Rome Times

Italian Luxury and Machinery Manufacturers Maintain Exports Despite European Slowdown

Italian manufacturers in luxury goods and industrial machinery are sustaining export volumes despite weaker demand in Germany and France, with stronger sales in North America and Asia helping offset the broader European slowdown.

Rimini’s Grand Hotel Hosts Finale of Cultural Festival Showcasing Adriatic Tourism

The Grand Hotel in Rimini has concluded La Terrazza della Dolce Vita festival, bringing together politicians, journalists and artists for an event highlighting the Adriatic coast’s cultural and hospitality appeal.

Amazon Opens New Distribution Centre in Jesi to Expand Central and Southern Italy Delivery Network

Amazon has inaugurated a large logistics facility in Jesi, built with Italian construction firm Techbau, to strengthen e-commerce deliveries across central and southern Italy while creating local employment.

Luxury Housing Projects Reshape Rome’s EUR District as Investment Increases

New premium residential developments in Rome’s EUR district are targeting high-income professionals as domestic real estate groups increase investment in the capital’s established corporate and financial neighborhoods.

Alberto Razzetti Wins Silver in 400-Metre Individual Medley at European Aquatics Championships

Italian swimmer Alberto Razzetti secured a silver medal in the 400-metre individual medley, adding to the country’s strong showing in international swimming competition.

Ferrari Prepares 30-Horsepower Engine Upgrade for Italian Grand Prix at Monza

Ferrari is preparing a redesigned turbocharger that could add 30 horsepower for the Italian Grand Prix, as the Maranello team seeks to strengthen its position in the Formula One title fight at its home race.

Marine Archaeologists Discover Well-Preserved Roman Shipwreck Off Sicily

Researchers have identified an underwater archaeological site off Sicily containing well-preserved Roman artifacts, adding to Italy’s extensive cultural heritage and attracting international academic interest.

Italy Launches 1,500-Kilometre Saint Francis Hiking Network to Spread Tourism Beyond Major Cities

A new interconnected hiking route across Tuscany and Umbria is designed to attract international visitors to rural villages and help ease pressure on Italy’s most crowded tourism destinations.

Siena Palio Preparations Continue as Historic Horse Race Draws International Visitors

The unveiling of the official Palio banner by artist Teodora Axente has marked the final preparations for Siena’s historic horse race, a major event for Tuscany’s hospitality and luxury tourism sectors.

Southern Italian Emergency Rooms Face Overcrowding and Staffing Shortages

Hospitals including the Fazzi facility in Lecce are facing severe summer overcrowding and staff shortages, increasing political pressure on Italy’s coalition government to accelerate public healthcare reforms.

Eni Completes €115 Million Treasury Share Purchase as Energy Markets Remain Volatile

Eni has bought nearly five million shares on Euronext Milan as part of its shareholder remuneration programme, demonstrating continued corporate liquidity despite volatility in global energy markets.

Milan Data Center Expansion Accelerates as Italy Positions Itself for AI Growth

Techbau and industry partners are advancing a Tier Four data center project in Milan with new financing and partnerships, adding critical digital infrastructure to Lombardy’s growing cloud and artificial intelligence sector.

Italy Raises Maximum Heat Alert as Temperatures Exceed 40 Degrees and Wildfires Spread

Health and civil protection authorities have issued the highest-level heat warnings as temperatures top 40 degrees Celsius, placing additional strain on the power system and contributing to wildfire risks in Puglia and Sicily.

Bank of Italy Orders Stronger Cybersecurity and AI Risk Controls at Financial Institutions

Italy’s banking regulator has directed financial institutions to strengthen risk management and cybersecurity systems as banks accelerate the deployment of artificial intelligence models.

Enel Buys €145 Million Wind Farm in Campania to Expand Southern Italy Renewables

Enel Green Power has completed the acquisition of an 84-megawatt wind farm in Campania for €145 million, strengthening the utility’s push to expand renewable electricity generation in southern Italy.

