The Local has spent the year reporting on national and local news from up and down the country, but sometimes the most interesting stories are those which don't generate global headlines.

Italy is more than the twists and turns of politics or the reputation for great food and culture; more than anything, Italy is the people who live here, whether by birth or by choice. A refugee home worker, a British baker and reality TV star, and the Verona women who respond to thousands of love letters are among seven of our most inspirational interviewees this year. Read their stories below.

The trained Swiss actress who ran a Tuscan refugee home

Photo: Private

Katja Meier came to Italy looking for a career break in an olive grove, but along the way, she and found herself running a refugee home. She spoke to The Local about the contrast between how 'expats' and refugees view and experience Italy, and the lessons she learnt working in the Tuscan refugee home, which she has written about in a book, Across the Big Blue Sea. Meier was open about bureaucracy and disagreements in the centre, but had very fond memories of her time there and became close friends with many of the refugees. Reading the interview — and the book itself — offers a rare and balanced insight into the issues of immigration and integration.

The US archaeologist preserving graffiti from Pompeii and Herculaneum

Photo: Ancient Graffiti Project

When Pompeii and Herculaneum were buried in a volcanic eruption, the cities were paused at a snapshot in time, and extremely well preserved. This means they offer a good look at groups less well-represented in the history books, archaeologist Jacqueline DiBiasie Sammons told The Local. DiBiaisie Sammons studies graffiti at both sites, interpreting it and storing it digitally, and she shared some of the stories the ancient scrawls have to tell.

The British baker who became a cult favourite in Italy

Rosalind Pratt has called Italy home for 16 years and speaks the language fluently, but this year she went from being known as 'the English woman' in her small Bergamo village to 'the contestant in BakeOff Italia', a hugely successful TV baking show. In our interview, carried out while Pratt was baking cupcakes, she explained what it was like competing on the show and dealing with being recognized in the street afterwards. When Pratt was eliminated from the show, her exit prompted a social media storm with hundreds of Italian viewers supporting her.

The Venetian couple promoting sustainable tourism to protect their city

Photo: Venezia Autentica

A common theme in news from Venice this year was the introduction of 'anti-tourism' measures, from protests against excessive tourism by frustrated locals to bans on new hotels, fast food shops, and cruise ships. So it was refreshing to speak to Sebastian Fagarazzi and Valeria Duflot, who had a more positive spin on the tourism question.

Photo: Venezia Autentica

They've launched a social enterprise, Venezia Autentica or Authentic Venice, which promotes locally-run businesses to help steer tourists away from the overcrowded sites and support Venetian families and workers. The couple shared their advice for visitors and explained how they and the city have been affected by excessive tourism. “Venice relies on tourism, like our bodies rely on food to survive,” said Fagarazzi. “But you need to have the right kind of food; the right kind of tourism. The wrong kind can be deadly.”

The Italian physicist who will soon set sail for Antarctica

Photo: Private

Italian physicist Elena Joli will join the world's largest all-women expedition to Antarctica next year. She told us why she's always wanted to visit this “magical, wild, and remote place”, her ideas for getting more women involved in the STEMM fields, and what's making her nervous about the trip.

The Verona woman who responds to love letters sent to Shakespeare's Juliet

Photo: Annalisa Conter

Did you know that thousands of people send love letters to Shakespeare heroine Juliet each year, some addressed simply to 'Juliet, Verona'? Elena, one of a group of 'Juliet's secretaries' who responds to these missives, told us about the history of the project, and what she's learned about love from the letters that arrive from all around the world.

Who should The Local interview in 2018? Get in touch with your suggestions at [email protected]