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Bulgari To Finance Renovation of Rome’s famous Spanish Steps


Italian jewelry and luxury goods company Bulgari on Thursday answered the Italian government’s appeal for help in financing a renovation of Rome’s famous Spanish Steps.

Bulgari, which was bought in 2011 by French luxury giant LVMH, will put $2 million towards the refurbishment which will begin in 2015 and last two years, Rome’s mayor Ignazio Marino said.

Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called this month for private investors to help restore and maintain the country’s heritage monuments, after a series of wall collapses at the ancient ruins of Pompeii in southern Italy.

“Italy is a country of culture and so I challenge businessmen. What are you waiting for? If the private sector can keep the wall standing upright, why not allow it to?” he said.

Many Baroque or Renaissance churches and Roman-era archaeological sites are kept permanently off limits to the public for lack of maintenance.

The government has already called on the private sector to help restore other UNESCO monuments: in Rome, luxury shoemaker Tod’s is financing works at the Colosseum, while high-end fashion house Fendi is expected to refurbish the Trevi Fountain.

The Spanish Steps refurbishment will be “the special gift from Bulgari to its city” to mark the jeweller’s 130th anniversary, the company’s chief executive Jean-Christophe Babin told a press conference in Rome.

The 18th century Baroque-style stairway has 136 steps.

The Top 10 Best Beaches In The World For 2014


With its turquoise waters and lush green cliffs, the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, off the Brazilian coast, is home to the world’s top beach according to TripAdvisor user reviews.

One of the many selling points of the Baia do Sancho is its crystal clear water, which allows snorkelers to observe exotic fish and even sea turtles. But it’s not easy getting to this paradise on earth: visitors must descend a tall, steep staircase that could spook anyone with a fear of heights.

Grace Bay in the Turks and Caicos Islands and Flamenco Beach in Puerto Rico complete the trio of the top beaches on the planet according to the travel website. The US made an appearance in the top 10 thanks to Hawaii’s Lanikai Beach, which came in at number eight.

Alongside its worldwide ranking, TripAdvisor compiled lists of the best beaches in the US, the UK and Europe. Unsurprisingly, Hawaii dominates the ranking for the US, accounting for seven of the country’s top 10 beaches. Behind the first and second place winners, Hawaii’s Lanikai Beach and Ka’anapali Beach, Florida made it into third place with Siesta Key Public Beach.

Top 10 beaches worldwide:

1. Baia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
2. Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
3. Flamenco Beach, Culebra, Puerto Rico
4. Rabbit Beach, Lampedusa, Italy
5. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island, Australia
6. Playa de ses Illetes, Formentera, Spain
7. Anse Lazio, Praslin Island, Seychelles
8. Lanikai Beach, Kailua, Hawaii
9. Rhossili Bay, Swansea, Wales
10. Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, Mexico

To view the Top 10 beaches in the US and other Traveler’s Choice Beach rankings visit www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Beaches