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.

Air Canada is preparing to make its debut at Naples airport with new direct flights from Montreal.

Four weekly Montreal-Naples flights

The launch of the new route is scheduled for 16 May 2025, while the inaugural flight from Naples Capodichino to Canada will take off the following day. The airline will operate four weekly flights, using a Boeing 787-8, with departures from Montreal on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and return flights from Naples on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The flights are already bookable.

Air Canada flights to Prague resume

Air Canada has also announced the resumption of flights to Prague and the launch of a new flight to Porto, also in 2025. Naples thus confirms itself as a privileged destination for the North American market. In the summer of 2024 the airport also saw the debut of two other US airlines: Delta Air Lines with flights from New York JFL and American Airlines with the new Philadelphia route. United Airlines has been operating for some time on Naples airport, with flights from New York-Newark.

ITA Airways' new direct flight from Rome Fiumicino to Jeddah, the second destination served by the airline in Saudi Arabia after Riyadh, started on 1 August.

ITA Airways’ new A321neos operates on the Jeddah route

"This flight boosts our presence in Saudi Arabia, a very fast growing market,- said Emiliana Limosani, ITA Airways’ COO and  CEO of Volare. -This new opening follows the introduction of the direct flights to Riyadh last June, and is part of the current expansion of our summer network, which boasts excellent results in terms of bookings. The Jeddah flights, operated with a new A321neo, will expand the medium-haul network and boost commercial and cultural exchanges between the Arabian Peninsula and Italy, in addition to guaranteeing connections with our network of destinations reachable from our Rome Fiumicino hub.”

“In the first half of 2024 traffic grew by a further +34%”

"After a 2023 with record levels of growth the Saudi Arabian market continues to record very positive performances, - said Ivan Bassato, chief aviation officer of Aeroporti di Roma. - In the first half of 2024 traffic from Rome Fiumicino grew by a further +34% compared to the same period last year, with flows even quintupled compared to 2019. We are confident that the launch of these new ITA flights to Jeddah will contribute to boosting the ongoing development trend, to the full benefit of mobility between Italy and Saudi Arabia. It will also expand interconnection opportunities to other international destinations offered directly from our hub, with particular reference to ITA’s growing offer on the American market."

ITA operates on 57 destinations this summer

The newly launched Jeddah flight operates three weekly frequencies, departing from Rome Fiumicino on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and returning from Jeddah on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. ITA's summer network now counts 57 destinations of which 16 are domestic, 26 international and 15 intercontinental.

Italy continues to be a perennial favorite for summer holidays with European travellers. In fact, it comes second as the most popular European holiday choice, after Portugal and before Spain, in a recent survey from the Jetcost search engine.

Rome

Rome tops the poll as the first choice of destination city in Italy for French, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese visitors, Catania is the top pick for Germans, and Milan is the favourite for UK visitors and the second for Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese visitors. Venice is the third most requested city by Spanish travellers and the fourth for the UK market, with Naples in third place for German and UK visitors and fourth for French tourists while cities in Sicily, Sardinia and Tuscany are also high in the ratings . 

Venice

What draws European visitors to Italy? The sun, its golden beaches, culture, traditions and festivals, of course its food and wines but also the quality of its hotels and the fact that it is less expensive than other European countries.  

Napoli

The Jetcost survey also highlights how European travellers who search online for flights are up by 12% compared to August last year, while those searching for hotels are up by 14%.

Pamela McCourt Francescone
Executive Editor

Eight proposals of culture, food and wine, environment and art that you can ONLY do in Savona, Liguria’s coastal gem.

Blue Flag beaches and the thirst-quenching Chinotto

The city of Savona and its area, in the running for the title of Italian Capital of Culture 2027, are easily accessible and offer unique experiences within everyone's reach, and that can be done only here. Among the Blue Flag beaches is the Fornaci Beach, located in the city in a popular district, while the Porto della Darsena, located in the heart of the historic city, is another popular spot with locals and visitors. Find out more at www.visitsavona.com/it/da-scoprire/spiagge-e-litorali.html  The chinotto is a small citrus fruit unique in quality and aroma that comes from an evergreen plant native to China. Savona's chinotto is processed using an artisanal method and there are several places where it can be tasted in the form of a drink with a bitter aftertaste. One of the most popular is the old Besio pastry shop in Piazza Mameli, which has guarded the secrets of candying and processing the chinotto since 1860.  

credits BMC SEA

A majestic fortification and a local chickpea delicacy

Priamar one of the most imposing fortifications in the Mediterranean, dating back almost 500 years and dominating the sea with a 360 degree view. Built between 1542 and 1544, today it is a cultural centre. Not to be missed is a visit to the underground passages. The tour lasts about one and a half hours and it is recommended that you bring a torch and wear comfortable shoes. Find out more at: https://www.museoarcheosavona.it/  If you are familiar with the chickpea yellow farinata, which is popular throughout Italy, get ready to surprise your palate with the only white farinata in existence. It is made only in Savona and is a historical legacy dating back 500 years. The perfect white farinata must be crunchy but at the same time soft and be cooked in an oven at 400 degrees. And the same oven cannot be used for pizzas! To find out more: https://www.visitsavona.com/it/da-scoprire/prodotti-tipici-ricette.html

The Apple Museum and the Bell of Peace

Apple Museum credit AAA Museum

Visit “All About Apple” which houses more than 10,000 items from the world of Apple all in working order. This unique museum has almost the entire Apple production from its beginnings in 1976 to the present day, and it is the best stocked Apple museum in the world that allows visitors to explore first-hand the machines on display all of which are switched on and in working order - personal computers, monitors, printers, keyboards, floppy drives, hard disks, accessories, etc. You name it, it’s here.  Find out more at: https://www.allaboutapple.com/  Thrill to the tolling of the Peace Bell while everything around you stands still. Every day at 6 p.m., the bell of the War Memorial strikes 21 chimes, one per letter of the (Italian) alphabet, in memory of the victims of all wars. At the first toll, everything stops: leaving cars in the middle crossroads, pedestrians where they stand, and shopkeepers as they serve customers, for this tradition that dates back almost 100 years.   Fun fact: it is the Savona attraction with the highest rating on TripAdvisor. 

Sistine Chapel

Beautiful blue tiles and the ‘other’ Sistine Chapel

Immerse yourself in the white and blue world of maiolica in the workshops of the masters of ceramics. The fascination of ceramics is timeless, and its roots are in the Savona area, which has become known as the Bay of Ceramics, a project that unites Savona, Albissola Marina, Albisola Superiore and Celle Ligure. Find out more at:
Ceramic Museum http://musa.savona.it/museodellaceramica/  Did you know that the Sistine Chapel in Rome is not unique? In fact Savona is home to “the other” Sistine Chapel, commissioned by the same pontiff, Sixtus IV (1471-1484). Alas, the magnificent original frescoes are no longer visible except for a few small portions but is it still worth seeing. Find out more at https://cattedralesavona.it/cappella-sistina-di-savona/

Museum of Ceramics credit Federico Farci