A sensory and emotional journey through the Italian history of Lavazza coffee awaits visitors aat the famous Nuvola in Turin.

An open space for sharing projects, food and culture

The Nuvola, the headquarters of the Turin coffee brand, was inaugurated in 2018 and is an open space for sharing projects, food and culture. This is the basic idea behind the Nuvola Lavazza project, a name that reflects Lavazza's desire to look to the future, promoting sharing, the circulation of ideas and openness to the world, while maintaining strong ties with the city of Turin, the place of its origins where the brand was founded in 1895.



A gourmet restaurant, a museum and areas for events

Located in the Aurora district, the 30,000 sqm building with its contemporary architecture is fluid and light, with large windows reflecting the sky, giving it a cloud-like appearance. Inside, in addition to offices, there is a gourmet restaurant, a bistro, an interactive museum, a large events space, an archaeological area and the headquarters of the Institute of Applied Art and Design (Iaad). The project - curated by Cino Zucchi - recovers and enhances the disused area of the former power station in the Aurora district. Where once noisy machinery used to operate, there are now several modular spaces on over 4,500 sqm that continue to produce energy but in another form, through events. Here, in the main body of the building, the large event space of the Lavazza Cloud: Lo Spazio, at La Centrale, can accommodate up to a thousand people.

The Condividere Restaurant has one Michelin star

The gourmet restaurant Condividere by Lavazza was designed together with the Catalan chef Ferran Adrià, with set design by Dante Ferretti and cuisine by Federico Zanasi. It is a new proposal of excellence, an unprecedented concept expressing a new philosophy of taste and a new way of eating food inspired by the informal sharing of signature dishes. Sharing focuses on the raw materials, the substance, the food and its quality, rediscovering the profound sense of spontaneity and cheerfulness of Italian
hospitality. Zanasi's dishes aim at changing the paradigm of contemporary Italian cuisine and there is a dedicated, separate and specially-equipped area for desserts and enjoying the final ritual of coffee. Sharing in 2019, just one year after it opened, was awarded a Michelin Star.

The fresh nutritional menus rotate daily

The Casa Lavazza Bistrot - in collaboration with Slow Food – has a menu which is attentive to the quality of the food and nutritional composition and places the person at the centre. The menus, fresh and attentive to nutritional values, rotate daily and are divided into three island-restaurants: Tierra! for green and conscious cuisine, San Tommaso 10 for Italian street food and Murisengo for traditional national and Piedmontese dishes. At the end of 2022, there was a change of management at the Bistrot with a new inspirational guide, Federico Zanasi, chef at Condividere, who supports Steve Caruso, former sous chef at Condividere and now head of the Bistrot kitchen.



The Lavazza Museum contains an ancient basilica

“Coffee is always the beginning of something’ said Francesca Lavazza and The Lavazza Museum offers visitors a sensorial-emotional journey through the history of this tasty beverage so important in Italian culture. It has multimedia and interactive spaces ranging from the history of the Lavazza family to that of 20th century Italian industry. Adjacent to the Museum is the Lavazza Historical Archive, a space that contains thousands of documents, stories and images from the company’s history. Inside in the archaeological area it is possible to admire the remains of an ancient early-Christian basilica, dating back to the 4th-5th century AD. The Piazza Verde square is open to the city and is in the centre of the Cloud, an ideal meeting point for sharing projects, food and culture. It consists of the company headquarters with La Centrale and the Lavazza Museum, Condividere and the Casa Lavazza Bistrot with the Archaeological.



Area and the Iaad headquarters. Piazza Verde is one of the first smart areas in Turin, with low-consumption LED lighting.

Two new Wizz Air routes from Skopje and Katowice to Bari in Puglia.

Brindisi- Katowice flights will start next summer

With the start of winter 2025, the low-cost airline will connect Skopje (Macedonia) to Bari. The flight, operated with an Airbus A320, will operate twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays, from 27 October to 12 December. From 15 December until 27 March 2026, frequencies will increase to three, with the addition of a Wednesday flight. Then a four-times-weekly connection - Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays - with the Polish city of Katowice will be introduced to Brindisi, with the 2026 summer operation - from next March.

