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The Signature
Prosecco Hills Added to UNESCO World Heritage List From AFP/The Local
Italy’s Prosecco hills northeast of Venice, which have been cultivated for centuries, were added to the World Heritage list by the UN cultural organization. The Conegliano and Valdobbiadene hills, where the grapes that produce the famous Prosecco sparkling wine are grown, got the green light at a meeting of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee in Baku. “The landscape is characterized by ‘hogback’ hills, ciglioni -- small plots of vines on narrow grassy terraces -- forests, small villages and farmland,” UNESCO said in a statement announcing the decision. “For centuries, this rugged terrain has been shaped and adapted by man. Since the 17th century, the use of ciglioni has created a particular checkerboard landscape consisting of rows of vines parallel and vertical to the slopes.” Italy has been lobbying to have the hills, which stretch for 30 kilometers, receive this recognition for a decade. The region became Italy’s 55th World Heritage site, putting it level with China as the two countries with the world’s highest number of UNESCO honors. The Prosecco sparkling white, which has the highest classification available to an Italian wine, is produced in a territory spread over nine provinces in Italy’s north-east. While the region spans over 500 towns in total, only 15 make Prosecco Superiore DOCG, the top-quality bubbly produced around the Venetian towns of Conegliano
Italy’s Prosecco Hills, the region that cultivates grapes for its famous prosecco sparkling wine, has been added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s World Heritage List. It became Italy’s 55th such site, tying with China for the country with the most UNESCO heritage sites. (Photo by Elena Zamprogno)
and Valdobbiadene, where complex geology is thought to make for a more diverse, flavourful taste. As well as its ancient tradition of wine-making, the territory is known for its well-preserved early settlements. Sales of Prosecco rose six percent in 2018 to 460 million bottles, of which 75 percent were exported.
Horse-Drawn Carriages Will Soon Disappear From Rome’s Streets From The Local
The famed tourist carriages, known as “botticelle,” would be restricted to parks only in a measure the city council said was aimed at stopping the horses from suffering on the hot cobbles. “Among the key aims of the measure is to avoid all suffering to the horses,
taking the botticelle activities to more suitable locations like parks and historic villas,” stated Daniele Diaco, head of Rome’s environmental committee. And the carriages could soon disappear altogether, as the city will no longer issue new botticelle licenses. Instead, it’s offering drivers the option of applying for taxi licenses, Diaco said. The new law is seen as a victory for the capital’s Five Star Movementled council, which has been pushing for its approval since last year. The legislation is seen as one step away from banning the botticelle outright, as promised by Rome’s mayor Virginia Raggi in her election campaign almost four years ago. Animal rights groups have long "ITALIAN NEWS" continued on Page 13
