CURRENT ISSUES
Current Issues
Beyond the red tape
Pains and gains of doing business in Italy
by Paolo Necchi
Here are some of the most salient points:
You’ve probably heard it’s difficult to start a business here? Well, it’s true, or so says the World Bank’s recent survey where Italy ranked 70th out of 155 countries when judged on a set …
Florence News
Pitti Uomo showers beauty and bucks on Florence
International fashion event essential to city
What would otherwise be the slowest time of year for tourism in Florence, January is instead precisely when many travellers choose to visit. The reason: Pitti Uomo.
Anyone and everyone involved in the fashion world already knows that Florence is host to …
Florence News
Let the sales begin!
Warnings great bargain shoppers
Winter sales officially began on January 7th and, as always, consumers swarmed to shopping centres throughout Florence in search of bargains. This year, though, the city has decided to actively combat false sale scams as well as the dealing of contraband …
Florence News
A "slight" delay
Airport closes for three months while under construction
Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci airport will be closed for three months starting February 2nd due to a large construction project deemed necessary to improve airport facilities.
The 11 million euro project includes repairs to landing strips and a total renovation of the structure’s …
Florence News
Good news: employment is up Bad news: You're fired!
ISTAT registers slight decrease in unemployment rates, but layoffs continue
According to a recent survey by ISTAT (National Statistics Institute) employment rates in Tuscany rose slightly in the third semester of 2005. July, August, and September marked a positive growth of 1.3% …
Florence News
Stolen cow comes home
Ferreri’s Cow, which had mysteriously disappeared from Piazza Santissima Annunziata on December 16th, has been returned to its rightful location with the other cows that make up the “Cow Parade” exhibition. One of the most original pieces on display in Florence’s …
Florence News
Euro zero not a hero
New Year's ban on polluting cars met with protest
About one hundred Florence residents rang in the New Year by demonstrating against the anti-smog measures that went into effect on January 1st.
The ban prohibits cars in the Euro Zero category from circulating within Florence city limits, as well as 16 …
Florence News
Three Magi Lead 20,000 Followers Through City
The Three Wise Men’s Parade through Florence managed to attract quite a crowd on January 6th. The 15th century Florentine tradition of celebrating the Epiphany with the “journey” of the three Magi through the historic centre was attended by about 20,000 …
Italy News
Heads of Finance have New Faces
After the recent upheaval in Italian finance due to accusations of conflict of interest, a slew of important financial leaders have been replaced. This appears to be an attempt to repair the damage to Italy’s financial credibility that began with the …
Florence News
Reading Dante in Florence
Actor Sandro Lombardi will play the leading role in “Reading Dante”, a dramatic series set to begin on January 13th at the Teatro della Pergola. The purpose of these readings is to promote many of Dante Alighieri’s lesser-known works. The series’ …
Florence News
Gianna Nannini Returns With Grazie
Tuscan rock star Gianna Nannini will release her latest album ‘Grazie’ on January 27th, marking her return from a two year hiatus after her last album ‘Perle’. The single “Sei nell’anima” will begin playing on airwaves January 13th. Nannini is set …
Florence News
Bus Detours for Pitti
To accommodate the large amount of traffic that will converge on the Fortezza da Basso during the Pitti Uomo events, ATAF has changed various bus routes. Buses that follow the route along Via Valfonda from Santa Maria Novella train station will …
Florence News
A countdown for Harry Potter fans
Some bookstores jump the gun
The Italian translation of the latest Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, was released at the stroke of midnight on the Epiphany (January 6th).
For the occasion, the main bookshops of Florence kept their doors open until late at …
Florence News
Museums see black
Increased attendance at "secondary" Florence museums affects the bottom line
Even one of the most important cultural heritages in the world is regarded in terms of business. In today’s economic climate the largest collection of Renaissance art, under the tutelage of the Polo Museale of Florence, must watch its costs.
After several …
Florence News
Florence is a kid's best friend
Survey gives 5th place to Tuscan cities
Tuscan cities have been deemed “child-sized”. In a recent national survey conducted by environmental watch group Legambiente, several Tuscan cities received top scores for projects geared towards their youngest residents.
The survey, which examined 103 cities, assessed the opportunities children have to …
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The English-speaking news magazine in Florence
Monday, May 20, 2013