The Luxury Hospitality Conference returns to the Nh Collection CityLife in Milan on 15 September with the second edition of the Teamwork event dedicated to luxury in hospitality.

The event, created in collaboration with Hotelmypasssion, will explore the themes of a sector that interests 70% of global investors. In fact up to 2019 luxury hotels were the primary driver of mergers and acquisitions with €3.3 billion invested in hotel assets in Italy, and with luxury hotels accounting for 42% and valued at €1.25 billion.

Food for thought on challenging issues

Never before has the concept of luxury needed to be analyzed, highlighting its dynamics, identifying the needs of new generation of travellers, and studying trends and perspectives, as in the last two years. From technology to the guest experience, from the web to service quality, from marketing to management.

A broad spectrum of discussions

On 15 September some 45 leading experts will share visions, new interpretations, case studies, strategies, segmentation, and a psychological approach to the world of luxury in hospitality. International architects will then present their most recent creations and provide food for thought on challenging issues such as the design and use of spaces for luxury hospitality. Further topics to be explored include investments and prospects, luxury trends, catering, luxury in Italy and the new challenges of communicating and selling luxury.

Alpine tourism in step with the times:: the project for the Cervino-Matterhorn and Monte Rosa cableway will connect five valleys, three regions, two countries, and five districts. 

Linking the north and south of the Alps

These are the numbers of the project for a cableway between the Cervino-Matterhorn and Monte Rosa ski areas: an Interval venture joining the south and north of the Alps that will unite populations and traditions from Italy and Switzerland. The €66 million investment will create a single area combining the ski areas of Cervino Ski Paradise and Monterosa Ski in 30 minutes, with a total of 75 slopes.

Not just skiing: new perspectives for mountain tourism

The cableway connection would not only dramatically expand the possibilities for ski enthusiasts, but also open up unprecedented opportunities for mountain tourism. It will favour seasonal adjustments and boost high-altitude outdoor activities such as trekking and mountain biking. There will also be an impact on food and wine tourism with tours featuring the customs and products of the Alpine populations.

A new international audience

The aim is to make this part of the Alps more appealing, particularly to a new global clientele seeking not only winter sports but also unique experiences. Not only will it be possible to ski all year, the installation also will attract visitors who would not otherwise be able to enjoy peaks like Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn.

A focus on sustainability

The project is a necessary evolution to support the future of the mountains and local communities, boosting  tourism year-round in one of the most fascinating areas of the Alps while balancing environmental sustainability. 

Who is behind the project

The project is supported by the Cervino Monterosa Paradise promoting committee, which now has over 600 members, including local operators, entrepreneurs, and private citizens who are united under the motto Connecting Nature, Sharing Beauty.

The Giacomo Balla home is to remain open for all 2022, as Rome celebrates the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Italian painter and Futurist master. And this is an occasion no art lover will want to miss.

Opened for the first time in 30 years

Casa Balla, the painter's kaleidoscopic vision of art and colour on Via Oslavia, in Rome’s central Prati residential district has opened to the public for the first time after being closed for 30 years. The opening is a collaboration between MAXXI, the National Museum of 21st-Century Arts, and Rome's special superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape, with the support of the Italian culture ministry and the Bank of Italy.

Casa Balla

A great masterpiece

Born in Turin in 1871, Balla lived and worked here from 1929 until his death in 1958 while his two daughters, Luce and Elica who were also painters, lived here until the 1990s. Bartolomeo Pietromarchi, MAXXI art director and curator of the project explains: “The house with its decorations, furniture and works of art expresses the artist's personality in all its forms and represents one of his greatest masterpieces." 

Wildly colourful interiors

The three-bedroom apartment is located on the fourth floor of a nondescript mid-20th-century building. Walking into the long hallway prepares you for the extravagant and colourful experience ahead as the hall is painted with strange floating yellow and green shapes that seemed to dance. And there are wildly colorful abstract paintings on the upper part of the walls, cleverly hiding water pipes and other protuberances.

An artists’ studio or a private home?

Each room is packed with colour and curios like cloud-shaped plexiglass light coverings hanging from ceilings, and a yellow chair with an asymmetrical back on a tiled lilac ceramic floor. It is hard to decide whether you are in an artist’s studio – which you are. Or a private home - which you are. An extraordinary  experience and not to be missed.

For more information: https://www.maxxi.art/en/events/casa-balla/

Favignana's historic Camparìa tuna fishery on Sicily’s little Egadi island has undergone a major conservative redevelopment.

