Throwing coins into the Trevi Fountain is just part of what brings thousands of tourists to Rome every year. Our colleagues at 06blog.it indulged in a little irony back on April 1st, publishing a piece on the banning of throwing coins in the Trevi Fountain as an April Fool’s joke.

They’re predicting that something of the sort could come true if the continuing coin stealing from the fountain occurs; or even the latest episode when D’Artagnan, infamous coin stealer, climbed the fountain and cut his stomach with a rasor blade as part of a protest against how he has been portrayed in the media.

D’Artagnan is the nom de guerre of Roberto Cercelletta, who even finished in the New York Times for his Trevi Fountain coin stealing efforts back in 2002. In a recurring popular media piece on crime in Italy, he recently reappeared on undercover “journalism” show Le Iene along with suggestions that local Roman police officers themselves are part of the daily Trevi Fountain coin collection problem.

The joke on April 1st was to sign up to an association with the slogan “No More Coins, Much More Desires”. But now our Roman friends and blogging colleagues are actually concerned that their joke might not remain in the realms of just being funny after all, and that a real ban on tossing coins in the Trevi may take place.

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Pilgrims to the Vatican and Rome for the beatification of Pope John Paul II on May 1st are being asked by Italian police to be careful of any ticketing schemes. They are emphasising that the beatification event is free, after an American is under investigation for a ticketing scam related to the religious celebration.

The American tour guide is suspected of selling fake tickets costing 166 euros to the beatification, and of using the website “vaticancitytours.com” to sell them. Police have searched the suspect’s home where some beatification ‘vouchers’ were found’. With the event free, and two million pilgrims expect in Rome for Pope John Paul’s beatification, visitors are being asked to be vigilant of such schemes.

Source | Italymag

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It’s almost eery seeing these pics for how similar they are to the court case surrounding the death of Meredith Kercher. Meredith was killed on November 1st 2007 in Perugia and since then her flatmate, student from the US Amanda Knox, has been on trial for the murder. Knox’ boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito has also been condemned for the murder, with a sentence of 26 years for Knox and 25 years for Sollecito.

The television movie True Stories: The Trials of Amanda Knox, more commonly known as the Amanda Knox Story, is being directed by Robert Dornhelm, with the starring role of the prosecuted student going to Hayden Panettiere. Knox’ mother is played by Marcia Gay Harden and completing the cast is Paolo Romio and Djibril Kebe.

We’re expecting something likely to be done in bad taste, given that this trial isn’t even over with appeals set for the moment and already a movie crew is cashing in on the murder of a university student that occurred just three years ago. What’s more the title of the soap film makes you wonder who the real victim has been. Take a look at the pics to see Panettiere’s resemblance to the real Amanda Knox.

Hayden Panettiere in Amanda Knox Story pics from set

Continue reading: The Amana Knox Story live pics from set

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A film on the Amanda Knox case in Italy is being made, directed by Robert Dornhelm and starring Hayden Panettiere as Amanda and Paolo Romio who will play her boyfriend and suspected accomplice, Raffaele Sollecito. The case of the murder of Meredith Kercher has become famous in Italy, and this piece of Italian cinema will certainly stir up even more interest in the mysterious story. This particular crime in Italy has already been the subject of much media attention, documentaries and talk shows.

The film title, The Amanda Knox Story indicates that the storyline will mostly be about the young American student accused of the murder, and not Meredith, the British girl killed. At this stage we expect a relatively factual take on the story and subsequent court case (still ongoing), without any moral judgement or suggestions as to the guilt or innocence of the protagonists. That’s not to say it won’t be controversial, though and we’ll have more on how the film develops as it comes.

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Interactive television for the public is not always a good idea and there has been more than one voting by sms swindle on reality TV around the world. But on Italian television recently, sms messages took a turn for the sinister when it happened that imprisoned mafia bosses were receiving coded notes from associates via television programs, with Quelli che il calcio topping the list.

The show, with famous host Simona Ventura, allows for live messaging from television spectators with the messages automatically published in the scrolling section at the bottom of the screen. Italy’s antimafia commission finally twigged to what was happening, which is quite disconcerting for many Italians.

