October 17, 2026
For opera lovers these are Italy’s best cities, seasons and festivals.
Italy is the ultimate opera pilgrimage. This is where Verdi, Puccini, Rossini and Donizetti created some of the world’s most enduring music, and where historic theatres, Roman arenas and open-air stages still provide some of the most unforgettable settings in which to hear it. From glamorous Milan and its La Scala Opera House to the Roman Baths of Caracalla under the stars, here is where to experience opera at its most Italian.
Milan. A night at La Scala
No opera itinerary would be complete without Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, one of the most famous opera houses in the world. Seeing a performance here is as much about the experience as the music: the red velvet auditorium, glittering tiers of boxes and sense of history make La Scala a bucket-list destination. The main season generally runs through the autumn, winter and spring, with a programme of opera, ballet and concerts. And even if there is no performance during your visit, the theatre’s museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of Italian opera and some of its greatest names.
Verona and Venice. Beauty and spectacle
For sheer spectacle, nothing quite compares with the Arena di Verona. Every summer, this ancient Roman amphitheatre becomes one of the world’s most dramatic opera stages, with thousands of spectators gathering beneath the stars. The 2026 Arena Opera Festival runs to 12 September, with major productions including Aida, La Traviata, Nabucco and Turandot. The Teatro La Fenice in Venice is one of Italy’s great opera venues, with performances throughout much of the year. It is particularly appealing for travellers who want to combine opera with one of the world’s most extraordinary and beautiful cities.
Naples and Rome. Europe’s oldest opera house and ancient ruins
The Teatro di San Carlo opened in 1737, and is widely recognized as the oldest continuously active opera house in the world. The season typically runs across the autumn, winter and spring, with opera, ballet and concerts. A visit is also a perfect excuse to explore Naples itself – from the historic centre and archaeological treasures to pizza, pastries and the Bay of Naples. Rome offers the best of both worlds: a traditional opera season at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma and spectacular summer productions staged at the Baths of Caracalla. The main theatre season generally runs through the cooler months in the Rome Opera House, while the summer programme transforms Caracalla into one of Europe’s most atmospheric open-air venues.
Tuscany, Pesaro and Macerata
For fans of Giacomo Puccini Torre del Lago is a must. This is where the composer lived and worked, and every summer the Puccini Festival (with only operas by Piccini) celebrates his music beside Lake Massaciuccoli, close to his former home. If Rossini is your composer, head for Pesaro, his birthplace on the Adriatic coast. Every summer, the Rossini Opera Festival attracts opera enthusiasts from around the world with productions ranging from famous works to rarely performed masterpieces. Another summer highlight is the Macerata Opera Festival, staged in the extraordinary Sferisterio, an open-air arena with an exceptionally wide stage and dramatic architecture.
Published in MICE & Events
The historic Hotel Danieli on Riva degli Schiavoni, a stone’s throw from St Mark’s in Venice, reopens as a Four Seasons.
"Venice in a completely new way"
“With the reopening of the iconic Danieli, Venice, a Four Seasons Hotel, and our fourth property in this spectacular collection in Italy, we are ushering in a new chapter in the history of this famous Palazzo,- said Rainer Stampfer, Four Seasons president of global operations. -In collaboration with our long-standing partner, the Statuto Group, we are offering guests the unique opportunity to experience the splendour of Venice in a completely new way.”
After restoration there will be 168 guest rooms
The hotel, whose history dates back to 1822, consists of three buildings: Palazzo Dandolo, built in 1471 as the residence of the noble Dandolo family, Palazzo Casa Nuova, once the seat of the Treasury of the Republic of Venice and Palazzo Danieli Excelsior. The hotel reopens with 120 rooms and suites, but the total number of guest rooms will rise to 168 once the restoration of Palazzo Danieli Excelsior is completed in 2027. “The reopening of the Danieli as a Four Seasons experience marks a milestone following months of restoration,” said Christian Zandonella, general manager of the Danieli Four Seasons Hotel. - We are delighted to welcome guests once again to one of Venice’s most iconic addresses, where the hotel’s extraordinary heritage is reimagined through Four Seasons’ legendary hospitality,
The rooftop Danieli Terrace and a new spa
The restoration has resulted in more spacious rooms and an expanded collection of Junior Suites and One-Bedroom Suites. Technology is discreetly integrated into the interiors to enhance comfort. Automated blinds, customizable lighting and an intuitive climate control system further personalize the guest experience. The refurbishment has also transformed the Danieli Terrace, the famous rooftop restaurant overlooking the lagoon. While respecting the restaurant’s historic setting, the atmosphere has been transformed without altering its architectural identity. The transformation of the Hotel Danieli will continue in the second half of 2026 with the opening of the new spa with three treatment rooms, one of which will be for couples, a sauna and a hammam.
