Elaine Allaby

Featured in: Favicon

reuters.com Favicon

aljazeera.com Favicon

vice.com

wired.co.uk Favicon

cjr.org

trust.org

thelocal.it Favicon

thelocal.com

Articles

Today in Italy: A roundup of the latest news on Thursday

1 week ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

Italy's high school students start final exams Half a million students across Italy started their final exams for their high school leaving certificate on Wednesday, national media reported. The maturità consists of one oral and two written exams that test students' Italian language and critical thinking skills as well as their knowledge of specialist subjects.
Hotels, travel and beaches: How the cost of a holiday in Italy is rising this summer

1 week ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

The price of a summer holiday in Italy is rising once again this year, with hotels costing as much as 34 percent more in August than the summer season five years ago, according to financial newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore. The average holidaymaker was set to pay 2.3 percent more for an Italy vacation in August 2025 compared to 2024, a study by consumer research centre Altroconsumo found.
Today in Italy: A roundup of the latest news on Wednesday

1 week ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

Elderly man drives car down Spanish Steps An 81-year-old man was unharmed after driving a car down Rome's Spanish Steps in the early hours of Tuesday morning, Italian media reported. Stopped by police part way down the steps, the man tested negative for alcohol but appeared to be "in a state of confusion," according to Corriere della Sera newspaper. Firefighters later removed the Mercedes-Benz he was driving with the help of a crane to avoid damaging causing further damage.
What to expect when travelling to Italy this summer

1 week ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

Beaches For many who visit Italy during the summer, beaches are the biggest draw - but you'll need to decide whether you prefer a free public beach or are willing to fork out for a spot at one of the many privately-run beach clubs that dot the coastline. The average cost to rent two sunbeds and an umbrella at a beach club this year is €32-€35 per day during weekends, according to consumer watchdog Codacons, though prices can vary significantly depending on location.
How hot will this summer be in Italy?

1 week ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

Heatwave Scipione may be starting to cool off, but Italian weather experts say people across the country should brace themselves for another long and sweltering summer. July and August are set to be characterised by "long-lasting and persistent heatwaves," says meteorologist Mattia Gussoni in weather site ilmeteo.it.
‘It’s a tragedy’: How Italy’s citizenship reform failure crushed residents’ hopes

2 weeks ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

A proposal to halve the residency requirement for Italian citizenship applications from ten to five years was quashed on Monday, after a closely-watched referendum on the issue failed to reach the required voter threshold. At just 30.6 percent, turnout for the vote fell far short of the quorum of more than 50 percent needed for its result to be valid.
Italy braces for first summer heatwave with highs of up to 38C

2 weeks ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

Meteorologists said the incoming heatwave, driven by an African anticyclone, was set to push temperatures up to 38°C in parts of central and southern Italy starting on Tuesday. The health ministry issued a medium-level amber alert for heat in Bolzano, Campobasso and Perugia on Wednesday, June 11th, while a further nine cities including Rome, Milan, Florence, Bologna, Turin and Verona were placed under a lower-level yellow alert.
Italy's opposition warns of 'democratic crisis' after low referendum turnout

2 weeks ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

The citizenship referendum, along with four others relating to workers' rights held over June 8th and 9th, drew just over 30 percent of the electorate – far lower than the threshold of more than 50 percent required for their results to be valid. Maurizio Landini, leader of Italian trade union CGIL which had promoted the referendums, slammed the low turnout as a sign of a "clear democratic crisis" in Italy.
Key tax deadline nears for second-home owners in Italy

2 weeks ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

The first instalment of Italy’s main property tax IMU (Imposta Municipale Unica, or Unified Municipal Tax) must be paid by Monday, June 16th, with the second payment due on December 16th. The tax is a frequent source of confusion for homeowners in Italy, as the rules on exactly which types of property it applies to have changed multiple times over the years.
Residents evacuated as major fire breaks out at university north of Rome

3 weeks ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

The fire broke out on the roof of the university's agriculture faculty building shortly after 10am, Italian media reported. As of mid-afternoon on Wednesday, firefighters and military officers were still struggling to contain the blaze.