The Return of Ancient Artifacts
This week, there will be a massive event in Beijing to showcase more than 700 Chinese cultural artifacts returned in March by Italian authorities…
The Return of Ancient Artifacts
This week, there will be a massive event in Beijing to showcase more than 700 Chinese cultural artifacts returned in March by Italian authorities at the National Museum of China in what has been the longest case of China tracking lost antiquities.
Photo: Artsy
The returned artifacts are well-preserved and in good condition as they were originally to be sold in Italy. As cultural superpowers, and the two countries have the highest number of UNESCO heritage sites, and have made bast efforts to preserve their culture. Items in the cache range from around 3,000 BCE to the early 20th century and includes significant artifacts like a Neolithic-era clay pot related to the ancient Majiayao culture, Song dynasty porcelain, and pottery from the Han, Tang, and Ming dynasties.
Photo: Global Times
Italy, however, is not the only country that has returned lost relics. The United States has also returned 391 cultural relics and are planning to hold a joint exhibition of repatriated cultural relics. Thankfully, there is no bad blood between the two countries as they will be working with the UNESCO World Heritage Convention to launch collaborative programs with the aim of enhancing exchanges in good practice, protection, promotion for cross-border asset protection.
We hope you enjoyed learning about how Italy and China are facilitating The Return of Ancient Artifacts! Do you think Italy and China will be able to continue building a communal cultural relationship? Join the conversation below!
Why Italians Live So Long
Italians are far less likely to die from cancer and heart problems than their other European counterparts.
Why Italians Live So Long
Italy is known around the world for its healthy diet and lifestyle, so it comes as no surprise to hear it came second in a global index ranking countries worldwide on factors that contribute to the overall health of residents. Since 2008, the European Heart Network has found that despite the older profile of Italy's population Italians are far less likely to die from cancer and heart problems than their other European counterparts.
The index grades nations based on variables such as life expectancy and access to clean water and sanitation while subtracting points over risks such as tobacco use and obesity with the Mediterranean diet being at least partially responsible for Italy's high ranking on the list.
Researchers say eating habits may provide clues to health levels enjoyed by Spain and Italy, as a “Mediterranean diet, supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts, had a lower rate of major cardiovascular events than those assigned to a reduced-fat diet,” according to a study led by the University of Navarra Medical School.
Italy was beaten to first place by neighboring Spain in the 2019 edition of the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index, which ranks 169 economies worldwide. Currently the average life expectancy of Italian citizens is 83 years old.
What are your thoughts on the findings of Why Italians Live So Long? Join the conversation below!
Italian Tourism Overload
Italy is amongst the most visited counties in Europe when it comes to tourist destinations and for yet another year, Rome has placed at the top of Italy's cultural destinations…
Italian Tourism Overload
Italy is amongst the most visited counties in Europe when it comes to tourist destinations and for yet another year, Rome has placed at the top of Italy's cultural destinations. In 2018 alone 15.2 million tourists visited the home of the Vatican, Trevi Fountain, and the Colosseum. This represents an increase of 1.1 million tourists compared to the previous year and accounted for 64% of Rome's overnight visitors in 2018. The Colosseum alone attracted an average of 21,000 tourists a day in 2018.
One thing that happens to bewilder international visitors, however, is the city tax. In Rome, the authorities apply a city tax on all hotels which is charged and collected by your hotel. The tax requires a contribution of 4.00 Euros per person per night for 2 and 3 star hotels, 6.00 Euros per person per night for 4 star hotels and 7.00 Euros per person per night for 5 star hotels. While it may seem like an inconvenience, the Rome Tourist Tax is put toward maintenance and promotion of Rome in the tourism capacity. In 2016, the city of Rome raised €123 million from the tourist tax which has bolstered the wonderful tourist services and assistance, info points, and location materials.
Visitor numbers are only expected to keep growing, with 2019 set to be busier than ever for many of Italy's tourist hotspots and with it comes an added €41.3 billion to the Italian economy. This isn’t good news to everyone however, especially residents of these hotspots. Over-tourism in iconic Italian destinations has led to the introduction of measures like Venice charging an entry fee from this year, Florence recently banned snacking on its historic streets, and Rome has cracked down on obnoxious activities including pub crawls and cooling off in fountains. While the government has created initiatives such as the “Year of Villages” to get tourists off the beaten path, the best hope for well meaning travelers is that their counterparts continue to behave themselves.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the Italian Tourism Overload! the How else do you think the Italian government can help curb overcrowding in tourist hotspots? Join the conversation below!