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Published in Hospitality
There is a lot of uncertainty around what exactly is happening with the ETIAS system in Italy and in Europe.
Not currently operational in Italy
ETIAS is not currently operational in Italy. Italy is one of the 30 countries that will use the system, and this includes Italian airports, ports and other external Schengen borders, but for now the Italian ETIAS application system in not in operation. And neither is it operational in Europe.
The countries that will be involved
If someone is travelling to Italy today from a visa-exempt country such as the UK, US, Canada or Australia, they do not need ETIAS yet. If, for example, you are a British citizen flying from London to Rome, you don't need ETIAS today. But once ETIAS launches, you will need an approved ETIAS before travelling to Italy. The same situation applies across Europe. ETIAS is a single EU-wide system, rather than a national scheme, and will cover 30 European countries, including Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Greece and the other Schengen countries, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. At present, therefore, ETIAS is not actually working for travellers in any of these countries. Eligible visa-exempt travellers do not yet need to apply.
There will be a transitional and a grace period
The system is intended for citizens of countries whose nationals can currently enter the Schengen area without a visa, including the UK, United States, Canada, Australia and Japan. Once operational, travellers will have to obtain an electronic travel authorization before travelling to Europe. ETIAS is expected to cost €20 and normally remain valid for up to three years, or until the passport expires. ETIAS will also not become fully compulsory on its first day. After launch there will be a transitional period, followed by a grace period, allowing travellers and border authorities time to adapt. Consequently, if the current timetable is maintained, ETIAS is likely to become a normal and routinely enforced requirement during 2027 rather than immediately at the end of 2026.
Regular enforcement is expected in 2027
For Italy, therefore, the current position is clear: preparations are underway, but ETIAS is not yet functioning for travellers. This does not mean that Italy is behind the rest of Europe as the system's implementation is coordinated at EU level. The crucial dates for travellers are therefore the European launch in late 2026, and the expected move to regular enforcement in 2027.
Published in Transportation
SAC, the company that manages Catania Airport, has selected and shortlisted 10 operators for its privatization process.
The ten companies were selected from 14
Selected from the 14 expressions of interest received from Italian and international operators, they are Corporacion America Airports S.A., Royal Schiphol Group, Mundys S.p.A., Adani Airport Holdings Limited, Save S.p.A., 2I Aeroporti S.p.A., Mag Overseas Investment Ltd, Oman Airports Management Company, Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund and Vinci Airports s.a.s.
At stake is at least 51% of SAC’s share capital
In the second stage of the procedure, the selected bidders will be invited to participate in the subsequent stages in accordance with procedures and timelines to be communicated in line with the principles of transparency, equal treatment and the protection of competition. At stake is at least 51% of SAC’s share capital.
Identifying a suitable partner
“The conclusion of this first stage is a significant step in a process that confirms the high level of interest shown in our airport system and the confidence in its development prospects. An equally important phase now begins, in which the aim will be to identify the partner capable of presenting the most robust business plan, able to support the investments needed to strengthen the competitiveness of Catania and Comiso airports, whilst preserving their strategic role for Sicily in the public interest,” said Anna Quattrone and Nico Torrisi, chairperson and chief executive of SAC.
Catania and Catania Airports: strategic assets for Sicily
“The Catania and Comiso airport system is a strategic asset for the whole of Sicily. The high level of national and international participation recorded in this initial phase demonstrates the strength and appeal of an infrastructure that can continue to be a driving force for development, employment and competitiveness,” said Enrico Trantino, mayor of the Municipality and Metropolitan City of Catania.
Published in Transportation
Italy has no shortage of world-famous stages. La Scala. La Fenice. Teatro San Carlo. The Arena in Verona. Yet its newest UNESCO World Heritage recognition belongs to a very different cast of characters: ten remarkable historic teatri condominiali local theatres in little hill towns in the Marche, Umbria and Emilia-Romagna regions.
At first glance they look quite unassuming and have modest façades. But step inside and you realize that heritage is not always monumental: you find gilded boxes, painted ceilings, velvet seats for at the most a few hundred people, perfect acoustics and the unmistakable intimacy of the Italian theatre. Spaces that seem too grand for the towns that contain them, and yet somehow belong there completely. The UNESCO recognition comes not only for all this beauty, but because, unlike Europe's great royal opera houses, these little theatres were built, financed and managed collectively. An astonishingly modern idea for its time: art not as the preserve of a few, but as a civic investment shared by all.
UNESCO's decision recognizes ten remarkable examples of local theatres in central Italy (eight of them are in the Marche) in Jesi, Ascoli Piceno, Offida, Fermo, Macerata, Fabriano, Urbania, San Severino Marche, Sant'Agata Feltria and Spoleto. Together, they tell a story that extends far beyond architecture: one of collaboration, identity and a uniquely Italian understanding that culture thrives when it belongs to everyone.
