July 27, 2026
Mantua, in northern Italy is uncrowded and packed with things to discover and enjoy.
Three lakes and the Mincio river
Mantua feels quietly suspended between land and water and, unlike many of Italy’s more crowded destinations, it is a city of extraordinary art and history that is intimate and wonderfully undiscovered. Historically it rises from three lakes, Lago Superiore, Lago di Mezzo, and Lago Inferiore, formed centuries ago when t the Mincio River was redirected to protect the city. Today the waters create a natural moat while canals surround the city.
Palazzo Ducale has almost a thousand rooms
Despite its artistic importance, Mantua rarely feels crowded. Wandering through arcaded squares, along cobbled streets, and into leafy gardens there is none of the bustle that invades larger Italian cities. The historic center, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, is remarkably intact with elegant porticoes, intimate piazzas, Renaissance palaces, and shaded courtyards where cafés spill out onto stone pavements. At the heart of Mantua’s cultural legacy stands the immense Palazzo Ducale, once the seat of the powerful Gonzaga family. This vast complex contains nearly a thousand rooms connected by corridors, gardens, and galleries. Within it lies one of the masterpieces of the Renaissance: the “Camera degli Sposi” painted by Andrea Mantegna. 
Frescoes wrap around walls and ceilings
Equally extraordinary, but entirely different in spirit, is the nearby Palazzo Te, built as a pleasure palace for the Gonzaga court, and a masterpiece of Mannerist architecture. Inside rooms explode with frescoes with the famous Sala dei Giganti (Room of the giants) immersing visitors in a swirling mythological scene with painted giants tumbling from the heavens in a theatrical illusion that wraps around every wall and ceiling.
Concerts, food fairs and local wines
Mantua is deeply tied to culture and tradition; music and theatre fill the city throughout the year, echoing the legacy of Claudio Monteverdi, who worked here in the early 17th century. Outdoor concerts are organized in historic courtyards and along the lakeside promenades. Seasonal food fairs celebrate the rich cuisine of Lombardy, with such delights as pumpkin-filled tortelli, aged cheeses, and local wines. Mantua’s location also makes it an ideal base for exploring northern Italy. Within easy reach are the romantic streets of Verona, the gastronomic traditions of Parma, and the culinary excellence and Formula One racing cars of Modena. Yet many travelers find that Mantua itself is the place they linger longest. For information: www.italia.it/en/lombardy/mantua
Published in Cities & Regions
CNN Traveller 's pick for Italy in "The Best Places to Go in Europe in 2026" is Milan. The Lombard capital, it says "has long been misunderstood and underestimated" going on to add that it delivers "nuanced culture, rich heritage...and a bursting dynamism only set to grow in 2026."
Having opened the year with the Milan Cortina Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, next up in April is the 64th edition of Design Week, or Salone del Mobile, the world’s largest furniture fair. The offshoot Fuorisalone, in hundreds of courtyards, galleries, and showrooms features the chosen theme in many different guises, and this year focuses on sustainability and social impact.
Adding to the city's rich offering of five-star hotels, four more are set to open in the famous fashion golden triangle: the Rosewood Milan, the Six Senses with 68 guest rooms, suites with plunge pools and a sky pool, the Mett Milan, a 26-story 1950s skyscraper, and Soho House with 50 rooms, a rooftop terrace and a pool.
Pamela McCourt Francescone
Executive Editor
Published in Editorial
Easter in Bastia Umbra, the little town in the Umbria region in the foothills just below Assisi, is a celebration of faith, culture and community.
Easter is shared by residents and visitors
The Easter period is a deeply rooted community experience that is shared by the community and visitors. Bastia Umbra's Cultural and Territorial Promotional Councillor Paolo Ansideri explains that the Easter Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday when the faithful gather in different parts of the town, carrying olive branches that symbolize peace and renewal, as they make their way to church.
Reenacted Stations of the Cross
"Good Friday is the heart of the celebrations, with the liturgy of the Passion and a procession through the streets carrying the statue of the Dead Christ. In the little hamlet of Costano the Stations of the Cross are brought to life, with the residents reenacting scenes by torchlight. Then on Holy Saturday there is the traditional blessing of food, and in the evening, the Night of the Resurrection ends with the entrance of the Risen Christ into the church."
Easter traditions on the table
Easter Sunday in Bastia Umbra is a day of celebration with the traditional “Rinchinata” ceremony when the statues of Christ and the Virgin Mary are carried by members of the local confraternities into the town square where the two statues bow to each other. The weekend celebrations also include cultural events from concerts to exhibitions, and traditional foods like the Holy Friday "Baccalà e Fagioli" salt cod and beans and the “Torta di Pasqua” Easter cake are part of the festivities. 