Now the former warehouses and storage area of the Tonnara di Favignana, the beating heart of the island’s fishing life from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, has been given a new lease of life.

The project will be complete in 2023

Leading this ambitious project is Fabio Tagliavia, a Palermo-based entrepreneur with thirty years' experience in the shipping sector, who aims to breathe new life into this symbol of the island. Work should be completed by the summer of 2023, and the area will be designed to host exhibitions and events featuring local arts and crafts. 

A glamorous lounge on the sea

But already this summer it is possible to experience the history of the old tuna fishery by visiting its museum and the island's first bookshop with volumes dedicated to its past. Central to the life of the Camparìa project is the glamorous lounge bar by the sea, the former docking area, where visitors can enjoy a selection of fish dishes and the island’s best mixology.

“You can feel the history of this place”

"My aim is to create an authentic 360° emotional journey. Here at Camparìa you can feel the history of this place, with its cultural links to industrial archaeology, to art and to the history of the old facility and to the Florio family, without forgetting food and wine, tuna and Marsala,” said Tagliavia.

Creating alternative accommodation

The entrepreneur is also trying to bridge the hospitality gap. “The island does not currently have adequate accommodation to welcome guests for long and comfortable stays in lodgings other than houses and room rentals. With Camparìa and other projects,- concludes Tagliavia, - I will create alternative accommodation for unique and authentic experiences. 

A resort with 20 rooms and a spa

Thanks to a loan of some €4.8 million from the Ministry of Economic Development through Invitalia, the plan is to hire some 100 seasonal workers and open an up-market resort with 20 rooms, a spa and wellness services as well as a bio-emotional park. And in the winter months the owners plan to transform the facility into a training academy for young people from Favignana.

As Summer rolls on it’s time to experience Friuli Venezia Giulia, from the Alps and the Dolomites to the Adriatic Sea, crossing plains, hills, rivers and lakes.

The Friuli Venezia Giulia region has planned a cornucopia of entertainment and activities with an excursion calendar, up to October 2022, that is packed with outdoor activities, coastal adventures and opportunities to discover the region's most characteristic flavours.

These include gourmet experiences on boats, picnics in vineyards, astro-trekking and river-trekking, canoe trips on the lagoon and cooking workshops for baby chefs.

Sea & Taste Grado - Aquileia Credits: Fabrice Gallina

Sea&Taste: what the sea teaches us about culture and flavours 

Gourmet experiences on boats, winery visits and tastings, sunset cocktails overlooking the magical lagoon, Sea & Taste has an exciting calendar of activities departing from Lignano Sabbiadoro and Grado. Running up to 30 September, with dates that vary according to the different activities, there will be over a hundred different ways of experiencing the sea, while also discovering the history and traditions of the immediate hinterland. 

You can choose between a fascinating trip to Aquileia, a guided tour to Lignano Sabbiadoro’s beach, lagoon, architecture and mosaics, a canoe excursion on the lagoon, or by exploring the Gigante and Trieste caves, with a stop in the Carso for a rebechin, which is Trieste’s typical snack. In Grado sunset will be the moment to enjoy the lagoon and savour local cuisine on a motorboat, and also to set sail to discover Marano Lagunare where a guided walking tour on the calli e campielli alleyways and squares of the old town centre, will open the door to a seaside village where time seems to have stood still. 

For information: www.turismofvg.it/it/mare/sea-taste


Sea & Taste Grado - Aquileia Credits: Fabrice Gallina

Food and wine: the central theme together with music and nature

Nature bathing in vineyards, picnics and experiences to enjoy with family or friends. The common thread of all the summer events in the orchards of Friuli Venezia Giulia is food and wine, with the Wine and Taste Route. PromoTurismoFVG, in collaboration with local concerns and Wine and Taste Route members has prepared a varied programme of events that will help visitors to familiarize with the region by getting to know its many excellent and typical products.

