On the agenda: What’s happening in Italy this week
From new rail links to a gas station strike, here's what to expect in Italy this week.
Monday 23rd
PM Meloni in Algeria for energy talks
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is in Algeria on Monday for a meeting with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, reportedly to discuss further increasing gas exports to Italy amid efforts to reduce energy dependence on Russia.
Meloni’s predecessor Mario Draghi sealed a series of deals with Tebboune in July, including an oil and gas production-sharing agreement between Algeria and energy companies including Italian giant Eni.
Algeria, which has an undersea pipeline to Italy, is Africa's biggest gas exporter.
‘Fastest-ever’ Rome-Milan rail link opens
On Monday, Trenitalia’s new non-stop rail service will begin carrying passengers between Rome’s Tiburtina station and Milan Rogoredo in record time.
"Rome and Milan will be connected in 2 hours and 45 minutes with Trenitalia's Frecciarossa," the rail operator said in a statement.
The journey takes 2 hours and 59 minutes on the fastest connection available so far, which is between Rome Termini and Milan Central.
READ ALSO: The train routes connecting Italy to the rest of Europe in 2023
The new service will run to and from Milan once a day: the Frecciarossa 9682 will leave Rome at 5.30am and arrive at Milan at 8.15am, and the Frecciarossa 9681 will depart Milan at 20.44 arriving in Rome at 23.29.
The new connection does not stop at Rome Termini and Milan Central, a decision which Trenitalia said was intended to “reduce congestion” at the main stations.
Tuesday 24th
Gas station strike begins
Italy’s petrol station operators plan to strike for 48 hours starting at 7pm on January 24th, meaning many petrol stations, particularly along motorways, will not be manned and some may be closed altogether.
The strike will also affect self-service facilities, unions said at a press conference on Friday, but “the minimum level of essential services” will be available. Such strikes do not usually involve stations owned directly by oil companies.
Calendar: The transport strikes to expect in Italy this January
The protests were called after the government brought in new rules for gas stations, which it said would improve the transparency of fuel prices and stop speculative hikes after prices soared at the beginning of January. The new rules mean stations must display the average national price of fuel alongside their rates.
Gas station operators deny that they are to blame for the recent steep price rises and demand the government scrap the new rules.
Italian motorists faced a spike in fuel prices again at the beginning of January. (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO / AFP)
Wednesday 25th
Weather to improve from midweek
Delayed wintry weather arrived last week across Italy, with northern regions in particular experiencing freezing temperatures, snow and icy conditions into the beginning of this week. The centre and southern regions have been hit instead by heavy rain, high winds, and thunderstorms in many areas.
The weather will improve somewhat from midweek, forecasts say, with rain easing off and temperatures rising slightly while remaining below the seasonal average in many areas.
Thursday 26th
First in a series of talks on feminism in Milan
Gender stereotypes, inclusive language, motherhood, the gender pay gap, gender-based violence and toxic relationships are some of the topics to be discussed - in Italian - at a series of meetings in Milan named ‘Chiacchierata femminista’ or ‘Feminist chat’.
The first meeting begins on Thursday with ‘Cara, sei maschilista?’ (‘Darling, are you a male chauvinist?’) a talk by author Karen Ricci on “dealing with internalised sexism”. Details and sign-up here.
Friday 27th
Holocaust Remembrance Day
From September 1943, German and Italian Fascist troops occupied central and northern Italy and deported around 9,000 Jewish people to Auschwitz or other camps, where most were killed in the gas chambers or died from disease and starvation.
Every year on January 27th, Holocaust memorial events are held across Italy to commemorate these mass murders.
READ ALSO: Four places to remember the Holocaust in Italy
This year’s events will include a special programme at 9pm on Rai 1 telling the story of Liliana Segre, the 92-year-old Italian senator for life and Holocaust survivor who was deported from Milan to Auschwitz along with her family.
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Monday 23rd
PM Meloni in Algeria for energy talks
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is in Algeria on Monday for a meeting with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, reportedly to discuss further increasing gas exports to Italy amid efforts to reduce energy dependence on Russia.
Meloni’s predecessor Mario Draghi sealed a series of deals with Tebboune in July, including an oil and gas production-sharing agreement between Algeria and energy companies including Italian giant Eni.
Algeria, which has an undersea pipeline to Italy, is Africa's biggest gas exporter.
‘Fastest-ever’ Rome-Milan rail link opens
On Monday, Trenitalia’s new non-stop rail service will begin carrying passengers between Rome’s Tiburtina station and Milan Rogoredo in record time.
"Rome and Milan will be connected in 2 hours and 45 minutes with Trenitalia's Frecciarossa," the rail operator said in a statement.
The journey takes 2 hours and 59 minutes on the fastest connection available so far, which is between Rome Termini and Milan Central.
READ ALSO: The train routes connecting Italy to the rest of Europe in 2023
The new service will run to and from Milan once a day: the Frecciarossa 9682 will leave Rome at 5.30am and arrive at Milan at 8.15am, and the Frecciarossa 9681 will depart Milan at 20.44 arriving in Rome at 23.29.
The new connection does not stop at Rome Termini and Milan Central, a decision which Trenitalia said was intended to “reduce congestion” at the main stations.
Tuesday 24th
Gas station strike begins
Italy’s petrol station operators plan to strike for 48 hours starting at 7pm on January 24th, meaning many petrol stations, particularly along motorways, will not be manned and some may be closed altogether.
The strike will also affect self-service facilities, unions said at a press conference on Friday, but “the minimum level of essential services” will be available. Such strikes do not usually involve stations owned directly by oil companies.
Calendar: The transport strikes to expect in Italy this January
The protests were called after the government brought in new rules for gas stations, which it said would improve the transparency of fuel prices and stop speculative hikes after prices soared at the beginning of January. The new rules mean stations must display the average national price of fuel alongside their rates.
Gas station operators deny that they are to blame for the recent steep price rises and demand the government scrap the new rules.
Wednesday 25th
Weather to improve from midweek
Delayed wintry weather arrived last week across Italy, with northern regions in particular experiencing freezing temperatures, snow and icy conditions into the beginning of this week. The centre and southern regions have been hit instead by heavy rain, high winds, and thunderstorms in many areas.
The weather will improve somewhat from midweek, forecasts say, with rain easing off and temperatures rising slightly while remaining below the seasonal average in many areas.
Thursday 26th
First in a series of talks on feminism in Milan
Gender stereotypes, inclusive language, motherhood, the gender pay gap, gender-based violence and toxic relationships are some of the topics to be discussed - in Italian - at a series of meetings in Milan named ‘Chiacchierata femminista’ or ‘Feminist chat’.
The first meeting begins on Thursday with ‘Cara, sei maschilista?’ (‘Darling, are you a male chauvinist?’) a talk by author Karen Ricci on “dealing with internalised sexism”. Details and sign-up here.
Friday 27th
Holocaust Remembrance Day
From September 1943, German and Italian Fascist troops occupied central and northern Italy and deported around 9,000 Jewish people to Auschwitz or other camps, where most were killed in the gas chambers or died from disease and starvation.
Every year on January 27th, Holocaust memorial events are held across Italy to commemorate these mass murders.
READ ALSO: Four places to remember the Holocaust in Italy
This year’s events will include a special programme at 9pm on Rai 1 telling the story of Liliana Segre, the 92-year-old Italian senator for life and Holocaust survivor who was deported from Milan to Auschwitz along with her family.
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