April 18, 2026
ITA Airways returns to ITB Berlin for the fourth consecutive year and announces up to 47 weekly Germany-Italy flights this summer.
ITA’s Italian Piazza at the Berlin show
ITA is at the ITB in Berlin with a new exhibition space, the Italian Piazza, located on the Lufthansa Group stand where the international and local sales teams will welcome visitors and business partners during the exhibition. The idea behind the Italian Piazza set is to immediately bring to mind Italy’s identity abroad: a place for conviviality and sharing with stone paving and tables to chat at over a coffee, a bench and an Italian olive tree, an emblem of the Mediterranean’s climate and lifestyle.
47 weekly flights between Germany and Italy
Germany is a strategic market for ITA: the 2026 summer schedule includes up to 47 weekly flights between the two countries, with Frankfurt, Munich and Hamburg airports connected to the Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate hubs. From here, passengers travelling from Germany will have access to the airline's entire network, including major destinations in Italy and around the world. ITA Airways' summer schedule includes a total of 72 destinations, of which 19 are domestic, 36 international and 17 intercontinental, including 12 seasonal destinations (3 domestic and 9 international) to Italian, Greek and Spanish islands.
The first flight from Houston in Texas
With the start of summer 2026, flights from London Heathrow to Rome Fiumicino will also be restored, with two daily frequencies. From 1 May 2026 the new intercontinental flight from Houston is the first direct connection in history between the Texan city and Rome Fiumicino operated with three weekly flights, which will increase to five from June. Houston is ITA's ninth destination in the North American market, further expanded by the increase in weekly frequencies to Miami, which will rise from seven to nine, starting in June, in line with the current winter season's schedule. The summer package of new services also includes new direct flights to Rome Fiumicino from Malaga, Valencia and Marseille, and an increase of seven flights per week to Rome Fiumicino from Tunis between June and September. For summer 2026, seasonal connections will also include Olbia–Turin and Olbia–Genoa, operating in August, both with a weekly frequency on Saturdays.
ITA now has 106 Airbus aircraft in its fleet
The carrier's fleet, which consisted of 52 aircraft when it began operations in October 2021, now comprises 106 Airbus aircraft, 72% of which are new generation, with an average age of 6.3 years. The company aims to become the youngest carrier in Europe and to have almost its entire fleet made up of new generation aircraft by 2030, reducing fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. As an ambassador for Made in Italy, ITA Airways will also contribute to promoting Italian excellence, style and image at ITB 2026. The company's identity remains rooted in customer satisfaction through attention to detail, as well as a strong drive towards digitalization and sustainability in terms of the environment, society and governance.
Published in Transportation
“This is the most important trade fair for us, as Germany is the leading market for our country,” said ENIT’s CEO Ivana Jelinic today at the inauguration of the Italian pavilion at the ITB travel fair in Berlin.
Promoting Sicily, Calabria and Sardinia
"This is an opportunity to launch the programme for three Italian regions, Sicily, Calabria and Sardinia, after the difficulties that rose after Hurricane Harry. I would like to take this opportunity to say that the regions are perfectly ready to receive tourists. Of course, the support campaign will also target other countries, such as France, Spain and other nations.” 
The regions will focus on different markets
“It will be a top campaign for various regions of Italy, with a particular focus on these three,- said ENIT’s marketing director Marino Bonavolontà. -We have chosen a campaign that works where it is needed. These are regions that have a very strong impact on Italian tourism, and this applies to both Italian and international arrivals. For Calabria we will focus on Germany, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic and Poland. For Sardinia, the focus will be on Germany, Switzerland and France, while for Sicily, it will be on France, the United States and the United Kingdom.
The market and the regions
The market has been divided into domestic and international, and the project also targets second-tier markets, i.e. those that do not have huge inbound arrivals flows, such as Australia, Benelux and Austria. Giovanni Calabrese, Calabria’s regional councillor for tourism thanked the government for the programme ained at reviving tourism in a region that has been affected by the hurricane. “We are working hard to restore the affected areas, and we are already at a good stage”.
Sardinia’s beaches did not suffer storm damage
Franco Cuccureddu, Sardinia’s councillor for tourism spoke of the island's great potential. “After Hurricane Harry many news reports claimed that several beaches had been destroyed. This is not true. Cala Goloritze, which has been judged the most beautiful beach in the world, is perfect. As are the other Sardinian beaches. This campaign is very important precisely to reverse the perception on an international level."
Published in MICE & Events
To mark the Six Nations Championship, the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace presents an exclusive Vespa tour and drink experience.
During the Six Nations Tournament
Combining Italian style, luxury hospitality and sporting passion: the new Vespa Tour & Drink Experience is designed for rugby fans and international visitors to the city during the Six Nations tournament. The offer is for an evocative Vespa tour of Rome's iconic landmarks and a refined moment of conviviality with themed drinks inspired by the world of sport, to be enjoyed at the Anita lounge bar in Via Veneto.
