This year falls the 800th representation of the Nativity Scene staged for the first time in Greccio in 1223 by will of St. Francis of Assisi; real cave, live animals, manger and peasants aimed at making the birth of Jesus accessible to the simplest people

The arrivals of thousand migrants on Lampedusa, southernmost island off Italy with a population of only 5.000, are continuing; the reception system is collapsing due to its inadequacy to receive large numbers and slow transfers to other destinations

The number of specialized artisans continues to decline, falling by nearly 325.000 (-17,4%) since 2012, impacting on the production of industries and brands that are a symbol of Italy and a significant percentage of its GDP; many initiatives have been lau