La Badia, a new acquisition by Pellicano Hotels Italy’s latest acquisition in the Umbrian hills just outside Orvieto, will open in 2027. 

Just ten minutes from the Rome to Florence motorway

This €43 million investment includes both the acquisition and the extensive restoration of the property, located just 10 minutes from the motorway linking Rome to Florence. The property - a former Benedictine abbey whose origins date back to between the 6th and 12th centuries  includes a rare dodecagonal tower, a historic Romanesque church, extensive gardens, and almost 30 hectares of unspoiled woods and land. The hotel, which previously operated as a 4-star establishment with 27 rooms, will be completely redesigned according to Marie-Louise Sciò's vision of timeless elegance, enhancing the unique and original character of the complex.

Experiences firmly rooted in the territory

After the renovation it will have 24 rooms set in gardens designed to respect the spirit and serenity of the ancient abbey. Facilities will include an outdoor swimming pool, a spa with treatment cabins, a boutique, a tennis court, a fitness area, a restaurant and a bar. The group has also acquired an adjacent property, overlooking Orvieto, which will enrich the overall offer for guests, reinforcing Pellicano's commitment to creating engaging experiences that are firmly rooted in the territory.

“Our passion is discovering marvels in unexpected and discreet corners of Italy”

The project marks an exciting new chapter in Pellicano Hotels' mission: to discover the most unexpected and authentic Italian destinations, far from the traditional tourist routes. At the same time, it reinforces the group's role as custodian of Italy’s heritage, reinterpreting it for the most demanding contemporary traveller, while remaining deeply faithful to the essence of each place. “La Badia is a project that reflects our passion for discovering marvels in unexpected and discreet corners of Italy,- says Marie-Louise Sciò, ceo and creative director of Pellicano Hotels Italy. -This acquisition, along with La Suvera in Pievescola - scheduled to reopen in 2027 - is part of a broader path of growth for the group that is only just beginning.”

Orvieto has storied traditions and unspoiled charm 

The Group's decision to invest in La Badia stems from the desire to offer travellers an authentic experience, an immersion in the varied cultural heritage of the extraordinary area of Upper Lazio and Lower Umbria. The magnificent town of Orvieto, with origins dating back to the Etruscans, has a layered history, storied traditions and unspoiled charm, which is what defines the Pellicano Hotels experience. This allows guests to go beyond the surface, get in touch with the local culture and explore the surroundings - including Bolsena, Civita di Bagnoregio and Lubriano - in a deeply enriching way, in evocative natural settings.

ITA Airways is the official airline carrier of the Venice International Film Festival to 2027.

Biennale Cinema from 27 August to 6 September

Biennale Cinema 2025 is scheduled from 27 August to 6 September, and the airline's participation confirms its role as an ambassador of the excellence of Italy and its cultural heritage in the world. Supporting Italian cinema, art and culture also represents a coherent choice that is closely integrated into ITA's corporate identity.

“ITA’s central role as an ambassador of Made in Italy” 

"This is more than just a partnership, it is an honour and a true tribute to one of the most iconic events in the world in Venice, a city that encapsulates all the elements for which our country is unique in the world, namely history, excellence, creativity and style,- said Joerg Eberhart, ITA’s managing director and general manager. -Backing such a prestigious event confirms ITA's central role not only as a connecting carrier between Italy and the rest of the world, but also as an ambassador of Made in Italy. The Venice Biennale International Film Festival, a global showcase of art and culture, reflects the values of innovation, style and culture that have always characterized our country and that ITA Airways is committed to promoting daily."

Bringing together flight and cinema

ITA Airways will be present at the Venice Lido with an immersive installation, conceived as an invitation to fly into the collective imagination of Italian cinema: a contamination between words, images and sounds. Because flight and cinema share the same spirit of exploration of exciting horizons, known and unknown, mental and physical, far and near, to be reached with the company and to be dreamt of through Italian movies and with the same desire: to reach the destination while sitting in an armchair.

ITA Airways’ new menus in Business Class

ITA Airways continues to invest in innovation and service excellence, offering a personaliszed and unforgettable travel experience in the name of Italian quality and tradition. This commitment is reflected in the partnerships with iconic brands: Brunello Cucinelli who designed the uniforms of the crew and ground staff, Walter de Silva who designed the interiors of the new aircraft, and the renowned Italian star chefs who each season take care of the gastronomic offerings on board. The new summer menu designed by chef Moreno Cedroni have been in Business Class on intercontinental flights into and out of of Italy ince 21 June.

