The Falkensteiner Hotel Bozen WaltherPark recently opened in the centre of Bolzano, a perfect combination of urban soul, design, food and lifestyle.

In a multifunctional district with a shopping centre and a food hall

The property is an integral part of WaltherPark, a multifunctional district that includes private residences, office space, a shopping centre, a food hall and an underground car park in addition to the hotel, and will be operational by the end of 2025. On the sixth floor of the hotel is the Mochi Sushi.Grill.Rooftop.Bar, the first branch of the Viennese brand Mochi, renowned for its contemporary Japanese fusion cuisine.

“An exclusive refuge in the heart of the city”

"With the Falkensteiner Hotel Bozen WaltherPark, a new chapter in urban hospitality opens with design, gastronomy and lifestyle coming together in an exclusive refuge in the heart of the city,- said Otmar Michaeler, CEO of FMTG.  - To be able to realize this project in the capital of South Tyrol and to bring the Viennese restaurant brand Mochi to the area for the first time is a source of great pride for us. The interior design and concept were developed with the aim of creating something unique for Bolzano.”

“A Mediterranean atmosphere and a top-class gastronomic scene”

The hotel has 114 elegantly designed rooms and suites, an Acquapura Spa wellness area and a rooftop restaurant with a terrace with city views on the top floor. The exterior is by David Chipperfield Architects, who designed the hotel along the lines of an architectural aesthetic based on linearity, transparency and sober neutral tones. "As a leading hotel group in upscale leisure hospitality, we have chosen a mountain destination ideal for rejuvenating holidays in the mountains, and with a Mediterranean atmosphere, a top-class gastronomic scene and a quality tourist attractions. Our hotel is an expression of authentic hospitality,”  said Erich Falkensteiner, president of FMTG.

The Japanese izakaya-style sharing formula

The Mochi Sushi.Grill.Rooftop Bar, located on the sixth floor of the Falkensteiner Hotel Bozen Waltherpark, is the first restaurant of the famous Viennese brand in South Tyrol. The concept is inspired by the Japanese culture of izakaya, with creative dishes - such as sushi, sashimi, robatayaki, karaage or tapas - served according to the sharing formula, and accompanied by a curated selection of wines, sake and gin.

Club Med is to open a new premium resort in San Sicario Alto, in the Piedmont Alps.

One of the largest ski complexes in Europe

The new property is of particular importance for the area as it will significantly contribute to improving the standard of the region’s hospitality services. The ski area where the resort will be built is among the largest in Europe and already hosts prestigious facilities such as Club Med Pragelato Sestriere.

There will be major spin-off for all the Olympic valleys

"The investment is a clear sign of commitment to the area and the local economy, where more than 500 new jobs will be created and with major spin-off for all the Olympic valleys. Italy has extraordinary potential, both in the mountains and at the seaside. As pioneers, we are always looking for the best destinations to offer unique experiences to our guests, both Italian and international. Our partnership with Ream SGR for this new property enables us to make our planned development programme in Italy a reality," says Arnaldo Aiolfi, Club Med's project director. For Italy, Southern Europe and Middle East

“Italians, and in particular families, are 43.4% of our clientele”

Rabeea Ansari, CEO Club Med Southern Europe and Emerging Markets adds: "In our 75th anniversary year the new San Sicario project further strengthens our deep relationship with this extraordinary country. Italians, and in particular families, who are 43.4% of our clientele, increasingly appreciate the mountains. Overall, considering both the winter and summer seasons, the mountain segment in Italy recorded a business value growth of 72.4% over last year".

Activating a virtuous circle able to drive the entire local economy

The hope is that this project will contribute to boosting the image of Piedmont's mountains at an international level. As demonstrated in other areas, the entry of an international operator can activate a virtuous circle able to drive the entire local economy. “The partnership with an operator of the calibre of Club Med is a major strategic milestone for Ream SGR,- says Maria Cristina Zoppo, president of the asset management company. - The brand is recognized globally for the quality of its premium all-inclusive offer and its ability to enhance the areas in which it operates, bringing with it a sustainable, international and high value-added hospitality model.” Oronzo Perrini, general manager of Ream SGR added that this collaboration could be “the beginning of a shared path, with the aim of developing further initiatives in synergy, capable of generating value for investors, territories and local communities.”

The Una Hotels Villa dei Platani Foligno is Una Italian Hospitality’s most recent new entry.

