April 18, 2026
Blu Hotels acquires the Acquaseria Hotel in Ponte di Legno near the Camonica Valley in Lombardy
March 30, 2022With an operation to the value of some €10 million, including renovations, the Blu Hotels Group has acquired the Acquaseria Hotel in Ponte di Legno, in the Lombardy region. The Salo-based company already managed the property
The Blu Hotel Acquaseria has always been a benchmark
"The purchase of this property, which we have been managing since 2013, marks an important step for us, underscoring the solidity of a group that, despite these two years of pandemic, has continued to plan for the future,” says the president of the company, Nicola Risatti. “The Blu Hotel Acquaseria is one of the most prestigious of the Group’s hotels, and it has always been a benchmark for anyone staying in Ponte di Legno," added Risatti
The spa has Finnish saunas and steam baths
Located just 500 meters from the center of town, the hotel has 95 rooms of different types. There is also a spa with aromatic steam baths, Finnish saunas, emotional showers and a delightful relaxation area with a herbal tea corner.
Published in Hospitality
Genoa is known for its artistic heritage as well as its great natural beauty. Spring is the best time to visit the city and be enchanted by its many treasures. From the historic centre to the maze of alleyways that reveal unexpected beauty around every corner, and from the seaside villages, where time seems to have stood still, to the numerous historical parks that are oases of peace with stunning sea views. The City Pass, which is Genoa's official tourist pass, makes it easy to customize your vacation, allowing you to choose from a variety of themed routes, and to take a bicycle or hop on public transport without having to worry about buying a ticket or waiting in line.
Euroflora is a flowering of colors, events and culture
From 23 April to 8 May Genoa will become a multi-hued garden thanks to Euroflora, one of Europe's most prestigious trade fairs. Walking around Nervi's parks and museums, which cover an area of 86,000 square metres, you can admire stunning natural masterpieces, and 250 landscape architects, horticulturists, florists, and decorators are expected to arrive in the city to turn it into a kaleidoscope of figures and colours. The scent of flowers will pervade the landscape with its centuries-old palms, olive trees, and maritime pines, as well as a magnificent array of Italian and exotic botanical species.
The Monet exhibition in the Palazzo Ducale
The colours of Euroflora are echoed by the works in the Monet exhibition at the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris, and a large lush garden awaits us at the Doge's Palace to 22 May, with 50 of Monet’s works recounting the artist’s love for nature, especially in the last phase of his life which he spent in the Giverny countryside. There are numerous iconic paintings of water lilies, weeping willows, and the Japanese bridge which the artist depicted in numerous paintings, all of which are captured through variations of light, time, and season.
Don’t miss Genoa’s magnificent Rolli palaces
The spring edition of the Rolli Days is another must-see event of the season: from May 13 to 15, 2022, the UNESCO-listed Palazzi dei Rolli historic palaces open their doors to visitors, allowing you to walk through magnificent interiors, courtyards and gardens and admire fresco cycles, late Renaissance and Baroque sculptures, and fabulous art collections. The Strada Nuova Museums: Palazzo Bianco and Palazzo Tursi, (Palazzo Rosso is currently closed for restoration), Palazzo Tobia Pallavicino, Palazzo di Francesco Grimaldi della Meridiana, and Palazzo di Nicolosio Lomellino, to name just a few, are all well worth visiting.
Published in Cities & Regions
Make these Easter holidays really special with Armani Hotel Milan’s Easter Time offer for a relaxing, sophisticated and elegant weekend break.
Spa, aperitif and an Easter menu
By reserving a room from 15 to 19 April guests will be able to pamper themselves in the panoramic Spa, enjoy an aperitif at sunset and, upon reservation, enjoy the Easter Menu by Executive Chef Francesco Mascheroni in the 7th-floor Armani Bamboo Bar.
A chocolate massage
The Armani Spa experience includes the Dolci Coccole treatment for two. This anti-stress face and body massage with chocolate is an excellent ally for the body and the mind. Fragrant cocoa is a powerful antioxidant, and the perfect way brighten your day. The 80-minute treatment ends in the relaxation area with its whirlpool bath, sauna and icefall.
Cocktail time with splendid Milan views
After the spa, guests are invited to the Bamboo Bar to enjoy a drink from the Signature Skyline Collection, the cocktail list that pays homage to the many symbolic places in Milan that can be seen from the 7th floor bar.
A menu with Easter specialties
And those who book in advance, on Sunday 17 and Monday 18 April, can also enjoy the Easter Menu both for lunch and dinner at the Bamboo Bar. On the menu a selection of Easter-themed dishes such as an Easter egg cooked at a low temperature, San Massimo reserve rice, asparagus, Robiola cheese, liquorice soil, lamb, potatoes, artichokes and a chocolate egg. This traditional menu with a new twist on the Easter theme for cosmopolitan dishes is a memorable way to celebrate this spring holiday.
