Pie in the sky

Meanwhile on December 5th Alitalia, Italy's national airline, hopes to receive non-binding offers for most of the Italian government's 49.9% stake. It may be disappointed. Alitalia, which loses about €1m a day, is a very different proposition from Iberia, which is decently managed and modestly profitable. But its fate also lies in the hands of politicians rather than those appointed to run the business.

Take the train in Europe

After new rail line upgrades, the travel time between London and Paris aboard the Eurostar is just under 2.5 hours. Take the ride on a premier ticket at a one-way rate of $418 and receive a Eurail Select Pass which is valid for five days of first-class rail travel in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Italy within a two-month period.

That pricey premier ticket includes some exclusive benefits such as express check-in; access to Eurostar's Executive Lounge; WiFi access in the terminal; a seat in a dedicated business premier train car (with power supply at your seat); complimentary newspapers; a three-course meal and drinks with full service at your seat and spacious reclining seats with generous legroom.

Travel Ban Imposed On Italian Football Supporters

A Lazio fan was shot dead by a policeman when rumbling Lazio and Juventus fans fatefully crossed paths while traveling to their respective away games last weekend, and this ban is just one of the measures imposed by the FIGC as a response to the uproar.

Though it is not yet confirmed whether the season will restart on the weekend of November 24, fans of 15 teams will surely have to settle to watch the next away match of their team from the television.

Film lovers travel to Italy for silent film festival

he silent film genre does not appeal to many modern moviegoers, many of whom have come to expect loud explosions and dazzling special effects to justify paying upwards of nine dollars for a ticket. To some, however, the timeless gags of Charlie Chaplin or the epic films of D.W. Griffith may prove overwhelmingly more appealing than a Josh Hartnett family drama—at least for some students.

ItalyTravelNotes.com is launching a series of free travel reports

Rome, Italy - ItalyTravelNotes.com is created by travellers who describe Italy from their personal point of view and share their inspiration of the country and it is targetting those who would like to learn more about the country, before they go there. Starting this week the blog is launching the first of a series of free travel reports. Available for download on italytravelnotes.com, the Rome report is dedicated to the eternal city and consists of helpful tips on what to visit and where to go, when you are there.

Dispatch from along The Italian Riviera: Genoa

Our excursion for Tuesday took us to Genoa, which has had several "golden ages" in its long history. It was a shipping town, a banking town and of course the home of Christopher Columbus. Today it has more than 600,000 residents -- and more than 100,000 motor scooters! We saw large parking lots filled with nothing but scooters. Our bus driver told us that he, like many local residents, doesn't own a car -- just a scooter.

One of the highlights of Genoa was a walk down the Via Garibaldi, a street of palazzi, or mansions, dating to the 1500s.