"A more laid-back alternative to Assisi"
Bastia Umbra's Rocca Baglionesca medieval fortress is one of the main historical landmarks in the town, and visitors enjoy the cafés, small shops, and very local atmosphere. The town is neither crowded nor touristy, which makes it perfect for relaxed strolling and people-watching, and the surrounding countryside is ideal for easy walks and cycling. Councillor Ansideri says the town also "offers an excellent range of accommodation from small hotels to farm stays to holiday rentals, and is an interesting more laid-back alternative to Assisi which is very easy to visit from here." For information: www.comune.bastia.pg.itwww.comune.bastia.pg.it
Published in On the road
ITA Airways is scheduled to join Lufthansa's Miles&More loyalty programme on 1 April.
ITA Airways will be a fully integrated partner
The process of integrating ITA Airways into the Lufthansa Group takes a significant step forward: on 1 April. The Italian airline will join the Miles&More programme, the German giant’s loyalty scheme, as a fully integrated partner, with a gradual integration of the user experience set to be consolidated throughout April.
35 airline partners and 135 commercial partners
With over 39 million members worldwide, ITA Airways will become a fully integrated partner offering customers a wide range of exclusive benefits and privileges with 170 international partnerships, including 35 airline partners and 135 commercial partners. Consequently ITA Airways passengers will benefit from global recognition with access to one of Europe’s most established loyalty networks; a unified experience across all Lufthansa Group airlines.
Greater flexibility and travel value
“ITA Airways’ membership of Miles & More as a fully integrated partner represents a major milestone in our integration process with the Lufthansa Group,- said Joerg Eberhart, CEO and General Manager of ITA Airways. -Our customers will benefit from one of the most comprehensive and rewarding programmes in Europe, ensuring greater flexibility and value for their travels. This is a clear example of how synergies within the Lufthansa Group translate into tangible benefits for passengers.”
A wide range of products and services
Registration will be available directly via the airline’s website and mobile app, with a sign-up process aligned with that of the other airlines in the group. New members will be able to earn miles from their very first flight with ITA Airways, as well as with all airlines in the Lufthansa Group and affiliated partner airlines. Miles can be redeemed for award tickets, travel benefits and a wide range of products and services offered by the programme’s partners
A loyalty experience for millions of travellers
“The Board of Directors has taken an important decision for the company’s development path. I would like to thank them for their contribution and the sense of responsibility that led to this resolution, adopted in the interests and for the benefit of ITA Airways. We will continue to work together with our shareholders to further strengthen the company’s future and the value it represents for the country," said Sandro Pappalardo, chairman of ITA Airways. This announcement follows the first step taken in February 2025, when ITA Airways announced commercial synergies with the Lufthansa Group. Today’s milestone consolidates this partnership, creating a unified loyalty experience for millions of travellers.
Published in Transportation
ITA Airways is innovating and strengthening its distribution model, and from 5 May the airline’s content will be available on NDC.
Aligning with other airlines in the Lufthansa Group
Moving its content to the indirect channel, means aligning itself with other airlines in the Lufthansa Group: From 5 May 2026, the airline’s most competitive fares will therefore be available to IATA/ARC agents with ITA Airways ticketing authority, via the group’s NDC solution.
Access to fares, offers and services
The NDC distribution model offers customers competitive fares, access to exclusive offers and the option of personalized packages, including additional services such as seat selection, extra baggage and upgrades, thereby enhancing the overall booking experience and service standards.
“Paving the way for new opportunities”
Adopting the Lufthansa Group’s distribution approach will allow travel agents to access ITA Airways’ NDC content quickly and easily. It also enables the airline to implement technological standards common to the rest of the group’s carriers, benefiting from best practices established through Lufthansa’s experience. “This development is a further step in ITA Airways’ evolution towards a modern, flexible and increasingly customer-value-oriented digital distribution model, paving the way for new opportunities through integration with the industry’s most advanced technologies,” said Emiliana Limosani, the airline’s chief commercial, network and incentive management officer.
Published in Transportation
Intimate, discreet and rich in character, UVE Rooms & Wine Bar is the ideal choice for chic wedding in the vineyards of La Morra.
Once part of a historic convent
In the heart of La Morra, one of the most enchanting hilltop villages in the Langhe - just 15 kilometres from Alba, the white truffle capital, and 70 kilometres from Turin - this property is perfect for couples who dream of a wedding that is elegant, authentic and with a deep sense of place. The old building once formed part of a historic convent, and today UVE Rooms & Wine Bar preserves the quiet, spiritual soul of the past with artistic design elements that blend with the original architecture, creating sophisticated yet warm interiors that are perfect for a celebration that values intimacy over grandeur. 