The offer of the Armani Hotel Milan is available from €1,450 for two people in a Deluxe Room and also includes:
- Breakfast served at the Armani restaurant, or in the privacy of your room
- Welcome Armani Dolci Easter amenities by Guido Gobino
- Minibar
- Complimentary upgrade to a higher room category subject to availability
For information and reservations: +39 02 8883 8381 - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Published in Hospitality
If you are looking for a original, avant-garde and unique exhibition in Rome, this is for you. Open until 8 January 2023 in the Chiostro del Bramante Crazy – La Follia dell’Arte Contemporanea (Crazy - The Folly of Contemporary Art) is a collection of 21 hitherto unseen works by internationally renowned artists, and more than 11 site-specific installations. There is no prescribed route, and each room and each work will totally overwhelm the visitor, completely immersing them in this "crazy" atmosphere.
Contemporary art with a twist
Among the artists participating in this “madness” are names of the calibre of Alfredo Jaar, Chilean artist, architect, photographer and director whose videos, photos and installations all come together in perfect harmony and Lucio Fontana, one of the most important contemporary artists on the international stage. Carlos Amorales, Gianni Politi, a Roman artist who creates abstract works with traditional materials and Anne Hardy, a British artist who creates art by using recycled materials will also feature.
International artists using interesting mediums
Also on display are the abstract works of Ian Davenport, the habitable and practicable environments of Gianni Colombo and two contemporary Californian artists, David Allen Burns and Austin Young who use fruit as an artistic medium. The rooms will also be invaded by the works of Massimo Bartolini, Alfredo Pirri, Petah Coyne, Janet Echelman, Thomas Hirschhorn, Tobias Rehberger, Anri Sala, Yinka Shonibare, Sissi, Max Streicher, Pascale Marthine Tayou, Sun Yuan & Peng Yu.
The nearby 4-star Eitch Borromini is a great place to stay
This Crazy art collective is a unique event in Rome, and a few steps from the cultural site hosting the exhibition, the Eitch Borromini is a 4-star hotel. In addition to offering a magical stay thanks to its panoramic views and elegant and luxurious rooms, it allows you to easily reach the Chiostro del Bramante and the main attractions and monuments of the Eternal City.
Published in MICE & Events
Want to get married in the Eternal City or in a medieval castle or on a golden beach? Authorities in Lazio are giving €2,000 to couples getting married in the region, as they seek to salvage the wedding sector from the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The scheme, called In Lazio with love, is open to Italians and foreigners who have a religious or civil marriage in the region between 1 January and 31 December 2022.
The refund even includes the cost of the wedding rings
Couples can already make their requests for the funding. All they have to do is provide a maximum of five receipts. If accepted they will receive a €2,000 refund on money they have spent on Lazio-based wedding services. These include wedding planners, attire, venues, catering, flowers, car hire, photographers - and even the wedding rings.
Only 9,000 weddings in Lazio during the pandemic
The region has set aside a total €10m for the initiative, and applications for the refund can be made up until 31 January 2023 (or until the fund runs out). It is hoped this will boost weddings in the region which fell to 9,000 during the pandemic, compared to the over 15,000 held in the region in 2019.
“Lazio has many magical locations”
“The scheme is needed to support a sector that has suffered badly from the economic crisis,” said Nicola Zingaretti, the president of Lazio. “We have put the significant investment in place also with an eye on the tourism sector. We are aware and proud of being able to boast that in every part of our region there are many of the most magical and fascinating locations in the world thanks to our unparalleled artistic and cultural heritage. They are ideal places to celebrate a special day such as a wedding”
Wedding pictures at the Trevi Fountain or on the Appian Way
Indeed the Lazio region has no shortage of locations to choose from including a host of mediaeval hilltop towns and sand dune beaches like those that line the Circeo National Park. Then of course there is the capital city with show-stoppers for wedding pictures like the Trevi Fountan, the old Appian Way, the Coliseum and St. Peter’s Square.
“It’s time to relaunch the sector”
Valentina Corrado, Lazio’s tourism councillor added that it is time to “relaunch a sector that has been on hold for a long time. The wedding business has suffered economically during the last two years.”
Published in MICE & Events
The rebirth of Castelfalfi in Tuscany with a new 5-star hotel at the centre of the redevelopment
March 23, 2022A 5-star luxury hotel will be the protagonist of the rebirth of Castelfalfi in Tuscany, which also includes a series of fully restored villas and traditional farmhouses, available for rent and for sale. With the end of the Tui era, the 1,100-hectare estate nestled between Florence, San Gimignano and the Tyrrhenian coast, now owned by Sri Prakash Lohia, is preparing to embark on a new course.
