Europe

2023 has been a tumultuous year around the world, filled with conflict, controversy and historic firsts, alongside hopes and fears for the future

How part of Mussolini’s “fascistisation” of society outlasted Il Duce to become something much less sinister

I’m happy to come from a family where all we need to have a great time is some grilled meat, a few cans of cheap beer and each other’s company

The Norwegian Christmas tree has been a gift from the City of Oslo to London ever since 1947, an annual thank you for British support during the second world war

Young farmers are bringing the distilling business back into fashion

For our final letters pages of 2023, a selection of our favourite missives of the year. Thank you to all who wrote in

The gloriously packaged pyramids of Italian brioche have conquered Britain, but its origins are unclear

Shut out of the UK by exorbitant costs and complicated procedures, English-learners in Europe are heading elsewhere

Cardinal Angelo Becciu has been sent to prison for embezzlement and a full clean-up may follow

Norway’s second city is becoming one of Europe’s hottest food tickets. Just don’t mention the lutefisk

Serbia’s nationalist government seeks re-election. If it succeeds, Europe may be poised for renewed war in the Balkans

The former Arsenal midfielder made Serie A a refuge from the blood and thunder of English football.. even if he did snub Pavarotti.

His zeal doused by public apathy and establishment ambivalence, Albert became gradually overwhelmed by disillusionment

There are many interpretations of its meaning. Are we witness to a dark memory, a sexual desire or a surrealist Pinocchio?

What draws Italy’s populist leader, along with a number of other far-right politicians, to the work of JRR Tolkien?

Each new performance is a comment on his genius.. and his vile antisemitism

A husband-and-wife team filmed a classic Polish novel, then made another film from paintings of it. Why?

The government’s migration plans are a cruel mess that will harm British business – and they know it

Putin’s Russia is a chaos engine and we are letting him get away with it

This take on Federico García Lorca’s classic left me dazed and speechless

Taking advantage of Italy’s one euro houses is not as easy as it sounds

The number of refugees arriving in Athens is out of control

The way the country is neglecting the younger generations amounts to criminal negligence

Bulgaria’s local elections exhibited the country’s unstable democracy

The social media site is a mess. The Mayor of Paris has just left it, and as more high profile individuals leave, it will fade into irrelevance

The Young European Movement has launched a campaign urging the UK government to rejoin the EU’s study-abroad project

Recent FSB revelations are a reminder that our society is open to the Russian threat

The relentlessly prolific author of plays, poems, short stories and novels, Pirandello was always looking ahead

The Labour leader’s love of EU anthem Ode to Joy has caused faux outrage.. and hopes that he might just be a Rejoiner after all

Wim Wenders is back with two very different films... and harsh words for Brexit

A journey on the Paris Métro can be a kaleidoscope of cultures, stories and impromptu musical performances

A risk of mad Cow disease is causing donors who lived in Britain between 1980 and 1986 to be turned away by doctors