The Lazio region in the centre of Italy truly appeals in all four seasons, and its Turano Valley offers timeless escapes for nature lovers. 

The Turano Valley is just an hour and a half from Rome

In summer Lazio is a huge draw with its coastal towns and beaches but many visitors, especially those seeking nature’s quiet rhythms, authenticity and slower-paced travel, discover there are charming inland towns and villages to explore. Like in the Turano Valley, which is just an hour and a half from Rome in the province of Rieti, and invites travelers to slow down and immerse themselves in a world of scenic paths, authentic traditions, and charming small towns.

Solar-powered eco-friendly cruises on Lake Tora

One is Castel di Tora, which is perched dramatically above Lake Turano, a lovely medieval village that clings to a rocky promontory, with postcard-perfect views in every direction. Its old alleyways climb pas stone houses to the central square where locals gather, and the little Church of San Giovanni Evangelista. Its biggest attraction is the lake, which is ideal for kayaking, canoeing, and for outings on the new eco-friendly cruises aboard the solar-powered Thiora boat. This offers narrated cruises, sunset aperitifs and educational tours year-round and is a refreshing way to rediscover the lake’s beauty, myths, and biodiversity. On June 21-22 and June 28 Casel di Tora will host the Turano Blues Festival which will echo across the lake, attracting lovers of music.  

Traditional wild boar ragu pasta and family-run B&Bs

Just ten kilometres away Paganico Sabino is another charming hill town. The Grotto Trail winds through woodlands and rocky outcrops, revealing natural caverns like the Sotterra and Ronoriu, once rustic shelters and now open to visitors. Paganico also delights food lovers with traditional dishes like pettole (small fried dough balls), pasta with wild boar ragù, and local cheeses. There are also many guesthouses and family-run B&Bs in and around the town.

Collalto Sabino has an annual pilgrimage every 24 June

Further along the valley, Collalto Sabino, officially one of Italy’s “Most Beautiful Villages”, is encircled by Medieval walls, with cobbled streets and mountain views. Its Monte San Giovanni in Fistola Trail leads to the ruins of a Medieval church and a Roman sanctuary, which is honored every year during the annual June 24 pilgrimage that turns the quiet hilltop into a stage where past and present meet.  Culinary traditions here lean toward grilled meats, lentils from nearby Santo Stefano, and handmade pasta dishes with truffles and prized porcini mushrooms. More than enough to satisfy even the most demanding of gourmets.

The new B&B HOTEL Latina is the Group’s tenth hotel in the Lazio region.

Perfect for business and leisure travellers

In the heart of the low-lying Agro Pontino south of Rome, the new B&B HOTEL Latina is an important milestone in the Group's growth path as it continues to expand in Italy. The hotel has 75 modern and functional rooms, designed to meet the needs of both leisure and business travellers. Thanks to its strategic location between Rome and Naples, close to the area's main industrial and commercial hubs, it is a perfect choice for business travellers. It also lends itself to leisure stays, and is great for families, thanks to its proximity to theme parks, natural areas and archaeological sites and to towns like Latina.

Latina is close to beaches and the Circeo National Park

Latina, a young capital but rich in history, is a city worth discovering. Founded in the 1930s, it preserves many examples of rationalist architecture, and it is close to the Circeo National Park, the beaches on the Lazio coastline, and charming villages such as Sermoneta and Ninfa, with its famous botanical garden. Every morning at B&B HOTEL Latina guests can enjoy a ‘Better than a brunch’ buffet breakfast, with fresh and selected product s and the rooms, furnished in contemporary style, are comfortable and designed for a pleasant and relaxing stay.

“Our 10th hotel in Lazio and 80th in Italy” 

“The opening of the B&B HOTEL Latina is an important step for our Group: it is our tenth hotel in Lazio and the 80th in Italy -  a milestone that testifies to the solidity of our model and the trust that the market places in us.-  says Liliana Comitini, president and CEO of B&B HOTELS Italy, Slovenia and Hungary. -We are thrilled to bring our idea of smart and accessible hospitality to a new location, which has so much to offer to business and leisure travellers. We will continue to invest with the aim of reaching more and more cities and offering quality hospitality to an increasing number of guests."

TH Resorts is looking ahead to the 2025-25 winter and has already opened sales for the 2025-2026 snow season.  

A benchmark for family winter hospitality 

Sales have opened for several facilities in some of the most important ski resorts in Northern Italy, from Courmayeur to Campiglio and from La Thuile to Corvara, Marilleva, Pila and Sestriere. This strategic choice that consolidates TH's position as a benchmark for family winter hospitality. One of the main novelties for the season is the extension of the exclusive “All You Can Ski” formula to TH Sestriere, a historic propertycreated for the 2006 Winter Olympics, which thus joins TH Pila and TH Marilleva.

Childcare is included in the package

The “All You Can Ski” package includes 20 hours of skiing lessons per week with federal instructors; ski passes at special prices; entertainment and childcare from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with accompaniment to lessons, lunch service and afternoon and evening activities; dressing and post-course pick-up by TH staff.

