Rome

NPR's Scott Simon wonders if Iranian President Hassan Rouhani might have appreciated a moment to gaze at the many works of art in Rome's Capitoline Museum, rather than seen the naked statues boxed up.

Every year, the Eternal City plays host to millions of migrating starlings. That creates problems — slippery, splattery problems. Falcons have been enlisted to drive them away, but have failed.

One neighborhood is creating a "zone of tolerance" to confine prostitutes to certain areas. The community likes it and says it had to act because Italian society has failed to address the issue.

The Italian city isn't big on Christmas glitz and glamor. Instead, Rome saves its holiday shine for the dinner table. The Christmas day meal might start with lasagna before moving on to turkey or guinea hen. And it wouldn't be complete without plenty of sweets.