Admission To Venice At A Cost
those traveling to Italy may have to get used to paying to enter a particular city…
Admission To Venice At A Cost
Americans are very familiar with paying admission fees to enter tourist attractions, but those traveling to Italy may have to get used to paying to enter a city.
Having accommodated nearly 25 million visitors each year, Venice, Italy is becoming the first Italian city to charge visitors an entrance fee. This week, the city approved a 3 Euro per person fee for all day-trippers. The new day-trip entrance fee will go toward maintaining the World Heritage site.
Reuters has reported that of the 25 million tourists who visit Venice each year, around 14 million spend just one day, and many take picnics and sleep on cruise ships, bringing little income to local businesses. Under a seven-year-old law, overnight guests are already charged a nightly tourist tax. The city is currently repositioning itself as an open-air museum and as Luca Zaia,
One large hurdle with this proposal is that collecting the fee may get complicated. Day-trippers can enter the city by plane, cruise ship, car, train, or bus, so transport companies who bring tourists into Venice may add the entrance fee to their ticket price.
What are your thoughts on the proposed fare to enter the city as a conservation effort? Join the conversation below!
Recovering Lost Italian Art
8 works of stolen Italian art have been returned to Italy by Christie’s auction house…
Recovering Lost Italian Art
8 works of stolen Italian art have been returned to Italy by Christie’s auction house. This marks a success for Rome’s continued effort to recover pieces that were illegally obtained and trafficked such as an Etruscan terracotta mask that experts have dated to between the 6th and the 5th century BC and a marble fragment from a sarcophagus which was identified as having been stolen after 1966.
Photo: The Telegraph
. Christie’s voluntarily returned them at a ceremony at the Italian embassy in London on Tuesday, which was attended by the country’s culture minister Alberto Bonisoli who stated that “The restitution confirms the effectiveness of the collaboration between our country and the giants of the art market such as Christie’s in the fight against illegal trafficking of works of art.” Thankfully, only a small portion of work that passes through Christie’s doors (0.8%) is withdrawn from the sale process as a result of such investigation.
The cooperation was described as historic” by the embassy and an "important milestone in the protection of Italian cultural heritage.”
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning how the Italian authorities are Recovering Lost Italian Art! Planning a trip to see these pieces in person? Our culturally immersive group classes and native instructors are sure to prepare you to enjoy the exhibits to the fullest. Click below to learn more!
Move To Italy (And Get Paid To Do It)
Locana is offering foreigners up to just over $10,000 to make this seemingly dreamscape a home…
Move To Italy (And Get Paid To Do It)
Have you ever imagined waking up surrounded by lush meadows, snow-peaked mountains, and chestnut forests? Well imagine getting paid to move there. Giovanni Bruno Mattiet, the mayor a tiny village of Locana is offering foreigners up to just over $10,000 to make this seemingly dreamscape a home. Locana is the latest in a list Italian towns offering unbelievable property deals in a bid to revive their depopulated communities.
Photo: Homes & Property
Amazing, right? There must be a catch, right?
Of course there is.
Those wishing to take advantage of this offer must have at least one child and a minimum annual salary of $6,800.
Locana’s population has shrunk from 7,000 residents in the early 1900s to barely 1,500, after people left looking for a job at Turin’s big factories. The village school also faces the risk of shutting down due to so few pupils, so the aim is to draw mostly young people and professionals who work remotely or are willing to start a life in Italy. The $10,000 payout will also be payed out over the course of 3 years rather than a single lump-sum payment.
Photo: vallesoana
Every year in the town there are only 10 births but 40 deaths, thus making it very hard to sustain a population, so while the offer was first only for Italians or foreigners who already live in Italy, the program has been extended to also include foreigners living outside Italy.
There are dozens of closed shops, bars, restaurants and boutiques just waiting for new people to run them. The country has already seen success stories, like Ollolai on the island of Sardinia, which sold dozens of properties for around $1, which have already been refurbished by young professionals and more Italians relocating to the village.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about how to Move To Italy (And Get Paid To Do It)! Ready to make the big move? Our native instructors and culturally immersive group classes are sure to put you on the path to fluency so you can enjoy all that Italy has to offer (along with your brand new picturesque dwelling)! Click below to learn more.