Mafia boss associates were using the messages, of an apparently banal nature, to inform imprisoned bosses of important ’services’ still being carried out for the mafia. Parliamentary hearings have indicated that this was definitely the case, while the head national prosecutor has instead stated that it is only an hypothesis.

Meanwhile prison guards have been ordered to be extra vigilant in the programs that only a select few mafia bosses are allowed to watch in what is called in Italy ‘carcere duro’ or ‘tough prison’. We have a better solution, though - how about just switching off the television…?

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Touring Rome is more than enough for us to realise the historical and cultural patrimony of the city, but what we don’t always realise is how much Rome’s monuments and artworks are the subject of vandalism. Now, in the height of summer with more tourists and locals with nothing to do, Rome has instigated its new task force against such vandalism.

In the past, many of Rome’s monuments and statues have been vandalised, including Ponte Milvio, the Fontana della Barcaccia in Piazza Spagna, the fountain of the four rivers in Piazza Navona and even the Trevi Fountain itself. Rome even had the sadness to see swastikas and celtic figures graffited onto one of the fountains of the Villa Borghese after Italy’s World Cup game against New Zealand. Given the sheer number of historical and artistic monuments in the city, it seems vandals are spoiled by choice.

The cultural task force of the provincial Carabinieri command will be back this summer in both undercover and uniform operations to discourage and catch vandals of Rome’s precious monuments. While the guys at 06blog say that it’s often locals who undervalue their city, and tourists from around the world who really appreciate, we’re hoping that Rome will be better protected from mindless acts of vandalism by anyone.

Photo | Flickr

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Talking about George Clooney in court in Italy, another case has just been resolved that indirectly involved one of the world’s most famous rock stars, Bruce Springsteen. Last year, “The Boss” was in concert at Milan’s San Siro stadium and the Italian promoter of the event, Claudio Trotta, allowed for a 22-minute encore that went over Milan’s laws of noise at night.

After 46 residents filed complaints against the concert going over time, Claudio Trotta found himself in court. He was absolved of the crime by a court last week, though, and can walk away relieved, but knowing that the relationship between musical events of this kind, residents and authorities is a precarious one. In fact, the incident has had the virtually immediate effect of limiting concerts at San Siro. In the video above, you can see part of the 22-minute encore.

Source | 02blog.it

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Expect there to be a free-for-all of George Clooney fans in Milan on July 16 as the American actor and adopted Italian celebrity appears in court. The Palazzo di Giustizia in Milan will host one of its more famous court appearances as Clooney testifies in a case involving three people accused of selling false merchandise and receiving stolen goods.

Specifically, the case involves black market production of clothing which featured George Clooney’s name, without his permission. The selling of a brand which doesn’t exist, or the sale of false brand copies, is against Italy’s strict contraband laws. According to reports, the hearing will be an open court hearing, but we’re yet to be convinced.

Source | Gossipblog.it

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Only Italy could organise an exhibition entirely dedicated to counterfeit money; joking apart, it’ s a really interesting exhibition which aims to explore the history of counterfeit money from ancient times to the present day; at the Museo archeologico Nazionale dell’Umbria in Perugia, visitors will have the unique opportunity to see how counterfeiters and hackers work nowadays - how they can clone our credit cards and steal money from cash dispensers. Curators of the exhibition “Vero o Falso” or True or Fake have also set up a counterfeit cash printing machine which every days cranks out thousands of dollars!! Don’t miss it, it will be quite an enjoyable and useful experience!

The exhibition will run until May 16

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There are many ways of gaining yourself a “good boy” image, and famous paparazzi photographer Fabrizio Corona knows a few tricks. He has been appearing in court well dressed in a suit and tie, though given the character of the man involved, I’m not sure he’s pulling off the squeaky clean image quite as planned.

Corona is famous for a few things in Italy: for sex on the beach, for using photographs to extort money from celebrities, drug dealing, and promoting prostitution; and for being the new boyfriend of Belen Rodriguez, Argentinian model and adopted Italian show girl. Many Italians are confused though, as to why Belen would choose Corona over hot (and nice?) Italian footballer and AC Milan player, Marco Borriello. Could it have something to do with sleeping with the enemy, and therefore avoiding the unpleasant flash of Corona’s camera?

Source | Gossipblog.it

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