That Italian press release is basically bogus, as was another one about avgas in Sardinia:
June 2009: Great news from AOPA-Italy’s Massimo Levy – the special tax on general aviation landing in Sardinia has been cancelled! The new Governor of the region, elected in February with a huge majority, has maintained his promise and cancelled the so called ‘luxury tax’ on boats and private airplanes reaching the island. After the tax was introduced AOPA-Italy requested that GA avoid Sardinia, and many aviators and yachtsmen did so, costing the island dear. Massimo says: “We cannot say that this is a victory for AOPA, but certainly our campaign against the tax has helped to obtain this result.” Sardinia has four airports, Olbia, Cagliari, Alghero and Oristano All are open to GA, and all of them – exceptional for Italy – have avgas. Its beaches are among the prettiest of the Mediterranean and now, general aviation is again welcome. Massimo says that in particular, Olbia has one of the best organisations for GA traffic.