A 4-star boutique hotel close to the centre

With the number of affiliated hotels now at twenty-three, in Umbria it now has three hotels belonging to both the Una Esperienze and Una Hotels collections. Located in Foligno the hotel is housed in an elegant Liberty-style villa dating back to 1928. A recent renovation has preserved several original elements, integrating them with modern design details. This 4-star boutique hotel, it is only a hundred metres from Foligno's railway station and close to the historic centre, making it an ideal solution for both business travellers and those wishing to embark on a grand tour of Medieval villages like Montefalco, Spello, Bevagna among others.

Rooms with whirlpools on balconies

The 27 rooms of different types are modern, spacious and bright and they are all elegantly furnished with design elements and hi-tech devices, which are in striking contrast to the typical Art Nouveau aesthetics of the 1920s.   In addition to the Executive, Junior and Deluxe Rooms and a Suite with private outdoor spaces and a view of the Italian garden, two rooms on the third floor have heated whirlpool baths on the balconies. 

Spa treatments with wine and chocolate

A true highlight of the hotel is Luxury Room 207, the hotel's private spa where guests can relax in the Finnish sauna or under the relaxing colours of the chromotherapy paths or the stimulating emotional shower. The hotel offers a wide selection of massages and treatments using local products, such as Umbrian essential oils, Sagrantino wine massages and Perugina chocolate treatments to regenerate body and spirit with the help of innovative techniques, mud baths, hot stones, heat therapy and more.

A new bistro and a meeting room for up to 50

In the coming months, a garden bistro, perfect for brunches and business lunches, and a new meeting room are also scheduled to open. The latter is designed to accommodate up to 50 people and, as it is equipped with the latest technology it is ideal for meetings, conferences and professional gatherings of all kinds.

In the beating heart of Verona, overlooking Piazza delle Erbe, stands a place capable of surprising and enchanting. Palazzo Maffei is a treasure trove of art and history that welcomes the visitor on a timeless journey. Whether you are an art lover, a tourist in search of beauty, or a family discovering the city, this museum is a must-see. 

A Baroque palace among the wonders of the city

The building, dating from the 16th century, is the city's first Baroque palace. Richly decorated with stucco, frescoes and original furnishings, it was transformed into a museum in 2020 thanks to the passion and vision of collector Luigi Carlon, who created the extraordinary collection. Today Palazzo Maffei can be described as a contemporary Wunderkammer: a museum where the ancient and modern meet and merge, offering a unique narrative that spans centuries and cultures.

Palazzo Maffei - ph credits: Massimo Ripani

Over 700 works, as well as archaeology, painting and design

The exhibition consists of 29 rooms and over 700 works, including paintings, sculptures, applied arts, archaeological finds and design objects, from ancient Egypt to the most recent expressions of contemporary art.  The collection ranges from Veronese painting, by arists such as Giolfino and Paolo Caliari known as Veronese, to Vedutists such as Gaspar van Wittel, up to the great protagonists of the world art scene: Mantegna, Canova, Modigliani, Boldini, Picasso, Magritte, Kandinsky, Mirò, De Chirico, Fontana, Manzoni, and Dechamp to name but a few. And alongside these famous names we find contemporary artists such as Cattelan, Claire Fontaine, Leandro Erlich, Sassolino, Nannucci and Gardina, who are witnesses to a living, open and constantly evolving collection.

ph credits: Paolo Riolzi

The Great Wave and other masterpieces

Among the most iconic works is Hokusai's “The Great Wave of Kanagawa”, one of the most recognized images in the world. With over one billion views online, it has surpassed even the Mona Lisa in popularity, and the presence of this masterpiece testifies to the collection's openness to different forms of culture while underlining the universality of art as a shared language.  This is a museum for everyone, for families, schools and also children. Thanks to an attentive and passionate team of curators the museum offers young visitors creative workshops, treasure hunts and interactive tours, making the visit stimulating and fun for them too. In 2024 alone almost 400 children between the ages of five and twelve took part in art labs and other educational activities. For every young visitor the “Kids at the Museum” kit, in Italian and English, is available free of charge at the ticket office.

The Great Wave of Kanagawa - Hokusai

When art does good: the MINERVA project

 

Palazzo Maffei is also the protagonist of a pioneering project: MINERVA (Museum, Innovation, Neuroscience), a collaboration between the museum and the WHO Centre of the University of Verona. The aim is that of studying the positive effects of  a museum visit on mental health, in particular on anxiety and depression. Over a hundred participants took part in the guided tours which were specially structured to measure psychophysical reactions to exposure to art, and the first promising results will soon be published in international scientific journals.

