The Hotel d'Inghilterra is to reopen on 27 September 2024.  

A new dining area and a spa suite

The Starhotels Collezione property, just a few steps from the Spanish Steps and Via Condotti is finishing the second part of its restyling, having completed the first stage in May 2023. This involved the restoration of the exterior and the historic façade, protected by the Italian Academy of Fine Arts Arti, as well as revamping the rooms and top suites on the upper floors. Now, after extensive renovation of the public areas and the suites and rooms on the first three floors, the hotel will reopen its doors with restyled dining areas and a new spa suite.

A new rooftop bar andan intimate spa

The works were part of the La Grande Bellezza, the Starhotels Dream Factory contemporary patronage project. The rooms and suites have dropped from 84 to 80 to leave more space for the interiors, while the Cafè Romano restaurant will be enlarged and connected to the lobby, giving it a true living-room atmosphere. One of the highlights of the renovation will be the new Romana terrace on the sixth floor with a rooftop bar, also open to non-hotel guests, and an ideal location for private events. A further novelty will be the new, intimate spa: a cozy corner to relax and regenerate the body after a day spent exploring the city.

Always popular with British travellers 

The Hotel d'Inghilterra traces its roots back to the mid-16th century, when it was a noble residence for guests of the Palazzo Torlonia, which is located directly opposite the property. But as early as the 15th century the area was renowned as having the best accommodation in the city, attracting visitors from all over the world. In 1845, the residence was converted into a hotel and called the Hotel d'Angleterre given its popularity with British visitors, who chose to stay here during the era of the Grand Tour. Among its illustrious guests it counted the Romantic poet John Keats, who spent his last years here, and his countrymen Byron and Shelley. Henry James, Elizabeth Taylor, Gregory Peck and Ernest Hemingway have also stayed.

In the year that celebrates Italian heritage tourism in the world, ITA Airways and the Italian Foreign Ministry have signed an ad hoc convention that provides discounted fares for Italians living abroad.

ITA Airways flies to 41 destinations

“The signing of this agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is aimed at strengthening the ties between Italians living abroad and their homeland, and it also offers concrete advantages for rediscovering their roots,- said ITA’s president Antonino Turicchi. –ITA is thus supporting a significant project to ensure the connectivity of all Italian communities which is destined to enhance our country's cultural and historical heritage on a global scale, thanks to our international and intercontinental network, which has 41 destinations, more than double our operational start in October 2021.”

Strengthening the link with Italian communities abroad

“Since the beginning of my mandate, I have wanted to strengthen the link with Italian communities abroad, as well as the services dedicated to them, in order to encourage tourism to Italy, allowing  those of Italian origin living abroad to discover the places of origin of their ancestors,” commented Antonio Tajani, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs. 

Discounted fares are available online

Negotiated within the framework of the Italea Card programme, also known as the “Passport of Roots,” the agreement offers Italians and Italo-descendants around the world preferential rates on the purchase of air tickets. Users will be able to access the discounted fares through the italeacard.com website, where a special box will be placed linking them to the offer page on the company's website. The convention also allows for the launch of joint promotional activities between the ministry and ITA Airways with the aim of boosting the visibility of initiatives linked to heritage tourism.

In summer 2025 American Airlines open two new routes to Milan Malpensa and Rome Fiumicino, from Philadelphia and Miami.

Flights from 6 US airports in 2025

The new seasonal connection from Philadelphia to Milan will take off on 23 May with daily frequencies, operated by a Boeing 787-8 and will be in addition to the flights between Milan and New York JFK that operate on a daily basis throughout the year. The flight from Miami to Rome will start on 5 July, again with daily frequencies operated by a Boeing 777-200. With the addition of Miami, American Airlines will serve Fiumicino from as six US airports in 2025: more than any other American airline.

The growing importance of Milan’s Malpensa Airport

“The introduction of the new direct connection between Milan and Philadelphia, our main transatlantic hub, is an integral part of the airline's global network expansion plan for the 2025 summer season,” said José Freig, VP international operations. “This new flight will be one of the most important novelties of the upcoming 2025 summer season, an important development of the network of long-haul flights to Milan Malpensa airport -said Andrea Tucci, VP aviation business development of SEA Milan Airports. -A direct service to American Airlines' main transatlantic hub will allow easy continuation thanks to the numerous American Airlines’ connections throughout the US, the Caribbean and Latin America. With this service, the number of destinations connected directly from Malpensa to 78 countries will rise to 186.”

