at the Acropolium de Cartage di Tunisi December 15 – L’Opéra italien à l’honneur). Two leading Spanish papers, El Mundo and El País both featured articles about the recent announcement by TV entertainer Raffaella Carrà that she has decided to retire after a long career that has delighted both Italian and Spanish audiences (December 12 – Raffaella Carrá anuncia entre lágrimas su retirada; El adiós de Raffaella Carrà que Italia no quiere creerse).
Style – The “Bel Paese” continues to feature in the international press thanks to the eternal appeal of Italian fashion and style. The Financial Times published an all-round interview with Maria Grazia Chiuri, the first woman in 70 years to hold the coveted position of Dior’s Creative Director (December 7 – Maria Grazia Chiuri on becoming the first female head of Dior*). The Wall Street Journal ran an interview of its own with the designer Margherita Missoni Amos covering both her work and her life in Milan (December 10 – Designer Margherita Missoni Amos on the Best of Milan*). The very Italian albeit London-based style of Martina Mondadori who founded the magazine “Cabana” that has become a true reference point on everything to do with interior design appeared in another article (Les Echos, December 7 – Les obsessions de Martina Mondadori*) . The goldsmith Amedeo Scognamiglio was the subject of a New York Times article exploring the art of making Cameos (December 5 – The (New) Story of Cameos*) that followed a photo reportage on the same subject (In an Italian workshop.
Italian style was also integral to two articles about luxury cars. One, in the Wall Street Journal was all about the Maserati Levante (December 2 – 2017 Maserati Levante Review: A Luxury SUV That’s a Bargain?*) whilst the second in El Mundo it is told about the record price – 7 million dollars – achieved at auction – for a LaFerrari Coupé – produced by the good people at Maranello (December 7 – Un Ferrari LaFerrari Coupé logra el precio récord en subasta para un coche del siglo XXI).
Food & Wine – With the holiday season almost upon us, Italian food and wine featured heavily in the foreign press, with wines – from the Alto Adige to Sicily – mentioned in recommendations provided by several papers. The Washington Post, December 3 – 3 red wines (including a $10 bottle) and 2 bubblies perfect for your holiday table; Bloomberg, December 13 – The 50 Best Wines Under $50 to Buy in 2017; the Guardian, December 11 – The best Christmas fortified wines … and more). The New York Times was out to explore the best Lambrusco around (December 5 – Rediscovering the Festive Fizz of Lambrusco*) and also, suggesting readers might like to try some innovative Italian jams (December 5 – Radicchio Marmalade Leads a New Line of Italian Jams) going on to provide a recipe for a very particular kind of chocolate cake (December 5 – Italian Flourless Chocolate Cake). Bloomberg on the other hand extolled the virtues of and international success being enjoyed by Calabria’s nduja which, it said, “goes well with everything”(December 13 – What Is Nduja and Why Is It Suddenly on Every Menu?).
Tourism – The world’s press always has something to say of interest to visitors to Italy, and during this period, the New York Times included a “baita” in the Dolomites in an article about unusual and exclusive holiday accommodation (December 4 – Hotels Go Beyond the Suite — to Cabins, Villas and Treehouses*), whilst the Financial Times stopped off in Ariccia in the Castelli Romani district (December 7 – A taste of Ariccia, Castelli Romani, Italy*). Spain’s El País was also in Italy suggesting, readers could try out three different tours on a Venetian vaporetto (December 12 – Tres rutas turísticas en transporte público) and why a trip to Pompeii might also be of interest (December 14 – Viejas ciudades ocultas que salieron a la luz). Austria’s der Standard talked about the suitability of Taormina as a film location (December 14 – Sizilien als Filmkulisse: Stars unter italienischer Sonne), whilst, the Madrid daily paper, El Mundo wrote about King Juan Carlos’ Italian break when he flew to Milan for the opening of the season at La Scala (December 12- Nuevo viaje privado del Rey a Italia: inaugura la temporada en La Scala).
*Article available for pay / registration