'Albachiara' (Vasco Rossi; 1979) The poetic, rock Italian singer-songwriter's
biggest hit. Best Blogs. Beppe Grillo (www.beppegrillo.it/ en/) Game-changing ...
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Understand Italy ITALY TODAY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 874 From financial woes to a fragile coalition: the bel paese (beautiful country) continues to long for better days.
HISTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 876 Incestuous emperors, scheming popes and a delusional dictator: Italy’s story is prime-time drama.
ITALIAN ART & ARCHITECTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 892 For centuries Italy has set the aesthetic standard, from Caravaggio’s canvases to Renzo Piano’s auditorium.
THE ITALIAN WAY OF LIFE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 912 Fashionable, fastidious and molto, molto sexy – meet the people who put the dolce in vita.
ITALY ON PAGE & SCREEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 920 From divine comedies to divine divas, Italian creativity is the stuff of legend.
THE ITALIAN TABLE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 924 In Italy, food is sacred. Loosen your belt, pop the prosecco (sparkling wine) and prepare for the feed of your life.
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Italy Today
Italy may be the beautiful country, but, regardless of their politics and circumstances, locals join in lamenting its state, concurring that the country is in an economic and political quagmire. Politics have long been a problem, with notoriously unstable governments – Berlusconi, with a record five-year stretch, was the longest serving prime minister since WWII. Unemployment rose from 6.2% in 2007 to 10.9% in 2012, while Italy’s public debt had soared above 130% of GDP in 2013
Best Contemporary Songs
‘Le Radici Ca Tieni’ (Sud Sound System; 2003) Radical southern group sing about not forgetting your roots in a ragga-traditional music mash up. ‘Nel blu dipinto di blu (Volare)’ (Domenico Modugno; 1958) Infernally catchy, eternally sunny Eurovision hit. ‘Ride on Time’ (Black Box; 1989) Seminal Italo-house track stormed the dance floors in the late ’80s. ‘Albachiara’ (Vasco Rossi; 1979) The poetic, rock Italian singer-songwriter’s biggest hit.
Best Blogs
Beppe Grillo (www.beppegrillo.it/ en/) Game-changing comedic and political musings of controversial comedian turned political leader. Italian Politics with Watson (http:// italpolblog.blogspot.se) Clear-cut and insightful discussions of political intrigues and intricacies. La Tavola Marche (www.latavola marche.blogspot.co.uk) American expat chef and food writer write on local cuisine and delicious recipes. The Blonde Salad (www.theblondesalad.com) Influential fashion blogging by a Milanese student.
The Economy
The country is suffering economically and ordinary Italians are feeling the pain of austerity measures coupled with seemingly perpetual recession. In addition governments continue to be fragile and divided. As taxes and prices have risen, opportunities for employment have shrunk and wages flatlined; life in Italy is bleak for many. In 2013, one news story among many seemed to encapsulate the woes of the country: a couple in their 60s from Civitanova Marche committed suicide, unable to struggle on any longer on their small pension.
2013 Elections
The rise of former comedian Beppe Grillo’s Five Star Movement, backed by 1 in 4 voters in the February 2013 elections, is an indication of how disillusioned Italians are, particularly the young, with traditional politics. Results from the election were inconclusive, resulting in a hung parliament. Though ex–prime minister Silvio Berlusconi did not take office in 2013, he retained a hold on power, as Enrico Letta’s new right-left coalition depends on the support of Berlusconi’s People of Freedom (PdL) movement. It may seem incredible to outsiders, observing Berlusconi’s scandal-mired life, but opinion polls continue to put the PdL movement out in front.
The Dreaded IMU
Besides Berlusconi’s relative charisma and the country’s fear of change, Berlusconi’s enduring popularity may have been in part due to his promise to repay the unpopular Imposta Municipale Unica (IMU), a tax on properties. Never mind that Berlusconi’s government originally introduced the tax (to apply to second homes and commence in 2014). The subsequent prime minister, Mario Monti, accelerated the introduction to 2012