“Puglia has never before been connected to Macedonia”

"The launch of the new Wizzair flights to Skopje, an absolute novelty for Puglia which has never before been connected to Macedonia, is part of the strategy to expand the air market to nearby Balkan areas, historically linked to our region - notes the president of Aeroporti di Puglia, Antonio Maria Vasile. -This wide-ranging strategy aims to target emerging markets with high growth potential, also in periods outside the traditional tourist season. For the Apulia region Wizzair is a strategic business partner thanks to the capillarity and efficiency of its flights to the most important destinations in Eastern Europe, which, in addition to their tourist potential, represent an extraordinary opportunity for Apulian companies operating in those areas.”

Poland is a rapidly growing market

As for the Salento airport, "the new flight is part of Brindisi airport's international network expansion plan to which our facilities, in agreement with the Puglia Region, are giving great impetus. ones We are focusing very strongly on the emerging markets of Eastern Europe. The flights from Katowice intercepts the growing demand of the Polish market, which in recent years has stood out as one of the most dynamic source markets for Apulian tourism, which has always had a strong element of attraction in the Salento region.”

On the Monteverdi Tuscany estate art, culture and history intertwine in perfect harmony for a series of autumn concerts. 

A unique setting in a Romanesque church

Located in Castiglioncello del Trinoro in Tuscany’s Val d'Orcia this exclusive residence offers an experience that goes beyond hospitality. Monteverdi is a meeting point for artists, musicians and creative minds, who find in this unique setting an inexhaustible source of emotion and suggestion.  For the new season, Monteverdi has inaugurated an exclusive concert programme, hosted in its recently restored Romanesque church which has been transformed into a space dedicated to the performing arts.   

In partnership with the Metropolitan Opera

The 2025 concert series is a journey through exceptional performances, special encounters with internationally renowned artists and the timeless beauty of Tuscany. The programme, in collaboration with Stagedoor and the Lindemann Artists Program, and made possible through a prestigious partnership with the Metropolitan Opera, celebrates musical excellence with a repertoire that spans genres and eras. From young talents to grand masters, each concert will be an immersion in music in its most authentic form, framed by the magical atmosphere of the Monteverdi estate.

14 September 2025 Anna Goryachova (voice, mezzo-soprano) and Mirca Rosciani (piano)

One of the most accomplished mezzo-sopranos of her generation, Anna Goryachova has performed in major international theatres, from La Scala in Milan to the Royal Opera House in London, collaborating with conductors of the calibre of Daniel Barenboim, Alberto Zedda and Teodor Currentzis.  Mirca Rosciani, conductor, chorus conductor and pianist, has been a permanent guest of the Rossini Opera Festival since 2016 and a leading figure on the Italian music scene. 

26 September 2025 Gabriele Strata (piano)

Gabriele Strata is considered among the most promising Italian pianists of the new generation. And is a winner first prize at the Rio de Janeiro International Competition and the Premio Venezia.  Invited to major international concert seasons, he has performed at the Berliner Philharmonie, Wigmore Hall, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and toured Europe, Asia and South America. 

13 October 2025 Ana Maria Labin (voice, soprano) and Julia Lynch (piano)

A talented mezzo-soprano in the Baroque and Mozart repertoire, Ana Maria Labin’s career has taken her to the stages of Europe's most important theatres, including the Berlin Staatsoper, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, the Théâtre La Fenice and the Salzburger Festspiele.   Julia Lynch, artistic director of the Mascarade Opera Foundation in Florence, is an internationally renowned vocal coach. Also active as a chamber musician, she has participated in major festivals, collaborating with conductors such as Kirill Petrenko, Kent Nagano and Christian Thielemann. 

18 October 2025 Duo Improbabile - Virginia Guastella (piano) and Claudio Trotta (drums)

The Duo Improbabile was born from the encounter between pianist and composer Virginia Guastella and drummer Claudio Trotta, in a crossover project that crosses the languages of classical, jazz, rock and avant-garde music.  Virginia Guastella is the author of works performed at prestigious international festivals and institutions; Claudio Trotta, former member of the historic prog band Deus Ex Machina, is known for his stylistic versatility and the depth of his rhythmic and creative approach. 

Music and the timeless charm of Tuscany

These are just some of the extraordinary performers at the 2025 Monteverdi during the season. The full programme ranges through epochs and styles, alternating “opera residencies”, forays into jazz and refined chamber music performances, all immersed in the timeless charm of Tuscany.  For information and reservations: https:// monteverdituscany.com/ 

Oriana Homèl has opened new signature residences and suites in two iconic properties in Treviso and Trapani.

