The names of international and Italian celebrities make a small list in the break up of George Clooney and Elisabetta Canalis. Around the story is Christian Vieri, showgirl Belen Rodriguez and Italy’s favourite gay television star and Chi magazine director, Alfonso Signorini.

The latter was working with Elisabetta Canalis on Italian television when the break-up occurred and tells his side of the story of what happened two days ago. Interviewed in the Italian press, Signorini was asked:

Was everything going well?
Yes, I’m astonished. The news is a surprise even for me.

Tell us what happened.

Continue reading: George Clooney and Elisabetta Canalis break up - the details

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In news from Italy this week we get everything from the possibility of natural disasters to gossip over Italian football coaches and in the meantime you’d think Carla Bruni was Italy’s first lady for all the attention she gets in the press here. See the news below:

AC Milan coach Allegri illegally parks in Milan

We’ve seen the kind of parking that is “acceptable” in Rome, and while Milan is a busy city too, generally the northerners are slightly more disciplined. In the photo above, though, we see AC Milan coach, Massimiliano Allegri parking in a no-parking zone near a pedestrian crossing, in the opposite direction to a one-way street. And nearly risking an accident as he pulls away in his Audi A1.

A Roman Holiday for earthquake scare

After news broke that Lazio and Rome was facing a possible earthquake, the city either went into fright or went into holiday mode. With people avoiding built-up areas (and therefore office blocks), when the earthquake never really happened, a figure of 20 percent absenteeism from work in Rome was recorded. Apparently excuses displayed in closed shop windows included the following: “closed for family reasons”, “closed for wedding”, and simply “reopening tomorrow”.

More news from Italy this week after the jump.

Continue reading: AC Milan coach parks illegally and Woody Allen says Carla Bruni is pregnant

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Pietro Ferrero from Italy’s famous nutella-making Ferrero group passed away on Monday in South Africa, while riding his bicycle. The details of his death haven’t been released yet, but it is expected he possibly died of a heart attack. While it would be easy to view this simply as the death of any Italian entrepreneur, the passing of a member of the Ferrero family means Italy loses a little piece of its icon.

The product of Nutella and its history follows a similar national story, and Pietro Ferrero was joint CEO of the group, together with his brother Giovanni. While father and grandfather, Michele Ferrero is Italy’s richest man, he is also known as a true “signore” (gentleman) and represents the post-war growth of Italy into a new millenium where the family home and its sweets are now struggling once again in a financial crisis.

Pietro Ferrero was in South Africa to oversee the opening of a new Johannesburg plant and being a lover of cycling, was out riding when the expected illness occurred. Italy now mourns the loss not only of part of an Italian icon, but a decent and intelligent man with a reserved and generous side. Pietro leaves behind a wife and three children, and we all extend our condolences to them.

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Antonio Cassanoand his wife Carolina Marcialis have just welcomed Christopher, their first child; the couple who got married last June is over the moon with happiness; the baby who weighs more than 3 kilos was born in Genoa yesterday morning. The news was announced on the AC Milanwebsite and quickly spread through the net; famous for his cassanate, the Italian football player is slowly turning into a positive role model as a father and husband. We are sure that he will dedicate his next goal (maybe next Sunday against Sampadoria, his former club) to his son.

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The Barbara Berlusconi and Alexandre Pato love story continues after their first public kiss and more than one occasion spotted together in public. The football player and AC Milan star is finding himself under scrutiny for his relationship with the club’s young, female vice president, and the love story is the current favourite topic of gossip from Italy.

These pics show the couple out and about in Milan, as the Brazilian footballer and Silvio Berlusconi’s daughter took in a modern art exhibition in the city. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Pato made the following statements on being pressed about his separation from his first wife and current relationship with Berlusconi’s more famous daughter:

Can we please avoid this topic? [that of his divorce from model Sthefany Brito] I can say that my happiness is very important to me and that at the moment, I’m happy.

Following the question if Barbara Berlusconi is contributing to that happiness:

Barbara Berlusconi and Alexandre Pato together

Continue reading: Barbara Berlusconi and Alexandre Pato: pics as AC Milan love story continues

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We all know Italian women are fashionable and often very beautiful but in a country which is increasingly concerned about obesity problems among its youth, it turns out that Italian women are among Europe’s thinnest ladies.

The bikini-clad women you’ll be seeing on beaches this Italian summer rate only behind Swiss ladies in the slender stakes in Europe. The results come from studies done by researchers at London’s Imperial College and Harvard to measure the average Body Mass Index (BMW) of the world’s populations.

Italian and Swiss women fared well, while British and Maltese ladies didn’t. If you’re an Italian girl looking for a man thin enough to match the statistics, unfortunately you won’t be able to go local as the thinnest men in Europe are French. In the picture is current Miss Italy, Francesca Testasecca.

Source | ItalyMag

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Bulgari Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement for the new Bulgari Hotel in London scheduled to open in spring 2012. So after Milan and Bali, London is the third city to boast a Bulgari Hotel. Located in the district of Knightsbridget, near Harrods, the hotel features 85 rooms (including 7 suites bearing the brand’s name, which has over the years become synonymous with luxury and style), ballroom, cinema and indoor swimming pool. Stay tuned for more news on this new Bulgari hotel due to open in London next year!

Source | Propertyweek.com

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Italian designer Giorgio Armani will dress Charlene Wittstock for her wedding to Prince Albert of Monaco. This is at least what Giorgio Armani told reporters at the end of his fashion show in Milan yesterday. For more news on Charlene Wittstock ’s bridal gown stay tuned!

Source | People.com

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The prestigious Nast Johansens 2011 Annual Awards for Excellence were announced in London; there were five Italian hotels among the winners. Here’s the partial list:
Most Excellent Hotel: Ca’ Sagredo hotel in Venice;
Most Excellent Charming Hotel: Monsignor della Casa Country Resort;
Most Romantic Hotel: Ca Maria Adele hotel in Venice;
Most Excellent Luxury Guest House: Hotel Villa Ducale in Taormina (see the pic);
Condé Nast Johansens Readers’ Award: Abbadia San Giorgio at Moneglia, Genoa.

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In the Antrona valley in the Piedmont region there’s a small village which lies in the dark shadow of a high mountain; for centuries, the hamlet had to make do with it but a few years ago a huge mirror deflecting the sun’s rays was placed on a mountainside above Viganella and the problem was solved once for all. So for the first time in its history, the village could enjoy sunshine in winter! The news of an artificial sun in Viganella - as you can imagine - attracted droves of journalists and tourists; the only drawback was that the village had no hotels and restaurants to welcome them! So, according to Viganella’s new mayor, the village definitely missed its boat! Well, may be it’s not too late; after all the sun is still shining in Viganella!

Source | La Stampa
Photo | Flickr

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