Return to Sender
The Uffizi Gallery in Florence has reached out to to German officials in an effort to retrieve a stolen 18th century Dutch painting from a German family.
Return to Sender
The Uffizi Gallery in Florence has reached out to to German officials in an effort to retrieve a stolen 18th century Dutch painting from a German family. The oil painting, 'Vase of Flowers' by Dutch painter Jan van Huysum, has been the subject of much controversy over the last few decades as numerous requests for return by the Italian state have been ignored by the German citizens in possession of the art piece that was stolen during World War II.
Originally, ‘Vase of Flowers” was part of a collection owned by another well-known Florence museum, the Palazzo Pitti and measured a modest 18x14 inches. After being shipped to Germany the work's whereabouts remained unknown until 1991, after Germany was reunified following the war.
Photo: Uffizi Galleries
Photo: Uffizi Galleries
Currently, a black and white copy of A Vase of Flowers" was hung Tuesday at the Uffizi Gallery (located adjacent to the Piazza della Signoria in the Historic Centre of Florence in the region of Tuscany, Italy), with the word "stolen" in English, German and Italian on it with a brief explanation informing viewers of that the work was stolen by Nazi soldiers in 1944 and is now in a German private collection.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about how Italy is demanding that “A Vase of Flowers” is sent home in Return to Sender! Do you believe the German government has an obligation to return the painting to Italy? Join the conversation below!
The Top 3 Italian Festivals To Attend This Year
Italy has announced the official dates of some of it’s most popular festivals this year…
The Top 3 Italian Festivals To Attend This Year
Italy has announced the official dates of some of it’s most popular festivals this year. While we highly encourage experiencing this beautiful country at any time of the year, we’d like to introduce a few festivals that would be worth planning a trip around!
Verona In Love
Photo: travelhouse
The Valentines Day In Verona, Veneto could be the most romantic in the world. From the 11th-14th of February, the setting of Romeo and Juliet, will be holding a celebration of romance with its streets and squares filled with live concerts and markets. Now in its 15th year, the famous festival of St Valentine’s Day will illuminate the most charming views of the city including the famous Juliet's balcony, Piazza dei Signori, the Lamberti Tower, the Old Market Courtyard. Hotels near the festivities book up quickly, so if you’re planning on making the trip, be sure to act sooner than later!
Ciliegi In Fiore
Typically when cherry blossom festivals are mentioned, Japan would be the obvious option. For Americans, New York has become a popular destination to view the beautiful blossoms. However, Vigona, Emilia Romagna is famous for its cherry trees, and if you’re a fan of cherry blossom then you’ll want to visit in late March or early April as the trees bloom. In recent years, the cherry crop has suffered badly from excess rain, and screens have been put up to protect the trees, however they will be open for display during the festival. The town hosts a variety of parades, concerts, exhibitions, special restaurant menus and various other activities to enjoy surrounding the blooming season, and it is not a sight that should be overlooked.
Mille Miglia
From May 15th - 18th in Brescia Rome, you can enjoy the most exciting race in Europe at Mille Miglia (Thousand Miles). The long-running race attracts a plethora of vintage car lovers to Italy every year. A selection of vintage cars travel no-stop from Brescia to Rome and back, with crowds greeting them at numerous Italian towns along the way. ) Originially, it was an open-road, motorsport endurance race which took place from 1927 to 1957 and brought out an estimated five million spectators. From 1953 until 1957, the Mille Miglia was also a round of the World Sports Car Championship.
Since 1977, the "Mille Miglia" has been reborn as a regularity race for classic and vintage cars. The route (Brescia–Rome round trip) is similar to that of the original race with the point of departure/arrival in Viale Venezia in Brescia.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about The Top 3 Italian Festivals To Attend This Year! If you’re planning on making the trip, our culturally immersive group classes and native instructors can help make sure you’re able to enjoy the festivities to the fullest! Click below to learn more.
3 Must See European Year of Culture Heritage Events
Italy has plenty to offer for the European Year of Culture Heritage 2018 which is hosting 1,136 events as part of the EU-wide ceremony. We’ve listed the 3 events you absolutely MUST SEE if you plan on being in attendance.