A challenging 27-hole golf course
Far from wanting to transform the destination only into an exclusive residence for investors, the new property wants to encourage free access to Castelfalfi so that both travellers and locals can live an immersive experience in the medieval village which is over 1000 years old. Thanks also to a series of new activities including the 27-hole Castelfalfi Golf Club: the largest in the region and one of the most challenging courses in Italy.
Surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and woodlands
This little village in the Florentine countryside has an intriguing history. It would seem that its name is a contraction of Castrum Faolfi, a Lombard settlement mentioned for the first time in 754. In the 1960s it experienced a decline leading to a progressive depopulation until 2007, the year in which it was purchased by Tui AG. The German giant reinvigorated an area of 1,100 square metres to include vineyards, olive groves, woods and ponds, and a castle that was reopened after restoration works in 2014.
An enchanting region with great wines and EVOO
What makes Castelfalfi special in addition to the charm of the castle and the excellence of the buildings? The beautiful landscape that surrounds it! Like the protected area of the Carfalo stream and the hills bordered by olive trees, cypresses and rows of vines around the municipality of Montaione. This area produces excellent EVOO, Chianti DOCG wine, Poggionero IGT and Rosso Toscano IGT. And to add to all this, it is also a region of enchanting beauty!
Published in Hospitality
The new Maalot Roma Hotel, close to the Trevi Fountain, is inside the eccentric and trendy Don Pasquale Restaurant. Yes, inside. This unconventional concept of hospitality has all-day dining and is named after the opera by the great opera composer Donizetti who lived in the building for nine years.
A colourful and relaxing ambience
The Maalot Roma Hotel has thirty rooms and suites, each one different from the other, and guests find a "home sweet home" atmosphere, the bright reds, dark blues and yellows of the elaborate fabrics, also used as wallpaper, creating a refined and joyful ambience.
Many of the rooms and suites have fireplaces
Many rooms have fireplaces and bookcases, desks and bedside tables in precious woods embellished with gold leaf, and they all have practical walk-in closets and marble bathrooms. The basement gym has mirrors and ebonized wood panelling, giving it a comfortable and cozy atmosphere.
In the heart of the most authentic part of Rome
"The new Maalot Roma Hotel and its restaurant Don Pasquale are in the heart of the most authentic part of Rome, - says General Manager Edoardo Officioso - our aim to become a benchmark for a non-conformist clientele seeking out beauty and good food. Our guests find themselves in a vibrant atmosphere made of colours, art, taste and attentive, friendly but discreet service."
A hotel inside a cosmopolitan restaurant
The concept is quirky: a hotel inside a restaurant, as the Don Pasquale is the belly and the heart of the hotel. With seating for 60 and black bamboo armchairs, you can stop by for a coffee, enjoy breakfast or lunch or sip a cup of tea in the afternoon, relax with an cocktail before dinner and then linger with an after-dinner aperitif. The atmosphere is informal, chic and hip but affordable, and with that cosmopolitan and eccentric air typical of places that attract travellers from all over the world: the perfect place to meet and socialize, for Romans and non-Romans.
Two more SHEDIR Collection hotels will open in Rome
The SHEDIR Collection Hotel Maalot Roma is the third SHEDIR Collection property in a portfolio that includes the Capri Tiberio Palace and the Vilòn Roma, while two more openings are planned for the Eternal City: the Palazzo Umiltà Roma and the Palazzo Roma. "Our hotels allow customers to experience a blend of hospitality, intimacy and authenticity - says Claudio Ceccherelli CEO, Shedir Group – we offer highly professional, yet personalized, sincere and empathetic service."
Published in Food&Wine
The Compagnia dei Cammini’s immersive walks for the visually impaired, blind and hard of hearing
March 21, 2022Compagnia dei Cammini has opened its trips to disabled people thanks to a collaboration with NoisyVision, a non-profit organization that supports people with visual and/or hearing impairments. These immersive walking tours will allow those who are partially sighted, blind or hearing impaired to walk together with walkers without sensory difficulties.
The exchange of experiences and sensations is very enriching
“Walking with someone who can not see means savouring the wonder of the journey even more,” says Luca Gianotti, coordinator of Compagnia dei Cammini, “Accompanying people with sensory impairments does not mean having to constantly be at their disposal,” explains Dario Sorgato, founder of NoisyVision. “Although there are some basic precautions, accompanying the visually impaired is much simpler and more natural than you would imagine. And the exchange of experiences and sensations is very enriching for the group."
credits: Milena Garda
The first walk is in the southern Salento region
Compagnia dei Cammini’s first trip open to all will be in Salento from 23 to 30 March, a week of walking between olive groves, terraces, Mediterranean scrub and dry stone walls, with very modest gradients, partly near the sea and overlooking the magnificent cliffs from which you can see Greece and Albania.
