San Galgano, about 40 km from Siena in Tuscany, is an ancient and grandiose Cistercian abbey.  It is now deconsecrated and partly ruined, and not far away, on the Montesiepi Hill, a small circular chapel houses one of the most fascinating and mysterious relics of the whole region: the Sword in the Stone of San Galgano. Right in the centre of the circular chapel, a rock spur protrudes from the terracotta floor, inside of which a cruciform sword is set, which according to scientific analysis was forged around 1170.

The hermitage is on a circular plan 

Galgano was a young knight, born a few kilometres from Siena in 1147. Legend has it that one night the Archangel Michael appeared to him and guided him to the hill of Montesiepi, where he was welcomed by the twelve Apostles in front of a round chapel. There he abandoned his knight's dress and stuck his sword in a rock to make a cross, and it is still there today as a symbol of an incorruptible conversion. 

The hermitage is in white stone and brick

The hermitage has a circular plan reminiscent of a Roman mausoleum with alternating bands of white stone and brick on the external walls. The interior of the dome is also built with the same alternating materials, and, in addition to the stone with the sword of San Galgano, there are frescoes by Ambrogio Lorenzetti.

The Sword in the Stone could be a Tuscan legend

In addition to the amazement and mystery it instils, it is therefore possible that the myth of the Sword in the Stone, famous for being linked to the Breton saga of King Arthur, actually originated in Tuscany and was exported to France where it bled into Arthurian legend. With its legends, architecture and beautiful landscapes, a visit to San Galgano alone is worth a trip to Tuscany just for the magic and wonder that the place can arouse.

Welcome To Italy is a digital platform for sellers of tailor-made travel to Italy. Featuring hundreds of destinations, products and services, it is developed by the Welcome Travel Group, in partnership with Portale Sardegna Spa, and with the Italian airline Neos. An ENIT sponsorship, it aggregates the country in a single brand, governance and technology and is an invaluable tool for industry professionals selling travel to Italy.     

Massimiliano CossuLaunched online to 13,000 US travel agencies and tour operators

The new portal was launched on the US market via a webinar beamed at 13,000 travel agencies and tour operators.  “Ours is an innovative concept, a flexible tourism system that allows professionals to customize travel services and experiences from the over 500 packages that have so far been created by our Italy Local Experts,” explained Massimiliano Cossu, main partner Welcome to Italy, and Founder and Ceo of Portale Sardegna SPA. 

“We don’t sell hotel rooms, we sell destinations”

“It is an ambitious project and one of our strengths is that we reach markets where it is not possible to arrive individually, creating synergies and energies of scale to promote the flow of visitors into Italy. We don’t sell hotel rooms, we sell destinations. The smart trips in our catalogue include flights and accommodation, assistance and services. They are categorized by type, season and interests, revolve around themes, and contain an endless variety of locations, products, services and experiences chosen by our experts. Each trip is customizable, in that the travel specialists can select what they find online or ask for something additional. We are extremely flexible.”   

Smart solutions for authentic and original travel experiences in Italy

Welcome to Italy is a work in progress, continues Cossu, who adds that it is a publically traded company, and that the platform will continue to grow in volume and interest with the constant addition of new locations, products and services. Aimed initially at the North American market, with bona fide agencies having direct access, the packages are priced in dollars and are to be proposed to customers with the desired mark-up. The ultimate aim is that of providing US travel specialists with smart solutions, and the best of the pick of authentic and original travel experiences in Italy.

Fabio Datteroni is the new general manager of Hotel La Palma on Capri, the first Oetker Collection hotel on Italian soil.

Tuscan by origin, Datteroni boasts long years of experience in hospitality at the Terme di Saturnia where he held the same position of general manager, and at the Castello del Nero Totel & Spa where, during his time as managing director and general manager, he was named Top General Manager Worldwide at the Luxury Travel Advisor's Awards of Excellence. During his six years as general manager and director of hospitality at the Castello Banfi il Borgo in Montalcino Datteroni also supervised consulting projects at numerous Italian properties.