3 Must See European Year of Culture Heritage Events
Italy has plenty to offer for the European Year of Culture Heritage 2018 which is hosting 1,136 events as part of the EU-wide ceremony. We’ve listed the 3 events you absolutely MUST SEE if you plan on being in attendance.
Chiaravalle Milanese
New Cultural Landscape is running until December 31st, 2018.
An interactive project that involves residents, city-users and tourists in a "performative event" geared at regenerating this area on the outskirts of Milan. Chiaravalle is the name Saint Bernard of Clairvaux gave to the area when he founded the Cistercian abbey in 1135. Before 1923, Chiaravalle was an autonomous comune, named Chiaravalle Milanese, and despite being annexed to Milan, Chiaravalle has maintained the character of an autonomous town. The park that embraces the district also separates it from the urban agglomeration of the city. This isolation is reinforced by the scarceness of public transportation to the centre of the district.
"In a 1100-inhabitant-village, Chiaravalle’s old school gym has been transformed into a community hub, which aspires to become the local community’s hybrid cultural space dedicated to the landscape. terzo paesaggio’s goal is to provide workshop, based on the monks’ ancient tradition of cantieri scuola and memorable experiences," say the organizers.
Palermo
Italian Capital of Culture 2018 is running until December 31st, 2018. The city of Palermo is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, that has played an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old. Palermo is located in the northwest of the island of Sicily, right by the Gulf of Palermo in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Palermo is hosting 132 concerts, 132 exhibitions and 12,151 programs by artists as part of its designation as Italian Capital of Culture 2018. Dance, photography, architecture, street art, lectures and so much more in the Sicilian capital.
Venice
Venice Time Machine is running until December 31st, 2018.
Venice is situated across a group of 118 small islands in northeastern Italy that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. and is renowned for it’s beautiful architecture and artwork. The lagoon and a part of the city are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
"The Venice Time Machine project, based on historical and cultural data from important archives and libraries and strengthened by advanced software and cutting-edge visualization methods, aims to build an interactive model of Venice and its social, economic and political environment during the centuries," according to MIBAC.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the 3 Must See European Year of Culture Heritage Events! Planning a trip to be in attendance? Our native instructors and culturally immersive group classes can help you get the most out of all of the wonderful cultural celebrations taking place in Italy this year. Click below to learn more.
An Italian Sabbatical
Airbnb will be recruiting 4 people to move to the village of Grottole in the region of Basilicata for a 3 month Italian sabbatical…
An Italian Sabbatical
The American owned home-share company, Airbnb has been hit with many controversies over the last few years surrounding the issue that it’s customers have turned once residential areas into tourist hotspots. Critics say that this model has driven up property values and in essence made it impossible for residents to continue living in areas they have called home for most of their lives. The company, however, is seeking to make amends with locals with a new project in the sultry south of Italy by recruiting 4 people to move to the village of Grottole in the region of Basilicata for a 3 month “Italian sabbatical”.
Photo: Airbnb
During this trip, the participants will become part of the fabric of the community and to help revive the village. Like many places in Italy, particularly in the south, Grottole suffers from chronic depopulation to the point that the current population is 300 and there are around 600 empty homes in the town. The chosen candidates will enjoy an all-expenses-paid stay in the village, where they will be responsible for helping a local NGO, Wonder Grottole, revitalize the community. In exchange, the candidates will be offered free accommodation, up to €900 in expenses per month & given the opportunity to enroll in cultural classes.
Dying towns and villages across Italy have come up with a variety of novel solutions to avoid extinction. Some have offered empty houses for sale for just one euro (as you may remember in our article ___, including the hilltop towns of Gangi and Sambuca in Sicily, on condition that newcomers spend substantial sums restoring the properties.
The deadline for applications to this exciting opportunity will be on February 17th 2019.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about how you can be paid to take An Italian Sabbatical! If you’re planning on applying, why not already have a head start with being able to communicate with your new potential home? Our culturally immersive group classes and native instructors can put you on the path to fluency faster than you may have every thought possible. Click below to learn more!
