The 2023 ACI Airports Council International Europe winners for the best Italian airports found Rome’s Fiumicino and Milan’s Linate proudly picking up two of the top prizes.

Rome’s Fiumicino took the coveted first prize in the Over 40 Million Passengers Category. Aiming for net zero by 2030, Fiumicino also cooperates with start-ups to foster creative problem solving. And it is the first airport in the world to issue a sustainability-linked bond, a pioneering solution for achieving sustainability commitments.

Linate Airport took first place in the 5-10 Million Passenger Category for the excellent of its sustainability efforts and, like Fiumicino, its commitment to net zero by 2030.  Linate also got kudos for its passenger-centric approach and dedication to seamless and secure travel by investing in innovative solutions like Explosive Detection Systems for Cabin Baggage and FaceBoarding services.

Pamela McCourt Francescone
Executive Editor

Monreale, famous for its gold Byzantine mosaics and Norman architecture, is a 12th-century city less than fifteen minutes from Palermo. 

The Cathedral is a UNESCO site 

Famous the world over for its splendid Cathedral with its over 6,000 square metres of golden mosaics, in 2015 UNESCO added it to the World Heritage Site list as part of the Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale.  Anyone visiting Monreale, which is on a high hill overlooking Palermo, is there to visit the Cathedral. And to do so they will find themselves on the little town’s main square which also has the Monastery of St. Benedict.   The Cathedral is in three different styles, Arab, Norman and Byzantine, and has a wide nave ending at the main apse. 

Golden mosaics and a majestic Christ Pantocrator

The jewel in its crown are the famous mosaics. There are over 130 of these gold Byzantine mosaics commissioned by William II, and made by Venetian craftsmen who, it has been estimated, used 2,200 kilos of pure gold. Depicting episodes from the Old Testament, the New Testament and the lives of the saints, they are divided into cycles and each one tells a story. The most important mosaic is the Christ Pantocrator (ruler over all) at the end of the nave. This huge mosaic creates a stunning visual effect with a half-height portrait of Christ, his left hand holding a book in Latin, while his right hand is raised in blessing.

There are splendid views from the roof of the cathedral

From the roof of the Cathedral there are splendid views of the cloister, the monastery, the city of Monreale, Palermo and the Conca d'Oro, which is Palmero’s coastline with its groves of citrus trees. The Bendectine Cloister, each side of which has 26 double arches - many decorated with mosaics or reliefs and with beautiful carved Romanesque capitals - is the world’s most striking and largest group of sculptures to survive from Norman times. The fountain, a tall column carved like a stylized palm tree, was once used by the monks to wash their hands before entering the refectory. 

Monreale is famous for its crusty bread

Monreale is also famous for its bread which is subjected to a double rising and is very crusty. Many residents of Palermo drive up to the hill town every day to pick up freshly baked loaves. 

Slow Drive offers exciting new ways to explore Italy in self-drive vintage rental cars.

Exploring well-trodden and lesser-known routes

Picture yourself cruising in a convertible spider, the wind tousling your hair as you journey through captivating historical Italian landscapes that transport you back in time. Welcome to the world of Slow Drive, a specialised company offering self-drive vintage rental cars. Explore well-trodden paths and embark on surprising routes, commencing from some of Northern Italy's most enchanting destinations. From Lake Garda, where you can set off to explore Brescia, the Italian Capital of Culture 2023, along with Bergamo. Then on to captivating Lake Como and the artistic Tuscan cities of Florence, Pisa, and Siena, the illustrious Verona, and the Valpolicella region and arriving in Padua and Savona.

Ph Credit Alexandra Muresan

Rent the car of your dreams

Each chosen location, serving as your starting point to rent one of Slow  Drive’s dream rental cars—such as the striking fire-red Alfa Romeo Duetto Osso di Seppia or the refined Giulietta Spider convertible—unveils a blend of renowned and unconventional routes. These routes are ideal for couples, friends, families, or even solo adventurers. The array of available cars from Slow Drive is extensive, ranging from the sparkling Triumph Spitfire, to be driven with diva-like sunglasses and vintage gloves, to the charming VW Beetle Cabriolet. And you can even relish a day on the road in the timeless VW T2 minibus.

Thematic and imaginative itineraries

For those seeking a guided experience, Slow Drive offers captivating vintage tours. After selecting your desired car model and trip duration (half day, full day, or weekend), join Slow Drive guides on thematic and imaginative itineraries, steering away from heavily trafficked areas to truly savour the joy of driving. Cross the stunning landscapes and hidden villages of Tuscany or bask in the allure of Lake Garda's beauty. For information: www.slowdrive.it. 

Over 40 kilometres of new cycle routes to explore the less crowded beaches and oldest villages on the Sassari coastline of Sardinia.

