Rome Times

Italy’s Supreme Court Opens New Citizenship-by-Descent Pathways for Emigrant Descendants

A landmark Supreme Court ruling has changed the interpretation of the Minor Age Rule for citizenship by descent, potentially reopening legal routes for international descendants of Italian emigrants whose applications had previously been...

Italian Tourism Revenues Reach Records as Overtourism Fuels Local Backlash

Hotels and tourism businesses in Rome, Florence and the Amalfi Coast are reporting record international visitor spending, while residents and local governments are pressing for stronger measures against overcrowding and short-term rentals.

Italy Expands Venice Tourist Entry Fee to More Peak Days Next Year

Venice plans to double the number of days when day-trippers must pay an entry fee after a financially successful trial aimed at managing visitor numbers and reducing pressure on the historic city.

Amatrice Reconstruction Remains Incomplete Ten Years After Devastating Earthquake

A decade after the earthquake that killed nearly three hundred people, residents and local authorities say reconstruction in Amatrice remains far from complete, with bureaucracy and inflation linked to the Superbonus renovation scheme co...

Southern Italy Approves Emergency Aid for Farmers Hit by Historic Drought

The government has approved emergency support for farmers in Sicily and Sardinia after months of drought depleted reservoirs, damaged livestock operations and forced water rationing in affected communities.

Italian Agriculture Suffers Heavy Losses From Heatwaves and Severe Drought

Successive heatwaves, volatile storms and prolonged drought are damaging grape and olive harvests across major farming regions, threatening production and export revenues in two of Italy’s most valuable agricultural sectors.

Italy’s Health Service Receives Emergency Funding as Staff Shortages Strain Southern Hospitals

The Health Ministry has authorised emergency funding for southern regions to hire temporary medical staff and private contractors as chronic shortages of healthcare professionals threaten emergency-room capacity.

Leonardo and Italian Defence Firms Win European Contracts for Advanced Military Aviation

Leonardo and other Italian defence companies have secured new procurement agreements with European NATO allies, strengthening Italy’s role in developing advanced military aviation technologies and joint European defence capabilities.

Italy’s Banks Draw Strong Demand From International Investors in Latest Bond Auctions

Recent Italian government bond auctions were heavily oversubscribed, with international institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds continuing to show strong demand despite weak growth across the broader European economy.

Italy Steps Up Anti-Mafia Checks on Billions in EU-Funded Infrastructure Projects

Italian authorities are deploying specialised financial intelligence units to scrutinise public procurement contracts in southern Italy and prevent organised crime groups from infiltrating projects financed through European Union recover...

Italy’s Renewable Energy Projects Face Delays From Slow Permitting and Grid Bottlenecks

Renewable energy developers are warning that overlapping regional approval procedures and lengthy permitting processes are delaying thousands of megawatts of planned solar and wind capacity, putting pressure on Italy’s climate targets.

Genoa Port Accelerates Automation to Capture Shifting Mediterranean Shipping Traffic

The Port of Genoa is expanding digital and automated logistics systems to increase container-handling capacity and attract shipping traffic being redirected by disruptions in the Red Sea and Eastern Mediterranean.

Italy’s High-Speed Rail Network Faces Disruptions as Modernisation Projects Run Behind Schedule

Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane is facing political pressure after a summer of delays, signalling failures and service disruptions linked to major infrastructure upgrades funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

Milan Attracts Billions of Euros in Data Centre Investment as AI Demand Grows

Technology companies and digital infrastructure developers are committing billions of euros to new data centres around Milan, strengthening the city’s position as a major Mediterranean hub for artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

Italy’s Luxury Supply Chain Restructures as Asian Consumer Demand Remains Weak

Artisanal manufacturers and textile suppliers in Tuscany and Veneto are cutting production shifts and restructuring operations after a prolonged slowdown in global luxury spending, particularly in the important Chinese market.

Italy’s Automotive and Industrial Sector Faces Growing Pressure From Europe’s Manufacturing Slowdown

Italian manufacturers are confronting weaker automotive production and a broader European industrial slowdown, while machinery and robotics exporters are offsetting some of the pressure by expanding sales in North America and the Middle ...

Stellantis Production Cuts Put Pressure on Italy’s Automotive Supply Chain

Italian unions are warning of further employment risks in Piedmont and Campania after Stellantis indicated it may reduce domestic production targets, adding pressure to a supply chain already facing disruption from the shift to electric ...

Italian Banks Sustain Strong Profits as High Interest Rates Support Lending Margins

Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit and other major Italian lenders continue to benefit from elevated European Central Bank interest rates, which are supporting strong margins despite weak domestic demand for new loans.

Eni Expands North African Gas Investments to Strengthen Italy’s Energy Security

Italian energy group Eni is advancing investments in Algerian and Libyan gas production and export infrastructure as Italy seeks to secure Mediterranean energy supplies and strengthen its role as an energy hub for central Europe.

Italy Prepares Autumn Budget as EU Rules Intensify Pressure to Cut Public Debt

The Italian Treasury is preparing its autumn fiscal strategy while balancing domestic demands for continued tax relief against tighter European Union rules requiring progress in reducing the country’s large sovereign debt burden.

Italy Joins France, Germany and UK in Condemning Israeli Settlement Expansion in West Bank

Italy joined France, Germany and the United Kingdom in formally opposing Israeli construction tenders for new settlements in the E1 area of the West Bank, one of the most politically sensitive areas of the territory.

Austria Begins Returning Asylum Seekers to Italy Under New EU Migration Rules

Austria has confirmed the first transfers of asylum seekers back to Italy under the newly activated European Union Asylum and Migration Pact, citing rules requiring migrants to be processed in the member state where they first arrived.