Chiara Dynis - Luca Rotondo

Inclusiveness and social engagement

Art, according to Palazzo Maffei, must be accessible to everyone. For this reason the museum constantly promotes cultural and social initiatives like Art in Action, against gender violence, it also offers free admission to foreign students in collaboration with the Pasta Factory Rana, and it has developed the Design4All audio guide for visitors with disabilities, to be released in 2025 with the support of the PNRR.

Staircase - ph credits Paolo Riolzi

Events and meetings in the Teatrino

On the second floor of the building the charming Teatrino is a space reserved for exclusive events like conferences, gala dinners, cultural meetings, corporate cocktails and private visits behind closed doors. With its spectacular view over Piazza delle Erbe, Palazzo Maffei is one of the most fascinating locations in Verona.

Useful info: Hours: from 1 March 2025, open 6 days a week (closed Tuesdays), from 10:00 to 18:00 (last entrance at 17:10). Where: Piazza delle Erbe, 38, 37121, Verona, Italy. Ideal for: families, tourists, schools, private events. Services: audio guides, mini-guides, children's kit, bookshop, panoramic terrace.

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Dogs need a holiday too, and there’s an eco-resort in Bibione that looks after them.

Even dogs need a holiday

Lino delle Fate in Bibione, a seaside resort town in the Veneto region, is Italy’s first eco-resort. Set in protected Mediterranean scrub, it is an innovative holiday model as animals are not just “allowed”, they take centre stage. Sleeping well, breathing in clean air, being in contact with nature and feeling safe. Just like humans, dogs too have their needs and there is a growing segment of travellers for whom a holiday is only truly successful if it is also successful for their four-legged friend.

290 wooden bungalows with large private terrces

At the Lino delle Fate, the concept of “comfort for all” has inspired the design of the accommodation spaces: 290 spacious wooden bungalows with large private terraces where you can relax together with your pets, all connected by well-shaded and strictly asphalt-free cycle paths.  Here, there are no cars and dogs (kept on a leash) are allowed to roam all around the resort, with the exception of the dining room and the swimming pool park. And for their well-being there are also dog shower stations, with tubs also suitable for large dogs, and professional blowers for drying them off after a long day in the sun or on a sandy beach.   

Relaxation on Pluto’s Beach

Just a few steps from the resort the Spiaggia di Pluto (Pluto's Beach) is the largest dog beach in Italy as well as being one of the best equipped and most innovative. Each beach umbrella station is equipped with a private enclosure, with dog-friendly sun loungers, bowls, dedicated showers and ample space for play. And in the stretch of water opposite them, dogs can bathe together with their owners, benefiting from a safe and controlled environment at all times.

A truly sustainable holiday, for everyone

Lino delle Fate Eco Village Resort belongs to the Europa Tourist Group and is one of the first in Italy to developed hospitality in perfect harmony with the environment. It has zero gas emissions, uses reversible materials and practices a reduced and conscious consumption, where the relationship with animals is an integral part of a broader vision. Here, hospitality is not limited to people, but extends to all members of the family, for a kind of tourism that is regenerative, inclusive and conscious. Because a truly sustainable holiday is for everyone, even those with four legs. 

DeMusicAssisi is back, the festival that brings medieval music alive and makes it accessible to all.

Over 25 free musical events in Assisi

From 6 to 10 August in Assisi, the city of St. Francis, there will be over 25 free musical events in evocative locations for this unique festival in Umbria which is among the few of its kind in Italy. The event - promoted by the Municipality of Assisi, with the artistic direction of the Accademia d'Arti Antiche Resonars – attracts a vast and transversal public of music lovers but also visitors  who can discover how popular and fascinating ancient music can be.

Concerts, lectures, workshops and performances starting

DeMusicAssisi 2025 takes place in the historic centre of Assisi and proposes a journey through 13th to 15th music. The theme is ‘Singing the Word’, and will consist of concerts, lectures, workshops and performances starting from the most archaic forms of polyphony and primitive monody still in Latin, passing through the heritage of the troubadours and troubadour singers, making the city of San Francesco, the capital of medieval music.

Bookings are necessary

There will also be an exhibition of antique violin making, with craftsmen from all over Italy presenting precious musical instruments and among the novelties of the 2025 edition will be the Taverna del DeMusica with traditional tastings and medieval music. All the initiatives have free admission, with compulsory booking at iThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; +39 371 5541366 (every day from 10 am to 5 pm).

The Strabilio Festival, now in its fourth edition, will run up to 7 September in seven Lombardy towns.

