[thulldud]

Naples prepared for Mr Berlusconi's arrival with a campaign to remove any trace of the rubbish that had been lying on the streets. However, it later emerged that the rubbish had been shifted only a few blocks away to streets that his cavalcade would not pass through.

Was ex-Mayor Dinkins hiding in there?

[Reaganesque]

After outlining his uncompromising new stance, Mr Berlusconi retired to the Hotel Vesuvius, where he stayed in a 3,500 sq ft "imperial" suite.

Hmmm, he promises all of these drastic measures and then retires to a hotel named after a volcano that is famous for obliterating two towns. For any of you who aren't sure of what irony is, here you go.

[whitedog57]

Naples is a beautiful city, in parts. It also has some horrendous areas. Lots of crime, disreputable cab drivers (although telling the cab that he gets only x Euros and nothing more seems to work).

Classic socialism degeneration.

[Lx]

I was in Naples in October last year. To be charitable, it is not a very nice place and the airport seems to be in the middle of a neighborhood. The taxi driver who took us there didn’t have nice things to say about Naples either.

It still won’t stop me from going back to Ravello or the Amalfi coast.

[montomike]

We neeed the picture of Mussolini shooting the choo-choo driver!

[Dr. Scarpetta]

"A woman walks past piles of trash piled on a sidewalk in Naples May 17, 2008."

[Clemenza]

Naples has always been filled with trash. They’re called “Napolitani.” ;-)

[TalonDJ]

Is this recent or is this a WWII 60 years later realtime thread?

[jonno]

Until now, Naples had been unable to use many of its dumps because local residents have mounted protests.

Why are residents preventing the use of dumps?

[Malesherbes]

A 71-year old billionaire with a convincing majority in parliament may actually get something done. He knows it’s his last chance.

[AuntB]

“”This is a classic fascist tactic to make us take our anger out on foreigners because we do not have jobs,” said Carmine Ruggiero, one marcher.”

Oy vey. The Italian Liberals are as stupid as USA liberals.