Rome news stories on Newser

Mobster's Tomb Opened in Quest to Solve Vatican Mystery

Rob Quinn — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:00:05 CDT

Italian cops cracked open the jewel-encrusted tomb of a murdered mob boss yesterday in a bid to solve the 1983 disappearance of a Vatican employee's teenage daughter. Experts opened the casket of Enrico de Pedis inside the crypt of a prestigious Roman basilica and discovered that he was the only...

Letter Bomb Explodes in Rome

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:18:05 CST

A letter bomb exploded at Italy's tax collection agency today, lightly injuring the director general to whom it was addressed, police say. The letter exploded at midday as the director opened a yellow bubble envelope mailed to his attention at an office on the outskirts of Rome; he suffered an...

Rome Dump Threatens Hadrian's Villa

Mary Papenfuss — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 01:20:00 CDT

Old Hadrian can't seem to escape the city. The 2nd-century Roman emperor built a new villa and plush outbuildings in Tivoli to escape the noises and smells of Rome. But the city is about to open a new dump next door. There goes the neighborhood. Riding to the rescue is...

'Occupiers' Arrested Across US; Rome Tallies Damage

Neal Colgrass — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 14:10:41 CDT

Police arrested hundreds of "Occupy Wall Street" protesters today who endured chilly nights outdoors in Chicago, New York, Denver, and Arizona, the New York Daily News reports. As the Chicago Tribune has it, officers rounded up about 175 demonstrators who refused to clear Congress Plaza after 1am. The arrests were...

70 Hurt in Rome 'Occupy' Protests

John Johnson — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:45:22 CDT

The protests in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street taking place around the world today have remained largely peaceful—with the exception of Rome. As the BBC describes it, 70 people were injured—three seriously—after a group broke away from the larger demonstration and wreaked havoc, torching cars, smashing windows,...

Tomorrow, Occupy Goes Worldwide

Matt Cantor — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 07:59:26 CDT

The Occupy Wall Street movement is growing beyond American borders : Tomorrow, protests are planned in Rome, London, Frankfurt , Auckland , and elsewhere. Italian police are bracing for crowds in the tens of thousands (1,655 have pledged to show up in Rome via Facebook ), though other cities expect fewer, Reuters...

Gladiator Thugs Busted at Colosseum

Rob Quinn — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 02:42:05 CDT

Gladiators and centurions clashed in front of Rome's Colosseum this week as police attempted to crack down on thugs targeting tourists. Undercover officers dressed as centurions were sent in to investigate the dozens of fake gladiators, centurions, and Roman legionnaires who make their living outside the ancient stadium, posing with...

Gaga Lights Up Gay Rally in Rome

Polly Davis Doig — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 13:05:43 CDT

A gay-rights rally went a little gaga for Lady Gaga last night as the singer took the stage in a turquoise wig at Rome's ancient Circus Maximus, sang a few bars of "Born This Way," and advocated tolerance. The singer told the crowd she's often asked, "How gay are you,...

Pope Evicts 'Loose-Living' Monks

Rob Quinn — Thu, 26 May 2011 03:15:00 CDT

Some party-loving monks have been evicted from Rome's Santa Croce monastery by order of the Pope. The monks, whose abbey was attached to a church holding some of Catholicism's holiest relics, staged concerts featuring a lap dancer-turned-nun, hosted VIP guests including Madonna, and opened a hotel with a 24-hour limousine...