In the Alps, Italian paleontologists have discovered fossil footprints of large prehistoric reptiles similar to crocodiles, dated 250 milion years

The cathedral of Monreale, built in the 12th century under Norman rule, is now fully open after over one year of experts' restoration; it boasts Italy's largest Byzantine-style mosaics, second in the world only to those of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey

As of Jan. 1, 2025, smoking is outlawed in “all public spaces, including streets” in Milan, and anyone who lights up outside designated spaces faces fines from €40 to €240; it is the toughest smoking ban in Italy, where nearly 25% of the population smokes

The Vasari corridor, a narrow 760m-long passageway on the Arno River in Florence is now open to the public; commissioned in 1565 and completed in just five months, it connects the Uffizi Galleries with the Pitti Palace and the Boboli garden