Collinarea Festival del Suono, the festival of sound will run to 3 August in the town of Lari in the hills that surround Pisa. 

27 different cultural and musical events

With music, theatre, dance, immersive experiences for families, and an extensive programme of meetings with sound luminaries as well as dusk concerts Lari, in the Pisan hills, has kicked off the 26th edition of Collinarea, Festival del Suono. This return to the Pisan hills will provide visitors with 27 shows up to 3 August including four productions, one co-production, ten premieres and national previews. In addition there will be workshops ranging from dramaturgy to dance, and from tailoring to the human voice, with a multidisciplinarity programme and involving local residents.

“Investing in culture, in all its forms, is a valid choice”

This year ‘s Collinarea, Festival del Suono will invade not only the splendid village of Lari, but also the evocative Torre Aquisana of Casciana Terme and the beautiful river park of La Rotta, a hamlet of the municipality of Pontedera. "Collinarea an invaluable opportunity to make our territories known. We are convinced that investing in culture, in all its forms, is a valid choice, and we are happy and proud that virtuous synergies have been developed in our territory, giving rise to this Festival," said Regional Councillor Alessandra Nardini

The new five-star Capitolo Riviera hotel has officially soft-opened its doors. 

All 37 rooms have balconies and panoramic views

Located in Nervi, which is just 12 miles from Portofino on Liguria’s Riviera di Levante, the property is the result of the renovation of the former 4-star Astor Hotel, which was closed in 2020 during the pandemic. The hotel now has 37 rooms, all with balconies and panoramic views, a spa with a sauna and steam bath, two treatment rooms and indoor and outdoor pools. A restaurant with a terrace overlooking the surrounding park and a lounge bar complete the offer.



“An unforgettable experience featuring the best of Liguria”

"It is with great pride and enthusiasm that we announce the official opening of Capitolo Riviera," said the hotel's managing director, Paolo Doragrossa, former general manager of the Meliá Genova. "We are delighted to welcome guests into a world of harmony and privacy and to offer them an unforgettable experience featuring the best of Liguria. We are committed to taking care of every detail and catering to our guests' every need because customer care and attention is the primary goal of our commitment.”  

The Calici di Stelle, Montepulciano’s summer festival of wine, from 27 July to 25 August, is organized by the Strada del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano e dei Sapori della Valdichiana Senese.

Sustainability features strongly in the event

In collaboration with the Municipality of Montepulciano, the festival in this small town in Tuscany which is  a couple of hours south of Florence is part of the Calici di Stelle 2024 programme promoted by the Movimento Turismo del Vino Italia and the National Association of Wine Cities. For this new edition there is great attention to sustainability, and Montepulciano has been recognized as a “Sustainable Tourist Destination” by the Gstc - Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Montepulciano is one of the first small and medium-sized municipalities to have obtained this qualification, while the area’s Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG wine, is the first denomination in Italy to boast the Equalitas sustainability certification.

An artisan exhibition and local gastronomic products

But sustainability also means involving the local community, hence the support for the Valdichiana Senese artisans with an exhibition in Piazza delle Erbe, while local restaurants open their kitchens for the event, making the tastings even more diversified. "Organizing an event that manages to bring together so many elements of Montepulciano and the Valdichiana Senese territory fills us with pride, - says the president of the Strada. - The social and environmental sustainability of the evening are the polar stars that guide us step by step in the organization of this important event.”

A tour of Montepulciano’s monumental wine cellars

The festival will end in the Piazza Grande square where an info point will be set up to provide visitors with ideas for eco-sustainable tours and tourist experiences to be enjoyed in the area. Also organized by Valdichiana Living, the special tour on the afternoon before the start of the summer Calici di Stelle wine festival, will allos visitors to discover the monumental wine cellars of Montepulciano and can be reserved in advance.  

Milan’s National Science and Technology Museum is offering Summer Top Stop, a summer activity programme that will run to 8 September.

Exciting activities for children of all ages

Visiting hours will be extended until 6 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday and until 7 p. m. on Saturdays and holidays, and every week children between the ages of six and nine will be able to embark on a journey into science. They will be able to experiment with different activities in the interactive laboratories where the Leonardo, Genetics, Biotechnology, Food and Chemistry i.labs and the Tinkering Zone will alternate. 

Virtual reality experiences 

In the Base Marte laboratory girls and boys from 11 years old will be able to dress up as members of a crew on a mission to Mars, while younger children, aged three to six, will delight in the interactive activities offered in the i.lab Soap Bubbles and i.lab Sea Voyages. In the Virtual Zone some activities will be offered for adults and children from 12 years old, with others for adults and children from 16 years old, allowing them to immerse themselves in various virtual reality experiences.

