TUSCANY: POSTIVE CLOSE FOR PITTI BIMBO (ANSA) - Florence, July 4 - The 67th edition of Pitti Bimbo, the largest international tradeshow for kid's fashion, closed positively at Florence's Fortezza da Basso. During the three-day show, 572 collections were presented, and all fashion shows and events were filled to capacity. Pitti Bimbo brought nearly 8,000 buyers to Florence, a number in line with last year's edition....

POPE TO VISIT LOURDES IN SEPTEMBER (ANSA) - Vatican City, July 4 - Pope Benedict XVI will travel to France in September to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the shrine at Lourdes, the Vatican said Friday. According to the Vatican's official programme, the pontiff will give 11 addresses during his four-day trip, which will begin in Paris on September 12. Benedict is scheduled to meet French President Nico...

FEATURE ARTICLE: MILVIAN BRIDGE Many young lovers had imitated the ritual that the lamppost had begun to buckle under the weight of so many padlocks. The loss of the lamppost did not stop young lovers from the rest of Italy coming to the bridge in order to chain their locks and so the Mayor of Rome had to find a solution. Recently, the Mayor has had all of the original lovelocks have been moved to Rome's City Hall and are on display...

ITALY GOES BARD CRAZY (by Fiona Winward). (ANSA) - Rome, July 4 - Italy's annual summer love affair with William Shakespeare is heating up this year with an exhibition, four new books and a raft of open-air plays across the country celebrating the Bard's passion for the peninsula. From Romeo and Juliet's Verona, Othello's Veni...

ARTS GUIDE: EXHIBITS IN ITALY (ANSA) - Rome, July 4 - The following is a city-by-city guide to some of Italy's top art exhibitions: BOLOGNA - Museo Ebraico (Jewish Museum): Robert Capa, Photographs From Israel 1948-50; until July 20. CALDAROLA (MACERATA) - Palazzo dei Cardinali Pallotta: Discoveries In The Marche Ar...

BERLUSCONI 'NOT BOTHERED' BY MAGISTRATES (ANSA) - Rome, July 4 - Premier Silvio Berlusconi said he was not afraid of Italy's ''politicised and militant magistrates'' on Friday in the latest round of feuding with the judiciary. Speaking to journalists after a cabinet meeting, the prime minister said some judges had been trying...

SOCCER: DOSSENA SIGNS FOR LIVERPOOL (ANSA) - Liverpool, July 4 - Premier League club Liverpool has announced the signing of Italian defender Andrea Dossena from Seria A side Udinese. Dossena, 26, was called in to replace Norwegian John Arne Riise, who joins AS Roma in Serie A next season. The Italian defender's tran...

WHOLE CILENTO TOWN BECOMES HOTEL (ANSA) - Morigerati, July 4 - In order to best benefit from the summer holiday season, this small Campania town has turned itself into a hotel complete with an all-included package for tourists. Located inland in the Cilento area south of Salerno, the town provides lodgings in 100 homes...

PRICES FOR A WEEK'S HOLIDAY CLIMB SIGNIFICANTLY (ANSA) - Rome, July 4 - Prices for a week's holiday for a family of four are significantly higher this year than last, especially for those staying in the city, according to a study by a consumer group. Federconsumatori compared this year's prices to those of last year for a week's holi...