Italy Defends Albania Migration Deal After Amnesty International Human Rights Criticism

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government is defending its agreement with Albania to process migrants offshore after Amnesty International warned that the detention centres undermine fundamental rights and European asylum standards.

Rome Accelerates Archaeological Restoration and Mobility Projects Ahead of Jubilee

Rome has authorized round-the-clock work on major archaeological restoration and urban mobility projects as the capital prepares for millions of international pilgrims expected for the Catholic Jubilee.

Milan Fintech Startups Raise More Than 500 Million Euros in Second-Quarter Funding

Fintech companies in Milan secured more than 500 million euros in venture capital during the second quarter, reflecting stronger international interest in Italian digital payments and financial technology.

Venice Activates MOSE Flood Barrier to Protect Historic Center From High Tides

Venice activated its MOSE mobile flood barriers to shield the historic center from a significant Adriatic tidal surge, demonstrating the system’s role in protecting the city from increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.

Il Sole 24 Ore Reports Strong Half-Year Results as Digital Revenue Grows

Italian media group Il Sole 24 Ore has reported strong first-half financial results, with revenue growth supported by expanded digital subscriptions, multimedia services and specialized financial information.

Genoa Accelerates Breakwater Construction to Handle Larger Container Ships

Construction of a major offshore breakwater at the Port of Genoa is accelerating with support from European Union recovery funds, as Italy upgrades its main maritime logistics hub to accommodate the world’s largest container vessels.

Italian Manufacturers Warn of Critical Shortage of Skilled Technicians and Engineers

Italy’s main industrial employers’ association says manufacturers face an acute shortage of specialized technicians and engineers, calling for education reforms and targeted migration policies to protect industrial output and competitive...

Naples-Bari High-Speed Rail Project Reaches Major Tunnel Construction Milestone

Italy’s state railway network has completed excavation of the main Apennine tunnel on the Naples-Bari high-speed rail line, marking a major engineering step in a project intended to cut travel times and support economic activity in south...

Italian Luxury Brands Shift Focus to US Market as Asian Demand Slows

Italian luxury companies are increasing marketing and retail investment in the United States to offset weaker demand across major Asian markets, where luxury consumption has slowed.

Italy Coordinates Response After Fatal Helicopter Crash in Kenya

Italy’s embassy in Nairobi is assisting authorities after a helicopter crash in northern Kenya killed seven people, including the head of Ecuador’s intelligence agency and his wife.

Severe Drought Threatens Wheat and Citrus Harvests in Southern Italy

Agricultural groups in Sicily and Calabria are seeking emergency government assistance as prolonged heat and water shortages damage traditional crops and increase the economic pressure on southern Italy’s farming sector.

Venice Approves Expansion of Tourist Access Fee for Peak Periods

Venice’s city council has approved an expansion and increase of the daily access fee for short-term visitors during peak periods next year as authorities seek to manage mass tourism while protecting the city and its residents.

Leonardo Wins European Defense Contract for Next-Generation Unmanned Aircraft

Italian aerospace and defense group Leonardo has secured a major European contract to design and manufacture advanced unmanned surveillance aircraft, expanding Italy’s role in European defense programs.

Technology Consortium Commits Three Billion Euros to AI Data Centers Near Milan

An international group of technology companies plans to invest three billion euros in advanced artificial intelligence data centers outside Milan, strengthening Lombardy’s position as a major European digital infrastructure hub.

Foreign Buyers Drive Sharp Rise in Italian Coastal Property Values

Italy’s coastal property market is experiencing strong price growth, particularly in Sardinia’s San Teodoro, where demand from wealthy international buyers is reshaping the Mediterranean luxury housing market.

Messina Strait Bridge Moves Closer to Construction After Environmental Clearances

The consortium behind the multibillion-euro bridge linking Sicily with mainland Italy has received preliminary environmental approvals, moving the long-debated project closer to its construction phase.

Italian Exporters Assess Risks From Possible New US Sanctions on Iran

Italy’s government and business groups are assessing potential trade disruptions after US President Donald Trump’s administration announced plans for new economic measures against Iran that could affect Mediterranean shipping and global ...

Italian Banks Report Strong Profits as Higher Rates Support Earnings

Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit and other major Italian banks have reported exceptionally strong quarterly results, with solid capital positions and high profit margins underscoring the sector’s resilience despite wider European economic unce...

Four Antonello da Messina Paintings Stolen From Museum in Sicily

Italian authorities and specialist art police are investigating the theft of four fifteenth-century works by Renaissance master Antonello da Messina from the Museo Regionale di Messina after security systems were bypassed during a nation...

Eni Expands Eastern Mediterranean Gas Exploration Under New Agreement

Italian energy company Eni has secured expanded rights for offshore natural gas exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean, strengthening Italy’s role in efforts to diversify European energy supplies and develop Mediterranean gas infrastru...

Stellantis Plans Major Restructuring of Mirafiori Plant in Turin

Stellantis has outlined a broad overhaul of its historic Mirafiori facilities in Turin to accelerate electric vehicle production while seeking government support to limit potential job losses across the domestic automotive supply chain.

Italy Prepares Tougher Budget Measures to Meet Restored EU Fiscal Rules

Italy’s Economy Ministry is negotiating with coalition partners on the next national budget, seeking to balance promised tax cuts with stricter deficit-reduction requirements under the European Union’s reinstated fiscal rules.

Austria Resumes Returning Irregular Migrants to Italy as European Border Tensions Rise

Austria has restarted the deportation of irregular migrants to Italy, following similar measures by Germany and Switzerland and prompting renewed debate in Rome over European solidarity and the management of Mediterranean arrivals.