The world’s largest Leonardo exhibition

All visitors will be able to access the Leonardo Galleries, the largest exhibition in the world dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci, which can be visited freely or accompanied by a guide even during the week.  The permanent exhibitions will also be open, from the Space Area with the fragment of the Moon, to the Technological Mosaic exhibition to the Aeronavale pavilion with the great sailing ships and aircraft pioneers of flight.  Rail transport from the second half of the 19th century to 1920 is the theme in the Ferroviario Pavilion, where a late 19th century station has been reconstructed, and which has a range of fascinating exhibits.   

Tourism is an invaluable asset for Italy, benefiting the economy and generating significant employment opportunities. In 2023 foreign visitors contributed €51.7 billion in direct tourism spending. Additionally, tourism sustains one of the nation's largest business sectors, providing local communities with a stable and prosperous future.

It is imperative, however, to prioritize the preservation of these resources, starting with the territories, and acknowledging both their strengths and vulnerabilities. Italy's extraordinary geographical position, from its coastal vistas to its majestic mountains, is a huge advantage which, paradoxically exposes it to inherent risks.

Consequently, the stewardship of our social heritage is necessary, as is the well-being of residents, workers, and the economic sustainability of our tourist havens. It is paramount to avoid compromising the integrity of our unique destinations while fostering sustainable growth in the sector.

Italy’s heritage encompasses inland regions that produce world-class agri-foods, coastal and inland areas that are appreciated by visitors from all over the world, and our artistic and cultural heritage that put us at the top of the list of UNESCO sites. It also encompasses our Alpine and Apennine habitats teeming with distinctive flora and fauna that distinguish us from our neighbours across the Alps. Equally significant are the individuals, and often entire families, who invest their lives in this sector, shaping their futures.

The escalating threats posed by global warming and climate change, which sooner or later will shape our territory, tourism and society, necessitate swift, inclusive actions involving all stakeholders—destinations, operators, and tourists alike—to mitigate its impacts on our land, tourism, and society.

ENIT’s strategic initiatives focus on promoting year-round tourism, particularly in the shoulder seasons, diversifying offerings across lesser-known destinations, and bolstering ongoing seasonal planning. These efforts have proven effective, as is evident in the surge of long-haul markets like Canada (+46.5%), the United States (+40%), and Australia (+150%).

Furthermore, in Italy the symbiotic relationship between culture and tourism is closely entwined, with the country’s cultural riches and they draw tourists, while tourism enriches our local culture. The 59 UNESCO sites epitomize this interplay with both of these sectors putting people and their desires, aspirations and emotions centre stage, thereby influencing our territories, our heritage and our traditions.

Cultural tourism emerged as the leading choice by tourists in 2023, attracting 105.2 million international overnight stays in the great art cities and for cultural holidays, and generating €17.9 billion in expenditure. This sector accounts for 27% of foreign stays and 34.6% of related tourist spending, highlighting its pivotal role in Italy’s tourism landscape (Source: ENIT Studies Office - Bank of Italy).

Moving forward, Italy seeks to transcend seasonal limitations and climatic difficulties to become inclusive all year round, specializing in those tourism products that are not rooted in (and do not promise) cool summers or natural snow in winter. What they do is to make the local lifestyle and the habits of the community, nature’s diversity, and the distinctive cultural material and immaterial fabric of each region, central to the product.

Today’s tourism discourse pivots away from the model of solidarity co-marketing towards a new model of wellbeing for tourists who can handle the authenticity of their experiences with the help of cutting-edge technology and scientific advancements. This new model champions responsible governance, sustainability, and regenerative practices, ensuring the impact of local narratives enhanced by tools of artificial and generative intelligence.

Chamois, at 1,815 metres asl, is reachable only on foot, by bicycle or by cable car.

The village chose a cable car over roads back in 1955

In Italy’s northern Aosta Valley region, this little town is not to be missed for the crisp mountain air that sweeps down from the Matterhorn valley, and it is guaranteed to make visitors forget the heat and stress of the city. Back in 1955 the subject of environmental sustainability was not yet popular, but the village of Chamois did not succumb to the lure of building a road, choosing a cable car to connect the village with the valley below. The cable car was not only a fast and direct means of transport, it also avoided the construction of roads and consequently the emission of harmful gases and the disturbance from traffic noise.

Chamois’s small stone streets add to its charm

Although the opinions of travellers at the beginning of the century decreed the construction of a carriage road as a necessary success factor for the tourist future of the “splendid climatic resort,” as Sylvain Lucat wrote in 1908, the people of Chamois refused the building of a road which would necessarily have changed the surrounding landscape. In fact, the presence of the cable car blends in perfectly with the small stone streets and alleyways that run between the renovated houses, preserving the charm of the area.

From the cable car it is easy to spot chamois deer 

Since then much work hasbeen carried out to make the cable car safer and more comfortable. And a ride in this cable car is always a thrill, as you fly over the Valtournenche at a height of 250 metres above the ground, often admiring chamois deer as they graze placidly on grassy ledges or along the steep mule track from Buisson to Chamois. The Buisson-Chamois cable car is open every day of the year (except for short maintenance periods) from 7 a.m. to 10.30 p.m., with rides every 30 minutes, or every 15 minutes in the case of heavy traffic. During the summer, opening hours are extended on Saturdays and Sundays, as they are also during the August bank holiday period and in the case of events or shows. 

