One of the most beautiful period gardens in all of Europe, the Giardino Storico di Valsanzibio is in Galzignano Terme, in the province of Padua.

A Villa and park set in verdant countryside

Nestled amidst the rolling Euganean Hills, this splendid park was built in the 17th century at the behest of the Venetian Barbarigo family and today is the verdant setting of Villa Barbarigo Pizzoni Ardemani. 

Magnificent trees planed as long as three centuries ago

Here, art and human ingenuity are skillfully blended with the beauty of nature: Baroque statues in Istrian stone, sculptures and the architecture are complemented by ponds, waterfalls and fountains in a riot of water features. As you explore the parkland, you will discover wonderful trees including yews, white magnolias and sequoias imported centuries ago from the New World, as well as conifers, cedars and box hedges reaching up to six metres in height! And if the height does not particularly impress you, these box trees were planted a good three hundred years ago in order for them to reach their current stature.

One of the world’s oldest and best-preserved mazes

The garden was originally designed as a symbolic path, a journey of redemption reminiscent of Dante's Divina Commedia: from the Portal of Diana one reaches the staircase of the sonnet on a path leading man from error to truth. Even today, you can challenge your sense of direction, overcoming the many obstacles you will find along the way as you walk through the centuries-old boxwood labyrinth, one of the oldest and best-preserved mazes in the world. Once you have passed the seven pitfall routes (seven, like the deadly sins) you will reach the top of a tower from which you will symbolically gain a clearer view of your life.

ITA Airways has debuted on the Washington-Rome Fiumicino route with a new A330neo aircraft.

Daily flights from August to October

The Italian airline is moving ahead with the long-awaited expansion of its international network. Since 2 June it has been operating the new route from Washington Dulles to Rome Fiumicino with the new Airbus A330neo making its debut on commercial flights. Operating through 2 July with five weekly frequencies, the flights will increase to daily in the high season from 1 August to 28 October 2023.

Adding San Francisco in July and Rio de Janeiro in October

In addition to the route from Washington, ITA will also open two other intercontinental routes to Rome Fiumicino, from San Francisco in July and from Rio de Janeiro in October. Long-haul expansion is one of the main pillars of the airline's strategy, not only generating profitability but also boosting the short haul and helping to double the capacity of the intercontinental network.

Codeshare flights with Delta to 100 US destinations

The US is the first international market for ITA Airways and the most strategic after Italy, with direct flights connecting Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa to New York, Miami, Boston and Los Angeles. This summer the airline will operate 122 weekly frequencies between North America and Italy. Thanks to the codeshare with Delta there are over a hundred US destinations that ITA Airways' customers can access, for a total of 40 destinations served through New York JFK with many others through Boston, Miami, Los Angeles and Washington. 

Lemon Sistemi, which produces photovoltaics and renewable energy systems for tourism, doubled its turnover in 2022.

Renewable energy systems for tourism

A producer of solar, thermal, renewable thermal systems, storage systems and electric car charging stations, Lemon Sistemi, based in Balestrate in the province of Palermo, provides renewable energy to many of Sicily’s leading tourism concerns, and closed 2022 with a turnover of €12.8 million (+264% over 2021).  

Clients include Diesse and Gruppo Mangia’s 

"With more than 1,100 systems installed today, we are among the first companies in Sicily in the market for natural and forced circulation solar energy. We count among our customers some of the largest companies in Sicily, such as the Diesse Group and Gruppo Mangia's,” says Lemon Sistemi’s founders Vincenzo Palazzolo and Maria Laura Spagnolo. 

Solar panels that immerse themselves in the landscape 

The segment in which Lemon Sistemi excels is hospitality, with many of Sicily's most famous tourist resorts using Lemon Sistemi systems, such as solar panels that pleasantly immerse themselves in the landscape. With a total 5 MW installed, for an energy production of about seven million kWh per year -  equivalent to the needs of a town of 5,000 inhabitants - Lemon Sistemi circumvents the emission of over 4,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

“Our future plans see renewable energy sources as protagonists”

"Our future plans still see renewable energy sources as protagonists, with a special focus on clean energy storage needs. We will also continue to deal with the energy efficiency of cladding for buildings with the use of innovative techniques, something that Europe is crying out for.” 

The Italian Blue Route 2023 is a promotional journey along ancient Mediterranean sea routes. 

A Mediterranean journey in the Jancris sailing boat

Blue Tour’s Italian Blue Route itinerary, aimed at the development of territorial sustainability and of the economy of the sea, brings together places, knowhow and traditions, and the great cultural, gastronomic and natural characteristics of the sea, the coast and their communities. This single coastal itinerary on the handsome Jancris sailing boat interprets and promotes Italy’s great maritime heritage, developing synergies and vision with the blueconomy and the land. Local communities along the route become players in optimizing the social context, accessibility, and inclusiveness, also through the sharing of good practices and experiences gleaned from other European and international territories.

Jancris sailing boat

Tracing the ancient route of Ulysses

The Jancris is to set sail from Lerici in Liguria on 18 June, stopping in Punta Ala in Tuscany and then in the Porto di Traino and the Porto di Roma in Lazio.  The Italian Blue Route then heads south to Calabria, moves on to Messina in Sicily and ends in Calabria’s Porto di Roccella Ionica on 5-6 August. Following the ancient route of Ulysses through Calabria and Sicily, it sails along some of the most beautiful parts of the Italian coastline.  

