tourism-italia.com

A vast mejority of Italy’s cultural attractions will be closed on Friday 12th November due to funding cuts proposed by the government. It is predicted that hundreds of museums, art galleries and heritage sites will be affected by the lack of funding. The government has advised that cuts are being proposed in order to encourage private investment and help ease strain on publichfunding but Italian cultural heritage experts predict that famous sites such as Florence Cathedral and Nero’s Golden House are vulnerable to collapse if these cuts go ahead. (more…)

So, we’re still waiting for the creation of the new Italian tourism website. According to the Wall Street Journal, the website has already taken five years to create and more than €45 million has been set aside and what we are left with is… nothing. When the website was first launched in February 2007, the number of errors on it was embarrassing. Don’t try looking at italia.it because I already have and there is nothing there. The government is currently trying to yet again design the website. So we must wait until next spring to see the next thrilling installment of the tourism website and find out whether Italy will ever have one.

The continually poor conditions at the ruins of Pompeii are finally being addressed by Silvio Berlusconi’s new government. It is a great shame that one of the worlds most important cultural sites has been so badly maintained over the years. For such a well-known tourist attraction, there are currently no restaurants and only 3 toilets, with so-called ‘parking wardens’ running loose and unregulated. Berlusconi will appoint a special commissioner to resolve the issues at the Pompeii site, which in recent years has suffered from falling visitor numbers. I congratulate Mr. Berlusconi on being the person to stand up and finally do something to preserve the cultural experience of such an important heritage site.

If you having been paying attention recently to the events taking place in Amalfi, then now is the time to. Since May 29th, the Ancient Maritime Republics Regatta has been unfolding in Amalfi. If you have never heard of this regatta before, here’s a quick run-down…. It “is a sporting and historical rievocation under the patronage of the Italian Republic President” and happens every year in a different city, normally in June. Now, it’s not to late to join in the festivities because tomorrow is the last day and they have lots of fun lined up! There is an historical parade at 4.30pm from Atrani, a Marine Republics fashion show at 9pm and the final spectacular, a fireworks show!! I went on Thursday and it was awesome. There was a storytelling show called ‘Le Pirate’ and everyone was enthralled. Just because the Ancient Maritime Republics Regatta has ancient in the title, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s boring!

I have just heard news that Alitalia is to be bought by Air France for the bargain basement price of 138m euros. Now is it just me or is that really cheap for a pretty big airline? I realise that Alitalia has been losing money for a long time but still, is it not worth more? And also how did the airline manage to accumulate such huge debts when the government owns 49.9% of the company? Anyway, hopefully the future of the airline has now been saved and will be able to run for years to come. But I wonder if Air France will continue to run Alitalia under its current name or if it will change it to something more French…..