JP Linguistics Holiday Gift Guide 2018 - Our Favorite (Authentic) Gifts From Around The World
Looking for unique holiday gifts to share with your loved ones this year? Check out our gift guide filled with (authentic) products from in France, Italy, Spain & South America.
JP Linguistics Holiday Gift Guide 2018
Our Favorite (Authentic) Gifts From Around The World
The holidays are upon us and, this year, we wanted to round up a few of our favorite (authentic) foreign brands and share unique products with you, ideal for stocking stuffers and holiday gifts. Why did we create this guide? It’s because we know that sometimes around this time of year, gift-giving can feel like an obligation rather than a genuine act of kindness towards someone else. So, instead of picking up a random gift for someone just because, we wanted to introduce you to some (foreign) brands we love to make your gift giving more unique and thoughtful. What we look for in brands we love is authenticity and this guide has just that. We’ve included brands from France, Italy, Spain and South American (some of whom we know personally, but none of which we are being paid to advertise for) such as Le Slip Français, Mille Feuille Bakery, Asaro, Leone, Jolii Cosmetics, 1880, Ecoalf and more.
In addition, some of these brands have incredible philosophies that we are proud to support. For example, Ecoalf is a company from Spain that upcycles waste found in our oceans to create some of their products including shoes. Marianella Asto is an artisan from Peru who handcrafts alpaca wool gloves and sells them via her shop online with UNICEF. Asaro is a family-run organic olive farm based in Sicily that manually harvests their olives (making all of their products GMO and chemical free). Learn more about these brands by browsing through the entire guide which you can download below. The PDF includes links to each product for easy shopping. We hope you enjoy and, if you happened to buy any, let us know! We’d love to hear about your experience and if you love them just as much as we do.
Happy Holidays from all of us at JP Linguistics!
Fighting Fascism With Food
In Verona, foodie and street artist Pier Paolo Spinazzи has created a solution to hate propaganda…
Fighting Fascism With Food
The country that brought the world mozzarella cheese is also the birthplace to Mussolini’s fascism in the early 20th century. Neo-fascists still thrive in Italy today while using symbols of the past, including the Nazi Party swastika, to promote hate. In Verona, foodie and street artist, Pier Paolo Spinazzè, has created a solution to hate propaganda that has been on the rise by combining his longtime passions for food and art.
His subversive street art transforms divisive messages into culturally appropriate art almost everyone can get behind. Known as “Cibo,” which means food in Italian, he systematically covers swastikas and hate speech in Verona with paintings of food.
He, like the neo-fascists, repeats symbols with his work becoming so well-known that followers inform him whenever there is a new sighting of Neo-fascist graffitti.
For Spinazzè, even the most recognizable Italian dishes symbolize unity through diversity. For instance, A caprese salad of mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, & olive oil is an international project and a “message that cuisine is open to the world,” he says. “The basil comes from India, the oil from Syria, the mozzarella is Italian, and tomatoes originate in Colombia.”
Cibo’s street art is admired for its style and the substantive underpinnings. On his Facebook page, a fan recently wrote, “You are a hero.”
We hope you’ve enjoyed Fighting Fascism With Food! What are your thoughts on Cibo’s attempts to fight the rise of Neo-fascist graffiti? Join the conversation below!
Unearthing Gold
Nearly 300 Roman-era gold coins were discovered last week beneath the previous site of the historic Cressoni Theater in northern Italy…
Unearthing Gold
Nearly 300 Roman-era gold coins were discovered last week beneath the previous site of the historic Cressoni Theater in northern Italy. The coins were housed in a soapstone vase believed to be from 474 B.C. and in remarkable condition.
Photo: Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities
After the cinema construction crew discovered the collection, a team of archaeologists from the ministry excavated the coins and brought them to a lab in Milan, where they are in the process of being examined and conserved.
Photo: Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities
Historical records show that at least a part of the Roman Empire was collapsing around 1,500 years ago, with many wars being fought in Italy. Whether the deposit of the hoard has anything to do with the chaos that was engulfing the Roman Empire nearly 1,500 years ago is not settled, but current research may eventually provide answers.
Culture Minister Alberto Bonisoli said “More than exceptional, it’s epochal — one of those discoveries that marks the course of history,” during a Monday news conference. Archaeologists are now restoring and studying the coins at a laboratory in Milan, according to the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities.