For travellers the new UNESCO listing shines light on another Italy - one far removed from the country's iconic landmarks. These theatre towns invite you to slow down, wander medieval streets, linger over lunch in a family-run trattoria and chat with locals as you discover places where heritage is deeply woven into everyday life. At a time when overtourism dominates the conversation, UNESCO has quietly pointed us towards destinations where authenticity still takes centre stage.
Published in Editorial
Italy has no shortage of world-famous stages. La Scala. La Fenice. Teatro San Carlo. The Arena in Verona. Yet its newest UNESCO World Heritage recognition belongs to a very different cast of characters: ten remarkable historic teatri condominiali in little hill towns in the Marche, Umbria and Emilia-Romagna.
At first glance, they seem quite unassuming and have modest façades. But step inside and you realize that heritage is not always monumental as you find gilded boxes, painted ceilings, velvet seats for at the most a few hundred people, perfect acoustics and the unmistakable intimacy of the Italian theatre. Spaces that seem too grand for the towns that contain them, and yet somehow belong there completely. But the UNESCO recognition comes not only for all this beauty, but because, unlike Europe's great royal opera houses, these little theatres were built, financed and managed collectively. An astonishingly modern idea for its time: art not as the preserve of a few, but as a civic investment shared by all.
UNESCO's decision recognizes ten remarkable examples in central Italy (and eight of them are in the Marche) including theatres in Jesi, Ascoli Piceno, Offida, Fermo, Macerata, Fabriano, Urbania, San Severino Marche, Sant'Agata Feltria and Spoleto. Together, they tell a story that extends far beyond architecture: one of collaboration, identity and a uniquely Italian understanding that culture thrives when it belongs to everyone.
For travellers the new UNESCO listing shines light on another Italy - one far removed from the iconic landmarks. These theatre towns invite you to slow down, wander medieval streets, linger over lunch in a family-run trattoria, chat with local residents as you discover places where heritage remains woven into everyday life. At a time when overtourism dominates the conversation, UNESCO has quietly pointed us towards destinations where authenticity still takes centre stage.
Pamela McCourt Francescone
Executive Editor
Published in Editorial
Viatelier is a new Italian-American luxury travel company that connects the affluent U.S. luxury market with bespoke personalized and immersive travel in Italy.
Focused on culture, gastronomy, wellness and lifestyle
Founded by Micaela Occhioni and Tania Paganoni, Viatelier combines an American commercial presence with on-the-ground expertise in Italy, creating tailor-made itineraries focused on culture, gastronomy, wellness and lifestyle. The business operates through its US hub in San Diego where Occhioni oversees commercial development, client relations and partnerships, while in Rome Paganoni leads product development, supplier relationships and itinerary design. 
"Journeys built around people, places and privileged access"
Viatelier is more than just another luxury travel planner; it builds journeys through a carefully curated network of direct sources offering experiences that are difficult to access through conventional distribution channels. "We're not selling destinations, what we do is design highly personalized journeys built around people, places and privileged access."
A DMC-style partner delivering bespoke travel
For international luxury travel advisors and tour operators Viatelier is a DMC-style partner with a strong understanding of both the North American luxury market and how to deliver bespoke travel in Italy. The founders regularly travel throughout the Italian regions identifying emerging destinations, new hospitality partners, private guides, art historians, sommeliers, chefs, boutique hotels, historic residences, wineries and artisan producers to ensure authentic experiences. 
Journeys for discerning international clients
As demand continues to shift towards experiential, wellness-led and culturally rich travel, the Viatelier is fast positioning itself as a specialist that takes the best of Italy's diverse regional offer and creates highly customized journeys for discerning international clients.
Published in Tour operator
Pets weighing up to a maximum of 30kg will be allowed on board aircraft: following an in-depth technical assessment.
Exclusively on domestic routes
ENAC has approved ITA Airways’ request to raise the weight limit for pets allowed in the cabin on dedicated domestic flights from 10 to 30 kg. This exemption applies exclusively to domestic routes operated with certain aircraft models, in accordance with the approved cabin configurations and in full compliance with the technical and safety requirements defined by ENAC.
"An example for the entire industry"
“This is a historic achievement for our country’s civil aviation sector, which will soon serve as an example for the entire industry,- said ENAC President Pierluigi Di Palma. -Allowing dogs to be carried on board as passengers, rather than in the hold as parcels, is a milestone that calls for careful reflection on the outdated technical regulations which still govern our sector, hindering its evolution. It makes air transport not only the driving force of the global economy, but also a model that must link innovation to a well-established tradition, ensuring mobility for billions of people through the interconnection of the world’s most diverse civilizations and cultures, enabling us to overcome age-old prejudices and thus paving the way for peaceful coexistence.”