Iconic views of the Langhe
The romantic landscape provides an unforgettable backdrop with rolling hills and vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see, offering some of the most iconic views in the Langhe. The vines here produce legendary wines such as Barolo, Nebbiolo and Dolcetto, these same wines that fill the glasses raised in celebration during weddings and celebrations.
Overnight stays in the UVE Rooms & Wine Bar Relais
At UVE Rooms & Wine Bar, weddings are carefully tailored, the dedicated team supporting couples at every stage of the planning, from the styling of the rooms to the culinary experience. The elegant cloister, onto which both the restaurant and rooms overlook, and to make the occasion even more memorable, couples and guests can stay overnight in one of the Relais’ eight rooms and suites. Beyond the wedding itself the Langhe are invites exploration and discovery with wine tastings at historic cellars, walks in UNESCO-listed landscapes and visits to nearby towns such as Barolo and Monforte d’Alba. For information: www.uvelanghe.it
Published in MICE & Events
ITA Airways has made some changes to its flight schedule in light of the ongoing conflict in Iran, with updates on flights to the Middle East and India.
Flights are suspended and reduced
In a statement on its website the airline explains that “In view of the current situation in the Middle East, the suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv has been extended until 2 April (including flight AZ809 on 3 April).” The airline has also been forced to extend the suspension of flights to and from Dubai from 16 to 28 March. These flights had already been suspended until 15 March. Dubai’s airports are significantly reducing the number of flights due to capacity constraints, and the airport authority has required airlines within the Lufthansa Group to cancel all flights during the aforementioned period.
Rebookings and refunds are available
“The Lufthansa Group will assess to what extent it will be possible to operate individual flights despite the strict restrictions. Requests will be examined by the United Arab Emirates authorities on a case-by-case basis; therefore, there is no guarantee that a flight or the requested flight schedule will be approved.” ITA Airways also reminds passengers that “they may request rebooking onto an alternative flight or a refund of their ticket. Please check the flight status in the ‘Flight Status’ section on the website before travelling to the airport”.
Additional flights to India
At the same time ITA has stepped up its operations to India, in line with guidance received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, to facilitate the return of the many Italians temporarily stranded in the country due to the Middle East conflict. The airline has scheduled two additional flights between Rome Fiumicino and Delhi on 24 and 25 March, with the following timings: the first, on 24 March, will depart at 17:40 (Italian time) and land in the Indian capital at 05:55 (local time); the second, on 25 March, will depart at 17:35 (Italian time) and land in the Indian capital at 05:35 (local time).
Tickets on the website and official sales channels
The times for the two additional flights departing from Delhi and arriving at Rome Fiumicino are: the first, on 25 March, will depart from DEL at 08:25 local time and land at FCO at 13:00 (Italian time); the second, on 26 March, will depart from DEL at 07:35 local time and land at FCO at 11:55 (Italian time). Tickets for these flights are available on the website ita-airways.com, on the ITA Airways app and through the airline’s official sales channels. Subject to developments in the geopolitical situation in the region, ITA continues to operate direct flights to Asia, whilst also assessing the possibility of stepping up its operations to assist in the repatriation of Italian nationals in the area.
Published in Transportation
In the Marche on horseback, discovering the region that could be called the last frontier of experiential tourism.
Discovering the Marche on horseback
In the region that inspired the poet Giacomo Leopardi, ButteroZone offers horseback experiences with something extra: the authenticity of genuine love. Created by Giacomo Bartolucci and his wife Erica Sebastianelli whose passion for horses and their Marche region led them to share this passion. The philosophy behind ButteroZone is based on four key points.
Exclusivity, connection, passion and food
First, exclusivity. The exclusivity of being able to appreciate nature and the territory, and the uniqueness of the experience. Second, connection. The idea being to create an intense connection with the horses and the rider. There is also room for passion. ButteroZone was set up in 2021 from this passion for horses and for the Marche, handed down by families who have come together to create a network of relationships and activities designed to gently introduce people to horses, even for the first time. The route is designed to take about half a day, with the introductory half-hour with the horse designed to get you in the right mood for the ride, which lasts about 50 minutes. The destination of the excursion is always a refreshment point, where Erica Sebastianelli has set up a welcome using local products, to be enjoyed during a break of about 45 minutes.
“Our dream was to be able to share so much beauty”
”We developed the product from our love of nature, animals, and the Marche region and all the wonderful things it has to offer. We created ButteroZone to introduce all this to anyone who wants to get closer to it: our dream was to be able to share so much beauty,” explains Giacomo Bartolucci. ButteroZone is something unique in the world of horses, taking the form of ButteroExperience rides, with destinations in different locations for the aperitifs.