We hope you’ve enjoyed Unearthing Gold! Do you have a theory on where the coins originated or what their story may be? Join the conversation below!
Confiscating Counterfeits
As millions of Italians begin to plan out travel routes, they may want to think twice about where they stop to refuel the vehicles…
Confiscating Counterfeits
A massive operation by the Guardia di Finanza (the Italian law enforcement agency under the authority of the Minister of Economy and Finance) found that 1 in 5 gas stations that were examined on Italy's roadsides are "illegal.” As millions of Italians begin to plan out travel routes, they may want to think twice about where they stop to refuel the vehicles. At 1,379 of the gas stations that were checked on Italy's roads, 500,000 liters of gasoline were confiscated for being fake.
Unfortunately, this seems to be a sign of a larger trend of tourist and traveller-targeted fraud. More than half of the vacation rentals investigated have not paid tax on their earnings or registered with the relevant authorities, according to Italy's Guardia di Finanza with landlords in the regions of Puglia, Tuscany and Lazio being the worst offenders.
In the town of Taormina, the Guardia di Finanza identified several B&Bs that had no record of existing while the owners made €130,000 without paying any tax and more than 2,000 commercial businesses had no license. Alarmingly, this means that just over 2,000 workers were paid under the table. In Verona, the operation even uncovered a criminal organization dedicated to employing illegal workers that were subjected to inhumane work schedules and barely livable wages. The criminal business even involved doctors who issued fake medical certificates and employees from Italy's social security and welfare institute INPS who falsified documents.
As expected, the criminal ring also includes an element of narcotic trade. Nearly 600 suspects were stopped at various ports attempting to smuggle drugs, weapons and counterfeit cigarettes, resulting in 23 tons of various illegal narcotics being seized since mid-June 2018. A total of 9 million counterfeit goods were also seized over the summer with an average of 200,000 pieces removed from the market each day.
We hope you've enjoyed Confiscating Counterfeits! Be sure to check out more articles from our culture blog to keep your Italian cultural knowledge up to date and avoid scams such as these!
4 Must See Summer Cinema Experiences
If you’re looking for some unorthodox entertainment on your trip to Italy this summer, then you’re in luck…
4 Must See Summer Cinema Experiences
Looking for some unorthodox entertainment on your trip to Italy this summer? If you happen to be (or are traveling with) a cinephile, you are in luck! This summer, Italy will be hosting many outdoor cinema showings in some spectacular locations. We’ve put together a list of our top 4 screenings sure to entertain both the ardent movie lover and anyone that loves getting lost in beautiful scenery.
Padua
Photo: photobeginner/DepositPhotos
Once a place where the ancient Romans were entertained is now the site of a modern day gathering place for those who obsess over film. A number of both European and American releases will be available to view at the Arena Romana until July 31st.
Florence
Photo: timbrk/Depositphotos
The seventh art joins the other six at the Uffizi Galleries in Florence. From June 25th to August 11th, one of Italy's most famous museums, the Uffizi Galleries, will open its courtyard to Apriti Cinema. This series will include 48 free screenings of films old and new from around the world, and while all of the showings are free, space will be limited.
Naples
Photo: Gabriel Bouys/AFP
Those daring to be entertained under the shadow of Mount Vesuvius will have until August 15th to attend nightly screenings in San Giorgio di Cremano at Cinema intorno al Vesuvio. This screening series will include family-friendly animated features, Hollywood hits, and features from Cannes Film Festival.
Amantea
Photo: La Guarimba
The beach resort of Amantea on Italy's south-west Calabrian coast will host the La Guarimba International Film Festival from August 7-11th. This four night event will include talks, tours, and short films from around the world.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about Italy's 4 Must See Summer Cinema Experiences! Looking to feed your inner cinephile in the most beautiful theaters imaginable? Our fully immersive group classes and native instructors can help put you on the path to fluency faster than you may think! Click below for more info!
Reforming The Labor Market
A series of reforms in recent years has opened up Italy’s labor market, and in early July the government introduced even more legislation…
Reforming The Labor Market
A series of reforms in recent years has liberalized Italy’s labor market and in early July as the government has introduced new legislation that will change how business is to be conducted.
