Works of illustration and Italian genre photography have been market favourites since the seventies

The owner's careless sales technique led the carabinieri right to his doorstep

The solution will involve low-tech improvements to the surroundings

£13 million voted by the government has yet to arrive: most of the restoration has so far been paid for by public donation. Alberto Ronchey, Minister for Culture, has declared his aim to see thirty new rooms created within three years in former storage space, tripling the size of the Uffizi

His rare manuscript find nabbed him this year's award

Beautiful art in the Beautiful Country

A French magazine suggests that the Adriatic city should be put in the charge of the EC, echoing a proposal by the European Commissioner for the Environment

The Spinola family has created a Foundation and is looking for sponsors; the State would like to get possession of the sadly-neglected building

The proposal is greeted by suspicion and political posturing within the Italian art and archaeology world and even the Ministry of Culture.

Professor James Beck of Columbia University is standing trial in Italy

Plans to replace Milan with Venice as a candidate have been scrapped

It would be the first to be run as a plc, with works of art as its capital base and private collectors as its shareholders