Crystal clear seas, coastal pine forests and digital maps

All this is possible in Budoni, the village in Sardinia’s Gallura district, which has for some time now been focusing on sustainability, the rediscovery of traditions in a modern key, and the valorization of the inestimable natural heritage it preserves. With its crystal-clear seas and coastal pine forests, cyclists can use both digital maps and the hundred new-generation bicycle racks distributed along the itineraries. These new itineraries can be enjoyed on e-bike, winding for over 40 kilometres, far from smog, traffic and pollution, through the ancient villages of Budoni. 

“Designed for cycle tourists who prefer seasons of the year other than summer”

Alessandro Fiore, Destination manager of Budoni Wellcome, explains:

"The development of routes for lovers of two wheels or long walks makes us particularly proud. We accompany visitors as they discovery our area, distributing our guests in the different parts of our destination. These routes are also designed for cycle tourists who prefer seasons of the year other than summer to move around, when our territory reveals its deepest nature, rich in history, colours and perfumes.”  

Komoot-mapped cycle and walking routes

Great attention is also paid to those who prefer to move around on foot, with three trekking paths that allow them to discover the magnificence of the cosatal and inland areas. All in total safety thanks to the mapping of all the routes on Komoot, one of the most authoritative outdoor platforms in the world. They will also find an ample number of signs with QR codes that at all times indicate the precise position, the route travelled and the time remaining.  Along the way there are also numerous refreshment points where it is possible to stop and enjoy typical local.

Lake Orta, surely Piedmont’s most romantic lake, is close to the Swiss border, among the green forests and rocky foothills of the Italian Alps. 

The lake is just an hour from Milan

Yes, the Piedmont region has the great lakes of Como and Maggiore, and the Veneto has Lake Garda, and Lake Orta is lesser known, which is what makes it more intimate and laidback.  Just 40 kilometres from Milan’s Malpensa airport, the town of Orta San Giulio is on the lake and is considered one of the most beautiful small towns in Italy. Strolling through its characteristic streets past old palaces, elegant arcades and villas, shops and local taverns, you will discover all its old-world charm.

Frescoes of St. Francis of Assisi and Pella

Located in the hilly area above Orta San Giulio, the Sacro Monte d'Orta is dedicated to St Francis of Assisi. Here starts the route to the 20 chapels that are frescoed with episodes from the saint’s life, and of course there are breathtaking views over the lake and Orta San Giulio. Pella, situated on the opposite shore to Orta San Giulio, is a small village with a magnificent perspective across this romantic lake and to the island of San Giulio.  

An island for meditation

The mysterious island of San Giulio in Lake Orta’s center is located opposite Orta San Giulio. This is a small and enchanting island with an abbey of cloistered nuns, and the Basilica of San Giulio. On arrival visitors are greeted by a flight of steps and the Path of Meditation, a place of spirituality and a peaceful corner with dwellings, courtyards and splendid views.

A cliff-hanging sanctuary, beaches and little restaurants

The Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sasso, located on a cliff overlooks the lake in the Borgo di Boleto area. The sanctuary has a dome frescoed by Lorenzo Peracino, as well as a Deposition of Christ by Fermo Stella da Caravaggio, and at the top there is a belvedere called the Cusio Balcony with views over the entire lake. A series of little beaches ring Lake Orta, some of which are public while others have lidos with bars and restrooms.  There are also many little restaurants specializing in local delicacies.  

Umbria’s International San Francesco d'Assisi Airport ranks second in Europe for passenger traffic growth in the category of airports with traffic under ten million passengers per year.

Umbria’s airport posted +137% in the first semester

The figure for the first half of 2023 published by Airports Council International (ACI), puts the airport right after another Italian airport, Trapani. The report highlights how regional and minor airports completely recovered their pre-pandemic passenger volumes in the first half of the year, closing the month of June with an average +2.2% compared to 2019. Perugia, with an increase of +137%, recorded the second-best performance in the first half of the year. 

“There are still further margins for growth”

Umberto Solimeno, General Director of Umbria Airport, commented: 'We are proud to once again be ranked among the airports in our category with the best growth rate in Europe.   Umbria is increasingly considered a relevant and desired destination on the Italian and European scene, and we are convinced that there are still further margins for growth."

Ravello is on the Amalfi Coast and is often referred to as Italy’s Machu Picchu for its position on a high cliff some 60 kilometres south of Naples.  

A UNESCO site with a rich cultural scene

On the beautiful Amalfi coast, Ravello is unique as from on high it overlooks many of the other world-famous little towns along the Gulf of Salerno like Positano and Sorrento. In 1997 its scenic sweep gained it World Heritage status. Ravello is  not just called Italy’s Machu Picchu, but also the City of Music as it is home to the striking Oscar Niemeyer Auditorium and a vibrant cultural scene with the Ravello Festival and Ravello Concert Society among others. 