The “dignity decree” aims to limit the popularity of short-term job contracts of companies shipping jobs overseas and simplifies a good number of fiscal rules. Businesses, however, have pushed back as labor unions have offered mild praise. The reform is the first bit of legislation by the month-old government and is the brainchild of Mr. Di Maio, minister of economic development and labor.
Confindustria, Italy’s main business lobby, has decried the law, stating that firms are “paying the price of an endless electoral race.” On the upside, it reintroduces an obligation on firms to justify their renewal.
Michel Martone, a professor at Rome’s LUISS University and former vice-minister of labour, suggests that the fiscal and anti-gambling reforms are spot on, but penalizing firms that move and the use of fixed-term contracts might discourage firms from hiring and investing in Italy. Unemployment stands at 10.7%, the lowest level since 2012 but still the third-highest rate in Europe; youth unemployment is at 31.9%.
It seems that reconciling the government’s split in opinion may then prove an endeavor more treacherous than the Palio di Siena.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about how the Italian government is Reforming The Labor Market! Do you think these new reforms will help or hurt the market? Join the conversation below and let us know!
Seeking Italian Citizenship
According to new figures from the statistics offices at Eurostat, Italy granted citizenship to over 200,000 people in 2016 placing it as the number 1 provider of citizenships of all the countries in the European Union.
Seeking Italian Citizenship
According to new figures from the statistics offices at Eurostat, Italy granted citizenship to over 200,000 people in 2016 placing it as the number 1 provider of citizenships of all the countries in the European Union.
The new citizens (all 201,600 of them) account for 1/5th of the new EU citizens. This shift represents a 13% increase from 2015 with the majority of new citizens originally hailing from Albania, Morocco, and Romania. The only countries contending with these numbers are Spain and the UK, each with around 150,000, followed by France with 119,200 and Germany with 112,800.
While EU citizens can live in Italy permanently without a visa, non-Europeans need to apply for the official residency permit or carta di soggiorno. Those who want full nationality, however, must either have Italian parents or grandparents, marry an Italian, or prove as many as ten years' legal residency in Italy. Currently children born to non-native parents must wait until they're at least 18 to apply. EU citizens can live in Italy permanently without a visa, but non-Europeans need to apply for a residency permit.
Thinking of applying for Italian citizenship? Our culturally-immersive classes and native instructors can provide you with all of the linguistic and cultural knowledge you could ever need to fit in with native Italians! Click below to learn more.
5 Essential Tips for Driving in Italy
One of the greatest challenges when traveling to a new country can be finding transportation that works on your terms. We've come up with 5 vital tips to make sure that your journey through Bel paese is as hassle free as possible...
5 Essential Tips for Driving in Italy
One of the greatest challenges when traveling to a new country can be finding transportation that works on your terms. In Italy, one of the most effective ways to get around is by car. While the minimum age to rent a car is technically 21, some rental companies allow drivers as young as 18 to rent from them as long as they have held their license for longer than 1 year. Any driver under the age of 25 should be prepared to pay a young driver's surcharge (€15-€22 per day).
Once you have your car situation sorted out, here are 5 vital tips to make sure that your journey through bel paese is as hassle free as possible.
Carry the Essential Documents In Your Glove Compartment
You'll want to make sure you have a valid EU driving license, a valid passport, a national ID card, proof of insurance, and a V5C (official registration certificate). Also, absolutely ensure that you have a sticker stating where your country of origin is along with your International driver's license and rental documents.
Mind The Speed Limits
The speed limits in Italy depend on the weather conditions, so if it's a sunny day then the maximum speed limit on the motorway is 80 mph. However, in the case of adverse weather conditions such as rain, wind or snow, then the maximum motorway speed comes down to 70 mph. Devices called “Autovelox” that look like big boxes on the side of the road with a camera will take a photo of your license plate if you are speeding and send you a ticket within a few months, so keep an eye out! If you're planning a camping holiday, a caravan or a trailer addition to your vehicle will warrant slower speed limits overall.
Fasten Your Seatbelt
The standard rules apply for both drivers and passengers, however in the case of pregnant women. it's possible that they can skip the seatbelt (with a letter from the gynecologist stating it is advised).
