Making a scene

On the newsstand

Italy is still hungry for print, as national and regional dailies occupy a chunk of the newsstand, where proudly partisan left, centrist and right-leaning titles vie for attention. The general-interest national dailies that dominate the media landscape include Rome-based La Repubblica. Its attractive design and liberal stance enjoys a large following, bolstered by its weekly pullouts such as style magazine D and culture-focused supplement Robinson. Milan-based Corriere della Sera, meanwhile, is the country’s best-selling broadsheet and is more conservative. Founded in 1876, it features opinion pieces from leading commentators in the fields of economics, politics and culture. Popular in its hometown of Turin, La Stampa has a more centrist stance, while upstart Domani, launched in 2020, is politically independent and progressive. Those who follow the markets turn to respected daily Il Sole 24 Ore for its financial coverage. It also has a radio station and circulates an annual survey ranking the quality of life in Italian cities and towns. This football-crazed country has three national sports dailies. Milan-based La Gazzetta dello Sport is best for insightful match analysis.

Italy on screen
Five films to see

1.
Ladri di Biciclette
Vittorio De Sica
(1948)

A neorealist classic, De Sica’s Ladri di Biciclette (“Bicycle Thieves”) is a portrait of poverty in postwar Rome. It follows protagonist Antonio Ricci on a citywide hunt for his stolen set of wheels.

2.
L’Avventura
Michelangelo Antonioni
(1960)

A group of friends on a boat trip to the Aeolian Islands have their holiday dramatically cut short when one of their party goes missing. This masterful drama features a haunting performance from Monica Vitti.

3.
Caro Diario
Nanni Moretti
(1993)

Director Moretti, Italy’s answer to Woody Allen, stars in this Palme d’Or-nominated comedy. Semi-autobiographical, the movie is structured like a diary and tracks Moretti’s day-to-day as he rides his Vespa through Rome’s streets.

4.
Gomorra
Matteo Garrone
(2008)

This gritty drama is an unflinching study of mob rule on the impoverished fringes of Naples. Director Garrone used non-professional actors from the featured estates for many of the roles, giving the film a striking sense of realism.

5.
La Grande Bellezza
Paolo Sorrentino
(2013)

An explosive critique of Italy’s wealthy elite, this Oscar winner tells the story of an ageing socialite at the centre of Rome’s decadent nightlife. It’s visually sumptuous but melancholic, bursting with decadent revelry.