Whether the cute Fiat 500 can save the fortunes of Alfa Romeo in the US at it embarks for overseas markets remains to be seen, but it looks like the retro cool of a dolce vita symbol and Italian icon from times gone by has an initial appeal on the North American market. The Fiat 500 Numero Uno, the first example of this Italian car to be sold over the pond has been auctioned for a whopping 85,000 Canadian dollars (about 59,000 euros).

That’s a lot of money for the pint-sized citycar which will be starting sales at the end of this year in the guise of the Fiat 500 Prima Edizione for the US market. The example sold had white, red and grey colouring and was equipped with the 1.4 Multiair engine and a manual gearbox.

It’s not a record for the little Fiat 500 though, as in another charity event in 2007 the Fiat 500 Tracey Emin version was auctioned for 60,000 pounds. Other models that have gone up for auction include the Fiat 500 C by Diesel and the five Fiat 500 models sold in the UK for a total of 440,000 pounds.

Although the summer is slowly fading away, the celebrations for Federico Fellini ‘s masterpiece La Dolce vita ( the movie turns 50 this year ) will continue with a series of fascinating events until November 2010; much awaited is the photographic exhibition La Dolce Vita. 1950 - 1960. Stars and celebrities in the Italian Fifties which will take place at the mercati di Troiano. This time visitors will have the unique opportunity to admire a series of snapshots taken by paparazzi of such glamorous celebrities as Audrey Hepburn, Alain Delon, Maria Callas, Shirley Winters, Charton Heston, Ava Gardner and Kim Novak (just to mention a few). In the 1960s Rome was one of the international jet set s’ favourite haunts; the city where stars would come out in droves! Take a look at our gallery and be dazzled!

Continue reading: Exhibitions in Italy: La Dolce Vita. 1950 - 1960. Stars and celebrities in the Italian fifties at Mercati di Traiano, Rome

One of Italy’s most significant brands, Fiat, is preparing for its return to the US car market after 30 years of absence. Whether the Italian company purchased Chrysler motors or not, the relaunch is a big thing for Italy and with any luck it will bring Fiat an international brand status. Outside of the world of fashion, there’s not many Italian brands these days that can claim a big profile on international markets.

The grand re-entry onto the US market for Fiat has been trusted to a car in reverse proportion to the scale of the operation: the Fiat 500. It is hoped that the cute retro model will be a harbinger to bigger and better things for Fiat and possibly Alfa Romeo, should its fortunes improve in the next couple of years. About 200 dealerships will be in charge of selling the little Turin car in the US, and the 500 will be available with one of Fiat’s snazzy new engineering feats - the 1.4 Multiair engine with 105 hp. The car will be assembled in Mexico, which should keep costs down, while America will enjoy engine production at Dundee in Michigan.

A good 50,000 to 100,000 sales are planned in 2011 when the cabriolet Fiat 500C also turns up. The hotted-up Abarth 500 wil follow in 2012 along with an electric 500 EV which will be an exclusive model for the US. It will be very curious to see how the US markets reacts to such an Italian (and European) retro citycar model. Sure, the Mini has been available for a while and its ‘cool’ status can’t be denied. But the 500 is something a bit different. We will have to wait and see whether a touch of the dolce vita can still hit the spot in the US.

A spectacular exhibition dedicated to Italian film director Federico Fellini has been unveiled in Bologna, Emilia Romagna’s key city (Federico Fellini was born just a few miles way). Dall’ Italia alla Luna or From Italy to the Moon, is the name of the exhibition which attracted visitor numbers in excess of 450,000 in Paris. It will run in Bologna until 25 April. Sam Stourdze, exhibition curator, explains that it took four years to create and organise and whilst it is not in chronological order the Maestro would have loved it this way. There’s without doubt an educational aspect to the project since it draws upon famous movie scenes, oneiric drawings and other important and relevant material. It is designed to take the visitors on a fantastic journey into Federico Fellinì’s innermost imaginings; from circus performances and commercials to a world full of fantasy and dreams! The public will also have the unique opportunity to see Federico Fellini’s illustrated diary ” Libro dei Sogni” (400 pages) comprising of all the drawings which, following the advice of his psychoanalyst Ernst Bernhard, he created from 1960 to 1982.

