A new interline agreement between ITA Airways and DAT makes Ancona and the Marche region more accessible.  

Connecting to numerous destinations within the ITA network

This Special Prorate Agreement will improve connectivity between Ancona and flights operated by DAT to Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate, with the option to connect to numerous destinations within the ITA network. At the same time, the partnership will boost passenger numbers to Ancona and help promote the Marche region, particularly to foreign passengers arriving in Italy with ITA via the Fiumicino and Milan Linate hubs.

"Making our network increasingly accessible"

“The agreement with DAT forms part of ITA Airways’ strategy of partnerships, built with reliable operators deeply rooted in their local areas, expanding travel opportunities for our customers and making our network increasingly accessible,- said Joerg Eberhart, ITA's CEO and managing director. "With this agreement we are strengthening the Marche region’s links with our main airports, Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate, facilitating access to the airline’s domestic and international destinations and contributing to the development of transport links and the region’s appeal.

Destinations worldwide on a single ticket

“Since 3 November, when our mandate began, we have worked with great determination to restore the credibility of flights from Ancona to Rome and Milan, which had been lost in recent years,- said Luigi Vallero, general manager DAT. -Our service is reliable and competitive and the results, which are improving day by day, confirm that we are on the right track for further development. “The interline agreement with ITA Airways enables passengers to reach a large number of destinations in Italy, Europe and, within a few weeks, worldwide, via Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate. By purchasing a single ticket at particularly attractive fares, passengers can once again reach their final destination with their luggage checked through directly from Ancona International Airport.” Among the available destinations are numerous Italian cities – including Bari, Bologna, Brindisi, Catania, Florence, Palermo, Reggio Calabria, Turin, Trieste and Venice – as well as international connections such as Amsterdam, London, Nice, Geneva and Paris, and the entire ITA intercontinental network, which includes highly sought-after destinations such as New York, Miami, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.

ITA Airways operates 72 destinations this summer

The connections in partnership with DAT are in addition to the current summer schedule, during which ITA Airways operates 72 destinations – 19 domestic, 36 international and 17 intercontinental – with 12 seasonal routes (3 domestic and 9 international) to Italian, Greek and Spanish islands. The summer schedule also includes new direct flights from Rome Fiumicino to Málaga, Valencia and Marseille, as well as an increase to seven weekly flights to Tunis between June and September, in addition to seasonal services between Olbia and Turin and between Olbia and Genoa, both operating in August with one flight per week on Saturdays.

The historic rooms of Palazzo Cavallerini Lazzaroni in Rome will host the solo exhibition “Intuitive Force” by the renowned Romanian painter Ioan Sbârciu up to 12 July 2026. 

Sbârciu's painting engages with literature and philosophical thought

On display a selection of medium- and large-scale works, conceived as a visual journey in which the practice of painting engages with the traditions of literature and philosophical thought. These are not merely scholarly references, but active, integral components of his artistic practice. The choice of venue is no coincidence: the thematic connection between art and written thought fits perfectly within the palace’s spaces, which also house a historic bookshop on the ground floor. On a subconscious level, Ioan Sbârciu works through archetypal intuitions and symbolic figurations that emerge as deep-seated layers of literary and philosophical imagery, introspection and analysis of reality. On a rational level, his artistic exploration unfolds in constant dialogue with the theories of Umberto Eco and Giorgio Agamben, with the poetic philosophy of Lucian Blaga, as well as through direct engagement with the philosopher Aurel Codoban and the poet Ion Mureșan.

On the borderline between figuration and abstraction

On the tenth anniversary of Umberto Eco’s death, the exhibition takes on an even deeper significance, highlighting the extraordinary affinities between the thought of the great Italian intellectual (and author of "In the Name of the Rose") and the figure of Sbârciu. On a formal level, Sbârciu’s painting lies on the borderline between figuration and abstraction and from this perspective, the work engages in a dialogue with Eco’s thinking, according to which meaning arises from the interpretation of signs within open systems. 

Open daily in Via dei Barbieri 7, Rome

Sbârciu’s painting thus becomes a visual expression of the concept of the "open work" coined by Eco, in which meaning is never definitive but unfolds as an expanding possibility. Within this process, the viewer is called upon to engage in an activity that Eco terms "creative abduction:" starting from the visual signs, they formulate interpretative hypotheses, gradually constructing the meaning of the work. “Intuitive Force” celebrates painting as a space where matter and thought meet. Intuitive Force Ioan Sbârciu 11 June – 12 July 2026.  Open daily 10.30 am – 8.00 pm.  Palazzo Cavallerini Lazzaroni, Via dei Barbieri 7, Rome.

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Remote wilderness environments are becoming travel’s ultimate wellness trend according to the Global Wellness Institute’s 2026 Wellness Tourism Initiative Trends report. Travellers, it says, are increasingly seeking “low-density environments, limited-access settings, and experiences that don’t feel crowded or overexposed.” In other words, the new luxury is not exclusivity but space, authenticity and silence.

Specialized operators are creating itineraries around wild, untouched landscapes. From remote yoga sessions at sunrise and wild swimming in crystal-clear lakes and fjords, to natural hot springs hidden in the mountains and wolf-tracking excursions through vast forests.

Italy offers many sanctuaries for those seeking true disconnection, and few places are better than Alicudi, the westernmost and least populated of the Aeolian Islands. Visitors must first travel to Sicily and then board a ferry or hydrofoil; the quickest taking three hours from Milazzo.