There are walking trails for all levels of hikers and climbers

From the village of Chamois, it is possible to go further up the mountain by chairlift and reach such beauty spots as Lake Lod, where there is a picnic area and refreshment points, making it a pleasant place to relax, while it is also a starting point for various hikes and excursions. Experiences walkers and climbers can make it up to Chamois on foot following the old mule track that still connects the town to the valley floor, or they can choose to leave from the municipality of La Magdeleine along a path that is suitable for all levels, and can also be enjoyed on mountain bikes.

Savona's bid to become Italian Capital of Culture 2027 officially began with the handing over of the expression of interest to the Ministry of Culture this week.

The theme is “The New Routes of Culture” 

This is much more than just a beginning, it is another stage in a journey that began over a year ago in Spring 2023 when the project took its first steps. Today, after 90 preliminary meetings, nine thematic appointments, 1,900 people involved, more than 8,000 minutes of discussion over 200 project proposals have been collected. The New Routes of Culture is the theme chosen for the candidacy and the title of the dossier.

Some 32 municipalities will be involved  

Savona's is a plural candidacy, embracing a vast and united territory, which shares with the regional capital the idea of putting culture at the centre of a human and urban regeneration project. The 32 municipalities involved are: Albenga, Albissola Marina, Albisola Superiore, Altare, Bardineto, Bergeggi, Borgio Verezzi, Cairo Montenotte, Calizzano, Carcare, Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena, Celle Ligure, Ceriale, Cosseria, Dego, Finale Ligure, Laigueglia, Millesimo, Mioglia, Noli, Osiglia, Piana Crixia, Pietra Ligure, Quiliano, Sassello, Spotorno, Stella, Tovo San Giacomo, Vado Ligure, Varazze, Vezzi Portio, Villanova d'Albenga.

The BTE Non-Hotel Tourism Exchange in Palermo from 8 to 14 November 2024 promises to be a remarkable B2B event featuring the Today and the Tomorrow of non-hotel tourism innovation and growth.

The event is sold out

Organized by Confesercenti Sicilia in Palermo in collaboration with ItaliAbsolutely, Sicily’s capital city, the 8^th edition of this well-established exchange will be an exceptional platform for Italy specialists and Sicilian travel companies. The BTE’s focus on the non-hotel sector, encompasses a wide range of accommodations beyond traditional hotels, including vacation rentals, B&Bs, guesthouses, and more.

8^th edition BTE Non-Hotel Tourism Exchange – Educational Tour 

Friday 8 November 2024      

Arrival of the participants at Palermo Airport. Transfer to the B2B Workshop for the first half-day B2B workshop. Check-in at the hotel.  Dinner.

Saturday 9 November 2024

Breakfast and transfer to the B2B workshop. Lunch on site. In the afternoon we will transfer to Palermo for a walking tour, visiting the city’s most important monuments with a local guide. From Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the ancient Cassaro, we will walk down to the Quattro Canti, the heart of the city. Palermo’s Arab-Norman Route with its monuments is the latest UNESCO heritage site in Sicily. Dinner and overnight in Palermo.

Sunday 10 November

Breakfast and transfer to the B2B Workshop. Lunch on site. Afternoon walk in Palermo with a local guide, taking in some of the city’s most interesting monuments on the Arab-Norman route which is Sicily’s latest UNESCO heritage site. Overnight in Palermo.

Monday 11 November 2024

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Bagheria where we will visit some of the city’s most famous Art Nouveau villas. Transfer to the Parco delle Madonie, a protected nature area, where we can admire the park’s unusual landscape and enjoy some typical local products. Dinner and overnight in the Parco delle Madonie area.

Tuesday 12 November

Breakfast and transfer to the little village of Gangi, and then on to Piazza Armeria to visit the wonderful Villa Romana del Casale with a local guide.  This luxurious residence in the heart of Sicily dates back to Roman days with precious mosaics that recall the uses and customs of those times. We then proceed to Caltagirone.  Dinner and overnight stay in the area.

Wednesday 13 November

Breakfast and then transfer to Caltagione, the Sicilian capital of pottery where we will visit a laboratory and create a ceramic piece before proceeding to Ferla, a little town in the province of Siracusa.  Ferla is one of the circuit of “The Most Beautiful Small Towns in Italy.”  In Siracusa we will visit Syraka, the largest city of the ancient world, founded in 734 or 733 BC. We will then visit Ortigia, a gem of Baroque art with its Temple of Athena which was transformed into a cathedral, and the archaeological area, including the famous Latomia del Paradiso (quarry of paradise) with Dionysius’ Ear, the Greek Roman Theatre, and the Amphitheatre (UNESCO heritage). Dinner and overnight stay in the Catania area.

Thursday 14 November

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Catania Airport.   

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