Sea & Taste Grado - Aquileia Credits: Fabrice Gallina

Art&Taste is the perfect choice for those wanting to combine music with a good glass of wine and some traditional dishes. Classical, pop, rock and jazz music will provide the backdrop for the summer nights with the wine cellars transformed into stages with live music.
www.turismofvg.it/events20?hidehighlights=true&customcategory=3599&start=2022-06-13&end=2022-11-30&q=Art%26Taste


Il tempo delle Mele. Credits: Fabrice Gallina

Nature Bathing is a way to rediscover our inner balance and wellbeing: a regenerating barefoot walk through vineyards, accompanied by vine-dressers, to discover the secrets of the vines, followed by a tasting of the winery's production paired with local products. This is the ideal way to discover the area's wine culture. www.turismofvg.it/it/esperienza-nature-bathing-tra-le-vigne

Family&Taste is aimed at kids, with a series of kitchen and mini workshops to familiarize them with the region's products and culinary traditions. The Pic&Taste summer picnics are organised by the various regional wineries and companies with tastings of wines, artisan beers and typical products in natural settings. The areas and experiences, subdivided by area, can be chosen at: https://www.turismofvg.it/strada-del-vino-e-dei-sapori 

Mount Piave Credits: Luciano Gaudenzio

Food&wine

A constantly updated programme of events including dinners and vineyard walks, shows and outings to discover astro-trekking in the vineyards (www.turismofvg.it/it/eventi-food-wine).

Daily mountain excursions for altitude enthusiasts, from the most experienced to those approaching the peaks for the first time, with an entertaining calendar that connects the entire Alpine arc of Friuli Venezia Giulia, from the Friulian Dolomites to the Julian Alps, crossing Carnia, and from the descent into the Torre and Natisone Valleys to the Karst area. A great way to relax, with entertainment, recreation and activities for all ages.

The mountains of Friuli Venezia Giulia welcome the summer with something for everyone, from hiking, geo-trekking, river-trekking, canyoning and soft rafting along rivers and streams for the more adventurous, to ziplines, paragliding and botanical walks, hay workshops and bike rides also for families and children, without forgetting outings to discover the typical malghe shepherd's huts.  

Pesariis Credits: Ulderica da Pozzo

360 degrees in nature

From the museums of the Great War to the mining tradition of the little town of Cave del Predil, from the German-speaking islands of Sauris and Sappada to the clocks of Pesariis, the mountains of Friuli Venezia Giulia preserve and guard endless expressions of art and culture studded with charming, enchanted small towns. Anyone interested in traditions will not want to miss an excursion to discover the fascinating history of the Monte Croce Carnico pass. Another unique event is the herb harvest followed by a show-cooking session which is absolutely the best way to savour the genuineness of the local raw materials used in traditional dishes.

To discover all the possibilities offered by the mountains of Friuli Venezia Giulia: www.turismofvg.it/it/montagna365


Alpe Adria Trail - Prepotto Credits: Alessandro Michelazzi

Ciclovia Alpe Adria Credits: Nicola Brollo
Culture and outdoors: guided tours and Hop on Hop off Collio

Following in the footsteps of Carlo Michelstaedter we retrace the town of Gorizia as it was at the turn of the century. It will be in the spotlight in 2025 when, together with Nova Gorica, it will be the European Capital of Culture. Trieste, on the other hand reveals its legends and mysteries and celebrates the centenary anniversary of Joyce's Ulysses and the 140th anniversary of the Irish writer's birth.

There are itineraries in the footsteps of Pasolini, one hundred years after his birth, to discover Casarsa della Delizia and the places that link the author to this land. But also a stroll through romantic and elegant Udine, Aquileia and the glories of the ancient Roman Empire, and the Pordenone area to discover medieval art and the mosaics of Spilimbergo. 

With a wide range of visits and guided tours to discover the cultural heritage of the region, the FVGcard gives free access to a series of partner facilities with discounts and promotions. The card can be purchased online or at the region's infopoints www.turismofvg.it/fvg-card.

For bikers the novelty is the Hop on hop off - Tour sui Colli, three slow routes to discover the territory on two wheels. The result of the collaboration between PromoTurismoFVG and Apt Gorizia, this service allows travelling some routes by bus and others by bicycle, combining cultural and food and wine experiences with immersive cycling in the enchanting landscapes of the Collio and Colli Orientali.

The Hop on hop off Collio&Colli tour starts in Grado, crosses the Collio as far as Cividale, by bus and by bicycle, passing vineyards, places of art and picturesque villages. The Lombards in FVG tour departs from Grado and leads to the Longobard settlements in Cividale del Friuli and the Roman settlement of Isonzo, passing through Cormòns, the heart of the Collio. Tasting the Collio, which also starts in Grado, is a food and wine tour to discover the flavours and products of the area, passing through the region’s spectacular hilly landscape.

