by Susan Watters

WASHINGTON — Italian history defines the art of flaunting high culture to win commercial success — from ancient Rome to Marco Polo to Cosimo de' Medici, who hired Michelangelo to help build support for his city-state. But these days, with Italy's government in a state of constant crisis, feting Italian design can test even the savviest Roman's devotion to "la bella figura.'' That's the challenge facing Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero and his wife, Laura Denise, who this year are celebrating Italian culture in America.

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Source: http://www.wwd.com/