http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4211649.stm
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But Italians are not finding life so sweet these days, according to a recent BBC World Service poll.
Italy floundered at the bottom of a global survey of citizens' economic outlook.
According to the business daily, Il Sole 24 Ore, four out of five Italians are sceptical that their economy will improve this year.
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So why are Italians feeling so pessimistic?
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Well for starters, their economy - the fourth largest in Europe - has remained more or less stagnant since 2002.
The majority of Italians say they blame their misery on the euro and on their government for doing nothing to control euro-related price hikes.
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The euro is a nightmare," said Bruno, an office worker, as he sipped his early morning cappuccino in a Rome cafe bar.
"Prices have more than doubled. Take this coffee for example."
Read key points and see graphs from the World Service poll.
At-a-glance
"It's even worse than that," added his colleague Massimo.
"The lira sign was simply substituted with the euro sign. A trolley full of food at the supermarket that cost you 40,000 lire became 40 euros overnight.
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"But it's got worse since then. Prices have gone through the roof while our wages remain the same, pegged to the old lira."
Wherever you go in Rome's bars and restaurants - on the bus or in the street - people tell you the same thing.
"It breaks my heart in my local grocery store," said Carla, a hairdresser.
"I keep seeing pensioners at the cash till in a terrible state when they realise they can't pay the bill."
And they are not alone.
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I am amazed this is on a BBC website. Italy was always going to be one of the first countries to suffer for me. How can you tie the Lira to the Deutchmark. It is a farce. The Italians are now paying the price!
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"In those days though, when prices went up, our wages did too. That's not what happens now with the euro," says Giovanna, a waitress.
"Also the euro makes us feel helpless. Italy can't take action without the approval of Brussels.
"In the good old, bad old days, we printed more money. Now we just stare at shop windows, not daring to go in."
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Who would have thought it. You must be racist if you think that!
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Now though many of his voters say they feel let-down.
"We thought he'd run Italy like his other successful businesses," says Marco, an entrepreneur.
"We dreamed of a new and shiny Italia Inc., but he's just used his power to benefit himself and his friends. The rest of us Italians have been dumped out in the cold."
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DING DING DING DING
Britain, are you listening? Are you receiving? This is what Tony Blair wants for us!
Every opportunity must be taken to tell them what to do with their Euro and the EU as a whole.
You have once choice at this election. Vote UKIP!
27-01-2005, 01:23 PM
Italy's dolce vita turns sour
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