The new Vis Urban Suites & Spa has opened in Bari, a boutique hotel with a wellness facility in the city centre.

In a period 1876 building, the Vis Urban Suites & Spa is the result of an architectural recovery that combines Art Nouveau with contemporary design. 

The Vis Urban Suites & Spa has a suite with a private swimming pool

This project is thanks to the professional partnership of two families of Bari entrepreneurs: Gaia and Giuseppe Cobol and Mariadele and Francesco Casillo. The hotel has 12 large rooms-apartments, four of which also have outdoor terraces, while one suite has a private swimming pool carved into the rock. 

“Bari is the nerve centre of Apulia” 

The spa has a swimming pool and treatment areas, will also be open to external guests by appointment, and it will offer treatments using cosmetic products linked to the Apulian region. The rooftop is due to open next spring and will be, among other things, a location for private events in the city centre. “We are proud to enhance our city, the nerve centre of an ever-expanding Apulia – say Mariadele Casillo and Gaia Cobo - hence the decision to invest in the world of luxury hospitality.” 

Elba is a biker’s paradise and it recently signed a sponsorship agreement with SCOTT; the bicycle manufacturer.

The little island is a highly sought-after destination for holidays thanks to its charming little villages, nature trails and over 200 beaches. But it is also perfect for adrenaline junkies and outdoor enthusiasts.

Over 400 kilometres of roads and bicycle routes

Due to its size and the presence of tracks and trails suitable for all levels, the island is much loved by bikers who travel the length and breadth of its over 400 kilometres of roads and routes. From the quietest and most panoramic traails to the most challenging and demanding ones.

Enhancing sports on the island

In such a fertile and dynamic context SCOTT, the Swiss manufacturer of bicycles, winter and motorcycle equipment and sportswear, has laid the foundations for a collaboration with the island. This includes a series of projects aimed at enhancing sports and life in the great outdoors. 

“We can't wait to get on track and start this adventure"

"The sponsorship with Elba Island is strategic for SCOTT Italy as it will allow us to create and support projects that will boost all our market segments," - says Ivano Camozzi, Brand Manager of SCOTT Italy. - "We are very happy to undertake this path that focuses on the experience and enhancement of sport and the territory. We can't wait to get on track and start this adventure."

Races and new signposting 

Many activities are planned with, in October, the Capoliveri Legend Cup mountain bike race, and during the season a big boost will be given to the Capoliveri Bike Park project and to the signposting of routes. Elba will also become the headquarters and location for all SCOTT pro teams and there are photography and video projects planned that will see Elba and the athletes as the main protagonists.

A natural oasis with diversified products

"A little spirit of adventure is enough to discover the secrets of the other Elba ", the one less frequented and known by seaside tourists,” said Niccolò Censi, coordinator of Elba’s tourism board.” SCOTT Italy, he added, is the ideal partner to help attract more visitors looking for a natural oasis with diversified products.

The Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda has been acquired by CDP Group for €59 million under a sale and lease back operation. 

The Garda property is to get a facelift

The operation, conducted through the Turismo 2 Fund, was completed last November, but the official confirmation only came a few days ago, with the publication of the supplementary note to the financial statements of the company based in San Felice del Benaco: "The sale price - reads the document reported in the Giornale di Brescia newspaper - includes a condition outlining the execution of certain structural works on the Garda property, as well as the purchase of new furniture."

A new resort in Montalcino in Tuscany

At the same time as the sale, a "leaseback contract for the Gargnano real estate complex was signed for a duration of 30 years (possibly extendable for a further 10 years), reserving the option to redeem the complex after seven years from the effective date of the lease." The capital will enable the Lefay Group to accelerate the development of new projects, including a new resort in Montalcino which the company bought in December for €16.9 million.

Looking to expand abroad

However, the group's aims are not limited to central Italy. In fact president Domenico Alcide Leali also confirmed expansion abroad, through the development of a fee-based model with a management or rental contract. The 2021 budget also shows a recovery in revenues, which went from €25.8 million in 2020 to €33.5 million last year.

Sereno Lago di Como, the 5-star hotel designed by Patricia Urquiola, reopened in spring with a new penthouse suite inspired by post-war Italian glamour, the Dolce Vita, Italian designers and Como’s silk excellence. 

Furthermore, for the first time in Europe, the furnishings of the new suite launched a unique experience because they will be shoppable (https://shop.serenohotels.com/).

Ph Credits: Sara Magni

A historic rowing boats for picnics on the lake

Also new for 2022 is the Inglesina, a rowing boat built on Lake Como in the 1930s for British tourists. Thus this classic and elegant boat, which was used in a hotel in St Moritz and in other alpine lakes for 30 years, returns to its homeland. Guests of the Sereno will be able to enjoy a romantic trip lulled by the waters of the most famous lake in Italy, accompanied by a luxury picnic from Chef Lenzi, served in an elegant basket handmade by the Milanese boutique Larusmiani.

ph credits: Angie Silverspoon

A new exfoliating spa treatment 

The Sereno also has a new treat for guests at the spa: Rejuvenation at the Lake a soothing exfoliating treatment from Valmont with products from the Como region. “We are very happy to have opened after the difficulties of last year, - comments Luis Contreras, owner of the Sereno group. - Our property on Lake Como is delighted to be able to welcome back clients from all over the world, including those from the USA, the United Kingdom and Australia who were unable to reach us in 2021.”