Sporting weekends become mini holidays
The experience celebrates the timeless elegance of the Italian lifestyle, combining urban discovery, creative mixology and an international sporting atmosphere, and is part of the international partnership that IHG Hotel & Resorts has signed with the Six Nations tournament. According to a study more and more fans are turning a sporting weekend into a mini holiday: 88% extend their stay and 72% say that their best memories are outside the stadium, discovering the area that hosts them.
Cultural activities and mixology specialties
To respond to this desire for authentic experiences, IHG Hotels & Resorts has launched the “Fancierge” service, a selection of local and cultural activities dedicated to Guinness Six Nations fans who can sign up for pre-match experiences in the host cities, tested by rugby legend Joe Marler, who has approved the Vespa tour through the streets of central Rome. And for mixology lovers, the drink created especially for the occasion is Front Rose, available in an alcoholic version, with a base of gin and vermouth, or a non-alcoholic version, with raspberry and lemon juice and egg white.
Published in On the road
Trenitalia is racing towards the future, investing €2 billion in 74 new trains by 2030.
The Frecciarossa as the “best train in Europe”
The investment is aimed at securing high-speed rail leadership and redrawing the boundaries of national mobility, and at the Masseria Winter Edition Forum Gianpiero Strisciuglio, CEO and general manager of Trenitalia confirmed a plan focusing entirely on capacity, technological innovation and an open challenge to international competition. The core of the operation is the expansion of the fleet: by 2030, 74 new Frecciarossa 1000 trains will be put into Italian and international service. This is not just a question of numbers, but a profound rebranding aimed at consolidating the Frecciarossa as the “best train in Europe”.
Looking at cross-border expansion
The stated objective is twofold: to increase frequency on the busiest routes and to support cross-border expansion, offering the train as a real structural alternative to medium-haul flights. “2026 continues the plan to upgrade Trenitalia's fleet, which has its successful product and brand in Frecciarossa,” explained Strisciuglio, emphasizing that the use of recyclable materials now exceeds 95% of the structure of the trains.
The Italian regional fleet the youngest on the continent
The renewal clearly cannot overlook local transport and by 2027 the Italian regional fleet will be the youngest on the continent, with an average train age of between five and ten years. To date over 80% of regional vehicles (more than 1,000 out of a total 1,300) are already of the latest generation. At the same time, the Intercity segment will see the introduction of over 30 new trains based on hybrid, electric and battery technologies, which are essential for ensuring efficiency and sustainability even on lines that are not yet fully electrified.
Boosting on-board services
There are also new developments for on-board services, with a focus on connection quality. Trenitalia has already successfully tested a proprietary 5G network on the Turin-Milan route, with excellent performance. However, the company is not ruling out alternative solutions to eliminate dead spots, including satellite technology. “We are obviously very attentive to the issue of on-board connectivity and are studying many solutions,” said the CEO on the possibility of using Starlink, adding that the goal remains to respond to “one of the aspects most requested by our customers.”
Increasing supply and improving track saturation
From an economic point of view, explains a company statement, this impressive introduction of new Frecciarossa 1000 trains responds to the need to increase supply and improve track saturation, supporting revenue growth with the same available infrastructure. In a liberalized market that has seen demand explode, the FS Group's strategy aims to strengthen the contribution of high-speed rail to overall profitability.
Published in Transportation
The northern Italian city chosen for Italy’s Capital of Culture 2027 may seem like a surprising choice.
Refined, unpretentious and creative
Why is it surprising? Well, to start Pordeonone is not a major Italian art city, being seen as more industrial, but don’t be deceived, it does have a strong cultural identity - which many overlook. Then it is relatively unknown internationally despite being refined and unpretentious and creative. Pordenone is a place with frescoed palazzi, literary festivals and Alpine horizons can be found within a few walkable streets. And it was chosen to spotlight a dynamic, lesser-known cultural ecosystem rather than one of Italy’s great cities that already have more tourism than they can handle.
Known as The Painted City
Pordenone’s historic centre has the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II with arcades and painted façades that have earned the city the nickname La Città Dipinta (The Painted City). The Gothic loggia of the Town Hall and the elegant Duomo of San Marco give this Friuli city a Venetian accent. Palazzo Ricchieri’s Civic Art Museum traces local creativity from the Middle Ages to modern times, while the former Convent of San Francesco hosts exhibitions and cultural events throughout the year.
Book and film festivals
The Pordenonelegge book festival turns the city into an open-air salon each September, drawing major Italian and international authors, and film lovers flock to Le Giornate del Cinema Muto, the world’s leading silent film festival, where restored masterpieces flicker back to life. In 2027 these events will expand into a wider programme of installations, performances and community projects designed to connect locals and visitors.