Once there, the sense of remoteness is immediate. There are no cars, few roads, just steep volcanic slopes, ancient stone paths, mule tracks and eye-wateringly beautiful seascapes. The little port has just one bar and one shop - which of course closes for a long lunch - but Alicudi reminds us that more and more the greatest luxury is simply being far away from everything.

Pamela McCourt Francescone
Executive Editor

ITA Airways continues to invest in the NDC channel, and has signed a new distribution agreement with Sabre Corporation. 

Aligned with the Lufthansa Group’s distribution 

The agreement also includes the renewal of their current agreement on traditional content and will enable the company to offer more personalized content to travel agencies and tour operators. It will also help to align with the Lufthansa Group’s distribution strategy. Travel agencies connected to Sabre can now request activation for shopping, booking and managing ITA’s NDC offers. These will be complemented by traditional content within the Sabre ecosystem, enabling agents to search, compare, sell and manage offers efficiently within a single workflow.

Available to travel agencies connected to Sabre

The partnership expands ITA Airways’ distribution via the Sabre Mosaic™ Marketplace, making the airline’s NDC offers available to travel agencies connected to Sabre. The airline’s NDC content has been distributed to agencies since 12 May 2026. Through Sabre Mosaic™ NDC, ITA will be able to offer richer and more personalized deals, in line with its commercial and distribution priorities, while reaching a vast number of travellers via the agency channel.

For travel search, booking and management

Sabre has emphasized its support for ITA Airways’ air distribution modernization programme: the integration of NDC content into the Sabre Mosaic™ Marketplace enabling agencies to access more comprehensive offers through a scalable, multi-source system while facilitating the search, booking and management of travel services.

At the geographical and symbolic core of Milan stands the Duomo di Milano,  a marble icon, and one of Europe’s most distinctive cathedrals and significant cultural landmarks. 

The cathedral is a destination anchor 

More than a cathedral, the Duomo is a destination anchor, an essential stop for leisure travelers, groups, and premium itineraries alike. Construction began in 1386 and unfolded over nearly six centuries. Built almost entirely from Candoglia marble, the cathedral’s pale pink façade delivers immediate visual impact in every season and light, making it a consistent highlight for photography, guided tours, and experiential-bent travellers.

The rooftop is accessible by stairs or elevator

With 135 spires, thousands of sculpted figures, and an unmistakable Gothic silhouette, the Duomo offers high perceived value for visitors. Its exterior has a very strong impact, while the interior with soaring columns and monumental stained-glass windows provides a contemplative contrast to the city’s fast-paced lifestyle. The interior visit, archaeological area, museum, and rooftop terraces can be packaged separately or combined, allowing flexibility for FIT travelers, cruise extensions, and incentive groups. The rooftop experience, accessible by stairs or elevator, is particularly appealing to premium and short-stay visitors, offering panoramic views across Milan’s historic center and modern skyline. 

Close to Milan’s famous shopping streets

Crowning the highest spire is the Madonnina, the gilded statue of the Virgin Mary that has long been a cultural and symbolic benchmark for the city. Her presence reinforces the cathedral’s role not only as a religious site but as a civic emblem, an aspect that resonates strongly with international visitors seeking authentic local narratives. Located in the central Piazza del Duomo, the cathedral benefits from unmatched connectivity to retail districts, leading hotels, and transport hubs. Its proximity to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and Milan’s famous fashion shopping streets enhances its value within luxury, cultural, and lifestyle itineraries. For information: www.duomomilano.it

An hour south of Palermo, the ideal for a weekend escape is the little town of Ficuzza.

A royal hunting lodge

With citrus groves and coastal light that give way to dense woodland, cooler air, and a sense of inland Sicily that feels largely untouched by tourism,  Ficuzza, a small town in one of the island’s largest protected forests is anchored by an unexpected royal residence: the Bourbon hunting lodge.

A rare perspective on Sicily’s layered history 

The standout experience here is entering the Real Casina di Caccia di Ficuzza royal hunting lodge which was built in the late 18th century by Ferdinand III of Bourbon. Vast, austere, and almost out of scale with its surroundings, the lodge was designed as a seasonal retreat for hunting expeditions. Today its long corridors, sparse rooms, and monumental proportions feel quietly disorienting. It is neither palace nor country house in the conventional sense, and its isolation is part of the experience. Visiting it offers a rare perspective on Sicily’s layered history, far from baroque cities and coastal narratives.

Walking trails in the forest

But Ficuzza’s appeal also lies in its setting in the Bosco della Ficuzza forest. Marked trails lead through oak and holm forests, with routes suitable for slow walks rather than demanding hikes. Wildlife sightings are common, and the silence feels strikingly distant from Palermo’s intensity. The forest encourages unstructured time: walking, pausing, and lingering rather than ticking off sights.

Low-key, often family-run accommodation

Reaching Ficuzza is easy and so makes it ideal for a weekend escape. The drive from Palermo takes around 60–75 minutes, depending on the route, and becomes increasingly scenic as it climbs inland. A car is essential, as public transport is limited, but once there, distances are short and the pace naturally slows. Accommodation is low-key, often family-run, and dining focuses on robust inland Sicilian cooking rather than coastal specialities.

Perfect for a weekend visit

A weekend here works best when kept deliberately simple. Saturday can centre on the drive inland, a visit to the hunting lodge, and a walk in the surrounding forest, followed by a relaxed dinner of local ingredients. Sunday allows time for a longer woodland walk or a slow breakfast before returning to Palermo in the afternoon. What makes Ficuzza unusual is its contrast. So close to the city, yet for its greenery, quiet, and scale it offers a side of Sicily many visitors never see. For those willing to drive inland, it offers a weekend that feels genuinely different - rooted in landscape, history, and a rare sense of space.