GRAPHIC CONTENT: A man has drowned in Venice's Grand Canal as onlookers filmed him on their mobile phones and reportedly laughed and made racist comments.

Raffaele Sollecito claims his life was 'destroyed' by his fight to clear his name over the murder of Meredith Kercher.

Doctored images of the colourful cliffside towns are sucking tourists in, argues Kirrily Schwarz.

Four quakes of magnitude 5.2 and higher struck near the hill town of Amatrice, 100km northeast of Rome.

It took about two hours to convince authorities something was wrong after the first calls that an avalanche buried a four-star spa hotel in central Italy, leaving at least 30 people missing.

Leighton Luke checks into the Luxury Collection Hotel Excelsior Gallia, in Milan.

A former beauty queen and model risks losing her sight after acid was thrown in her face by an ex-boyfriend allegedly in a revenge attack.

The newlyweds who shared their wedding cake with a homeless man say they are blown away by the response to their spontaneous act of kindness.

A virile, muscled statue of the sea god Neptune has fallen foul of Facebook's prudish policies on nudity after an Italian art historian was told to remove it from her web page.

Jailed at a migrant reception centre for minors on the isle of Sicily the boy who once drank alcohol - and never went to mosque - suddenly got religion.

Italy is set to finalise a state-backed rescue for lender Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena as soon as this weekend.

A tourist strayed into a notorious slum in Rio de Janeiro and was shot dead by drug traffickers.

Matteo Renzi, the Italian prime minister, resigned late on Sunday night (Italian time) after losing a constitutional referendum.

Ancient Roman cobbled streets and wheelchairs don't normally mix, but new paved passageways have made the Pompeii archeological ruins disabled friendly.

"We have 48 decisive hours in which we can change the future of our children," the Prime Minister told crowds at a rally in his home town of Florence.

All eyes are on Italy as its Brexit/Trump moment arrives in what could plunge the country into financial crisis.

Gold is finding some support from the uncertainty in Italy that's triggered a bid for haven assets.

Going to prison is a nightmare . . . but what if it turns out to be for a romantic dinner, quirky shopping session or dream holiday?

Family time out in a spa is just what the doctor ordered, writes Sarah Thornton.

A group of Italian hotels is offering free accommodation to couples who conceive during their stay, in a bid to boost the country's low birthrate.

Is this the mother of all mash ups?

The All Blacks will wear poppies when they play Italy on Sunday.

The Mayor of Florence blocked the fast food chain from opening a restaurant in the Renaissance city. Now the city is being sued.

The rich and famous - and some sex-starved sailors, had a great time until Vesuvius roared, writes Derek Cheng.

Eltham teddy bear involved in international kidnapping case. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

At 117, the world's oldest woman credits one food in particular with the secret to her longevity.

The United Nations have said that at least 239 migrants have drowned this week in two shipwrecks off the coast of Libya.

A group of children from a South Taranaki primary school are appealing to the Pope to intervene in an international kidnapping case involving a very special bear.

Officials are concerns after the latest quake damaged several churches and buildings in the heart of Rome.

The lucky SuperEnalotto winner from Vibo Valentia in Sicily paid just 3 for the record jackpot.