Signature residences in Veneto and Sicily 

Oriana Homèl, an Italian company specialized in contemporary hospitality, has announced the opening of signature residences in the former Mulino Mandelli in Treviso and the Palazzo della Banca d'Italia former bank building in Trapani. Combining historical charm, architectural vision and sustainable hospitality the properties - one in the productive and fluvial heart of the Veneto region, the other on the luminous waterfront of western Sicily - become symbols of the brand's growth strategy: re-inhabiting extraordinary places and giving them a new lease of life through authentic and refined hospitality. 

The services of a conventional hotel

Oriana Homèl is an innovative idea of hospitality in design apartments, in skillfully restored historic buildings, which provide the services of a conventional hotel. This avant-garde solution offers more comfort and space to its guests with green-certified units using energy from renewable sources. Modern and tastefully furnished, in a facility with concierge and centralised services, the HOMÈL concept offers the comforts of a home with the services of a hotel.

Treviso: the power of water and memory

Twenty-three flats will be built as part of a unique hotel tourist residence in the heart of Treviso, inside the historic former Mulino Mandelli. The project, by Studio Matteo Thun & Partners, reinterprets a milling complex dating back to the 15th century, built at the confluence of the Sile and Storga rivers, and transforms it into a welcoming and harmonious space. After centuries of milling and industrial activity, the mill is preparing to enjoy a new lease of life while keeping its architectural value and productive soul intact. The reconversion, strongly oriented towards environmental sustainability, is a rare example of urban regeneration for tourism in an industrial archaeology building.

Trapani: elegance by the sea

Overlooking the dock and the crystal-clear sea of Sicily, Oriana Homèl will open 23 suites inside the former headquarters of the Bank of Italy in th city of Trapani. The monumental building designed in the 1950s by architect Decio Marrone - erected on the site of the historic Garibaldi Theatre - is now being converted into a high-profile accommodation facility, with a public gallery, cultural spaces, restaurants and a spectacular terrace-solarium from which to admire the Egadi Islands. 

Searching for properties in Florence and Venice 

These two new openings are crucial milestones in the 2025-2030 business plan, which envisages two openings per year – both in primary and emerging locations - with the aim of reaching around 250 flats nationwide and with a turnover of some €20 million. Negotiations for further openings are at an advanced stage, while the search for properties in Florence and Venice continues. 

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Autumn in the Lazio region brings a host of food festivals to suit every palate.

A “sagra” is a traditional food festival 

As the summer crowds thin, the Lazio region’s medieval towns burst into life with authentic sagre food festivals that celebrate local harvests as well as re-enactments and historical celebrations. These events offer ready-made, authentic experiences that can be paired with Rome city stays, overnights or Lazio countryside tours.

Chestnuts and Medieval pageantry in Soriano and Caprarola

From the first weekend of October through mid-month, Soriano nel Cimino’s “Sagra delle Castagne” (4–20 October 2025; dates vary slightly each year) is one of Italy’s oldest chestnut festivals. Expect historical re-enactments, flag-throwers, parades and open-air roasting pits perfuming the town’s cobbled streets. Nearby Caprarola celebrates its own chestnut sagra on the second and third weekends of October, often combined with hazelnut, honey and wine tastings. Both towns are around 90 minutes’ drive from Rome and both coach parking and guided group tours can be arranged through the local Pro Loco associations.

New olive oil and the Tuscia wine route

November brings the olive harvest, and Canino’s “Festa dell’Olio Novello” (7–9 November 2025)  celebrating the newly-pressed oil, offers mill tours, bruschetta tastings, and DOP olive oil workshops. Packages can combine the festival with visits to Tarquinia’s Etruscan tombs or the Tuscia wine route. Canino is about 120 km northwest of Rome and local farms often welcome groups for tastings with advance booking.

Truffles and Slow Food in Rieti and Casperia

The prized black truffle takes centre stage at the “Sagra del Tartufo” in Rieti (last weekend of October) and Casperia (first weekend of November). These atmospheric hill towns offer truffle markets, cooking demonstrations, and pasta dishes topped with fresh shavings of the prized black tuber. Logistics tip: combine with nearby abbeys or hikes in the Sabina hills for active-gourmet itineraries.



Foos festivals are perfect for day trips or one-night extensions

Many festivals are weekend-based and most  of these towns are within 90 to 120 minutes of Rome and as such are ideal for day trips or one-night extensions. Coach access and parking are generally available outside the historic centres, with shuttle buses often provided. For FITs car hire or private transfers are the best solution, and in Lazio the autumn weather is mild, although the evenings are cooler.

Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese is a 5-star bijou city retreat with French flair in the heart of the Eternal City.

