ROME -- Ciao from Rome, where I'm delighted to announce the launch ofL'Huffington Post, bringing HuffPost's signature mix of news, blogging, community, and social engagement to Italy. I've always had a great fondness for the boot-shaped country and as a Greek, I feel a kinship with a fellow Mediterranean land where someone is always trying to get you to eat something and nothing starts on time.

The last time I visited Italy was in October 2011, just before Mario Monti succeeded Silvio Berlusconi and ushered in a new era of austerity. One year later, Italy is still feeling the effects of the global economic meltdown, and L'HuffPost will be obsessively reporting the day-to-day human consequences of the crisis and putting flesh and blood on the data. Italy's unemployment rate is nearly11 percent -- more than 2 million peopleare out of work -- a number thatrises to 35 percent for Italians under 25.

And, like much of Europe, Italy has suffered through austerity policies that have not only hindered growth but dampened national morale. As Economonitorput it: "The implementation of austerity measures in Italy is likely to have a substantial negative impact on the economy in the coming years. Given its lack of competitiveness, the economy lived off constant demand stimulus from the government. Without this the growth problem is likely to become worse." Analystsbelieve the unemployment rate will continue to climb in the coming years, pushing it beyond 11.5 percent, which would be the country's highest unemployment rate in three decades.

And while L'HuffPost will devote plenty of space to what isn't working in Italy, we will also put the spotlight on what is working: the innovation, ingenuity, spirit and resilience of the Italian people. Those qualities are evident in the work of social entrepreneurs likeYouCapital, a crowdfunding website that connects citizen journalists with funding;Plain Ink, which uses the power of storytelling to increase literacy and improve lives around the world;Oltre Venture, founded by former private equity manager Luciano Balbo, which as Italy's first venture philanthropy firm addresses at-risk youth, unemployment and immigration; and theItalian Business & Investment Initiative, which connects Italians with Silicon Valley startups and then helps them create their own startups once they return to Italy.

Above all, L'HuffPost will celebrate Italy's vibrant culture, from its cuisine, operas, and art to its traditions, ancient history and legendary cities. And we'll spotlight institutions and events that reflect Italy's DNA and connect us with its past, like the Venice Film Festival -- which just celebrated its 80th year -- and the restoration of the Colosseum, which is a bit older (and what we Greeks would call a "new addition"). We'll also spotlight the ways Italians unplug and recharge, since disconnecting from our devices is one of the best ways to reconnect with ourselves, and our wisdom. I especially love the traditions of theriposo -- the period each afternoon when shops and offices close -- and thepasseggiata, the evening stroll, when the pressures of the day give way to fresh air and conversation.

In order to capture this vast mix of traditions that makes Italy unique, we'll be using all the tools at our disposal to tell the most important -- and most entertaining -- stories of our time. And, just as important, help Italians tell their stories themselves. And since Italy's 35.8 million Internet usersmake up nearly 59 percent of the population, it's our hope that L'HuffPost will help expand the conversation at a time when Italians are looking to each other and their communities -- both online and offline -- for the empathy, ingenuity and creativity that will lead to the real solutions the country needs.

To make all this happen, we couldn't have found a better partner in Gruppo Espresso, led by president Carlo De Benedetti and CEO Monica Mondardini. Founded in 1955 as the publisher of a weekly newspaper, the group today publishes the national dailyla Repubblica and the weeklyL'Espresso, in addition to a network of local newspapers, national radio stations, TV stations, and mobile platforms.

L'HuffPost's editorial director is Lucia Annunziata, a veteran journalist who served as a foreign correspondent for the two largest newspapers in Italy --la Repubblica andCorriere della Sera -- covering Central America, the Middle East and the first Gulf War. Lucia served as chair of RAI, Italy's biggest television company, where she currently hostsin 1/2 h, a weekly news program.

Joining Lucia is editor-in-chief Gianni Del Vecchio, formerly the editor ofL'Espresso, the weekly magazine of our partner Gruppo L'Espresso; senior news editor Marco Pasqua, who came to us from Repubblica.it; and lifestyle editor Rita Pinchi, who was formerly the editor-in-chief of the magazineSpecchio and deputy editor-in-chief ofPanorama, Italy's largest news magazine.

Our launch day lineup of bloggers includesGiulio Tremonti, Italy's former minister of economy and finance, on the power of the global financial markets; activistIlaria Cucchi speaks out against police brutality;Oscar Farinetti, the founder of the gourmet food and wine market Eataly, writes about freedom for both people and wine;Maurizio Landini, head of Italy's largest metal workers union, weighing in on the need for a free market for automobiles in Italy; author and autism awareness activistFranco Antonello on being the father of a child with autism; photographerFrancesco Zizola onThe Julie Project, an award-winning photo documentary; andJudge Catello Maresca on where confiscated Mafia money goes.

On a 2009 visit to Italy, I attended a media conference where everyone was given a button to wear, reading "Io ho fiducia" -- "I am confident." It's a fitting slogan as we launch L'HuffPost, which will be dedicated to spotlighting what is working around the country, and those who are committed to improving their lives and the lives of others.

So please join me in welcoming Italia to the HuffPost family. And as always, please use the comments section to let us know what you think.