Latest Italy News

Florence cracks down on overtourism just as Italy hosts G7 tourist ministers in Renaissance city

Nov. 12, 2024 13:26 PM EST

ROME (AP) — The city of Florence took new measures Tuesday to crack down on overtourism, just as the Italian government hosts the Group of Seven tourism ministers in the Renaissance city and seeks to significantly boost the country’s place as a top visitor destination. Mayor Sara...

European fake art network involving Banksys, Warhols, Modiglianis uncovered in Italy

Nov. 12, 2024 07:13 AM EST

ROME (AP) — Italian authorities say a network of European art forgers who painted fake Warhols, Banksys and Picassos and then tried to sell them to unsuspecting buyers with the help of complicit auction houses has been dismantled. Thirty-eight people have been placed under...

Italy's plan to screen migrants in Albania hits another snag with 2nd group returning to Italy

Nov. 12, 2024 02:09 AM EST

MILAN (AP) — Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni’s program to screen asylum seekers outside of European Union borders in Albania hit another snag when a court in Rome refused to rule on a formal request to detain seven migrants transferred to the Balkan nation last week. The decision...

Alitalia will lay off over 2,000 remaining employees as liquidation nears

Nov. 10, 2024 11:52 AM EST

ROME (AP) — Italy’s former national carrier Alitalia has started procedures for the collective dismissal of its remaining 2,059 employees, its administrators told unions. The move comes as the successor to bankrupt Alitalia, ITA Airways, faces hurdles in its merger plans with...

One of 8 migrants sent to Albania returned to Italy

Nov. 09, 2024 07:51 AM EST

ROME (AP) — One of the eight migrants brought for processing in an Albanian center after being intercepted in international waters has returned to Italy after being deemed “vulnerable,” a delegation of Italian activists and lawmakers visiting the center said on Saturday. The...

Pompeii archaeological park sets daily visitors' limit to combat over-tourism

Nov. 08, 2024 12:06 PM EST

ROME (AP) — The Pompeii archaeological park plans to limit visitor numbers to 20,000 a day and introduce personalized tickets starting next week in a bid to cope with over-tourism and protect the world heritage site, officials said Friday. The move comes after what authorities...

Italian President Mattarella meets Chinese leader Xi in Beijing amid complex ties

Nov. 08, 2024 08:10 AM EST

BEIJING (AP) — Italian President Sergio Mattarella met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping Friday on an official visit to China that came as Russia’s full-on invasion of Ukraine pitted Rome's NATO allies against Beijing's support for Moscow. The two exchanged greetings following a...

Italy sends another 8 migrants to Albania under processing centers deal

Nov. 08, 2024 07:38 AM EST

SHENGJIN, Albania (AP) — An Italian navy ship docked Friday at the Albanian port of Shengjin with eight migrants who will be processed there after they were intercepted in international waters, a month after another group was turned away for failing the vetting process. It is only...

Italy opens procedure against China's Sinochem for possible breach of Pirelli governance

Nov. 07, 2024 07:02 AM EST

MILAN (AP) — Italy has opened an administrative procedure against China’s Sinochem, the largest shareholder in Italian tiremaker Pirelli, for a possible breach of restrictions designed to protect national strategic assets. Pirelli announced Wednesday that the procedure was...

Italian ship takes migrants to Albania in 2nd test of deal to process claims outside the EU

Nov. 06, 2024 12:57 PM EST

MILAN (AP) — An Italian naval ship carrying migrants was en route Wednesday to Albania to have asylum applications processed under a five-year deal to handle asylum claims outside the European Union’s borders that has already hit a legal roadblock. An Italian interior ministry...