In Rome Fiumicino, Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, Bologna, and Turin airports it will shortly be be once again possible to carry bottles of liquids - perfumes, wines, etc. -  exceeding 100 ml on board in hand luggage. This move, announced by ENAC, the Italian Civil Aviation Authority, which will undoubtedly be welcomed by passengers, is thanks to the use of new-generation scanners.

The software of the new-generation scanners immediately recognizes any explosives, even if they are stored in a suitcase, triggering an alarm. This will make it possible for passengers to carry bottles of liquids of all sizes on board on hand luggage.

Probably from the end of July or early August

The change could take place between the end of July and the beginning of August, although it is possible that the timeframe could be extended due to bureaucratic problems. The introduction of the 100 ml limit for liquids in hand luggage was introduced in 2006 after an anti-terrorism plan was unveiled that used liquid explosives disguised in ordinary soft drink bottles.

These are the cities in Italy with the highest tourist taxes, and what you need to know and should do before you travel. 

Tourist taxes can go unnoticed

When planning a holiday in Italy it’s easy to fall for the beauty of Rome, Florence, Milan and Venice. But one detail that can go unnoticed until the final bill is the tourist tax.  So, what exactly is it and why do tourists have to pay it? Tourism brings enormous economic benefits for a destination, but it also comes with social and environmental costs. Italian cities, overwhelmed by millions of visitors each year, use the tourist taxes to fund public services, urban maintenance, transportation, safety, and cultural initiatives, ensuring that tourism doesn’t weigh solely on residents’ shoulders.

Taxes have risen this year

This year several Italian cities have updated, and in some cases doubled, their rates. Milan now charges up to €7 per night per person in luxury hotels while Rome, in anticipation of the Jubilee, raised the cap to €10 per night in 5-star hotels. Florence is close behind with €8 for high-end stays, in Bologna the maximum is €7, and in Venice the tax varies seasonally reaching €5 for stays in 5-star hotels. This means that for a couple on a four-night holiday in an Italian art city the spend could tot up to €80 just on tourist tax.

Reductions for children and long stays

These tourist taxes also apply to short-term rentals, holiday homes, and B&Bs are also subject to these charges.  Some cities do offer reductions for children, longer stays, or travelers visiting for health or study reasons. Others cap the number of nights subject to tax like Verona where the tax ranges from €1 to €5 depending on the hotel category, while vacation rentals pay a fixed fee. In Venice, the system is even more layered: in addition to the regular tourist tax, there’s also an “access contribution” or daily charge aimed at limiting overtourism.

Plan ahead by calculating the cost 

So, the advice is to plan ahead by using the right tools like the Holidu calculator (https://www.holidu.it/magazine/citta-piu-care-al-mondo-per-tasse-di-soggiorno) to know exactly how much the tourist tax is going to add to a holiday. And then enjoy worry-free stays because Italy, with all its wonders, always delivers.     

Work on the expansion of the passenger terminal at Venice Airport is due to end by May 2026.

The new terminal will overlook the lagoon

Work on the new terminal is advancing at a fast pace. The first part of a development in several interconnected phases, is located adjacent to the air terminal, to which it will be connected by a suspended corridor, and consists of a 14,300 sqm building with large bright areas overlooking the aircraft apron and the lagoon. The investment for this part of the airport development is approximately €64 million. 

Four levels with boarding gates and passenger services 

Dedicated mainly to Schengen flights, the new building is on the north side of the airport and is architecturally and stylistically aligned with the current terminal which was inaugurated in 2002. Using brick, wood, steel, copper, and Istrian stone, the facade faces the lagoon with a double-pitch profile that recalls Venice’s Arsenal building. The project is on four levels: a basement level for warehouses, a ground floor with four gates for remote boarding with runway buses, a first floor with six gates serving three piers for aircraft boarding, a mezzanine level, and a second floor with about 1,000 sqm for passenger services and commercial use such as refreshment outlets, shops, relaxation areas, and a nursery.

“The aim is a progressive reduction of CO2 production”

“The upgrading of the airport infrastructure is proceeding according to plan, with homogeneous architectural criteria compared to the existing one, and technical solutions aimed at the progressive reduction of CO2 production, with the goal of achieving zero emissions by 2030,- says Enrico Marchi, president of the Save Group. -The guiding principle of this expansion is the quality of the service we offer our passengers, starting from the style of the terminal, which is airy and bright and with commercial areas that include international brands as well as local products, with a view to personalizing the overall experience for our users."