Banking Unions Warn Over Potential Breakup of Monte dei Paschi di Siena

Italian banking unions are seeking government guarantees for workers and the historic identity of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena as speculation grows that the Economy Ministry could pursue a fragmented privatization of the lender.

Italy Reports 51% Average Summer Accommodation Occupancy as International Tourism Surges

Government figures show average accommodation occupancy has reached 51% across Italy, with strong international demand in Veneto, Emilia-Romagna and Sicily sustaining the country’s leading position in the European summer tourism market.

Severe Drought Threatens Italy’s Po Valley Rice Harvest and Agricultural Exports

Extreme heat and critically low rainfall have forced farmers in northern Italy to abandon some crop cycles and ration water, putting pressure on the country’s rice production and wider agricultural exports.

Mount Etna Eruption Halts Flights at Catania Airport as Ash Disrupts Sicily Travel

A major eruption from Mount Etna sent large ash clouds across Sicily, forcing authorities to suspend commercial arrivals and departures at Catania International Airport during the peak summer tourism season.

Italian Police Arrest Former Berlusconi Associate Over Attack on Investigative Journalist

Carabinieri in Rome have arrested businessman Valter Lavitola over allegations that he masterminded an explosive attack targeting Sigfrido Ranucci, a prominent investigative journalist at Italy’s state broadcaster.

Bank of Italy Sees Just 0.5% Growth as Energy Costs and Industry Weigh on Economy

The central bank expects Italy’s economy to expand only 0.5%, citing high energy costs, geopolitical uncertainty and inflation as continuing obstacles to the recovery of the manufacturing sector.

Italy Introduces Mandatory Natural Disaster Insurance for Businesses

The Italian government has activated a national framework requiring businesses to carry insurance against floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters, backed by up to €5 billion in state guarantees as climate-related losses rise.

Stellantis Unveils €6 Billion Cost-Cutting Plan as European Auto Profits Come Under Pressure

Chief Executive Antonio Filosa has launched a restructuring programme covering parts, manufacturing and logistics as Stellantis seeks to offset losses in Europe while protecting its industrial operations in Italy.

Germany Plans to Resume Asylum Transfers to Italy and Greece Under EU Migration Pact

Berlin is preparing to restart transfers of asylum seekers to Italy and Greece under the European Union’s migration rules, threatening renewed disputes over responsibility for managing arrivals across the Mediterranean.

Giorgia Meloni Rejects Spain’s Demand to Lift Border Checks as Migration Dispute Deepens

Italy has refused Madrid’s demand to end selective checks on arrivals from Spain, citing national security and terrorism concerns after a large influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino Denies Affair Allegation as UEFA Confirms Payment to Former Employee

UEFA says a departure payment and MBA fees complied with staff rules then in force, while Infantino faces a separate governance revolt over his abandoned plan to bring private investors into FIFA’s World Cup business.

Foreign Buyers Increase Interest in Affordable Homes in Italy's Rural and Alpine Areas

International purchasers are increasingly targeting discounted properties and one-euro home schemes in smaller Italian towns, seeking second homes and summer retreats away from the more expensive and crowded markets of the Amalfi Coast a...

Italian Exports Outside the EU Remain Under Pressure From Geopolitical Disruptions

Istat data shows a contraction in Italian exports to markets outside the European Union, with global supply chain disruptions and shifting geopolitical relationships weighing on external demand and domestic industrial activity.

Siena Tightens Horse Welfare and Heat Controls Ahead of Palio dell'Assunta

Authorities in Siena have introduced strict veterinary checks and temperature monitoring for the historic Palio horse race, seeking to maintain the traditional event while strengthening safety measures during Italy's severe summer heat.

Italian Employment Reaches Record Levels as More Women and Older Workers Join Labour Force

Italy's unemployment rate has fallen to historic lows as the services economy brings more women and older people into employment, with the OECD highlighting the resilience of the country's labour market.

