American Beauty is at the Centro Culturale Altinate San Gaetano in Padua from 13 to 21 January 2024.

120 American artists on show until January 2024

This selection of 130 works, by 120 American artists, tells of the lights and shadows of the nation that more than any other has characterized the last century on a global level. The exhibition, organized by Artika in collaboration with the Municipality of Padua and Kr8te, is curated by Daniel Buso.

Andy Warhol Moonwalk 1987 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Inc

Great black and white and colour photographers

Photography introduces the visitor to the triumphant and decadent American universe, starting with black and white and absolute masters such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, Diane Arbus and Elliott Erwitt, and then moving on to the colour images of Steve McCurry, Vanessa Beecroft and Annie Leibovitz.

Ruth Orkin Boy with flag 1949 RUTH ORKIN by SIAE 2023

Themes that go deep into American culture and society

The itinerary is enhanced by creations by the masters of Pop Art and the protagonists of Street Art: Keith Haring, Mr. Brainwash, Obey and Banksy. The sections deal with some of the most important themes in order to go deep into the analysis of American culture and society. Many of the artists, including Banksy and Paul Insect, immortalize an America in turmoil, while Steve McCurry recounts the most tragic day for Americans: 11 September 2001. The exhibition also reserves space for the most topical issue in the social debate (inside and outside the United States), namely Black Lives Matter.

LAURENT ELIE BADESSI

As already anticipated in July, Mandarin Oriental is to open in 2026 in Sardinia with a new resort in Porto Cervo on the Costa Smeralda.

A beach resort with 83 keys

Perched on a hill overlooking the Gulf of Pevero, the Mandarin Oriental Porto Cervo, formerly the Le Ginestre hotel, will be surrounded by greenery and will have a private beach accessible via a 350-metre walkway. The resort’s development will be overseen by the Statuto Group,  and it will have 83 rooms and suites. The five different restaurants and bars will entice guests with their varied culinary offerings, while the Spa at Mandarin Oriental will offer the group's wellness experiences.

“The experience of the Statuto Group promises an extraordinary resort”

There will also be swimming pools hidden in the lush vegetation, a gym with state-of-the-art machines and a beach club on the Porto Paglia beach. "We are thrilled to announce the Mandarin Oriental Porto Cervo to our guests, and to expand our presence in one of the most exclusive destinations in this region,- says Mandarin Oriental's chief development officer, Francesco Cefalù. - The unique charm of the Costa Smeralda, combined with the experience of the Statuto Group, promises an extraordinary resort. We look forward to offering our refined service in this fascinating corner of Italy."

Starhotels had record-breaking results and operating margins in 2022, posting €80 million in gross operating margins which was 32.7% of the total turnover, a plus 27% over 2019. 

The US is the second market after Italy

The board of directors of the Starhotels group has officially approved the impressive 2022 budget, which reported total revenues of €243 million, a 2% rise over the pre-Covid era. One of the key growth drivers was the renewed interest from the leisure segment – after Italy the US market is second for Starhotels -  particularly for the high-end hotels under the Starhotels Collezione brand. 

“We closed 2022 with an extraordinary change of pace”

 “We closed 2022 with an extraordinary change of pace,” said Elisabetta Fabri, president and CEO of Starhotels highlighting the company's ability to optimise hotel performance, and to pursue sustainable growth, while recognising the ethical significance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) in the long-term vision of the hospitality industry. For 2023 the group has allocated €3 million to reduce energy consumption by over 30%, thus contributing to a significant reduction in the company's carbon footprint by 10,000 tonnes of CO2 over the next four years.

Purchasing Made in Italy products

Starhotels continues to promote Italian culture with the project "Grande Bellezza - The Dream Factory, which supports high-level Italian craftsmanship and generates tangible job opportunities. As part of the project Starhotels supports the professional training of young craftsmen and is committed to purchasing products that are almost exclusively   manufactured in Italy.

MIRA Borgo di Luce, an old monastery turned resort in Southern Italy.

MIRA Borgo di Luce in Siracusa is a monastery transformed into a luxury villa set among lemon groves and carob trees in Southern Italy.


A golf course and beautiful gardens

Once a Benedictine monastery, today it is a distinguished villa with three buildings that reveal refined rooms and suites, immersed in beautiful gardens and tht overlook the golf course or the internal patios, in the heart of Siracusa’s countryside.

For sporty or relaxing holidays

This is the new life of MIRA Borgo di Luce I Monasteri Golf Resort & Spa: where otium and negotium (rest and activity) merge under the banner of a holiday that can be sporty or relaxing, but always full of emotions.


Just 20 kilometres from the sea

This property, a former monastery in Southern Italy has 102 elegantly furnished rooms and suites, has a spa and is surrounded by 200 hectares of parklands, lemon groves and carob trees. It is just 20 kilometres from the sea, where Sicilian Baroque blossoms, and where there is so much to discover. 

The 2023 ACI Airports Council International Europe winners for the best Italian airports found Rome’s Fiumicino and Milan’s Linate proudly picking up two of the top prizes.

Rome’s Fiumicino took the coveted first prize in the Over 40 Million Passengers Category. Aiming for net zero by 2030, Fiumicino also cooperates with start-ups to foster creative problem solving. And it is the first airport in the world to issue a sustainability-linked bond, a pioneering solution for achieving sustainability commitments.

Linate Airport took first place in the 5-10 Million Passenger Category for the excellent of its sustainability efforts and, like Fiumicino, its commitment to net zero by 2030.  Linate also got kudos for its passenger-centric approach and dedication to seamless and secure travel by investing in innovative solutions like Explosive Detection Systems for Cabin Baggage and FaceBoarding services.

