This rail disaster occurred last night in Viareggio, a coastal town in central Italy not far from Genoa, and reports are coming in that up to 17 people may have been killed as a result of the derailment and subsequent explosion of a goods train carry...

Italy is extremely democratic really.  Just about anyone can become a politician here. Indeed, in amongst the motley crew which inhabit, or have inhabited, Italy’s upper and lower houses of parliament you’ll find: former models, porn stars, cruise...

I’ve long been a fan of now long defunct punk rock group The Clash.  I found Clash songs powerful, hard edged and catchy, and I love their titles too.  It is the titles of Clash songs which, I have noticed, are rather appropriate to Italian Prime...

Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s richest man and current prime minister, must be totally and utterly terrified of Italy’s forces of law and order.  Such is his fear that he is going to enormous lengths to keep himself out of Italy’s courts, and, presumably,...

A Church in Italy When mention is made of Italy, mixed in with thoughts of pasta and wine will be the Vatican and, the mafia. With regard to which springs to mind first, Vatican or mafia, I have no idea, but it does not matter really, as both are...

Christmas is a coming, and the little one has asked Santa for a guitar.  Don’t tell him, but Santa picked up a guitar for the little fellow this weekend.  This Santa likes guitars. Santa Likes Guitars To obtain a guitar one, generally, heads to a...