For information: www.turismofvg.it/booking-delle-esperienze

Puglia’s sea is the best in Italy, its bathing waters having been rated 99% and excellent,  following close control and monitoring by Arpa,  the National Environmental Protection System. This puts Puglia ahead of Sardinia, which received 97.6% and Tuscany at 96%. 

Puglia has 676 designated bathing areas

Along its 1,000 kilometres of coastline, Puglia has 676 areas designated for bathing. After this year’s results, Arpa Puglia's Director General, Vito Bruno stated “We are pleased to note that once again this year Puglia ranks first in Italy for the healthiness of its bathing waters.” 

5-star Borgo Egnazia has private beach access

An excellent way to enjoy the crystal-clear waters in Puglia is to stay at Borgo Egnazia which has private access to the sea. This five-star property is located a five minutes’ drive from the local fishing village of Savelletri, and one hour from both Bari and Brindisi airports, and is an ideal base from which to uncover a trove of Italian history, cuisine, and beaches. 

A choice of two beaches 

The property offers two incredible beaches: the sandy La Fonte and the chic and stylish Cala Masciola Beach Club which is a great option for avoiding the crowds in summer. With sophisticated cabanas and a seafood grill restaurant serving local specialties, in the evening it comes alive with special dinners and events lasting until sunrise. 

Ideal for families and couples

Borgo Egnazia is in the style of a traditional Apulian village with a modern twist on the whitewashed masseria style that is synonymous with this still largely undiscovered region of Italy. Space and privacy are offered by the 63 Suites, 92 Casette mini houses, and 29 Case which are perfect for families and couples alike.  

Near a championship golf course

The nearby 18-hole 72-par San Domenico Golf is a championship course with idyllic views of the sea from each hole, and is perfectly integrated into Puglia’s dramatic Mediterranean coastal landscapes.   

For information: borgoegnazia.it  

Stay Fancy Hotels is a new hotel group from Renco, a company in the energy, construction, and property management sectors that owns many management and hospitality assets in Italy, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Congo and Mozambique.

Stay Fancy Hotels includes the group's properties for hotel use both in Italy and abroad, such as the Grand Hotel Yerevan in Armenia, the Diamonds Mequfi Beach Resort in Mozambique, the Mercure Almanty City Center in Kazakhstan, as well as the Palazzo Castri 1874 of Florence, The Matera Suite, and Villa Soligo in Treviso.

La Suite Matera

“We have been locked up for too long”

“After the pandemic the needs of tourists changed - says Stefania Dotto, marketing & sales director of the company -. We have been locked up for too long; we have lost human contact, smiles obscured by masks, no hugs. Today the customer needs to rediscover these values, to feel surrounded by warm and familiar homely environments. In Stay Fancy Hotels and Resorts you can experience these sensations again.”

Palazzo Castri Florence

Creating engaging experiences for guests

The management of the properties is cutting edge: "In each of our destinations - explains Stefania Dotto - we have collaborated with the local tourism supply chain, specialized guides, golf clubs, wineries, restaurants, tour operators and local excellence, to create engaging experiences that excite our guests ".

Villa Soligo Treviso

Garda Trentino Experiences means fun and relaxation for all the family in the Ledro Valley, suspended between Lake Garda and the Chiese Valley in a stunning mountain setting.

Trentino experiences for all ages

The mild climate makes it possible to enjoy this valley all year round, for a series of ever-changing seasonal impressions. And up to 30 September thanks to the Garda Trentino Experiences there are experiences for all in the Ledro Valley, the destination for unforgettable multi-generational holidays.

Stargazing. All eyes on the stars 

In the area of Pur and on Mount Tremalzo - the second highest mountain in the Gardesane Prealps, far from lights and noise, this is a unique way to explore the solar system. Accessible to all, including the mobility impaired, this experience includes a night visit with a guided observation of the sky by the naked eye, and astronomical observation using a telescope.

Field to fork. Cooking, botany and tradition 

The Val Concei, considered the green lung of the Ledro Valley, is a veritable treasure trove of biodiversity. Flowers, mushrooms and wild herbs grow in its meadows and are also used as healthy and genuine ingredients for incredibly tasty dishes. With Natura in Tavola you learn how to recognize and gather these treasures of nature. Furthermore, in the company of Chef Andrea from the Elda Slow Restaurant, you will discover how they can be used in the kitchen.   