Venice Film Festival Drives Luxury Tourism Demand Across Veneto

Hotels, maritime transport operators and restaurants in Venice are reporting full bookings ahead of the Biennale Cinema, underlining the film festival's importance to the region's luxury hospitality and cultural tourism industries.

Italy Prepares for Ferragosto Travel Peak as Heat and Rising Prices Reshape Holidays

Hotels and coastal authorities expect millions of domestic and international visitors during the mid-August holiday period, while higher beach club prices and extreme temperatures are changing traditional travel patterns across the country.

Italian Employers Warn Skills Shortages Are Blocking Almost Half of New Industrial Roles

Unioncamere and the National Council for Economics and Labour say nearly half of new positions in Italian industry and technology are difficult to fill, highlighting a widening gap between available workers' skills and the needs of moder...

Italy Advances Plan for More Than One Million Foreign Worker Permits by 2028

The government is preparing a large legal migration programme that could grant more than one million work permits to foreign nationals by 2028, seeking to address labour shortages in construction, agriculture and hospitality despite its ...

Italian Football Federation Faces Backlash Over Leadership Dispute

Football federation president Giovanni Malagò is facing criticism from the Italian Olympic Committee and domestic media after appointing a new national team delegation head without consulting coaches, intensifying a public dispute involv...

Italy's Public Debt Ratio Seen Rising to One Hundred Thirty-Nine Percent by 2027

The European Commission expects Italy to reduce its budget deficit to two point nine percent but projects that public debt will rise to one hundred thirty-nine percent of gross domestic product by 2027 as interest costs and legacy housin...

Cyprus Plans European Gas Deliveries by 2028, Strengthening Italy's Mediterranean Energy Role

Cyprus says newly developed offshore natural gas reserves are expected to begin reaching European markets within two years, potentially reinforcing Italy's position as a key Mediterranean transit route for non-Russian energy supplies.

Italian Manufacturing Remains in Expansion Despite Falling Export Orders

Purchasing managers data shows Italy's industrial sector is still expanding, although a sharp decline in new orders from markets outside the European Union is raising concerns about manufacturing prospects in the third quarter.

Italy Launches Eight Billion Euro Treasury Bill Auction as Rates Stabilise

The Italian Treasury is issuing eight billion euros of twelve-month government bonds as stabilising European Central Bank interest rates support short-term government financing and continue to attract institutional demand.

Extreme Heat Threatens to Erase Italy's Modest Economic Growth

Triodos Bank warned that prolonged heatwaves are reducing productivity across Italian agriculture, construction and manufacturing, putting the country's already modest expected growth in the second half of the year at risk.

Istat Raises Italian Growth Forecast to Zero Point Eight Percent as Services Support Economy

Italy's national statistics agency upgraded its annual growth projection to zero point eight percent, saying resilient domestic services are supporting moderate expansion despite persistent inflation and high industrial energy costs.

Extreme Heat Pushes Italy's Major Cultural Sites Into Late-Night Opening

The Colosseum and Pantheon in Rome and Milan's Castello Sforzesco will remain open later into the evening as authorities respond to extreme heat alerts affecting twenty-seven Italian cities and seek to reduce tourists' exposure to danger...

Severe Drought Forces Italian Rice Farmers to Abandon Crops Across the Po Valley

Water shortages in Italy's main agricultural region are causing heavy losses for rice producers in Pavia, Vercelli and Novara, with thousands of farmers abandoning parched fields to preserve the crops that remain viable.

Italy Advances Military Intelligence and Cyber Defence Overhaul

The Italian cabinet approved a defence reform bill that would reorganise the military command structure and create a joint Cyber Intel Command focused on protecting critical infrastructure and the armed forces from sophisticated digital ...

Stellantis Shares Slide as Analysts Cut Targets Over North American Profit Collapse

Stellantis shares fell toward four euros and seventy cents in Milan after UBS and Bernstein downgraded the automaker, citing high vehicle inventories at US dealerships and an operating margin that has fallen to one point six percent in k...