ItalyUpdate

 NEW BRENNERO TUNNEL

On the 28th April, Italy's President, Giorgio Napoletano, cut the ribbon that gave the go-ahead for the new Brennero railway tunnel that will link Innsbruck with Fortezza for a total of 55 km  connecting Austria with Italy. The Brennero tunnel will be a fundamental part of the trans-Europe rail line known as Corridoio 1 Berlino-Palermo and will constitute an important North-South axis  for long distance goods transportation.

On the 25 th April, beginners and expert canoeists can take part in an unusual trip down the river Tiber.

The Castiglione del Lago International Kite Festival will take place on the shores of Lake Trasimeno (near Perugia, Umbria) between the 30 th April and the 4 th May. T

The worldwide scare over dangerous dioxin levels in mozzarella di bufala cheese was defined: a storm in a teacup......

For a genuine full immersion in the history of Rome it would be hard to beat the venerable five hundred and forty-year old  Albergo del Sole on the Pantheon Square.

Milan exploded with joy at the news that the city had won the contest to host the 2015 EXPO. The event is expected to draw over 29 million visitors and create 70,000 new jobs, giving an enormous boost to the city economy.

BELLUNO PATENTS POPE'S IMAGE

The town of Belluno in Veneto, birthplace of Pope John Paul 1 whose month-long  pontificate came to an abrupt end in 1978, due to his sudden and unexpected death, has approved a town council ruling patenting the Popes image and regulating its use. Belluno has registered the measure with the local Chamber of Commerce. Use of the image of the Pope (born Albino Luciani) will be limited to products produced by local firms, such as biscuits, wine, cakes and bags.  

On the 5 th and 6 th of April, many Italian palaces, monuments and private collections, which are normally closed to the public, will open their doors to celebrate.....

Italian wines are enjoying an exportation boom, according to the latest report from IWIF (Italian Wine & Food Institute).

According to the 2008 Forbes classification, Michele Ferrero, the chocolate manufacturer who invented Nutella, is Italy's richest man, He is followed by.......