Promoting territorial sustainability and the economy of the sea

The theme of the Mediterranean’s ancient navigation routes is one of the pivotal points on this itinerary highlighting ancient peoples and cultures, as it connects the sea with the coast and with the hinterland, in a dialogue that has long accompanied the relationship between man, land and the water. Drawing on Italy’s past, Blue Tour’s project is strongly projected towards the role local communities together with public and private players, can play in the development of territorial sustainability and the economy of the sea. The Italian Blue Route will be at the international Meet Tourism event of cultural itineraries to be held in Messina from 18 to 21 October, 2023.

The new Keyz Smart Hotels brand, a collaboration between Life Resorts and dotcampus, makes its debut in Rome. 

In Rome’s central San Giovanni area

The brand is inspired by the most avant-garde hospitality formulas, including CampusX and The Social Hub (formerly The Student Hotel), but also Joe&Joe and Zleep. The debut property is called KeyZ Dotcampus Roma San Giovanni, and is a short walk from the basilica of the same name. With 83 rooms and suites, it also has a panoramic terrace, bistro restaurant, bar, co-working bubbles, gym, kitchen area, wellness centre, library, and multimedia rooms. 

Ideal corporate and student accommodation

"Dotcampus is a format that winks at smart living, in line with the expectations of those wanting long & short stay hospitality services, - says Life Resorts’ ceo & founder Enzo Carella. – This is a new benchmark in the Eternal City for anyone looking for corporate & student accommodation. It is a unique hospitality model, created with the aim of making education and residency services for students, corporate & young workers accessible at the same time.”  

Adapted rental cars for special-needs drivers will be available in 20 Italian airports from 2024.

Rental cars for special-needs drivers

From the end of this year in Italy it will be possible for holders of special licences to rent adapted cars. This means that people with mobility-impairments or special needs, will be able to rent cars to travel around and discover Italy.

The Italian tourist agency supports accessible tourism

Independent life is not on holiday is the name of the promotional campaign launched by AISM (the Italian multiple sclerosis association) and sponsored by ENIT, the national tourist agency and FISH (the Italian federation for overcoming handicaps). Presenting the campaign at ENIT’s Rome headquarters, the agency's president and CEO Ivana Jelinic stressed how "ENIT monitors and supports the development of accessible tourism."    

“The airports will be selected also on the basis of tourism potential”

This project that makes available adapted car rental services for people with disabilities and holding special licences, will be marketed on the Sicily by Car platform.

"By 2025 these vehicles will be available in up to ten airports in major Italian cities such as Milan, Rome, Florence, Naples, Palermo, Catania, Turin, Bari, Trapani and Perugia. The airports will be selected on the basis of passenger needs and tourist potential," said Tommaso Dragotto, president Sicily by Car. 

There are 87 million people with disabilities in Europe

In Italy there are over three million people with disabilities, while in Europe they exceed 87 million. “Experiencing tourism in freedom and autonomy is a fundamental right,” said the minister for tourism, Daniela Santanchè.
"Tourism belongs to everyone. The imperative is to break down all obstacles and barriers.”  

The Milan W brand property, by Studio Urquiola, reinterprets the Rationalist architecture of the original late 1950s building.

Very close to Milan’s La Scala opera house

Milan’s first Marriott's W brand will make its debut in Piazzetta Bossi, a short walk from the La Scala opera house. The building is owned by the Statuto Group, and the W Milan with 116 rooms, including 15 suites, and will open next autumn.

Marriott W Milan

A rooftop swimming pool and a W Lounge

The new W brand hotel will also have a series of restaurants and bars serving Japanese and Italian cuisine, including a collaboration with Michelin-starred chef Andrea Berton. It will also have the iconic W Lounge, and guests will also find a panoramic rooftop complete with a swimming pool. In the evenings the building's rooftop bar, l'Aria, will offer contemporary food and cocktails as well as DJ sessions.

An MOU between FTO, the Organized Tourism Federation, and IBAR, the Italian Board of Airlines Representatives, promotes environmental and financial sustainability.

Promoting environmental and financial sustainability

Confcommercio's  FTO, the Federation of Organized Tourism and IBAR - Italian Board Airline Representatives - have signed a memorandum of understanding with the key aim of "promoting and ensuring the environmental and financial sustainability of air transport and organized tourism by protecting its specificities". 

“Synergies between organized tourism and carriers are decisive”

The two associations undertake to disseminate a full understanding of the national and European regulatory framework and to coordinate the guidelines, as well as working on 'oint training activities, and constantly improving customer satisfaction. “This is a very important agreement for us, because the synergies between organized tourism and carriers are decisive for the sector," says FTO’s president Franco Gattinoni.   Flavio Ghiringhelli, president of Ibar, adds "Air transport is the indispensable flywheel for the connectivity of a country like Italy. Close collaboration with the organized tourism chain is essential for our industry.”  

Namibia will be on stage at Capena, near Rome, with the art exhibition Namibia Würth - Capena, scheduled to run until 14 October.

Themes highlighting Namibia’s history and culture

Urte R. Remmert © 2022 rights for the images used, of the artists, heirs or legal successors.

The Namibian Consulate has collaborated with the Art Forum Würth Capena for this exhibition, which will run through 14 October,  aimed at publicizing an event that is the fruit both of the wealth of Namibia’s artistic production and the sensitivity of those who have curated the show. The aim being to highlight the artists’ search for forms and themes that combine different eras of their country's history and culture, and their ability to convey important messages, whatever the perspective adopted as a starting point. 

Ismael Shivute © 2022 rights for the images used, of the artists, heirs or legal successors

An inspiration for travellers to discover the country

Namibia's First Lady Monica Geingos and Namibia's Ambassador to Italy Albertus Aochamub expressed their appreciation for the Art Forum Würth Capena event that aims at introducing Italians to the country from a new angle. It is also seen as an inspiration for travellers, inviting them to discover the country, now that its borders have finally reopened to travel.