Walking, cycling and skiing
Nature is never far away. The Noncello riverbanks are ideal for relaxed walks and cycling, and just an hour away you are in the Parco Naturale Dolomiti Friulane, a UNESCO-listed wilderness of jagged limestone and pristine trails, or on the turquoise waters of Lake Barcis. Winter brings skiing to Piancavallo, while summer invites hiking, kayaking and relaxing at long lunches.
The delights of the table
Friuli’s cuisine favourites go from the Montasio DOP, the region’s iconic alpine cheese, to the sweet Prosciutto di San Daniele DOP, both to be paired with a glass of Friulano or Ribolla Gialla from the nearby Colli Pordenonesi. In 2027 Italy and the world will look to this corner of the Friuli region and discover compact, cultured and surprisingly cosmopolitan Pordenone.
For information: https://www.pordenoneturismo.com
Published in Cities & Regions
On Sunday 8 March at 4:00 pm, a magical musical afternoon awaits children and families in Cremona, the world capital of violin making.
Family-friendly routes and interactive activities
In the spectacular Auditorium Giovanni Arvedi inside the Museo del Violino violin museum the Ensemble of the Conservatorio Claudio Monteverdi will present a special concert. The event is designed to introduce young audiences to the enchanting world of music and violins, and reflects the museum’s strong commitment to younger generations. The Museo del Violino is not only a treasure house of extraordinary violins made by Stradivari, Guarneri and Amati, it is also an educational space where children can discover all about violins and dedicated family-friendly routes and interactive activities make every visit engaging and inspiring.
Children will join the performance
Conducted by Giuseppe Caffi, the Ensemble will open the concert with a musical fairy tale: Puss in Boots, with music by Caffi himself. The second part of the program features the joyful Toy Symphony, traditionally attributed to Leopold Mozart. Childhood instruments such as tambourines, rattles, triangles and small percussion will be distributed to the young audience members, who will actively join the performance, transforming the concert into a shared celebration of sound.
Additional performances on 12 April and 10 May
Lasting approximately 40 minutes, the concert is a perfect introduction to live classical music for families. Tickets are priced at €6 and can be purchased at the Museum or online via Vivaticket. Additional performances are scheduled for 12 April and 10 May.
Published in Experiences & Tips
A new space dedicated to promoting the cultural, agricultural and social biodiversity linked to UNESCO Italian Cuisine debuts in Grottaferrata outside Rome.
A new terrace for tastings
On 19 March, the Terrace of Villa Cavalletti, a historic estate overlooking the Castelli Romani Regional Park in the town of Grottaferrata will be inaugurated. The presentation will feature a discussion between representatives of Slow Food Italia, the Italian Chefs Federation and the Italian Federation of Travel and Tourism Associations of Lazio.
Italian cuisine, a UNESCO World Heritage
Following the complete restoration of the Villino Rosso Oil Museum and the old oil mill with its innovative olfactory laboratory last year, the Terrace on the top floor of the Academy building, next to the historic villa, is now open to the public. “We imagined it as a convivial open space,- explains the owner. -A place where food becomes a cultural language and a tool for development. Italian cuisine, recently recognized as a UNESCO heritage, is transformed here into a shared experience that unites the community, tourism and local identity.”
The creative reuse of local products
La Terrazza was created as an experiential workshop for guided tastings, educational courses, practical workshops and opportunities for discussion. The programme planned for the year celebrates cooking as a collective ritual, cultural transmission and intergenerational encounter, a heritage that intertwines local and seasonal products and local supply chains as well as the creative reuse of ingredients and conviviality.
Culinary events from March to November
Alongside the various events planned from March to November featuring different elements of food from meat to legumes and from ancient grains to the subject of seasonality, there will also be convivial gatherings and cultural tours featuring oil, wine, tours of the Tuscolana villas and literature, with the possibility of ending the sessions with guided food, oil and wine tastings.
A cuisine that reflects the community and the territory
Part of the archaeological area of Tusculum, Villa Cavalletti is a centuries-old Roman rustic villa, now an organic farm with vineyards and monumental olive groves. The new Terrace is a natural extension of the volcanic landscape of the Castelli Romani where UNESCO Italian Cuisine now becomes a living story of community and territory. For information: www.villacavalletti.it
Published in Hospitality
When Condé Nast Traveler recently named Milan the Best Shopping City in Europe, it wasn’t a sentimental choice, it was a smart one. Because the 2026 travel buzzword is experience, and Milan has mastered the art of turning retail into the ultimate lifestyle experience.
Yes, Milan’s shopping is exceptional, and what makes it so exciting is context. Within a few elegant blocks you find design boutiques, heritage ateliers, concept spaces and global brands in a city that is both walkable, and efficient, which is exactly what today’s luxury consumer values.
