THE NEW YORK TIMES. ON the ruggedly gorgeous coast of the Orosei Gulf, in eastern Sardinia, purple limestone cliffs erupt from the Mediterranean like thousand-foot-high walls of some unconquerable redoubt. Ravines wild with goats tumble onto isolated beaches. On hot days when the sirocco wind blows, the land can smell of wild rosemary and thyme. (Read the article)

THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR.  Prince Emmanuel Filiberto of Savoy hopes his recent win in Italy's 'Dancing With the Stars' will ignite a political career in his homeland. His family was not even allowed to set foot on Italian soil until 2003. But one of Italy's formerly exiled royals hopes that an unlikely win on a reality TV show will catapult him toward a political career and restore the honor of his once illustrious family. (Read the article)

ANSA. Snaps of Italian American filmstars and politicians captured by America's first and most mischievous paparazzi Ron Galella are drawing big crowds to the southern Italian city of Matera. (Read the article)

ANSA. taly is bracing for a sizzling weekend and health alerts have been issued for 19 cities due to the unusually high heat and humidity. (Read the article)

ANSA. Roberto Saviano, the Italian writer whose bestselling expose' of the Naples Mafia led to a life in police protection, is set to publish his second book. (Read the article)

ANSA. Palermo. Italian police on Thursday seized millions of counterfeit dollars, an arsenal of weapons and a fake police uniform from a top Cosa Nostra family. (Read the article)

ANSA. Pope Benedict XVI wore a broad-brimmed red straw hat to shield himself from the summer heat as he rode his 'popemobile' around St. Peter's square to greet pilgrims on Wednesday. (Read the article)

ANSA. Italy got its first woman astronaut Wednesday when a 32-year-old Italian Air Force pilot became the European Space Agency's first female pick. (Read the article)