50 years have passed since Federico Fellini’s movie La Dolce Vita was released in 1960. The word paparazzo became instantaneously popular with audiences and readers all around the world and in order to celebrate that world - now vanished for ever - the famous Carlo Riccardi back then also known as “ The Paparazzo in a topolino (that’s the name of his car) has now organised a photographic exhibition, putting on display thousands of pictures of celebs, Popes and the most famous politicians of the day.

50 anni della Dolce Vita con “Il paparazzo in topolino” Carlo Riccardi

Federico Fellini’s most famous masterpiece, “La Dolce Vita“, turns 50 this year, making more than just the expression famous. This legendary piece of Italian cinema is known around the world for its scenes of excess, seeing Anita Ekberg in the Trevi fountain through the eyes of Marcello Mastroianni, among other scenes from the film.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of La Dolce Vita, and to appreciate even more the importance of this film, we should check out the Museo Nazionale del Cinema Italiano in Turin, and the photographic exhibition “Gli anni della Dolce Vita”. On display are precious pictures from the set of the film, from photographers Marcello Geppetti and Arturo Zavattini, open until March 21st, 2010.

Geppetti produced photos of Rome, while Zavattini (film operator for Fellini and son of the famous producer of some of Rimini Cesare’s scenes), produced photos of the set itself. The amazing scenes of Rome of the late 50’s and the set are accompanied by two essays from Tullio Kezich and Rocco Moliterni.

Piazza Barberini reached the peak of its fame in the 1960s when Rome with la dolce vita was Caput Mundi, but its decline has been almost continuous since those distant days and this despite the presence of the beautiful Tritone fountain which was built by Lorenzo Bernini in 17th century. Now thanks to a new project promoted by the Campidoglio things will change for good and the whole piazza (including pavements/sidewalks ) will soon undergo a major restyling. Total Project Cost: 4 million euros!

Photo: Flickr

Located on via Veneto, one of Rome’s most famous streets (Italian director Federico Fellini set there his masterpiece La Dolce vita) , The Westin Excelsior hotel has plenty to offer. With its astonishing interior ( each wall has been decorated by talented Italian artists), the hotel offers guests luxury accommodation and facilities; from the exquisite restaurant Doney to the Gran Caffe where one can have a hearty Italian breakfast. All rooms are elegantly furnished and feature free wireless Internet access. The hotel, among other things, boasts the largest suite in Europe; called Villa La Cupola, the suite has been recently renovated and is the very epitome of luxury and elegance. Its interior is complete with sumptuous carpets, elegant sofas and velvet curtains. The amazing surroundings of this Rome luxury hotel will transport you into a world unaffected by the passing of time!

Continue reading: Luxury hotels in Rome: Hotel Westin Excelsior, via Veneto

The historic Italian brand of Bulgari will be on display from May 22nd to September 13th for a 125-year anniversary celebrated in the event “Between eternity and history: 1884-2009″ at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome. About 500 jewelled objects are on display for the Bulgari anniversary, including watches and precious stones from the Bulgari vintage collection, generally kept by the company itself, or coming from private owners who have donated their pieces for the few months.

The jewells are the central focus of the exhibition, but will appear with a rich collection of documents including the best in Bulgari design, drawings and photos from different eras. The photos include famous artists, aristocrats and renowned customers of Bulgari jewells over the years.

For glamour fans, there is an entire section dedicated to Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita” and its characters, such as Anna Magnani and Gina Lollobrigida; and another section dedicated entirely to Elizabeth Taylor and 16 pieces of extraordinary value, which recount the love story with Richard Burton who gave Taylor a diamon and emerald Bulgari brooch at more than 18 carats.

Source | Adnkronos and Deluxeblog
Photo | Flickr

Italy is celebrating Marina Cicogna, one of its most important movie producers with an interesting exhibition at the beautiful Medicean Villa in Rome. In her long and successful career, Ms Cicogna has produced a really awe-inspiring string of films including Medea, Last Tango In Paris, Theorem, The Conformist and Once Upon a Time in The West. Niece of Count Volpi di Misurata, former governor of Libya and founder of the Venice International Film Festival in 1940, Marina Cicogna knows well what it means to be a socialite always hunted by paparazzi and a woman of success. But besides this (and I confess it came as a complete surprise) Marina Cicogna also found the time to produce an amazing body of writing.

The exhibition starting on 6 June will feature more than 80 photos spanning the producer’s 50 fifty- year career. The sets for it has been designed by Oscar winner Dante Ferretti