Ongoing operational monitoring
The implementation of this measure will be accompanied by ongoing operational monitoring, the results of which will be shared with EASA, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.
Published in Transportation
Wizz Air is expanding its services from Lamezia Terme with the launch of two new domestic routes to Milan Malpensa and Turin for the coming winter season.
An Italian network of 26 domestic routes
The route to Milan will operate twice daily, every day, from 25 October, and the route to Turin every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, also from 25 October. With these two new additions, the low-cost carrier is further expanding its domestic network to 26 domestic routes.
"We now offer our most extensive domestic network ever"
"We are continuing to invest in the Italian market, strengthening a key strategic route that is in extremely high demand. This commitment to the market enables us to meet the needs of business travellers, as well as those visiting friends and family, and anyone wishing to discover Italy’s beauty from the north to the south of the peninsula. Our aim is to continue developing an increasingly extensive, accessible and competitive network, serving travellers all year round and offering ever more efficient connections between key destinations. With 26 domestic routes, we now offer our most extensive domestic network ever," said Salvatore Gabriele Imperiale, Wizz Air's corporate communications manager.
Wizz Air operates 322 routes to 33 countries
For 2026, the airline operates an Italian network of 322 routes to 33 countries. In the summer season alone, the low-cost carrier is offering 20.3 million seats, which is a 43.6% increase over summer 2025. The airline has 44 aircraft based in Italy and has already operated 64,000 flights this year, up 24% on the same period last year.
Published in Transportation
A fam trip for tourism professionals to see, hear, taste and smell Magna Graecia, discovering Policoro and the Basilicata region's Ionian Coast, organized by APT Basilicata in collaboration with ItaliAbsolutely.
Discovering Basilicata, the Ionian Coast and ancient Magna Graecia
Basilicata, situated between the Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas, is a region of mountains, hills and natural landscapes. A land of ancient civilizations, from Magna Graecia to the Romans, it boasts a rich historical, cultural and gastronomic heritage. Many know Basilicata for the UNESCO city of Matera, but it is a diverse destination suitable for year-round tourism and an ideal starting point for longer itineraries beyond the summer season.
Policoro and its coastline
Policoro, on the Ionian coast, stands on the site of ancient Heraclea and combines history, the sea and nature with an Archaeological Park, the Siritide Museum and the WWF Nature Reserve. The Lucanian Ionian Coast has sandy beaches, pine forests, and important archaeological sites, making it one of the region’s main tourist destinations. In the town centre, visitors can see the 18th-century Policoro Castle and Piazza Eraclea square which is its vibrant heart, while its strategic location serves as an excellent base for exploring nearby destinations such as Bernalda, Pisticci, Nova Siri, Metaponto and also Matera.
A travel agents' fam trip from 15 to 18 September
From 15 to 18 September, Basilicata and the Ionian Coast together with ItaliAbsolutely will host a group of international buyers from the DACH region, the UK, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary. They will discover the Ionian Coast, from Metaponto to Nova Siri, a fascinating yet under-the-radar coastal destination in one of Southern Italy's most authentic and still largely undiscovered areas. The event is organized by APT Basilicata in collaboration with ItaliAbsolutely.
THE PROGRAMME
Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Participants must arrive at Bari Airport before 12 noon to transfer to Policoro and check into their hotel. The afternoon begins with a guided tour of Policoro, and surroundings. The day concludes with a welcome dinner.
Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Breakfast and a visit to the 5-star Marinagri Resort followed by a two-hour sailing excursion from Marinagri Marina to experience the Ionian coastline from the sea. The programme continues with a guided visit to the WWF Bosco Pantano Nature Reserve before lunch with local cuisine and wines. In the afternoon, participants will have some site inspections. Dinner and overnight.
Thursday, 17 September 2026
Breakfast and site inspections folloews by a hands-on cooking class. Lunch. The afternoon afternoon dedicated to other discoveries in the area. A farewell dinner will conclude the day.
Friday, 18 September 2026
The final morning will include a B2B workshop and networking lunch, providing opportunities for buyers and local tourism operators to establish new partnerships and discuss future collaborations.
How to participate
All the services are offered by the hosts for one representative per agency in a room for single use, and the flights will be partially reimbursed after the end of the fam trip. Participants must arrive at Bari Airport no later than 12 noon on 15th September. There will be one transfer per day for arriving agents and, on 18th September one transfer back to Bari airport to connect with flights departing after 17.00 in the afternoon. Anyone who wishes to stay on and discover more of Basilicata may do so on their own account; ItaliAbsolutely will be happy to assist them with suggestions.
* The program may be subject to changes.
Limited availability – we recommend securing your registration as soon as possible.
⤑⤑ To join this event, please write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Event organized by: 
Published in Fam Trip
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