Aperitifs in different nature settings
Participants can choose between Aperinfiume, a route that leads to the Cesano river, which marks the border between the provinces of Pesaro and Ancona. Or Aperincollina to a panoramic viewpoint from which you can take in Mount Catria, valleys, hills and even the Adriatic Sea. Aperinballa, on the other hand, takes you back to the festivals of yesteryear, as in this case with the gourmet moment sitting on a bale of hay. And then there is Aperinlocanda, which leads to a vantage point with views of the ancient village of Montalfoglio.
Published in Experiences & Tips
SmallFly's operations from Elba Island are expanding and, for the first time, will also include flights to and from Rome Fiumicino.
SmallFly operates to Tuscany, Ldombary and Lazio
With the new addition of Rome to its flights from Florence, Pisa and Milan Linate airports the airline completes a network that, for the first time, connects Elba with the four main airports in Tuscany, Lombardy and Lazio, opening up new travel opportunities for residents and tourists alike. The schedule includes two weekly flights, on Thursdays and Sundays, with 18-seater aircraft, guaranteeing travellers quick access to the capital and intercontinental connecting flights at Rome’s Fiumicino intercontinental airport.
Flights operational 1 June-30 September 2026
The rest of the summer network (1 June-30 September 2026) includes flights from Marina di Campo to Florence Peretola, with multiple weekly frequencies: flights operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, providing coverage six days a week. Each aircraft has a capacity of 18 seats. The flight time is 35 minutes (actual flight time), with an estimated total time of 40 minutes.
Photo of Elba Island: ©R. Ridi
Pisa and Milan are also in the network
Connections to Galileo Galilei Airport in Pisa operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Flights depart in the morning and afternoon, with a capacity of 18 passengers per flight and a journey time of 30 minutes (35 minutes total). Flights to Milan Linate operate on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays, with 9-seater aircraft; the connections have a flight time of between 45 and 55 minutes (1h00-1h10 total), with departures in the early afternoon.
“The new route to Rome Fiumicino is a bridge to the world”
“Summer 2026 is a turning point for SmallFly and for the accessibility of Elba Island,- reads a statement from the airline. -The new route to Rome Fiumicino is not just another connection: it is a bridge to the world. We are proud to offer the citizens of Elba and our passengers, residents and tourists, a more comprehensive and competitive network, with the standards of punctuality and service that set us apart."
Published in Transportation
Capel Rosso Lighthouse on the southernmost tip of the island of Giglio, is in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park in the province of Grosseto, facing the Argentario promontory and overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
Managed by the three Mura sisters
The 1883 lighthouse, a white tower with iconic red and white stripes stabds in front of a rectangular main building, and has been under the management of the three Florentine Mura sisters since 2016. Having skillfully and meticulous restored it, they transformed the lighthouse into a hospitality destination that fully respects its historical and natural heritage. What began as a beacon for sailors is now a sanctuary with an intimate, almost otherworldly atmosphere, surrounded solely by the power of nature.
Also boat and helicopter trasnsfers
Reaching Faro Capel Rosso is part of the journey. Arriving in Giglio Porto by ferry from Porto Santo Stefano on the mainland, you cross the island by car (the property can organize private transfers) with the final 800 metres covered on foot along a path through Mediterranean scrub. This ten-minute walk, through wild rosemary, mastic trees and wild herbs, is best enjoyed when you travel light, as you gradually detach from the daily hustle and bustle of the city and the horizon suddenly looms. You can also choose to arrive by sea with a private boat transfer, or by helicopter from Rome.
The lighthouse has four suites of some 45 sqm each which were once the keepers’ quarters. Refurbished in keeping with the original layout they have 14 beds in all. The renovation used authentic materials like the original stone flooring, wooden beams and granite while preserving the building’s austere original character. Each suite has a double bedroom and a second room with two beds and so are ideal for couples, families or small groups. Among the new features is an outdoor hot tub overlooking the sea.
Wine, honey and olive oil tastings
Staying at the lighthouse also means enjoying the convivial, and at times intimate, atmosphere of the dining experience. The day begins with a carefully prepared breakfast and ends with dinner in the on-site restaurant, where the menu is dictated by the rhythm of the seasons: carefully selected ingredients prepared with simplicity and without needless ornamentation reflect the heartbeat of the landscape on the plate. Guests can take nature walks and treks as well as cooking classes using the island’s ingredients, or enjoy tastings in vineyards, visits to honey and extra virgin olive oil producers, or sail around the island to beaches and coves accessible only by sea.
A two-night Easter break package
To mark the start of the warmer season, Faro di Capel Rosso is offering an Easter break (3–6 April 2026), designed to experience the island’s first spring awakening in a setting of absolute tranquillity. The package includes a minimum of two nights with selected services connecting the lighthouse to the historic village, Giglio Castello, and to the island’s port
Published in Experiences & Tips
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