Avalon Tour specializes in tailor-made tours for individuals and small groups. Each one is customized to the client’s desires, needs and aspirations, creating his or her own very personal journey. A journey that is a one-off, unique experience every time.

Bespoke personal itineraries 

Silvia Innamorati"I opened in 2009, - says owner Silvia Innamorati, - after ten years in which I moved from the classic brokerage agency selling pre-packaged travel from various tour operators, to the creation of bespoke holidays. These begin with the customer's individual requests, based on which we create a specific, personal itinerary with elements of discovery outside the standard pre-packaged circuits.

The role of local suppliers

The name of the agency was inspired by the Camelot legend to give the idea of a journey, and of the discovery of unknown places and times that make it a journey of personal enrichment. "I spend a lot of time in each destination, looking for local services and contacting suppliers (trains, guides, restaurants, associations etc.).  For each of the itineraries I create I listen to their suggestions and advice in order to provide each of our clients with a truly bespoke experience.  

“Avalon’s most popular tours are interactive”

The Marche region, which is the area in which Avalon mainly operates and for which we have many tours, is a region with an abundance of historic villages, art cities and beautiful landscapes, and it is also an important manufacturing area.  Avalon’s most popular tours are interactive, and they go from time travels with historical figures and mysteries to be solved, to cookery courses and wine tours.  My personal storytelling of the region, delving into the past and the present, gives my clients a true and in-depth experience of life in the Marche.

Italian tours with private drivers and guides

Avalon Tour also has tailor-made itineraries to other parts of Italy and Europe with private drivers and guides. Most of them have cultural and historical themes.  For more information: https://www.avalontour.com/ 

→ Discover the tour: The Duchess Vittoria Farnese, the other lady of the castle 

“This year, with the celebrations for the 600 years of the birth of Federico Duke of Montefeltro, Urbino is enjoying a second great wave of international interest, following that of 2020 when we celebrated the 500th anniversary of the birth of the great painter Raphael, who was born here,” says Roberto Cioppi, councillor for tourism of the Municipality of Urbino.  

“We need to lengthen the season beyond the summer months”

Adding that Urbino is now reaping the benefits of the investments made by the city administration and local operators to protect and project the image of a city in the heart of Italy’s leading organic agricultural region, Cioppi said that the Marche’s green practices are impacting strongly on the motivations that attract international visitors.

“This summer flights into Bologna and Ancona from European destinations picked up momentum, with a good mix of visitors from many markets, including a return of the Americans, also through other major Italian airports. We are now concentrating on lengthening the season beyond the summer months.” 

Social media has helped boost arrivals

Collaborations with the region’s three UNESCO sites (The Ducal Palace in Urbino, Urbino and San Marino Ed.), with Italian embassies and international chambers of commerce, as well as funding from the Italian ministry for tourism, have all contributed to our promotional efforts on foreign markets. “We have favoured digital and social media channels to promote our art, culture, outdoor activities and our great foods and wines. One new, and highly appreciated phenomenon, is the growing number of restaurants run by talented young chefs.”   

Outdoor tourism is a big draw

And the digital gamble has paid off, with overbooking in some areas this summer, and growing interest in what the region has to offer beyond its splendid art and architecture. Outdoor tourism, from trekking and biking to horse riding and visits to farms and wineries, is attracting more visitors and many are choosing farmstays and discovering the smaller towns and inland areas. “We are also working with neighbouring municipalities like Fano and Pesaro - which will be Italy’s cultural capital in 2024 - to create itineraries that bring together the great cities in our region.” 

        

At B&B Hotels summer never really ends, because although the hottest season of the year is over the desire to travel is as strong as ever.

With B&B Hotels Italia, an international chain with more than 650 hotels in Europe and around the world, it's possible to enjoy lots of destinations by the sea, in the mountains and discover some of the most beautiful cities even when the last of the summer heat has faded.  

Alternative mobility is the name of the game

So with the complicity of the cooler days why not enjoy a biking trip? Choosing a sustainable mobility alternative is definitely one of the trends of the moment as it allows us to enjoy the outdoors and nature, exploring places with an abundance of scenic and cultural beauty.

The Venetian Islands Cycle route from Chioggia to Venice

This route starts in Chioggia, crosses Pellestrina Island and the Lido, and ends with a breathtaking sunset over eternal Venice. And right in the heart of Chioggia, which is known as the Little Venice, the group recently inaugurated the B&B Hotel Chioggia Airone. This is an ideal choice for those seeking relaxation without having to renounce the typical holiday atmosphere of seaside resorts and the many activities the area has to offer. With 96 comfortable guestrooms - Single, Economy, Deluxe and Family - the hotel also has a 140sqm luxury flat on the top floor with two bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, jacuzzi, sauna and a splendid sea view.