The Brigands’ Walk between Lazio and Abruzzo
The second trip open to all will be the Brigands’ Walk between Lazio and Abruzzo from 26 May to 2 June, on the ancient border between the Papal State and the Kingdom of Two Sicilies, passing through little towns, nature reserves and Apennine landscapes to discover an intense and authentic land.
For more information: www.cammini.eu
Published in Tours
B&B Hotels has some simple tips to make the most of springtime holidays in Italy, made even easier thanks to the 50 plus hotel in the Group, at unbeatable prices only on hotelbb.com.
A Lake Garda break at the B&B Hotel Affi Lago di Garda
Lake Garda, nestled between the hills, the Po Valley and the northern mountainous regions, is the perfect destination in which to discover enchanted landscapes. A region made for exploring its villages, immersing yourself in its traditions and savouring its Easter culinary delights. The B&B Hotel Affi Lago di Garda is located in a quiet and strategic position, perfect for resting after a day spent on the lake or in one of the nearby amusement parks such as Gardaland, Caneva Acquapark or Parco Natura Viva. And the romantic city of Verona is only a 20-minute drive away.
Discover Lake Maggiore from the B&B Hotel Malpensa Lago Maggiore
Leave the alarm clock at home, sleep in, change the rhythms of your day and indulge in a quiet trip out of town near Lake Maggiore. The B&B Hotel Malpensa Lago Maggiore allows you to visit some of the most fascinating tourist destinations in the area. Strategically located not far from the lake, the city of Varese and the Ticino Valley Natural Park, the Hotel Malpensa Lago Maggiore offers its guests maximum comfort in its Superior rooms, Suite rooms and Junior Suites.
The B&B Hotel Arezzo in the heart of Tuscany
The Easter weekend could be the right time to visit a Tuscan pearl like Arezzo. The B&B Hotel Arezzo is perfect for discovering the historic centre of the city and some of the most fascinating towns in the region such as Cortona. The hotel has 79 spacious and comfortable rooms, free parking and a gym open 24/7. In addition, the Lo Zafferano restaurant has a menu from which you can choose fantastic traditional dishes.
Five Florence B&B Hotels for Easter
To celebrate Easter in a different way, Florence is certainly one of the most original destinations: Easter Sunday is celebrated with the Scoppio del Carro tradition when an 18th-century gilded chariot is placed in front of the churchyard of the Cathedral and is “exploded” by fireworks. It is a spectacular custom that is preceded every year by a colourful parade-procession of musicians and flag wavers. And you can choose from one of the five different B&B Hotels in the city: B&B Hotel Florence Laurus al Duomo, B&B Hotel Florence Pitti Palace at Ponte Vecchio, and B&B Hotel Florence City Centre.
Published in Experiences & Tips
Coming soon: the new Quellenhof See Lodge, a resort with tropical character at 600 meters asl
March 18, 2022An experiential vacation in a tropical atmosphere, at 600 meters asl. April will see the opening of the 5-star Quellenhof See Lodge in San Martino, in Passiria in the Val Pusteria valley about 50 kilometres from Bolzano. This new project comes from the Dorfer family, owners of the Quellenhof Luxury Resorts (Passeier and Lazise).
Luxury villas in an artificial lake
The new complex will be dedicated to couples, groups of friends and families with children over 14. With a range of different solutions, one programme is BalanceLiving which promises quality living comfort in a unique design context. There are four extra luxury villas in the middle of the artificial lake each with a terrace, private pool with Jacuzzi, Finnish sauna, relaxation beds and a hammock suspended over the water.
An underwater restaurant and a spa
Five of the twenty-six suites have direct access to the lake, and there are two restaurants, one of which, the Underwater Restaurant, is in the water, and there is also a Bistro. To complete the offer there are 800 square metres of spa and 4,500 square metres of swimming lake reserved for guests only.
A tropical island in the Alps
"We wanted to create a place that could inspire people looking for a vacation with character, people who love the mountains, but are also curious to try new adventures,” says Heinrich Dorfer. So we got the idea of creating a tropical island in an Alpine context with a comfortable and pleasant microclimate.
Beauty, luxury and exclusivity
“The added value of the project is to have recreated a unique environment, with palm trees and lush vegetation. It is a true mountain vacation with a seaside air. The architectural choice is a personal plus, because over the years I have traveled a lot ,and I have collected all the curiosities I came across, creating something that belongs to me and that I can share with those who love beauty and luxury, as well as exclusivity.”
Published in Experiences & Tips
Latest articles
Latest Video
Castellabate
Castellabate is a charming hilltop town located in southern …
300Castellabate
Castellabate is a charming hilltop town located in southern …
300- Our Partners -
Welcome to Italy
Italian Blue Route
Italian Blue Route