APT Garda Dolomiti Spa

Water sports, nature and bird watching

The clear waters of Lake Ledro are ideal for swimming, SUP and canoeing, but also wakeboarding and sailing, or simply for relaxing on the beach. The Tremalzo mountain group one of the most important natural gardens in Europe with several endemic species, while the Bocca Casèt pass is a strategic point for bird migration, and there are many opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, canyoning and climbing. 

APTGardaDolomitiSpA - Ledro Lake

Slow tourism and history 

For those who prefer a holiday dedicated to slow tourism there are many little villages where visitors to delve into the local culture and discover traditional dishes, many of which have Central European influences. Visitors interested in history will find the remains of a pile-dwelling village dating back some 4,000 years that has emerged from Lake Ledro. This extraordinary archaeological site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and now part of the Ledro Pile-Dwelling Museum.

For information: www.gardatrentino.it

The Val di Taro is a region with gastronomic ambitions and, like most border lands, often mistakenly considered on the margins of conventional geography, is the beating heart of cultures and ideas.

The Alta Valtaro area - an artistic treasure chest that holds such gems as the little town of Borgo Val di Taro which is about 60 kilometres from Parma – has become a cornerstone of the food and wine sector…with an eye to innovation.

Albareto Mushroom Fair - Photo Credit: Francesca Bocchia

The annual Mushroom Fair

As well as the now legendary Mushroom Fair in Borgo Val di Taro and the National Porcini Mushroom Fair in Albareto, the valley recently witnessed the return of chef Alessandro Delnevo to inaugurate his Così è (se vi pare) restaurant in his native Borgo Val di Taro. Another innovation is the GustaBorgo guided tour with Giacomo Galli (Visit Emilia). Held on a Saturday afternoon in Borgo Val di Taro it features gastronomy and discovers old and new shops while allowing visitors to enjoy tastings of local wines and foods.

The National Porcini Mushroom Fair 

On 17,18, 24 and 25 September 2022 the mushroom fair will take over historic venues on the Via Nazionale attracting visitors for its typical local products and the latest trends in food & wine. Then from 30 September to 2 October Albareto will play its role as the beating heart of the National Porcini Mushroom Fair. This year the event focuses on a range of food and non-food products alongside the king of mushrooms.

The GustaBorgo guided tour

GustaBorgo, a Saturday afternoon guided tour with Giacomo Galli (Visit Emilia) along the Via Nazionale in Borgo Val di Taro features local gastronomy and old and new shops as well as tastings of the typical flavours of the area. These go from the herb cake of Borgo Val di Taro made with raw chard, 30-month Parmesan cheese and oil, to beer from the Turris Brewery scented with honey, blackberries or chestnuts. The tour ends at Le Bontà di Camisa, dal 1929, where the spotlight is on the Baciocca, a potato cake with a chestnut-leaf base.

For information: www.turismovaltaro.it

Magical Autumn Interweavings (Magici Intrecci Autunnali) in the Friuli, Venezia Giulia region, from 14 to16 October in the Castle of Strassoldo, half an hour's drive from the provincial capital of Udine, are a refined autumn exhibition dedicated to handicrafts and nursery gardening of excellence. 

Arts, crafts and rare plants

This year Magici Intrecci Autunnali will be held in the Strassoldo di Sopra Castle in the spacious covered and open-air spaces embellished with imaginative autumn decorations. On display will be the latest arts, crafts and plants of more than 100 master craftsmen, artists and nurserymen of excellence, personally selected by the hostess Gabriella Williams Strassoldo. 

A selection of perfect Christmas gifts

The master craftsmen will propose decorations and furnishings for the home and garden and there will also be small handicraft companies with the best of Friuli’s production. The wide range of elegant and original articles will be perfect non-trivial Christmas presents, those special gifts that are so difficult to find. Also significant will be the presence of some of Italy's leading nurserymen with rare, ancient and special plants. 

Refreshment areas and guided tours

The event - which will be held safely in compliance with Covid regulations - will also be held in the event of rain, since most of the exhibitors will be inside the castle, and those outside will be protected by large gazebos, as is customary for these country events.

Delicacies and light fare will be served in the two refreshment areas in the shade of centuries-old trees, and there will also be guided tours for small groups to visit the exteriors of the two castles.

Tickets online: https://www.vivaticket.com/it/Ticket/magici-intrecci-autunnali/186758.

For information: www.castellodistrassoldo.it