A central district close to many iconic monuments

French elegance blends seamlessly with Roman grandeur in Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese which welcomes guests like old friends, all under the banner of a Green Key certification that champions sustainable luxury. The hotel, in a19th-century palazzo, redesigned in 2019 to sleek sophistication, is just off the Via Veneto in Rome’s Ludovisi district which has many international and Italian corporate headquarters. Echoes of the Dolce Vita also draw visitors to the area, and with the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and Piazza del Popolo a leisurely stroll away, and luxury shopping along Via Condotti and Via del Corso, it is an ideal choice for both business and leisure travellers. 

Frescoed ceilings and integrated technology

As you step onto the marble mosaic floors of the lobby, the Sofitel art de vivre is unmistakable. Soft tones, fine materials, and contemporary touches honor the building’s heritage, and this style flows through to the 71 rooms and seven suites. Deluxe Rooms have frescoed ceilings, white marble bathrooms, and windows framing the green expanse of the Villa Borghese city park. Details like angled beds, integrated technology, Nespresso machines, and elegant lighting give each space quiet individuality.

Three terrace suites with Jacuzzis

Some of the connecting rooms are located on private corridors, and so are a great solution for families or friends traveling together, but the jewels in the crown are the three Terrace Suites. These have private Jacuzzis and terraces overlooking Rome’s skyline. Luminous, chic interiors feature contemporary art, bespoke furnishings, and deep marble soaking tubs, making these suites a top choice.

Fine dining and heart-stopping vistas

Settimo is the 7th-floor restaurant and has floor-to-ceiling windows and a wraparound terrace with heart-stopping vistas, from Villa Borghese’s green canopy to the dome of St. Peter’s, to the city’s rooftops glowing golden at dusk. Executive Chef Giuseppe D’Alessio fuses Roman tradition with French finesse, with flaky croissants and cappuccinos, artisanal jams and omelettes aux fines herbes at breakfast, while lunch and dinner showcase seasonal ingredients. There are three tasting menus, and à la carte highlights like gazpacho with tomato sorbet, supplì with luscious ragù, parmigiana with turbot, and crisp vegetable cannoli.  

Impeccible personalized service  

The service throughout Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese is impeccable and personalized, reflecting Accor’s philosophy of anticipating a guest’s every need. The concierge team, who know Rome inside out, are on hand to arrange private tours, theatre tickets and bespoke experiences in and around the city. For information: https://www.sofitelrome.com

As ABTOI - the Association of British Travel Organizers to Italy - approaches its 25th anniversary next year, it remains focused on its founding mission, to strengthen UK-Italy tourism.

“We network, share ideas and exchange information”

ItaliAbsolutely spoke with executive committee member Enrico Soresini who explained that the association members are businesses offering travel to Italy, from agencies and tour operators to travel suppliers. “We are a collection of travel operators who network, share ideas and exchange information,” Soresini explains.  One key service ABTOI provides is helping members navigate Italy’s complex regulatory landscape. “Every company has access to our associate member Kennedys Law,” says Soresini. “They have a specialist travel law department and can advise on regulations whenever necessary.”

Italy receives about 6% of the UK’s outbound travel market

Press updates and legal briefings are shared regularly, and this support has become even more vital in the post-Brexit environment. “Laws and regulations can be a challenge,- Soresini adds, - a good example is the introduction of DAC7, which has created additional compliance demands for some of our members.” Unlike a tourist board, ABTOI does not gather its own arrival statistics, but it draws on ENIT and WTTC data when needed. “Italy receives about six percent of the UK’s outbound travel market,- notes Soresini. -Demand is still strong post-pandemic and post-Brexit, and our members report lively discussions around how to adapt to changing consumer expectations.”

Overtourism and luxury travel are issues

Overtourism is one of the industry’s most pressing issues, but ABTOI has not adopted an official stance. “It’s an ongoing discussion within the trade,- says Soresini. -the Association does not have an official position on that yet.” Luxury travel is another area of debate. “Only a few of our members currently focus on the high-end market,- Soresini concedes, -but we’re discussing possible co-operation with other associations to better position Italy as a luxury destination.”

An annual summit between the UK and Italy

Training and networking remain an ABTOI commitment “We run sessions on legal, regulatory and business topics that matter to members,” says Soresini. “We also organize a couple of annual events and our summit, which alternates between the UK and Italy.” These gatherings have become vital for members seeking partnerships, fresh ideas and practical solutions. Looking ahead, ABTOI is preparing to celebrate its silver anniversary in 2026.