Ravello’s famous terraced gardens and 5-star Villa Cimbrone

The steepness of the terrain has led the inhabitants to model the land into terraces on which they cultivate gardens, citrus groves and vineyards with staircases connecting the different levels. The road up to the town gets very congested with the constant traffic, especially in the summer months, and when Richard Wagner visited in 1880 he had to be persuaded to take a donkey up the mule track which was the only access road in those days. The famous Terrace of Infinity of Villa Cimbrone with its 18th-century marble busts is in a beautiful English garden that had fallen into disrepair. Today the villa is one of the Mediterranean’s most luxurious 5-star hotels, with suites and rooms that have original vaulted ceilings and tiled floors, as well as a renowned restaurant. 

Statue at Villa Cimbrone

In nearby Castiglione there are free beaches and lidos 

Ravello’s second thing of beauty is Villa Rufolo where visitors can admire the modern staircase - inspired by Maurits Cornelis Escher who passed through Ravello in 1922 - and visit the three floors and the Tower. The villa was built in the 13th century by the Rufolo banking family as a symbol of their power, while the splendid gardens were created by Sir Francis Neville Reid, the Scottish industrialist who bought it in 1851. In the town's old centre there are the Church of Santa Maria Assunta and the Cathedral where there is an ampulla with the blood of San Pantaleone, the patron saint. For those who want to spend time at the beach, Castiglione is just four kilometres away and has both a free beach and an equipped lido that rents sunbeds and beach umbrellas. It is better to go in the morning as, being surrounded by rocky outcroppings, the beach is shaded from the early afternoon hours.

From 16 to 24 September, on the occasion of the European Heritage Days, Italy’s Aosta Valley kicks off the 11th edition of Plaisirs de Culture.

Ancient trades explained 

This year’s theme for the event, Living Heritage, is an invitation to experience the Valle d’Aosta region’s cultural heritage first hand.

For example in Jovençan, potions and natural remedies based on officinal plants are on the bill, and the surroundings cam be explored on a guided cycle tour that ends with a show. In Champorcher hemp is woven according to ancient techniques, in Fénis children can build wooden musical instruments in the carpentry workshop, while in Sarriod de la Tour Castle fantastic characters are modelled in clay.

Cultural visits and exhibitions

There are many themed walks that allow visitors to appreciate lesser-known aspects of the Aosta Valley where,  even under the mountains, there are treasures to be discovered. As in Cogne where the highest mines in Europe are located, and where you can walk through the tunnels to discover the experience of generations of miners and then visit the mining museum. For one week, it will be possible to visit the following castles and museums free of charge: Sarriod de la Tour Castle, Saint Pierre Castle - E. Noussan Regional Museum of Natural Sciences, Aymavilles Castle - Museum of the 19th century, Sarre Royal Castle, Fénis Castle, Gamba Castle in Châtillon - Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Verrès Castle, Issogne Castle and Savoy Castle in Gressoney-Saint-Jean. Doors are also open to the archaeological sites of Aosta  to the MAR - Regional Archaeological Museum and the aqueduct of Pont-d'Aël in the municipality of Aymavilles.

Guided tours, and free or reduced admission

There is no shortage of guided tours of places preserved by time such as rural houses, seats of institutions and churches from Aosta Cathedral to chapels in small villages.  All cultural venues - castles, museums, archaeological sites, churches, house museums and monuments - in Aosta and the surrounding villages have free or reduced admission.

For information: https://valledaostaheritage.com/events/plaisirs-culture-2023

Aeroitalia's new routes from Barcelona, Vienna and Bucharest (Baneasa) to Ancona airport, are due to start on 15 September. 

Connecting to Europe and other continents

Then, from 28 October it will be the turn of Aeroitalia’s new Amsterdam-Ancona flights. All routes will be operated with 68-seater Atr-72/600 aircraft.  "The new routes starting from 15 September are another milestone in the expansion of our network," says Gaetano Intrieri, the carrier's CEO. -Our aim is to increasingly extend the range of destinations available to better connect Italy with the rest of Europe and soon with other continents.”

Ancona to Milan Linate, Naples and Rome to start in October 

"The cooperation with Aeroitalia opens up markets of great interest for Ancona airport and its catchment area,- said Alexander D'Orsogna, managing director of Ancona International Airport. -These important new routes will satisfy different types of customers: starting with leisure, both incoming and outgoing, moving on to business passengers and ending with ethnic travellers.” Aeroitalia recently won the tender to operate flights from Ancona airport to Milan Linate, Naples and Rome which are due to start operations in October 2023.