There is also a club for infants 

For little ones aged three to five, the ‘Baby Ski Play’ service is available in the Pila and Marilleva resorts, which integrates a group ski course, accompaniment on the slopes and complete assistance for tailor-made experiences for families.TH also offers families the Infant Club (for children aged six months to three years in the resorts of Pila, Marilleva, La Thuile and Sestriere.

“Sales were up +15% in 2024/2025”

“With the early opening of sales and the extension of the ‘All You Can Ski’ formula to an iconic resort like Sestriere, we are strengthening our commitment in the snow segment,- says COO Salvatore Piazza. -All our winter resorts are located in strategic positions from Madonna di Campiglio to Courmayeur. After a +15% growth in the 2024/2025 season, we expect to continue on this trajectory: snow remains a strategic asset for the group's development". In view of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics, the facilities in Borca di Cadore will also play an important role in terms of accommodation and the development of mountain-related services, in an area that is increasingly at the centre of the international scene.

Vista Ostuni has welcomed the first guests, marking the brand's debut in Puglia. 

A Leading Hotels of the world member

The 5-star luxury property, owned by the Passera family and part of The Leading Hotels of the World portfolio, is in an exceptional location, just a few steps from the White City of Ostuni, set in a grove of centuries-old olive trees, just 20 minutes from Brindisi airport. The subject of a major restoration in full respect of its original architecture, the former tobacco factory is an iconic structure dating back to the 14th century, with a long history linked to the local community, and has always been a place of hospitality.

“Restoring it was a true act of love”

“This opening is a very important step in what has been an exciting journey for us,- said Bianca Passera, president of the group. -From the moment we discovered the historic building, we recognized its incredible potential. Restoring it was a true act of love which allowed us to honour its legacy by working with talented Italian craftsmen to give it a new lease of life. The result is an iconic place rediscovered in a new and timeless guise."

28 suites and rooms and two restaurants

On five floors on a total area of 6,000 sqm, plus 1,200 sqm of terraces and three hectares of garden, the 28 suites and rooms have an average surface area of 60 sqm. There are two restaurants, the Bianca Bistrot - an all-day dining garden restaurant - and “Berton al Vista” where chef Andrea Berton's cuisine embraces regionality through excellent raw materials.

Three swimming pools, a spa and a fitness gym

There is also the Infinity Bar on the rooftop with a breathtaking view over the city of Ostuni, the centuries-old olive trees and the sea, and the Chiostro Bar for a drink in a cozy and secluded setting. The property has three swimming pools, two of which are outdoor (an infinity pool on the terrace and another in the garden) and one indoor pool as well as a Spa, beauty centre and fitness gym with state-of-the-art equipment. The rooms have high vaulted ceilings and windows opening onto the olive grove and Ostuni and the local materials have been interpreted by master craftsmen and artisans.  Vista Ostuni is a concentration of technology and comfort masterfully integrated into a building of great historical and architectural value.

Service is at the highest level

Open all year round, the hotel boosts the Vista brand's commitment to luxury hospitality. By embracing its core values, the brand expresses a growing commitment to responsible hospitality that creates added value for locals through the redevelopment of historic buildings, innovation, sustainability, and the art of hospitality. At the heart of the experience is a service of excellence that is based on the beauty of the area and the appeal of the destination, and which is also confirmed by its inclusion in The Leading Hotels of the World portfolio.

Wizz Air to connect London Luton to Milan and Rome for the first time from 26 October.

New direct daily flights

Wizz Air is to boost its UK-Italy routes with the forthcoming opening of two new direct daily connections from London Luton to Milan Malpensa and Rome Fiumicino: these will be the Hungarian low-cost airline's first flights between Luton airport and Italy. The two new routes will be operational from 26 October with daily frequencies, which become double on the busiest days - Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Tickets are already on sale.

Italy is Wizz Air’s first market

Italy is confirmed as Wizz Air's first market in terms of the number of passengers carried, while the UK hosts one of the company's most important operational bases London Luton Airport - the carrier's first UK base, which opened in 2017.

“Italy is performing well in passenger demand”

"Italy and the UK now represent two key bases in Wizz Air's international growth. The introduction of additional connections between Milan, Rome and London, also flying out of Luton Airport, is a reflection of our strategy to strengthen in the most profitable markets, where Italy stands out as performing well in terms of both growth potential and passenger demand," said Salvatore Gabriele Imperiale, corporate communications manager Wizz Air.

10.5 million bookings in first 7 months

With more than 13 million seats on offer by 2025 and over 210 active routes to and from Italy, the Italian market remains the most important for Wizz Air globally, and the airline intends to continue to invest heavily in the future. In the first seven months of 2025, the low-cost airline operated almost 50,000 flights from and to Italy, maintaining a completion rate of 99.7% and registering over 10.5 million bookings, a growth of +9.1% compared to the same period last year.

The Sentieri e Pensieri (Paths and Thoughts) literary festival, organized by the municipality of Santa Maria Maggiore this year reaches the milestone of 13 editions. 

