Culture
On this day: Futurist pioneer Gino Severini born
The painter and mosaicist Gino Severini was born on 7 April 1883 in the hilltop Tuscan town of Cortona. A leading figure in early 20th-century Italian art, Severini became one of the most internationally connected members of the Futurist movement, bridging artistic developments in Italy and Paris before moving through Cubism and later Neoclassicism.
Life in Italy
Pesce d’Aprile: How Italy does April Fool’s Day
Today, Italians of all ages will attempt to stick a paper fish on someone’s back without being noticed. The pesce d’Aprile tradition is older than anyone can quite agree on, and considerably more cultured than its name suggests.
Environment
Damaged Russian tanker may explode Italy warns
A damaged Russian tanker carrying liquefied natural gas is drifting unmanned in the Mediterranean, raising fears of a potential environmental disaster off the southern coast of Italy.
Storms and heavy snow sweep Italian peninsula
A low-pressure system sweeping across Italy has brought heavy rain, strong winds and heavy snow to large parts of the country, with the worst conditions reported in the north-west and further storms forecast for the south.
Violent storms trigger landslide on Amalfi Coast
A landslide struck the Amalfi Coast on Friday as central and southern Italy continued to be battered by violent rainstorms. The slide severed the main coastal road between Vietri sul Mare and Cetara, prompting a local mayor to close schools as a precaution.
