Culture
Italy opens its doors for European Heritage Days
Thousands of museums, archives and archaeological sites across the country will host special tours and late openings on 26–27 September. The theme for the 2026 European Heritage Days is “Heritage at Risk: Revive, Resist, Reimagine”.
![Cardinal Scipione Borghese By Ottavio Leoni - [1], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=101285191](https://italynews.online/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Portrait_of_Cardinal_Scipione_Borghese_by_Ottavio_Leoni-cropped-136x102.jpg)
Life in Italy
Government to scrap road tax for 14.5 million vehicles from 2027
Rome moves to axe the hated bollo auto (road tax) for all motorcycles and over 70% of all cars on the road ahead of elections. It is part of a wider package to shore up household spending power.
Environment
Italy sees West Nile virus spread further
More than 650 West Nile virus cases have been recorded nationwide this year — around half of all infections logged across Europe — as health authorities link the trend to longer, hotter summers.
Storm turns Agrigento streets to rivers
A violent, prolonged downpour on Friday flooded neighbourhoods across the city of Agrigento in Sicily, sent mud and debris onto roads leading out of town, and swallowed a car when the road gave way in Piazza Marconi.
Tornado and hail leave dozens injured in Cremona
Unforecast weather tears through Cremona resulting in the loss of the cathedral spire, ten churches damaged, and thousands of cars destroyed.
