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Italian Radio Stations

Most towns and regions have their own radio stations which broadcast local news and programs, as well as Top 40 songs. Of course, there are also radio stations known throughout the peninsula, like Radio Deejay, Radio Maria, and RTL. The state-owned Rai Radio stations are national as well, and Italy even has its own LGBT radio station.

Here you will find a list of the main national radio stations, as well as a sampling of stations from various parts of the country.

National

• http://www.radio1.rai.it/
• http://www.radio2.rai.it/
• http://www.radio3.rai.it/
  These are, respectively, Rai 1, 2 and 3. They are the state-owned radio stations and broadcast nationally, with news, programs and music.
• http://www.deejay.it/dj/home
  Radio Deejay. The station most people listen to for their favorite Top 40 artists. This is generally considered the hippest Italian radio station.
• http://www.radiovaticana.org/index.html
  This is the Vatican’s official radio station, available not only in Italian, but in almost every language.
• http://www.rtl.it/
  This is RTL, one of the most popular radio stations of the last couple years. It features Top 40 songs, news, and a bit of everything. To English speakers its slogan “Very Normal People” might sound odd, but it can be heard throughout the country.
• http://www.deegay.it/
  This is Italy’s one and only LGBT radio station. It features songs and news, but is geared towards the LGBT community in general.
• http://www.ecoradio.it/?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
  Eco Radio: Italy’s Earth-friendly radio station. In recent years, Italy has become very conscious about the environment and the planet, and this radio station reflects the current trend. These are mostly news programs dealing with the environment.
• http://www.lifegate.it/it/eco/network/radio/
  If saving the environment isn’t enough for you, but you’d like to rescue animals, help those less fortunate and live more sustainably, then Lifegate is for you. This is an activist station from Rome.
• http://www.radioitalia.it/
  Radio Italia is known for playing only Italian music. If you want to become more familiar with the music Italians grew up with, as well as the Italian artists of today, this radio station is for you.
• http://www.radiomaria.it/
  The main religious station of Italy, it is Catholic and all Italians know it. Generally, religious songs and programs are broadcast, as well as interviews with religious figures and readings of passages and psalms.

Regional Stations

• http://www.raibz.rai.it/de/index.php
  Radio station from Bolzano, the German-speaking part of Italy (yes, it does exist, just north of Trent).
• http://www.ciaoradio.it/
  Based out of Bologna, with live streaming video. Local programs with a cool, youthful style.  
• http://www.controradio.it/
  Florentine Radio station, dealing primarily with local news and Top 40 hits.
• http://www.primaradio.fm/
  From Cosenza, in Southern Italy. Mostly top 40 hits with local news mixed in.
• http://www.r101.it/homepage
  Radio 101, from Milan. Its website has the choice between streaming just music, 70s music, 80s music, or whatever the radio station is playing at the moment.
• http://www.105.net/
  Radio 105. This station from Milan is gaining in popularity and is known for having quite a few famous musical guests.
• http://www.radioamicizia.it/
  From SanRemo, where Italy’s most famous music festival takes place every year. This station obviously features music, as well as local news and sports.
• http://www.radiocarisma.it/
  From Ferrara, Radio Carisma has mostly dance music and Top 40 hits.
• http://www.radiofiesole.it/
  This is based in Fiesole, right outside Florence, and plays top hits for most of the day, with the obligatory section dedicated to soccer.
• http://www.radioerre.com/home,5,5,home.htm
  Radio Erre is from Foggia and plays mostly top hits.
• http://www.radiomugello.it/
  Based between Florence and Bologna, Radio Mugello is a local station featuring songs and local news, as well as classifieds and local sports.
• http://www.nostalgia.it/
  Based out of Genova, Radio Nostalgia has been actually growing quite a bit in popularity and can be heard in quite a bit of the country now. It even has its own iPhone app!
• http://www.radiostar92e5.it/home.htm
  Based out of Lucca, mostly top hits all day.
• http://www.radiotaormina.it/
  From Taormina, in Sicily. Almost entirely songs and sports on this channel.
• http://www.rgs.fm/
  From Palermo, Sicily. Deals with local events and sports, and top music hits.
• http://www.virginradioitalia.it/home
  The Italian subsidiary of Virgin Radio. Not as popular as one would think, but definitely growing.
• http://www.tir.fm/
  Top Italian Radio. From Valle D’Aosta in the Northwest Piemonte region. Mostly top hits and local news.