1. The soulful nun Cristina Scuccia, who landed a major record deal with Universal after winning The Voice of Italy 2014, released her debut album Sister Cristina last November, which includes an unlikely cover of Madonna’s 1984 pop hit Like a Virgin, sparking criticism from the Catholic establishment. But the singing nun termed her version more “secular prayer than pop song” and recently presented Pope Francis with a copy of her debut CD. On her way to victory in the talent show last year, the bespectacled nun wowed both judges and the viewers by performing covers of mainstream artists including Alicia Keys, Bon Jovi and Cyndi Lauper. She became a global internet sensation and her performances on the show have been viewed on YouTube more than 100 million times.
A native of Sicily born in 1988, Scuccia became a novice in 2009 and later joined the Ursuline Order. She affirms that her showbiz career - proceeds of which go to charities in Italy and Brazil - is not going to wholly change her life in the Milan convent.
2. Possibly the most famous contemporary actress from the country and a global symbol of Italian beauty, Monica Bellucci recently made history as the oldest woman - at the age of 50 - to play 007’s onscreen love interest when she joined the cast of the 24th James Bond film Spectre, due to be released in November. Born in Umbria in 1964, Bellucci began modelling at 13. By 1989 she became a supermodel, posing for Dolce & Gabbana (becoming their face in 2012) and the French ELLE, and made her acting debut on TV in 1990. Regarded as the best Italian import in Hollywood since Sophia Loren, Bellucci’s American film debut was in Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992). She was nominated for the Caesar Award for her 1996 French thriller L’appartement.
Known for her daring film choices, movies to her credit include The Passion of the Christ, Irréversible, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Shoot ‘Em Up, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, The Whistleblower and 1:30 Train. Bellucci is also an active philanthropist.
3. His lenses know no limits, and from daily scenes to shots of history Rino Barillari never lets the chance for a surprise click get away. The world-famous photojournalist’s style is straightforward and intense in the subjects he portrays, whether they are common people or those on the stage of fame. Born in Limbadi in 1945, Barillari moved to Rome in the early ’60s and joined the wandering photographers of the Trevi Fountain area. Over the years he became a photo reporter, going after seemingly impossible, sensational pictures. At this time, he was the king of the real-life Italian paparazzi (named after Paparazzo, the main photographer portrayed in Federico Fellini’s 1960 film La Dolce Vita).
Crowned The King of Paparazzi in 1988, Barillari evokes memories of the fabulous dolce vita society and night-time brawls on Via Veneto. In his adventurous career he made 162 trips to the hospital, and had 11 broken ribs, 76 smashed cameras, 81,000km of film and more than two million shots!
4. Considered to be among the most dominant and successful goalkeepers in history, Gianluigi Buffon has won numerous prestigious individual and team awards. Highly respected both in domestic and international soccer circles, he is renowned as an outstanding shot-stopper as well as a leader who organises defence and motivates teammates from his position. Born in 1978 in Carrara, Buffon began his soccer career at the age of 13, starring for Italian clubs Parma and Juventus, before leading Italy to the 2006 World Cup triumph.
He became the long-time goalkeeper of Juventus in 2001 (and the most expensive shot-stopper in history while joining the club) and began his similarly long tenure as goalkeeper of the national team in 1997, appearing in five World Cup finals. Named the Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year a record nine times, he was a runner-up for the Ballon d’Or in 2006 and 2007. The International Federation of Football History and Statistics named him the goalkeeper of the year four times, and the best goalkeeper of the 21st century and the decade.
5. Counted among today’s greatest architects, Renzo Piano has been instrumental in shaping modern architecture that stands on its own. The design of the Pompidou Centre in Paris, completed in 1978, brought him the first global acceptance of his talent and promise. To applaud his work in redefining modern and post-modern architecture, Piano was awarded the 1998 Pritzker Architecture Prize. In 2006 he was named one of Time magazine’s top 100 most influential people, and in 2013 he was named a senator for life by the Italian president.
Born in Genoa in 1937, Piano worked with world-renowned architect Louis Kahn during the 1960s and soon became famous for his unique applications of materials and details. In 1981, he formed the Renzo Piano Building Workshop, an international architectural practice with offices in Paris, Genoa and New York City. Astounding in scope and comprehensive in the diversity of scale, material and form, Piano’s repertoire includes a housing complex on Rue de Meaux in Paris, Menil Collection in Houston, the Beyeler Museum in Switzerland, Osaka’s Kansai International Airport, the refurbishment of a 1920s Fiat manufacturing plant in Turin into a multifaceted centre for technology and trade fairs, the San Nicola Soccer Stadium in Bari, Italy, The Shard in London, and The New York Times Building.