“This property is a true masterpiece” 

“I am happy and extremely honoured to take on the role of general manager of the La Palma Hotel. The transformation of this property is nothing short of incredible. It is a true masterpiece, ready to once again take over as Capri’s social hub. I can't wait to open the doors of this special place and welcome our guests."

A restaurant helmed by Chef Gennaro Esposito

The Hotel La Palma, built in 1822, has been transformed by the Oetker Collection and its owners, the Reuben Brothers, and it is the first hôtellerie project from Francis Sultana, a visionary interior designer. Just a few steps from the legendary Piazzetta square the property will have a restaurant – helmed by Chef Gennaro Esposito -  and a bar on the terrace, a beach club, a new swimming pool, a spa, a fitness center and three boutiques.  

Many movie directors have chosen Villa del Balbianello on Lake Como as a movie set. In the little town of Lenno, in the province of Como, the villa is located at the tip of the Lavedo peninsula, a promontory that extends into Lake Como and which took the name Balbianello from the building itself.

Down the years the villa fell into disuse

Built in 1787, on a pre-existing Franciscan monastery, by Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini, in 1796 it was inherited by his nephew Luigi Porro Lambertenghi. Later the property was bought by Giuseppe Arconati Visconti who hosted great intellectuals such as Giovanni Berchet, Giuseppe Giusti and Alessandro Manzoni in his elegant home. Giuseppe's son, Gianmartino Arconati Visconti, made improvements to the garden and the loggia, but the gradual decline of the family was accompanied by the gradual abandonment of the villa.

Star Wars and Casino Royale were both shot in the villa

Thanks to its charm, Villa del Balbianello has been used as a setting in numerous films: many international blockbusters have been shot in its rooms and gardens including A month at the lake by John Irvin (1995), Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the clones by George Lucas (2002) and Casino Royale by Martin Campbell (2006).

In 1988 the villa was left to the Italian Environmental Fund

Villa del Balbianello then fell into a state of neglect until an American officer, Butler Ames, bought it and renovated it. In 1974 it was acquired by the explorer Guido Monzino who furnished it with relics from his expeditions. Monzino died without heirs in 1988, and the villa was left to the Italian Environmental Fund, FAI.

The lake views from the loggia are stunning

The real wonder of Balbianello is Cardinal Durini’s loggia which has been offering visitors an extraordinary view of the lake for over two centuries, with Tremezzina, towards the north, and the Isola Comacina on the opposite side. The compass rose inlaid on the floor was installed by Guido Monzino, and commemorates his expeditions around the world. 

At the end of the year the Anglo American Hotel in Florence will rebrand as part of Hilton’s Curio Collection. The former Nh was acquired last April by the Star II fund, managed by Castello Sgr with Unicredit as the main financing bank. The accord saw Hilton enter into partnership with the Westmont Hospitality Group and the fund headed by Oaktree Capital Management. Located in the historic center of Florence the 115-room hotel will undergo a complete renovation ahead of its opening.

Welcoming guests to the historic centre of Florence

"Across the continent we have seen a growing interest in our brand collections which allow properties to maintain their identity, and at the same time enjoy the benefits offered by our commercial networks. We now look forward to welcoming guests to the historic centre of Florence,” comments Hilton's Senior Vice President Development EMEA, Patrick Fitzgibbon.  A note from Westmont Hospitality said the group is delighted to further strengthen their partnership with Hilton, after successful collaborations both in Italy and in the rest of the world. 

One of Florence’s first hotels

Originally built in 1792 as one of the first hotels in Florence, with guests including Lev Tolstoy and Maria Callas, the renovated Anglo American Florence will maintain its historic grandeur and elegance, while benefitting from the prestige of an international brand like Curio Collection.

A sustainable renovation 

The focus of the hotel’s renovation will be on preserving its architecture, while fully respecting its history, and the  refurbishment and reuse of existing materials will be key features of the sustainability strategy. The hotel will have an internal courtyard, a restaurant with a menu inspired by local flavours and traditions, a bar, a gym and three meeting rooms for up to 90 people.

