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Discover Italy: A Vacation of a Lifetime 
Italy in the News
In this section, I will cover recent news articles regarding Italy to keep you up-to-date on current events:
Rome's Colosseum Restoration Sparkes Inquiries into Contract
This article explains the recent controversy regarding a restoration contract awarded to Tod's (a luxury shoe firm). The contract was awarded in January 2011 for 25 million euros. Tod's was awarded the contract to restore the approximately 3,000 lesions on the Colosseum after reports of falling masonry. The Italian audit court and Rome prosecutors have launched inquiries into the contract award where the main point of contention seems to be Tod's right to use the image of the Colosseum for two years after completion of the work even though the company's founder promised not to exploit this right for commercial purposes. This article is relevant since it affects tourism into Rome. Some feel that if the restoration isn't completed soon, the Colosseum could suffer un-repairable damage.
Italy's Quake-struck North Tries to Reassure Tourists
In this article, the author explains that Northern Italy politicians are trying to reassure tourists that their beaches were safe for the start of the summer season. Three regions in northeast Italy were hit by earthquakes within the past two weeks. As of the writing of the article, all roads, motorways, and airports are open. Politicians are concerned that people may overreact to the quake news and cancel or change vacation plans. This article is interesting and relevant since it affects potential visitors. On a personal note, I was in northeast Italy during one of the earthquakes and I did not feel the quake or see any damage.
Vatican Hits Back at Italy Over Document Seizure
This article explains the growing tension between the Vatican and Italy regarding the recental papal scandal. The pope's butler, Paolo Gabriele, was arrested charging that he leaked documents to the press which alleged corruption in the Vatican finance system. On June 8, 2012 the Vatican criticized Italian authorities for seizing documents intended for the pope during a raid on the home of the previous Vatican bank chief. The Vatican expected that Italian authorities would recognize and respect its sovereign status. This article is relevant because many people around the world are interested in the outcome of this investigation.