Thanks to www.italy-news.net

(1) TOURISM HEADS FOR ITALY'S COUNTRYSIDE, WITH "GREEN" CONCERN
(2) INTERNET SURFING GROWS IN ITALY, NORTH LEADS TREND
(3) THREE ITALIAN AND ONE SPANISH TEAM VIE FOR WORLD SOCCER TITLE
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(1) COUNTRYSIDE TOURISM BECOMES GROWING TREND

The trend towards "green tourism" is growing ever stronger, after years of a type of tourism that left an ugly mark on the countryside.

Now it seems that tourists are looking for an ecologically conscious tourism that includes agro-tourism, country bed & breakfasts, and rural houses offering accommodation.

In order to meet this increasing demand, tourism operators from Italy and abroad will meet this weekend in Porto Sant'Elpidio, near Ascoli Piceno, for the "Borsa Italiana del Turismo di Campagna" Trade Show.

Among the topics to be discussed are rural architecture, ecological sustainability and support services.
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(2) INTERNET SURFING GROWS IN ITALY, NORTH LEADS TREND

In the last two years, use of the internet has grown by 1,7%, with 12.7 million Italians now logging on at least once every three months, according to a study by the CNEL Center.

[RAA: Once every three months seems like a very low benchmark !!!]

Use in the north of Italy, at 34.8%, surpasses that of the south (28.1%), with the region of Lombardy (Milan) registering the highest percentage of web surfers.
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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SOCCER:
JUVENTUS LOSES IN MADRID,
MILAN AND INTER DRAW

Juventus (Turin) came away from Tuesday night's match at the Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid with a 2-1 loss to Real Madrid in the first leg of their semifinal. Real took the lead at the 20th minute with a goal from Ronaldo. Juve evened the score at the 45th on a goal by Trezeguet. 35 minutes into the second half, Roberto Carlos gave Real the win with a hotly contested goal. Juventus players were furious with the referee for allowing the goal with three Real players called for offsides by the line judge.

[RAA: Real Madrid star Ronaldo was injured, and is doubtful for the next game. Juventus could go to the Finals with a 1-0 victory.]

In the other first-leg semifinal, Milan and Inter (Milan) played a joyless match, resembling rugby more than soccer, that ended in a scoreless draw. Milan dominated the play, while Inter tried in vain to mount counterattacks. There were few scoring opportunities, and the Italian press were quick to brand the match as boring in the next day's papers.
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As an an additional thought from a previous issue of Italy-News.Net:

It is the first time that three Italian teams have reached the semifinals, and only Spain has ever accomplished a similar feat.

So, Italian soccer is now at the pinnacle of the sport in Europe and the achievement is all more prestigious considering:

Juventus's 2-1 victory over Barcelona in Spain, a team that had not lost in Champions League play, having won 11 matches and drawing 1, and boasted the most deadly attack of the second-leg round, with 12 goals...

Milan's extraordinary victory over Ajax (Amsterdam) was not only an Herculean achievement for the team, but one which has inscribed Italy's name in the record books.

Inter eliminated Spanish team Valencia, which had the best attack in the first-leg round, scoring an astonishing 17 goals in just 6 games. This marks the first time in 22 years that Inter has made it to the semifinals in the Champions League.