Barbie Nadeau

in what has to be Europe's most ill-considered stimulus plan yet, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi recently proposed allowing owners to expand single-family homes by 30 percent, or 35 percent including "green" additions, with no need for approvals.

In Italy, when the hosts (communion wafers) go missing, cops get as worried as the priests. In recent months, churches have reported a shortage of hosts and votives, and lower levels of holy water in the fonts.

Amanda Knox finally spoke during her murder trial in Italy. But did we learn anything relevant to the case?

Immigrants are flocking to a tiny Mediterranean island—and residents are standing up for them.

As the sensational murder trial of American Amanda Knox kicks off in Italy, the media goes into a frenzy, while the defendant remains calm.

Since the economic crisis hit, most illegal immigration has slowed—in the U.S. it fell 21 percent last year. Why head north if there's no work? Yet in Italy, arrivals from North Africa doubled in the last year (from 13,000 to 33,000, according to the U.N.).

Italy gears up for the court date of American Amanda Knox, accused of murder. Will justice be served?

More than 50 days of nearly nonstop rain has put Italy in peril.

Naples's crime-infested housing projects aren't as bad as a new film makes them out to be. They're worse.

Zipping around the Tuscan hills in a Maserati is fun, but those who really want to take their time and enjoy the view should grab the keys to a vintage Fiat 1300.

Italian courts officially charge Seattle native Amanda Knox with murder.

Most nights, 28-year-old Roberto Saviano sleeps in safe houses. His only public appearances are on TV. He answers text messages from different numbers and can talk only briefly on his cell phone.

Forget cute orange pumpkins and pop-culture costumes. A truly eerie Halloween begins in a medieval crypt. Siena, along with 32 other spooky Italian cities, is introducing Halloween itineraries called "Trekking and Mysteries" (trekkingurbano.info) that take urban adventurers through graveyards, catacombs, crypts and medieval fortresses.

As Italian prosecutors prepare for the trial of Amanda Knox, supporters promote 'Free Amanda' T shirts and coffee mugs.

Preliminary court proceedings in the gruesome Perugia sex murder begin.

To stimulate investment, a town in Sicily is giving its dilapidated buildings away.

The Catholic Church, after a few hundred years, gets back in the modern-art business.

Seattle student Amanda Knox and two others have finally been charged with the Perugia murder of a British student. How their lawyers plan to defend them.

Jetties constructed to shore up the sinking city have created a surprising explosion of marine wildlife.

With anti-immigrant violence rising, Amnesty International condemns Rome's new 'climate of discrimination.'

To reduce overcrowding at Pompeii, officials propose limiting visitors and renting out the ruins.

A new development in Perugia's 'extreme sex' murder raises questions about whether Italian police fumbled the investigation.

Authorities have come up with a new plan to control visitors and raise money for the ancient site. Italians don't like the idea because it's too … American.

Businessman Silvio Berlusconi faces off against Rome's former mayor Walter Veltroni in April elections.

'I honestly believe that we are now facing our last chance.'

Construction of a new subway line in Rome has unearthed some valuable--and vexing--artifacts. What happens when there's too much history in one place?

Will Italian police ever charge Seattle student Amanda Knox for the 'extreme sex' killing of a British student? A lawyer examines the options.

A Vatican exhibition tries to shed new light on one of the darker chapters in the church's history.

When Italian President Giorgio Napolitano called for new elections on April 13, he set the stage for another episode of the Silvio Berlusconi show. If the 71-year-old former prime minister wins again—he's the front runner—he faces a new world, in which his reputation for sexist (he once invited foreign investors to consider Italy because of the beautiful secretaries) and racist (he called a German European Parliament member "kapo," slang for concentration-camp prisoner) comments could play...

Love, Italian Style