“Italy has universal appeal”

The association is run by an elected executive committee and today counts more than 60 members. “We are proud of what we’ve built over the past quarter century,- Soresini says. -The goal remains the same: to be the go-to network for UK operators selling Italy, to share knowledge, and to keep adapting to a changing market.” For Soresini, the UK’s love affair with Italy is enduring. “Italy has universal appeal. Our job is to help the British trade connect travellers with the right Italian experiences. That’s what ABTOI has done for 25 years - and that’s what we’ll keep on doing.”

Italy’s long-planned Strait of Messina Bridge, set to connect Calabria with Sicily, will be a costly crossing but will have big tourism potential.

The call toll will be expensive

The final approval for the long-awaited Strait of Messina Bridge – connecting the toe of Italy and the Calabria region with Sicily, Italy’s largest island, -  came from the Italian CIPESS planning body in early August.  Pre-construction work on sites is expected to kick off this autumn, and the completion date, at this early stage, has been set for 2032 or 2033. The Strait of Messina Bridge is already making waves in the travel industry, as the consumer group Codacons has estimated that the toll for cars would be around €10 per crossing, making it one of the most expensive per-kilometre tolls in the world.

The bridge will dramatically improve accessibility

Spanning just 3.66 kilometres, the crossing would cost about €2.73 per kilometre. By comparison Italian motorway tolls average €0.075 per kilometre, while even the 50.45 kilometre Eurotunnel crossing between France and the UK comes in at about €1.42 per kilometre.  While the headline-grabbing price raises eyebrows, for the travel trade the bigger story is opportunity. The Strait of Messina bridge promises to dramatically improve accessibility between mainland Italy and Sicily, giving a major boost to fly-drive itineraries, escorted tours, and cruise extensions. Faster connections could also open up new product possibilities such as Calabria-Sicily twin-centre packages, and enhanced logistics for group tours and events.

Opening up opportunities for Calabria

But for operators, pricing strategies will be key with self-drive holidays and coach operators having to factor the toll into packages. But there is no doubt that the time savings and the convenience of driving across a bridge could outweigh the cost, particularly for high-end and experiential travel. With Sicily’s rich cultural heritage, food and wine tourism, and Calabria’s emerging profile (which is too often underrated) the Strait of Messina Bridge could well unlock new itineraries that will make an impact on international markets.

Villa Mangiacane near Florence was designed by Michelangelo and is a historic treasure where Renaissance grandeur meets contemporary luxury. 

An exclusive retreat for discerning travellers

Just a short drive from Florence, Villa Mangiacane is a Renaissance gem with a story to tell. Originally designed in the 15th century by the great Michelangelo, today the Villa is an exclusive retreat, lovingly restored over eight years to bring back its original beauty while adding those modern comfort today’s discerning travelers appreciate.

Ideal for intimate escapes and larger group retreats

There are ten suites in the original Palazzo Machiavelli, and 18 rooms and suites in Villa Mazzei (some with private gardens and plunge pools) making Mangiacane an ideal match for both intimate escapes and larger group retreats. Many rooms and suites feature balconies or terraces like the Royal Suite, which has a fireplace and a private dining corner, as well as a Jacuzzi bath with a steam walk-in shower and two terraces with views over the vineyards and the Tuscan hills. 

Two pools, cooking classes and private wine tastings

The interiors of the guestrooms are a feast for the senses with period furniture, elegant fabrics, original artworks, and large windows framing views of the Italian gardens with a collection of Shona sculptures, vineyards, and olive groves. Guests can relax by two panoramic pools, indulge in spa treatments, enjoy private wine tastings of the estate’s premium labels, take cooking classes or set off on curated experiences in the surrounding Chianti Classico countryside. The villa’s restaurant celebrates Tuscan flavors and many of the ingredients are straight from Mangiacane’s own gardens and orchards.

Close to some of Tuscany’s most famous wineries

History is woven into every stone, adding an unexpected international twist to the villa’s heritage, as a former owner was Filippo Mazzei, a friend of Thomas Jefferson the third President of the United States.  The Villa is in the heart of Chianti, surrounded by some of Tuscany’s most celebrated wineries, including the legendary Antinori estate, and guests can enjoy wine tours and visit Tuscany’s great art cities, as well as cycling through scenic country landscapes. Villa Mangiacane invites guests to slow down, chill out and truly immerse themselves in the timeless beauty of Tuscany. For information: www.mangiacane.com