Vicenza, a city of great art, history and beauty, is one of the pearls of the Veneto region. The famous architect Andrea Palladio designed most of his architectural masterworks here, and the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

It is particularly suitable for art lovers who, entering its historic center for the first time, will be enchanted by the magnificence of the Basilica Palladiana that dominates the Piazza dei Signori square which has many magnificent palaces also by the great Renaissance genius. 

There are several styles that characterize the city, ranging from Romanesque to Baroque to Neoclassical, and architectural aficionados will find it is a full immersion of art and beauty. Starting with the Teatro Olimpico, the first example of a permanent covered theater in modern times, or the Villa Capra known as La Rotonda which just outside the city, and one of the most famous of all Palladio’s works. In Vicenza there is so much to see; and indeed the same is true of the Veneto region where there are in all 23 Palladian villas. Of these 16 are in the province of Vicenza, there are two in the province of Padua, three in the province of Treviso, one in the province of Venice, one in the province of Verona and one in the province of Rovigo. But let’s  take a closer look at some examples of Palladian art.

Villa Almerico Capra known as La Rotonda

At the start of the Riviera Berica, the area south of Vicenza, the Villa di Valmarana (or Villa Capra o Villa Capra Valmarana), which stands on a hill and is known as La Rotonda, has seduced travelers for centuries with its exquisite lines and volumes. In his treatise Palladio includes this villa with those of the city because of its proximity to Vicenza. The architect describes the surrounding environment as “one of the most pleasant and delightful that one can find: because it is on a hillock with a very easy ascent; on one side it is washed by the navigable Bacchiglione river, and on the other surrounded by very pleasant hills, which make it look like a very large theater.” Today a road cuts across the ascent to the villa from the river, and a wall interrupts the natural slope of the hill. 

Work on the project started between 1566 and 1568, and seems to have been finished in 1571. On the death of the client, Canon Paolo Almerico, it was taken over by Mario and Oderico Capra in 1591, and the Capra family completed the works around 1620. The four facades in pronao-ionico hexastyle are repeated identically on each side. Palladio's project proided for the covering of the central hall with a hemispherical dome, but Vincenzo Scamozzi, who completed the project, transformed the original idea. Internally the hemispherical ceiling is decorated with frescoes by Alessandro Maganza, while on the side walls there are 18th-century Greek gods by the French painter Louis Dorigny.

Villa Angarano

Andrea Palladio drew up the project for the residence of the nobleman Giacomo Angarano to whom he was bound by a deep friendship, and to whom he dedicated the first two books of his treatise The Four Books of Architecture with the inscription: "I make you a gift of these first two books of mine where I deal with private houses...". The main body of the complex built at Angarano was unfortunately renovated between the end of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th centuries.

Documentary sources show that before the renovation there was already no trace of Palladio's building. The architect had planned a two-storey elevation punctuated by four giant semi-columns crowned by a pediment adorned with statues. To understand the importance of Villa Angarano we should heed the words of Donata Battilotti: ''... what emerges with more overbearingness and differentiates Villa Angarano from preceding works, is the ascertainment that here Palladio has finally brought to completion a fundamental stage in the elaboration of the new type of noble country residence, capable of responding functionally and figuratively to the new needs of the aristocracy, which were at the same time of aristocratic self-celebration and control of the landed estates.'' 

Villa Godi Malinverni 

Villa Godi Malinverni 

Villa Godi Malinverni belongs to the rich artistic heritage of the Venetian Villas. Andrea Palladio built this villa in 1542, and it was decorated with frescos by Gianbattista Zelotti, Battista del Moro and Gualtiero Padovano. After buying it in a state of decay in 1962, Prof. Remo Malinverni dedicated the last years of his life to bringing it back to its ancient splendour. Together with the other Palladian villas in the Veneto region, it has been included since 1996 on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The villa is open to the public for individual, group and school visits, and is a venue for conferences, cultural and social events. The Torchio Antico Restaurant is in the barchessa of the villa, and in 1954 Lucchino Visconti chose Villa Godi Malinverni to shot his movie "Senso.”