Mountain cycling routes in Cortina

From mountain bike routes steeped in history and nature on marked trails for all levels of difficulty, to road biking to discover new horizons, to freeriding for experts. And why not, to e-bike excursions for a more relaxing holiday for the whole family. Cortina is an unmissable stop for lovers of two-wheeled holidays.

The B&B Hotel Cortina Passo Tre Croci 

The perfect starting point for embarking on the discovery of this UNESCO World Heritage site is the B&B Hotel Cortina Passo Tre Croci, a splendid property in the Cortina D'Ampezzo area, at an altitude of 1,858 metres, nestled between the slopes of Monte Cristallo to the north and the Sorapiss and Faloria mountains to the south. The hotel has 124 single, double, triple and quadruple rooms with all comforts and it is ideal for a relaxing stay with the quality that has always been guaranteed by B&B Hotels.

For more information: www.hotelbb.com 

For Villa Cordevigo Wine Relais, a five-star luxury Relais & Châteaux and Virtuoso Preferred Hotel, vineyards and wine therapy take pride of place, as in addition to the estate's production wine is used in the spa’s therapy treatments.

Taking part in the wine harvest 

Villa Cordevigo is a wine relais in the Bardolino area, a few kilometres from Lake Garda. This elegant patrician residence, where ambience, hospitality and cuisine complement the vineyards, has welcoming traditional rooms and splendid views. Guests can follow the grape harvest, even taking part in it, and discover the benefits of grapes with wine therapy treatments. 

Visiting vineyards on foot or by bike

Any stay here becomes an opportunity to learn more about viticulture, especially if it is harvest time. The grape harvest is a crucial phase in vine cultivation and participating in it is a privilege. Vineyards wind all around Villa Cordevigo Wine Relais, and guests are invited to visit them on foot or by bicycle. In the vicinity of the Villa the vineyards extend from the pool in the gardens as far as the horizon, and it is possible to visit the Villabella cellars to discover the vinification process and ageing in oak barrels.

Holistic treatments in the Essentia Spa

A one-night stay for two people in a double room with breakfast is combined with a welcome drink on arrival and a tasting of six Villa Cordevigo wines. The experience includes use of the swimming pool and access to the Essentia Spa with its holistic wellness treatments, Finnish sauna, infrared sauna, Turkish bath, whirlpool baths, emotional showers, massages and Ayurvedic treatments, while there is also a gym and relaxation rooms.

Boat trips on Lake Garda

Around Villa Cordevigo there is a world to be discovered. By bicycle (available to guests) or on foot, you can take a network of well-equipped trails through vineyards, meadows, woods and hills, accompanied by a local expert. And for those who cannot stay away from the charm of Lake Garda, boat trips on the lake are planned.  

Trento, a blend of Alpine elegance, history and legends is right in the centre of the north-eastern Trentino region.

It is a lively, cosmopolitan city that seamlessly blends an Alpine soul with Italian sophistication in a heady mix of Medieval monumentality and graceful Renaissance frescoes.  

Neptune is a symbol of the city

The central Piazza del Duomo is dominated by the Palazzo Pretorio, and the 43-metre-high Piazza Tower.  On the eastern side stands the Romanesque-Gothic 12th-century Cathedral of St Virgil, while in the centre we find the splendid late-Baroque Neptune Fountain. It may seem strange to find the god of the sea in a mountain city, but Trento's ancient Roman name was Tridentum, for the three teeth or three city hills that are symbolized by the trident Neptune holds in his hand. 

Fresscoed buildings and the Gothic Cycle of the Months

Another gem of Piazza Duomo is Casa Cazuffi, the most important domus picta of Renaissance Trento, with depictions of characters and scenes from classical mythology on its façade.

The majestic Palazzo Bonsignore, with its massive walls and crenellated towers, residence of the Prince Bishops who ruled the city up to the Napoleonic era, is one of the most important castle in the Trentino.  It houses art and archaeological collections, and in the Torre Aquila the walls are frescoed with the famous Gothic masterpiece, the Cycle of the Months.  

Delicate frescoes and the Devil’s Palace

Behind Piazza del Duomo, restoration on the main façade of Palazzo Niccoli has revealed beautiful Renaissance-era frescoes dedicated to the Madonna, while on the corner with Via Diaz we find other delicate frescoes, this time on Palazzo Cazuffi.  Not far away behind a massive wooden gate stands the Palazzo Fugger Galasso, better known as the Devil's Palace. Legend, and Goethe who mentions it in his Italian Journey, would have it that the palace was built in a single night by the wealthy banker Georg Fugger who made a pact with the devil.

Renzo Piano’s MUSE Museum

Trento’s modern face is best encapsulated in Renzo Piano's MUSE, a six-floor light-filled space dedicated to nature, mountains, sustainability and technology. On this extraordinary exhibition tour you encounter dinosaurs, primitive man, mammals, glaciers and Alpine forests in a succession of visual, interactive and sensorial experiences in one of Europe's most evocative and fascinating museums.