The Festival is planned for 17 to 25 August 

In the province of Verbania in Piedmont the 2025 Festival will consist of a preview on 17 August, with the main body of the festival from Monday 18 to Monday 25 August, consisting of numerous appointments and prestigious guests. All the events will take place on the stage in the enchanting Villa Antonia Park. Many themes will be addressed in the new edition of the festival organized in Santa Maria Maggiore which is an Italian Touring Club Orange Flag town.

For audiences of all ages

From science to politics, from the world of stories to the climate, essays and novels, there will also be a special events dedicated to art while the much-awaited Sentieri e Pensieri 2.0 (Paths and Thoughts 2.0) section will be aimed at a transversal audience of all ages. There will also be the fourth edition of the Santa Maria Maggiore Podcast Award.  The calendar of the 2025 edition of Sentieri e Pensieri, created in 2013 under the aegis of the International Turin Book Fair and now organized by the Municipality of Santa Maria Maggiore with the support and patronage of the Piedmont Region and the Piedmont Regional Council, will be of the highest quality and appeal.  

It is possible to reserve seats online

In the event of bad weather the events will be held in the Teatro Comunale and they will all be streamed on the Facebook page www.facebook.com/santamariamaggioreturismo and on the YouTube channel www.youtube.com/SantaMariaMaggioreTurismo. This year it is possible to reserve seats by 10 a.m. on the day of the event (8 p.m. on the previous day for morning events). Reservations, which are not compulsory but highly recommended, can be made by filling out a simple form that can be accessed from the programme published online at: www.santamariamaggiore.info/sentieri.

Cold bathing in the Aurina Valley lakes in Caminata di Tures, Alto Adige 

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.

Hospitality and catering will be in the spotlight at the Longarone Fair from 6-8 November 2025. 

A fair focused on mountain hospitality and catering

The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics are approaching, and Longarone Fiere is working together with partners and stakeholders to prepare the area in the best possible way to welcome this great event. In fact, Dolomiti HORECA, the trade fair for hospitality and catering in the mountains and more, will be held in the Longarone Exhibition Centre, a 40-minbute drive from Belluno, on 6-7-8 October to promote the area’s many attractions. 

A roadmap for the 2026 Winter Olympics

The fair is an opportunity for hoteliers and restaurateurs to meet with the companies that supply goods and services to this important sector. Hospitality and catering starts with the work of the operators attending Dolomiti HORECA, now in its fifth edition. The geographical area of greatest interest mainly involves the mountainous and hilly areas of the Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Trentino-Alto Adige regions. It is a young trade fair, created to accompany hospitality professionals along the roadmap for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Rural tourism is the key to a sustainable future, enhancing nature, culture and territory with accommodation and recreational activities. Dolomiti HORECA is ideally located in Longone, between the Dolomites and the UNESCO hills of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano.

Three days with B2B meetings and masterclasses 

Thanks to the collaboration with numerous partners representing the entire Ho.Re.Ca. world, the three days will feature B2B meetings, masterclasses, and in-depth analysis for operators. And for the world of pizza making the challenge is on with competitions organized by Dolomiti Cup Show and masterclasses with Tiziana Garbo, Antonella Amodio, Gianfranco Iervolino, Vito De Vita, Helga Liberto and Enrico De Nigris, also in the role of training coordinator. Go to the official website for information and contact details at: www.longaronefiere.it/expo-dolomiti-horeca

History and mystery will be on display in the Padernello Castle near Brescia on 3 September, 25 October and 15 November 2025.

Secret passages and hidden rooms

his exclusive experience of history and mystery will be on display in the ancient donjon of the elegant manor house in the Lower Bresciana region. Padernello Castle, like any self-respecting ancient residence, hides mysterious and inaccessible places: secret passages, hidden rooms where people once sought refuge from danger, and stories that echo within the walls as in a timeless fairy tale

Guided tours through the Castle’s history

For three days the fascinating tower of the manor house will be open to visitors with exclusive guided tours of the castle and its ancient keep. The experience begins with the entrance on the original drawbridge of Padernello Castle, unchanged by the passage of centuries. Beyond the manor hall in the square courtyard, which is porticoed on two sides, every stone recounts stories of nobles, knights and ladies who lived, loved and fought here.  The exclusive guided tours are a complete journey through layers of history: from the main rooms of the castle to the ascent to the ancient donjon, reached by climbing up ancient wooden stairs that creak underfoot to lead to the top of the manor's highest tower. From this perspective the view sweeps over the ancient agricultural village of Padernello. The unprecedented visit will reveal the history of the manor from a new point of view, combining the beauty of the noble rooms with the emotion of the inaccessible tower.

The tours must be booked online

The restoration that has brought Padernello Castle back to life from the sleep of abandonment since 2006 has revealed surprising treasures: frescoed ceilings, 15th-century and 16th-century rooms that whisper of yesteryear and an elegant 18th-century staircase. Guided tours can be booked exclusively on the website: https://www.castellodipadernello.it/eventi-e-mostre/