Then there’s the setting. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade with its glass domes, mosaic floors, and cafés, buzzes from the morning espresso to the evening aperitivo. And outside you’re face to face with the Duomo, Milan’s stunning cathedral, while a short distance away hangs Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, one of the world’s greatest masterpieces.
Shopping, dining in chic restaurants, and staying in polished boutique hotels all adds up to unforgettable experiences in a curated environment where culture, hospitality, and retail blend seamlessly – and that’s why Milan leads Europe.
Pamela McCourt Francescone
Executive Editor
Published in Editorial
Aeroitalia is now flying to Salerno Costa d'Amalfi and Cilento AIrport, having formed an important partnership with the airport management company GESAC.
19 weekly flights from four Italian cities
The airline is basing an aircraft in Salerno and launching 19 weekly flights: direct connections from Genoa, Milan Malpensa, Turin and Trieste. All flights will be operated with 100-seat Embraer 190 aircraft, starting on 22 May. This is also a new opportunity for international passengers arriving on the coast who wish to travel to other destinations in Italy.
“We will soon be expanding our network”
“We confirm our focus on Campania, a region of great tourist and cultural value and extraordinary potential for both national and international mobility,- says Gaetano Intrieri, CEO of Aeroitalia. -The agreement with GESAC is a decisive step in the implementation of our growth strategy, which aims to connect areas of Italian excellence with the most important destinations, creating new opportunities for tourism and local economies. We will soon be expanding our network with new international leisure destinations that are in high demand, continuing to invest resources and energy to offer high-quality services and support the growth of a region that we consider strategic and central to our corporate vision." The carrier also notes that, from 1 July to 30 August, flights may be subject to temporary changes in view of the addition of new international routes. “Any changes to the schedule will be communicated in a timely manner.”
The airport aims to abolish the municipal surcharge
“Thanks to intense teamwork with a partner who believes in the airport's growth potential, we have restored momentum to Salerno airport, creating the conditions for a stable recovery of scheduled flights, with a purely business focus. We are also building a favourable environment for the development of incoming tourism, adopting territorial marketing strategy aimed at enhancing the destination on international markets. Constructive dialogue with the institutions is continuing to begin the process of abolishing the municipal surcharge, a measure already successfully adopted at several Italian airports with less than one million annual passengers. This is crucial to strengthen the appeal and competitiveness of Campania's second airport,” said GESAC’s CEO, Roberto Barbieri.
Published in Transportation
There are five bridges in Rome that every instagrammmer should cross and immortalize.
Ponte Sant’Angelo is Rome at its most iconic
Bridges in Rome are not just functional structures, they are part and parcel of the Eternal City’s history and heritage, and natural frames for some of its most compelling images. For Instagram enthusiasts, Rome’s bridges offer endlessly varied moods and many of them to ge found om a stroll through the centre of the city. Let’s start with Ponte Sant’Angelo which is Rome at its most iconic. Lined with Bernini’s angels and perfectly aligned with the towering silhouette of Castel Sant’Angelo, it is both elegant and dramatic. At sunset warm light washes over the travertine statues while St Peter’s dome is silhouetted in the background. This bridge is ideal for wide shots and cinematic storytelling, and it is not difficult to capture timeless images that need no explanation.
Ponte Sisto draws musicians, locals and cyclists
More intimate in scale but rich in atmosphere, Ponte Sisto connects the historic centre of Rome with the bohemian Trastevere district. Here the appeal lies in movement as the bridge draws musicians, locals, cyclists, and evening wanderers. The blue hour brings shimmering reflections on the water and an energy that is authentic, making this bridge ideal for candid shots and reels that capture Roman life rather than monuments.
Ponte Fabricio is Rome’s oldest bridge
For lovers of minimalism and history Ponte Fabricio is not to be missed This is the oldest bridge still in use in Rome, linking the riverbank to the Tiber Island. Early morning or dusk offer clean lines and soft shadows and are perfect times to get understated, poetic images. Further north, Ponte Milvio reveals a different Rome altogether. Known for its youthful social scene, it comes alive after dark with lights, conviviality and groups gathered along the riverbank. This is a great spot for night photography, with vibrant colours and an urban pulse that are perfect for reels and IG posts.
Rome does not need filters but it does need time
Often overlooked, Ponte Cavour rewards those seeking unexpected angles. In the early morning its clean structure creates graphic compositions ideal for editorial-style shots, making it a bridge for photographers who enjoy subtlety and perspective. One thing is certain Rome doesn’t need filters, but it does need time. From golden hour to nightfall its bridges become natural stages where light, history, and daily life blend, and for Instagram buffs crossing them is less about getting somewhere and more about capturing timeless shots and clips of this majestic, highly instagrammable and captivating capital city.
Published in Digital
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