https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Italy in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed A marble head of Alexander the Great dating from the 1st century AD was among hundreds of cultural artefacts returned to Italy from the United States in recent months, police said on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.it/20260430/us-returns-hundreds-of-cultural-assets-to-italy Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:44:55 +0200 us-returns-hundreds-of-cultural-assets-to-italy From the mountains of Lombardy to the shores of Sicily, there are traces of pre-Roman civilisations scattered across Italy – if you know where to look. https://www.thelocal.it/20240326/five-pre-roman-sites-to-visit-in-italy Tue, 26 Mar 2024 11:23:16 +0100 five-pre-roman-sites-to-visit-in-italy Though it may not be a public holiday, Italy's National Day of Unity is one of the most patriotic days of the year in the country. Here's what it all means. https://www.thelocal.it/20200317/everything-to-know-about-march-17th-italys-unity-unification-risorgimento-day Tue, 17 Mar 2020 13:36:05 +0100 everything-to-know-about-march-17th-italys-unity-unification-risorgimento-day Italy has paid 30 million euros for a Caravaggio painting of the future pope Urban VIII, the culture ministry said on Tuesday, a work that will enter the Barberini museum collection in Rome. https://www.thelocal.it/20260310/italy-buys-rare-caravaggio-portrait-for-30-million-euros Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:11:39 +0100 italy-buys-rare-caravaggio-portrait-for-30-million-euros Renaissance artist Michelangelo ordered many of his artworks to be hidden by his pupils in a secret room to protect them for posterity, an Italian researcher claimed on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.it/20260305/maniacal-plan-researcher-claims-michelangelo-hid-works-in-secret-room Thu, 05 Mar 2026 09:03:39 +0100 maniacal-plan-researcher-claims-michelangelo-hid-works-in-secret-room If you're in or around Rome's Trastevere neighbourhood at midday, you may be startled by the sound of a very loud bang. https://www.thelocal.it/20240202/why-does-rome-fire-a-cannon-every-day-at-noon Fri, 02 Feb 2024 15:32:04 +0100 why-does-rome-fire-a-cannon-every-day-at-noon Amid the remains of a sumptuous villa near Pompeii, the hard-hatted conservationist scraped away centuries-old ash to reveal a vibrant red fresco. https://www.thelocal.it/20260213/in-photos-pompeii-opens-villa-of-neros-wife-to-public-during-restoration Fri, 13 Feb 2026 09:58:49 +0100 in-photos-pompeii-opens-villa-of-neros-wife-to-public-during-restoration Winter Olympics events in Italy's Alto Adige, an autonomous province where over two thirds of local speak German, will include bilingual place names in an Olympics first. https://www.thelocal.it/20260202/olympic-games-in-northern-italys-south-tyrol-have-german-twist Mon, 02 Feb 2026 16:22:30 +0100 olympic-games-in-northern-italys-south-tyrol-have-german-twist Hundreds of metres of dinosaur tracks, complete with toes and claws, have been found in the Italian Alps in a region that will host the 2026 Winter Olympics. https://www.thelocal.it/20251217/immense-collection-of-dinosaur-footprints-found-in-northern-italy Wed, 17 Dec 2025 08:59:34 +0100 immense-collection-of-dinosaur-footprints-found-in-northern-italy You may have seen their names dozens of times, but how much do you know about the people Italy’s streets are named after? From politicians to inventors, here's a look at some of the figures behind the country’s ‘vie’. https://www.thelocal.it/20240911/the-people-and-stories-behind-some-of-italys-common-street-names Wed, 11 Sep 2024 18:34:20 +0200 the-people-and-stories-behind-some-of-italys-common-street-names Archaeologists have discovered new evidence pointing to the reoccupation of Pompeii following the 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius that left the city in ruins, the director of the Italian site said on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.it/20250807/people-reoccupied-pompeii-after-devastating-vesuvius-eruption-archaeologists-find Thu, 07 Aug 2025 12:08:14 +0200 people-reoccupied-pompeii-after-devastating-vesuvius-eruption-archaeologists-find Famous Tuscan poet Dante Alighieri has his own special day in Italy - Dante Day, falling on March 25th every year. But who was he really and how much do we know about him? https://www.thelocal.it/20160121/10-strange-things-you-never-knew-about-dante Thu, 21 Jan 2016 09:40:16 +0100 10-strange-things-you-never-knew-about-dante As the world marks International Women’s Day, here’s a look at 10 of Italy’s most celebrated women – and how their achievements shaped both national and international history. https://www.thelocal.it/20250304/10-inspiring-italian-women-you-should-know-about Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:22:52 +0100 10-inspiring-italian-women-you-should-know-about Carnival celebrations around Italy are set to peak over the next couple of weeks – but few people know their true origins, writes Silvia Marchetti. https://www.thelocal.it/20230208/wine-masks-and-debauchery-how-did-italys-carnival-tradition-begin Wed, 08 Feb 2023 16:54:35 +0100 wine-masks-and-debauchery-how-did-italys-carnival-tradition-begin Victims who perished in Pompeii after the 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius may have been killed by a simultaneous earthquake causing buildings to collapse, according to new research published on Thursday. https://www.thelocal.it/20240719/deaths-at-italys-pompeii-likely-caused-by-earthquake-at-same-time-as-eruption Fri, 19 Jul 2024 11:05:08 +0200 deaths-at-italys-pompeii-likely-caused-by-earthquake-at-same-time-as-eruption The Italian ‘tricolore’ is one of the most recognised flags in the world. But what’s the history behind its colours and how do Italians feel about it? https://www.thelocal.it/20230908/why-is-the-italian-flag-red-white-and-green Fri, 08 Sep 2023 17:28:09 +0200 why-is-the-italian-flag-red-white-and-green Antiquities recovered after being looted in Italy and sold on the global black market have found their sanctuary in the heart of Rome. https://www.thelocal.it/20240529/museum-of-rescued-art-showcases-stolen-relics-returned-to-italy Wed, 29 May 2024 16:38:56 +0200 museum-of-rescued-art-showcases-stolen-relics-returned-to-italy A black-walled banqueting hall decorated with scenes from Greek mythology, where ancient Romans feasted by candlelight, has been unearthed in Pompeii, the archaeological park said Thursday. https://www.thelocal.it/20240411/treasure-chest-new-banquet-hall-frescoes-unearthed-in-pompeii-excavation Thu, 11 Apr 2024 16:51:52 +0200 treasure-chest-new-banquet-hall-frescoes-unearthed-in-pompeii-excavation Italy's oldest inns, taverns and restaurants dating back to the Renaissance or even the Middle Ages should receive financial support from the Italian state or risk being shuttered forever, argues reporter Silvia Marchetti. https://www.thelocal.it/20240228/opinion-italys-historic-trattorias-need-support-before-they-are-lost-forever Wed, 28 Feb 2024 17:06:23 +0100 opinion-italys-historic-trattorias-need-support-before-they-are-lost-forever The Eternal City is full of secrets and surprises - even for long-time residents. https://www.thelocal.it/20240221/five-surprising-facts-you-didnt-know-about-rome Wed, 21 Feb 2024 12:25:09 +0100 five-surprising-facts-you-didnt-know-about-rome