“A record 38 daily departures for the US”

Ivan Bassato, chief aviation officer of Aeroporti di Roma says American consolidates “its position as the leading US carrier in terms of number of destinations served to and from Fiumicino. This new connection further boosts the offer for North America which, after the record results recorded this year with a peak of 38 daily departures, will be confirmed as the first long-haul market for Rome also in 2025. In the Jubilee year, it will be possible to fly to Rome directly from more than 15 North American hubs and, through them, from any medium-small US airports.

Further expansion in 2025

The expansion of the Italian network is in fact part of American Airlines’ broader investment in European routes for summer 2025, which includes another three new additions: the return to Edinburgh - for the first time since 2019 - with flights from Philadelphia; the new flight from Charlotte to Athens (bringing to four daily flights to Greece in 2025) and the one from Chicago to Madrid. All will be operated daily.

Naples took top spot but Siracusa and Mantua were also among Italians’ most loved holiday search choices.

Basilicata and Umbria are growing in popularity

The study was carried out by Preply, the online language-learning platform, was based on searches for holiday destinations made by Italians, and started with the most popular regional choices.  Both Basilicata and Umbria grew in popularity but were preceded by classic destinations such as Tuscany and Trentino, and by Italy’s two largest islands, Sicily and Sardinia. 

Campania and Lazio were absent

Surprisingly both the Campania and Lazio regions were absent. The geographical distribution is also interesting, with a clear division between the north and south of the country: in the north Sardinia dominates, while in the south there is a lot of interest in Puglia.

Rome also absent, and Naples in the lead

The study continues with an analysis of the most searched Italian cities and with a surprise: the absence of Rome. With Siracusa, Mantua, Peschiera del Garda and Trieste occupying the last positions, Bologna and Florence were confirmed as timeless destinations. Second and third places went to the surprising Matera and Ortigia, with Naples leading in top position by a wide margin, thus allowing the capital of Campania to “avenge” the region's absence in the first, regional, ranking.

Rail journeys with art, food, wine and nature through Piedmont and Umbria from FS Treni Turistici Italiani. 

Tourist trains to the Ligurian riviera

The blue and blue livery of FS Treni Turistici Italiani's express  tourist trains travels from northern to southern Italy towards the most iconic seaside destinations in September. For outings to the Ligurian Riviera dei Fiori, Versilia and sunny Salento tickets have been on sale since 29 August.

Italy’s central regions by rail

From October FS TTI will take its express trains to Umbria and to the Piedmont hills of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato. Two trains from Rome, one daytime to Assisi and one nighttime to Alba, offer a combination of comfort and services dedicated to travellers, with a bar and restaurant carriage and a baggage carriage which is useful for sports equipment.

Day trips to Assisi

After the growth recorded in the summer months, the work of this young company of the FS Group is now proposing itineraries that combine travel experiences with the possibility of excursions or relaxation once at the destination. Every Saturday and Sunday, from October to 1 December, the Espresso Assisi, will leave in the morning and return in the evening for a one-day trip or to enjoy a weekend discovering Umbria's historical and scenic heritage. And passengers can take their own bicycle with them.  The Assisi Express day train every Saturday and Sunday from 5 October to 1 December, will depart Rome’s Termini station, stopping in Terni, Spoleto, Foligno and Spello.  

Tickets on the website and more

The Langhe-Monferrato Express will depart from Rome every Friday in October and Thursday 31 October, with returns every Sunday from 6 to 27 October and 3 November, with a bar and restaurant service and sleeping carriages available on board. Tickets for travel on the FS Treni Turistici Italiani express trains can be purchased on the dedicated website and through all Trenitalia sales channels, apps, station ticket offices, self-service and travel agencies. For information: https://www.fstrenituristici.it

After eight months of negotiations, the LVMH group has closed the deal to acquire the Belmond Urio Castle on Lake Como.

A new luxury Belmond property

The castle was built in the 16th century and is now owned by Opus Dei. The value of the deal, including renovation, is said to be in the range of €50 to 100 million. The French company now intends to transform the complex on Lake Como, which includes 180 metres of waterfront and covers an area of 4.6 hectares, into a luxury property under the Belmond brand. 

The LVMH

The property would thus join the hotels that are already part of the LVMH house brand's portfolio in Italy, including the Cipriani in Venice, the Splendido in Portofino and the Villa Sant'Andrea in Taormina. The group's pipeline in Italy also includes the Romazzino and Pitrizza on the Costa Smeralda, which will be rebranded Belmond and Cheval Blanc respectively between 2024 and 2026, as well as the further openings of Villa Beatrice in Portofino and Belmond Masseria le Taverne in Ostuni.