Pamela McCourt Francescone
Executive Editor

Monreale, famous for its gold Byzantine mosaics and Norman architecture, is a 12th-century city less than fifteen minutes from Palermo. 

The Cathedral is a UNESCO site 

Famous the world over for its splendid Cathedral with its over 6,000 square metres of golden mosaics, in 2015 UNESCO added it to the World Heritage Site list as part of the Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale.  Anyone visiting Monreale, which is on a high hill overlooking Palermo, is there to visit the Cathedral. And to do so they will find themselves on the little town’s main square which also has the Monastery of St. Benedict.   The Cathedral is in three different styles, Arab, Norman and Byzantine, and has a wide nave ending at the main apse. 

Golden mosaics and a majestic Christ Pantocrator

The jewel in its crown are the famous mosaics. There are over 130 of these gold Byzantine mosaics commissioned by William II, and made by Venetian craftsmen who, it has been estimated, used 2,200 kilos of pure gold. Depicting episodes from the Old Testament, the New Testament and the lives of the saints, they are divided into cycles and each one tells a story. The most important mosaic is the Christ Pantocrator (ruler over all) at the end of the nave. This huge mosaic creates a stunning visual effect with a half-height portrait of Christ, his left hand holding a book in Latin, while his right hand is raised in blessing.

There are splendid views from the roof of the cathedral

From the roof of the Cathedral there are splendid views of the cloister, the monastery, the city of Monreale, Palermo and the Conca d'Oro, which is Palmero’s coastline with its groves of citrus trees. The Bendectine Cloister, each side of which has 26 double arches - many decorated with mosaics or reliefs and with beautiful carved Romanesque capitals - is the world’s most striking and largest group of sculptures to survive from Norman times. The fountain, a tall column carved like a stylized palm tree, was once used by the monks to wash their hands before entering the refectory. 

Monreale is famous for its crusty bread

Monreale is also famous for its bread which is subjected to a double rising and is very crusty. Many residents of Palermo drive up to the hill town every day to pick up freshly baked loaves. 

Slow Drive offers exciting new ways to explore Italy in self-drive vintage rental cars.

Exploring well-trodden and lesser-known routes

Picture yourself cruising in a convertible spider, the wind tousling your hair as you journey through captivating historical Italian landscapes that transport you back in time. Welcome to the world of Slow Drive, a specialised company offering self-drive vintage rental cars. Explore well-trodden paths and embark on surprising routes, commencing from some of Northern Italy's most enchanting destinations. From Lake Garda, where you can set off to explore Brescia, the Italian Capital of Culture 2023, along with Bergamo. Then on to captivating Lake Como and the artistic Tuscan cities of Florence, Pisa, and Siena, the illustrious Verona, and the Valpolicella region and arriving in Padua and Savona.

Ph Credit Alexandra Muresan

Rent the car of your dreams

Each chosen location, serving as your starting point to rent one of Slow  Drive’s dream rental cars—such as the striking fire-red Alfa Romeo Duetto Osso di Seppia or the refined Giulietta Spider convertible—unveils a blend of renowned and unconventional routes. These routes are ideal for couples, friends, families, or even solo adventurers. The array of available cars from Slow Drive is extensive, ranging from the sparkling Triumph Spitfire, to be driven with diva-like sunglasses and vintage gloves, to the charming VW Beetle Cabriolet. And you can even relish a day on the road in the timeless VW T2 minibus.

Thematic and imaginative itineraries

For those seeking a guided experience, Slow Drive offers captivating vintage tours. After selecting your desired car model and trip duration (half day, full day, or weekend), join Slow Drive guides on thematic and imaginative itineraries, steering away from heavily trafficked areas to truly savour the joy of driving. Cross the stunning landscapes and hidden villages of Tuscany or bask in the allure of Lake Garda's beauty. For information: www.slowdrive.it. 

Over 40 kilometres of new cycle routes to explore the less crowded beaches and oldest villages on the Sassari coastline of Sardinia.

Crystal clear seas, coastal pine forests and digital maps

All this is possible in Budoni, the village in Sardinia’s Gallura district, which has for some time now been focusing on sustainability, the rediscovery of traditions in a modern key, and the valorization of the inestimable natural heritage it preserves. With its crystal-clear seas and coastal pine forests, cyclists can use both digital maps and the hundred new-generation bicycle racks distributed along the itineraries. These new itineraries can be enjoyed on e-bike, winding for over 40 kilometres, far from smog, traffic and pollution, through the ancient villages of Budoni. 

“Designed for cycle tourists who prefer seasons of the year other than summer”

Alessandro Fiore, Destination manager of Budoni Wellcome, explains:

"The development of routes for lovers of two wheels or long walks makes us particularly proud. We accompany visitors as they discovery our area, distributing our guests in the different parts of our destination. These routes are also designed for cycle tourists who prefer seasons of the year other than summer to move around, when our territory reveals its deepest nature, rich in history, colours and perfumes.”  

Komoot-mapped cycle and walking routes

Great attention is also paid to those who prefer to move around on foot, with three trekking paths that allow them to discover the magnificence of the cosatal and inland areas. All in total safety thanks to the mapping of all the routes on Komoot, one of the most authoritative outdoor platforms in the world. They will also find an ample number of signs with QR codes that at all times indicate the precise position, the route travelled and the time remaining.  Along the way there are also numerous refreshment points where it is possible to stop and enjoy typical local.