The park of Godi Malinverni, with its secular plants and its 1,300 metres of avenues, dates back to the last century and was arranged in 1852 by Count Andrea Piovene on a design of the architect Antonio Caregaro Negrin. It is romantic in style, has many differnet varieties of tall trees, and in the center there is a small lake with swans. One corner is dedicated to the loved ones who lived in the villa, with their names engraved on small cylinder or pyramid stelae and with captions by Fogazzaro and Zanella. To the back of the villa we find the Italian gardens, with ponds and fountains, about fifty statues by Marinali and Albanese, and small columns. These gardens date back to the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century, while there are other small gardens at the back next to the exit from the 16th-century kitchen, and at the entrance to the Museum of Fossils, as well as those in front of the guest house.

Just 20 minutes from Bolzano, in Italy’s South Tyrol, following the road that climbs towards the peaks of the Dolomites, you find yourself in a winter wonderland in the ski resorts of Obereggen and Carezza.

This resort area is a firm favourite with families, as children not yet turned eight are entitled to a free ski pass of the same duration as that purchased by an adult.  

Ski areas for young children 

In Obereggen, the original Brunoland and the Yeti Park are two extensive and well-equipped ski areas dedicated to children. Here, youngsters can have fun in the snow, and ski novices can take their first steps on the white slopes. Overlooked by the mighty Catinaccio mountain range, the Carezza ski area takes its name from the lake of the same name around which the mythical kingdom of Laurino, King of the Dwarfs, was once to be found. 

A kid’s Snowpark, merry-go-rounds and a bouncy castle

While the Family Fun Line for freestyle slopes and the Kids Line in the Kids Snowpark give young talents the opportunity to learn how to jump on skis, in the nearby Kinderland a treadmill, merry-go-rounds and a bouncy castle are waiting for children between the ages of two and nine. And, as if that wasn't enough, King Laurino's Crystal Palace in Naniland is an enchanting place offering young holidaymakers aged two to five a playful approach to the world of skiing.

A week for a family with two kids starting at €1,400

From  9 to 29 January, and from 20 March to 18 April 2022, Bruno Bear has planned Obereggen for families to allow its youngest guests take their first steps on skis and have fun on toboggan runs, fun slopes and snow parks. The offer includes seven overnights, six days of the Fiemme-Obereggen ski pass valid for over 100 kilometres of slopes, free ski passes for children under eight, six days of ski and equipment rental for children, free sled rentals for one day and free entrance to Brunoland. The offer starts from €1400 per family with half board (for example two adults, one child under eight and one child over eight) in a 3 Flowers Farmhouse.

Rocca Calascio is an Italian village in the province of L'Aquila in Abruzzo, inside the National Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga Park.  At an altitude of 1,460 meters, it is among the highest fortifications in Italy.

The attractions that most amaze visitors are undoubtedly the castle, the Church of Santa Maria della Pietà and the ancient village which is now uninhabited. And thanks to its wonderful position there are truly sublime views.

The old castle had a working drawbridge

Located in a very favourable position from a defensive point of view, the castle was used as a military observation point, and communicated with other towers and castles as far as the Adriatic Sea, using flashlights by night and mirrors during the day. The original fortress is in white limestone on a square plan and has four cylindrical towers at the corners and a square keep in the center. Access was across a wooden bridge. In ancient times this was a working drawbridge but today it is supported on stone brackets.

The 1703 earthquake destroyed the castle and the village 

At the foot of the castle what is now an abandoned village was connected to the fortress with a wooden drawbridge, today replaced by a simple ramp. The earthquake of 1703 destroyed most of the castle and the village, forcing the inhabitants to abandon their homes. Now, thanks to restoration carried out between 1986 and 1989 the castle can be visited again also thanks to the work put in by the many people who love the Abruzzo mountains and contributed to the recovery of the site.

A movie set for Sean Connery and George Clooney 

The Church of Santa Maria della Pietà in the vicinity of the castle is a small temple with a rather singular shape, reminiscent of the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Florence. It was erected between the 16th and 17th centuries on a site where, according to legend, the local population got the better of a band of brigands who regularly plundered their property. Rocca Calascio and its castle are famous for having hosted movie sets such as The Name of the Rose with Sean Connery and Lady Hawke with Michelle Pfeiffer. More recently it was the set for the RAI television series Padre Pio and for The American with George Clooney.