The Local (Italy)

The Local provides independent, daily updates from across Europe, offering insights into diverse cultures. Daily news plays a vital role in connecting communities and highlighting the topics that matter to us. We share stories that reflect our identities and those of others, helping to break down barriers and foster understanding. With a captivating mix of news, business, and features, The Local has grown to become the largest English-language news network in Europe, attracting five million readers each month.

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A two-minute guide to Italy's citizenship referendum

2 days ago | thelocal.it | Clare Speak

What exactly is the vote on? Italians are voting on June 8th and 9th in a referendum which asks the question of whether the waiting time to become eligible to apply for Italian citizenship via residency (also known as naturalisation) should be cut from the current ten years down to five. You can find a full explanation of the referendum question here. There are also four other referendum questions relating to workers' rights, plus local elections running at the same time in some areas.
Italy’s citizenship vote: When will we know the result?

2 days ago | thelocal.it | Clare Speak

For Italians in Italy, it’s almost time to go to the polls in the upcoming referendum on citizenship, while those voting from overseas have already cast their ballots by post. The question many people have now is how quickly the votes will be counted and the result announced. Polling stations will open on Sunday, June 8th, at 7am until 11pm and on Monday 9th from 7am to 3pm.
Residents evacuated as major fire breaks out at university north of Rome

3 days 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.
Reader question: Do I have to vote in all five of Italy's upcoming referendums?

3 days ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

Question: I want to vote in Italy's upcoming citizenship referendum, but I don't have an opinion on the issues raised in the other referendums. If I want to vote on the citizenship question, do I have to have to vote in these as well? On Sunday, June 8th and Monday, June 9th, Italians will be asked to vote on a proposal to create a quicker path to citizenship through residency by cutting the current 10-year residency requirement down to five years.
Is it safe to travel to Sicily after Mount Etna eruption?

4 days ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, erupted in a dramatic display in the early hours of Monday morning. Footage shared widely on social media showed panicked visitors fleeing down one side of the volcano as a huge plume of smoke and ash billowed above them. No injuries were reported.
La Bella Vita: Italy's 'most beautiful' villages and essential Italian summer vocab

1 week ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

La Bella Vita is our regular look at the real culture of Italy – from language to cuisine, manners to art. This newsletter is published weekly and you can receive it directly to your inbox, by going to newsletter preferences in ‘My Account’ or following the instructions in the newsletter box below.
FACT CHECK: Does Italy grant more citizenships than any other EU country?

1 week ago | thelocal.it | Clare Speak

As Italy prepares to vote on June 8-9th in a referendum on easing rules on applying for citizenship through naturalisation, or residency, the main argument against the proposal remains that it would make things too “easy” for applicants.
Italy to mark Republic Day with free entry to state-owned museums

1 week ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

The Festa della Repubblica, celebrated every year on June 2nd, commemorates the birth of the Italian Republic as we know it today. It marks the date in 1946 when Italians voted in a referendum to abolish the unpopular, Fascist-aligned monarchy and establish a democratic republic. As the date falls on a Monday this year, people in Italy will be looking forward to a three-day weekend.
Italian word of the day: ‘Buondì’

1 week ago | thelocal.it | Clare Speak

You probably already know the difference between buongiorno and ciao, and when each should be used. But what about buondì? If you’ve heard this word used colloquially by Italian speakers, you might wonder where it fits in, or whether it’s slang or dialect. It is a proper Italian word, and it essentially means the same thing as buongiorno - at least, when you’re in a jovial mood. It’s the sort of thing you might call out to colleagues when you’re having a particularly good morning.
REVEALED: The Italian cities with the 'best' quality of life for retirees

1 week ago | thelocal.it | Elaine Allaby

Want to get the most out of your retirement in Italy? Look to the north. That's the main takeaway from a ranking of the best Italian cities for residents aged over 65 published by Italian financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore on Monday. All of the top ten-ranked cities were in the north of the country, with the top three concentrated in the northeastern Triveneto area. At the head of the pack was the city of Bolzano, near Italy's border with Austria, which regularly tops quality of life rankings.