Stow Your Mobile Phone
If you’ve been keeping up with our blog, you’ll remember our article, MOBILE PHONE PROHIBITION, which explained France’s push to crack down on mobile phone usage in automobiles. Italy has a very similar policy as talking on the phone while driving is forbidden in Italy (with the exception of Bluetooth and hands-free modes). Emergency phones, which can be found at regular 2km intervals on the motorway can be used to contact police by dialing 113, 115 for fire, or 118 for ambulance.
Lay Off The Booze
If you’re looking to spend a night out with alcohol involved, it may be best to take a taxi home, especially for drivers who have been driving for less than 3 years, in which the alcohol limit is 0%.
We hope you've enjoyed our 5 Essential Tips for Driving in Italy! Care to make your drive even easier? Having linguistic and cultural fluency is one of the best ways to experience a new country. Click below to find out how our native instructors and culturally immersive classes can enrich your understanding of Italy!
Courting Casanova
A museum is opening in the Venetian hometown of the 18th-century adventurer, Giacomo Casanova, in hopes of revitalizing his image to those in attendance beyond the notion that he was solely a notorious womanizer.
Courting Casanova
A museum is opening in the Venetian hometown of the 18th-century adventurer, Giacomo Casanova, in hopes of revitalizing his image as a notorious womanizer.
This is not to say that the Giacomo Casanova Museum and Experience hides Casanova’s romantic exploits. In fact, it includes a bedroom containing a shadow installation that depicts a scene of Casanova seducing a woman and visitors become the onlookers. Curators are seeking to shed light on other aspects of the Venetian scholar and writer whose memoir, "History of My Life," provides one of the best chronicles of European high society of the late 18th century.
For those unfamiliar with who Giacomo Girolamo Casanova is, he is best known as an Italian adventurer and author from Venice and his autobiography, Histoire De Ma Vie. Casanova used many names including Baron (or Count) of Farussi or "Chevalier de Seingalt" and often signed his works "Jacques Casanova de Seingalt" after he began writing in French due to his exile from Venice. He has become so famous for his many affairs with women that his name is now synonymous with "womanizer".
Museum director, Andrea Cosentino, stated "We want this character, this person, to be known in his entirety... Here we give the basis of what he was, not only as a lover but also as a man, philosopher and scholar." Using the power of virtual reality technology, museum goers are able to journey across Casanova's youth, his travels across Europe, his arrests, escapes, personality, and accomplishments.
The museum is now open to visitors after it’s grand opening on April 2nd (Casanova's birthday) in the Palazzo Pesaro Papafava in Venice. For more information, visit the installation's official page HERE.
Do you wish to be able to explore the life of Courting Casanova in his native country of Italy? Our culturally immersive group classes and native instructors can help make the experience even more fulfilling by putting you on the path to fluency faster than you may think! Click below to learn more!
Fueling A New Italian Export
When one thinks of Italian exports, suits, bags, and cars may come to mind, but after a development by Snam SpA this past March, we could soon be hearing much more about gas naturale...
Fueling A New Italian Export
When one thinks of Italian exports, suits, bags, and cars may come to mind, but after a development by Snam SpA this past March, we could soon be hearing much more about gas naturale.
Italy exported natural gas for the first time last week as the nation’s pipeline pushes to have southern Europe as a center for trading the commodity. Snam SpA, an Italian natural gas infrastructure company, is currently planning to bring gas from southern Europe & Africa to central Europe though a systemwide overhaul as Chief Executive Officer, Marco Alvera, works to establish a trading hub for the fuel in southern Europe.
Historically, Italy has been known more for their exports of luxury lifestyle items with brands including: Armani, Valentino, Versace, Benetton, Prada, FIAT, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Lamborghini. However, geographically, Italy is at the center of the gas supply network from North Africa, Northern Europe, Russia and, in the future, from the Caucasus, making it a strategic point for the stability and security of the gas supply for the entire European Union. While Britain and the Netherlands currently possess the 2 main hubs in Europe, Alvera remains committed to establishing Italy’s presence in the gas industry.
So far, the results seem to be looking quite positive as Switzerland has drawn approximately 3 million cubic meters of gas a day from Italy since March. Only time will tell if Italy can not only remain a powerhouse in culture and luxury retail, but also in fuel to continue producing these goods for generations to come.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about how the gas industry in Italy is Fueling A New Italian Export! While many outlets are conflicted about the success of the newest export, we'd love to know what you think! Comment below to join the conversation.