Although topics of this week’s news in Italy ranged from giant mozzarella to mafia extortion (you know – the usual!), Italians were reading only about two things; wonderful archaeological discoveries, and a tragic mudslide in Sicily which has taken 25 lives or more. As our weekly spuntino of Italian news continues, feel free to get yourself up–to–date on what’s happening in Italy – and let your friends know as well. ;-)

Mozzarella Makers Near Naples Take World Record Abbondanza – September 28, 2009 From one of our favorite sites in the Italian blogosphere, those at Team Abbondanza filled us in on a group of cheesemakers from Sala Consilina – a town just south of Naples – breaking their own mozzarella record from 2007 with a braid of of 65 feet. The team of 40 completed the task in just 78 minutes as well. No word yet on if it was eaten after at the local cheese festival, but being la vera mozzarella from the region of Campania, we are sure it was tasty!

Nero’s Rotating Banquet Hall Unveiled in Rome Associated Press via Yahoo! News – September 29, 2009 Long before the rotating restaurants of “Top of the World” in Las Vegas and that of Toronto’s CN tower, there was Nero’s dining room! Roman archaeologists made a fantastic announcements this week following the discovery of a imperial dining room during a routine check–up on Rome’s historic Palatine Hill. Shame he didn’t get to enjoy it long, though. It was completed in the year 68 A.D. – just before the emperor committed suicide.

Roman Statues Found in Capri’s Blue Grotto Discovery News – September 29, 2009 Here’s something new to us – not only was the enchanted Blue Grotto of Capri once Emperor Tiberius’ personal swimming pool, swimming alongside naked boys and girls, but he also placed statues of the god Neptune and of his son Triton in the depths below to complete his aquatic experience. The statues making news this week are in addition to statues discovered in the grotto in 1964, which are now on display at a museum on the island.

Highlight of Italy’s “Wacky” Justice System Merced Sun–Star – September 29, 2009 Steve Cameron, a columnist for the Northern California Merced Sun–Star, admits that the USA’s judicial system isn’t perfect. However here he tactfully uses the circus which is the Amanda Knox trial (remember the girl who was accused of killing her roommate two years ago?) as an example to poke fun at, and shed some light on, a justice system that is a little less than “just” – at least by American standards. The inappropriate nickname the Italian media came up with for the young suspect (Foxy Noxy) isn’t the only point highlighted, but also the two–month vacation the judge took this summer and the two–day workweek to which he subjects himself now that he’s back at “work” and much, much more. A very interesting option column, to say the least!

“Modern Slave” Africans Toil in Italy’s Tomato Fields Times of Malta – September 29, 2009 Like an excerpt out of a textbook on medieval feudalism, Reuters showcases a rather sad aspect of Southern Italy’s economy – “Slave” Labor. This intriguing exposé not only highlights the illegal seasonal immigrants that come to Puglia from Africa to help with the tomato harvest – paid only 20 euros day, and often less – but also the issue as a whole in a country which tends to close an eye to the situation due to their necessity to the economy of the rural south.

What Berlusconi’s Obama “Jokes” Say About Italy Time – October 1, 2009 Oh Silvio! You’re at it again… Time published a delightfully interesting read last Thursday highlighting the quirks of not just Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, but also those of the Italian people. Ammunition was recently given to the media world after yet other Berlusconi gaffe earlier this week, yet ironically it was the same gaffe he let slip last November – chatting about US President Barrack Obama’s wonderful tan… and the tan of his wife Michelle as well. I quote; “They must go sunbathing on the beach together.” (Yes. I’m Serious.)

Massive Mudslide Strikes Sicily, 50 Feared Dead Fox News – October 3, 2009 Many Sicilians saw over 10 inches of rain during the night between Thursday and Friday, resulting in the deadliest mudslide in Italy since 1998. Rescuers are still searching for 40 people, and the death toll is feared to rise to 50 or more. Our hearts here at italyMONDO! reach out to our many friends in the region, including the family that we have discovered for clients over the years as well. Thankfully, everyone we contacted was OK – although unfortunately some won’t be able to return to their homes until an undetermined date. We’ll keep you posted on this tragic event in next week’s addition of “This Week in Italy.”