This Festival is sure to dazzle

This year the festival events will be held in seven municipalities of the Valle Sabbia and Basso Garda valley in the province of Brescia in Lombardy. Strabilio in Italian means dazzling or astonishing and that is what visitors can expect from the programme of events in the little towns of Casto, Livemmo, Sabbio Chiese, Villanuova sul Clisi and, for the first time this year, also in Barghe, Bedizzole, Roè Volciano and Salò. 

Some 30 events starring international artists

The Festival will consist of some 30 events, including two national premieres and will star artists from many different countries such as France, Belgium, Argentina, China, Peru and Morocco The “Circus on Pedals” day along the Valle Sabbia villages' cycle paths will feature many workshops, also for children, and there will be a special Strabilio ice-cream flavour dedicated to the festival.

The events are all free

Thanks to the Strabilio Festival the Valle Sabbia and Basso Garda area, which last year recorded almost 10,000 admissions, will once again be a location par excellence for summer events all of which are free.  For information: www.strabiliofestival.it.

Olm Nature Escape promotes the ritual of cold bathing in the Aurina Valley's bathing lakes.

Suites with private Finnish saunas

Olm Nature Escape is the starting point of a journey into freedom and liberation, starting in the Ahrntal Valley which has 35 mountain lakes, ten waterfalls, 120 potable water springs, streams, snowfields, torrents and even 38 glaciers.  Add to this the private Finnish saunas in the energy self-sufficient Olm Nature Escape apart-hotel, where 25 of the 33 ApartSuites are equipped with the saunas.   

Bathing lakes and spectacular views

In addition to the bathing lake in Olm, which is a “workout” lake with temperatures of around 13 to 20 degrees, there are the Kofler lakes in Rein in Taufers, set against a beautiful backdrop of moraine debris piles. Slightly longer is the hike to Waldner Lake in Predoi, the northernmost lake in South Tyrol. Nestling amidst the panorama of the Zillertal Alps, at 2,162 metres, the Klaussee enjoys protection from the winds, the embrace of the Jochkofel and a breathtaking view of 80 mountains over three thousand metres in the Zillertal Alps. Immersing oneself in this context is worth the effort of the walk. 

Biking and hiking trails 

The Maler Lake, at 2,500 metres, is fed by glacier meltwater and surrounded by numerous peaks over 3,000 metres and is part of the Hohe Tauern, Vedrette di Ries and Cima Dura groups. The hike, about a 20-kilometre round trip, is recommended for experienced walkers.  Some 30 minutes from Luttach and also easily accessible by e-bike, the spectacular Pojer Waterfall is a variation on the bathing theme, while Lake Neves, with its glacier water, is finally a jewel at an altitude of some1,900 metres and is accessible via a circular path.

Slow Drive, using classic cars and custom routes throughout Italy, is a surefire solution for corporate success.

A prestigious fleet of sportscars

Slow Drive is an experience that transforms classic team building and incentive events into an exciting sportscar ride through Italy’s breathtaking landscapes and beautiful small towns and villages. Combining vintage charm with innovative activities designed for the corporate world, Slow Drive's vintage car tours are a unique opportunity that is capturing the attention of the corporate world. Active throughout Italy, Slow Drive, specializes in chauffeurless vintage car hire, with a prestigious fleet of cars and is the perfect partner for tailor-made corporate events. 

Perfect for team building and incentive events

Half-day or one-day tours motivate and gratify the best sales staff, customers or most deserving employees, and there are also two-day and multi-day events alternating work sessions in meeting room with engaging fun activities, and the formula is customizable for every kind of organization.  

No logistical aspect is overlooked

Slow Drive thinks of everything: from the selection of customized itineraries on beautiful Lake Garda or through the landscapes of Tuscany, and many other locations, to the transport of the vintage cars - all convertibles - directly to the chosen location, anywhere in Italy. No logistical aspect is overlooked, such as professional mechanical assistance and the possibility of having backup cars The availability of staff is always proportionate to the number of vehicles involved in the event, which can be up to 60 cars for 130 participants. 

Vintage gadgets and technical assistance at all times

There is also a range of customizable vintage gadgets, such as leather gloves for the classic slow driver, 1960s sunglasses for the navigator, and maps with the most beautiful recommended tours, and the cars can be branded with company logos. There is also assistance for the occupation of public land at the most scenic stopping points and in historic centres and squares in towns and cities, as well as support for arranging tastings, coffee breaks and the management of all safety aspects.