Modica is a not-to-be-missed gem, and one of the eight little towns that make up Sicily’s Baroque Triangle. 

One of Sicily’s most beautiful Baroque towns

Modica is the setting for the successful Italian television police drama series Inspector Montalbano, based on the books of Sicilian writer Andrea Camilleri, and it is also famous for its chocolate. A forty-minute drive from the equally beautiful Baroque towns of Ragusa and Noto, Modica consists of an upper and a lower town. Standing on high ground at 300 metres asl in the Monti Iblei mountain range, it was an important trading centre in Medieval days, and today boasts fine late-Baroque architecture dating back to when it was rebuilt after the great 1693 earthquake.

Chocolate made from an Aztec recipe

The busy Corso Umberto high street in Modica Bassa, the lower town, is dotted with elegant 18th and 19th-century golden sandstone buildings, restaurants, cafés and chocolate shops.  Modica’s famous grainy chocolate is claimed by locals to originate from an Aztec recipe brought back from Mexico by the Spanish conquistadors. One must-visit is to the Antica Dolceria Bonajuto, the oldest chocolate shop in Sicily. Narrow lanes, stairs and alleyways lead up the slopes on both sides of the Corso towards the opposite hillside into the upper part of the town.   

Two cathedrals and a cave church

Modica has two grand Baroque cathedrals. The Cathedral of St. Peter is on the Corso and was destroyed by two earthquakes and finally rebuilt in the 18th-century in Baroque style.  Higher up towards the old town perches the Cathedral of St. George, the town's most eye-catching building with a grand façade rising into a curved central belltower. After the two grand cathedrals visitors should not miss the charming Carmine Church with a Gothic doorway and a rose window, and the historic cave church of St. Nicholas Inferior. This has some 12th-century frescoes and there is an area where a natural spring once flowed into a large pool that was used for baptisms. 

The house of the poet Salvatore Quasimodo

Corso Regina Margherita, the street leading to the upper town is lined with old palaces, many of them crumbling and the Castle of the Counts, with an 18th-century Clock Tower, overlooks the lower town from a rocky spur. The Civic Museum on the Corso Umberto has a collection of Greek and Roman ceramics as well as funeral artefacts from the Modica area, but the prize exhibit is a bronze statuette of Hercules in Hellenic style that probably dates back to the 3rd century B.C. Anyone interested in Italian poetry should visit the Quasimodo House, birthplace of the Italian poet Salvatore Quasimodo which is near the castle and now a museum.

For information: www.modica.it

Adler Spa Resort SICILIA, beside the sleepy coastal village of Siculiana, is just 20 kms from the famous Valley of the Temples Archaeological Park.

Junior and Family Suites with all amenities

Designed to promote a holistic sense of well-being, this modern resort, on Sicily’s lesser-visited and unspoilt southwest coast, features 90 stylish rooms each with a private terrace overlooking the Mediterranean.  The Junior Suites (55m2) are ideal for couples and feature a double bed, a bathroom with a rain shower and an extra single bed. Family Suites (75m2) can sleep up to four, and the amenities in all suites include a minibar, coffee machine and tea making set, digital TV, air conditioning and Wi-Fi. 
ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA - Ph Credits Alex Filz

A choice of swimming pools and a sheltered sandy beach

The spacious spa offers therapies and treatments aimed to relax, restore and revive. And what better way to relax than in one of the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA’s beautiful pools? In the freshwater infinity pool, floating above the coastline, enjoy serene views of the horizon. The saltwater hydromassage pool eases away the stresses of everyday life, and the inviting Thalasso pool is a relaxing retreat set beneath the stunning Sicilian sky. The 25-metre sports pool is perfect for daily exercise and aqua yoga classes, and the AKI Kids’ Club provides exciting activities and entertainment for children aged from four. Guests can also enjoy direct, private access to a sheltered sandy beach.

ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA - Ph Credits Alex Filz

Two restaurants and visits to local wineries and producers

The cuisine at ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA is wholly led by the seasons with the Restaurant and Osteria menus highlighting the vibrant flavours of the abundant locally-sourced ingredients. With a focus on nature and food, visits to local farms, cheesemakers and olive oil producers, as well as wine tours and tastings can be arranged both at the resort and at neighbouring vineyards. 

“You don’t have to compromise on comfort to achieve sustainability”

Sustainably is at the core of the Resort and electric cars and bikes are available for transfers, allowing guests to move around the area with minimal impact. Resort Manager Sami Aglietti explains:

“At ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA, you don’t have to compromise on comfort to achieve sustainability. You can enjoy this natural Sicilian paradise safe in the knowledge that it will still be here, unchanged, the next time you return”.  

The Explora Journeys era begins with the delivery of Explora: a new product, the luxury holiday, on the Italian cruise market.

“On Explora the hardware is unparalleled”

Leonardo Massa, managing director MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys Italia

The Explora I has officially joined the MSC Group fleet heralding in the era of the new Explora Journeys brand.

“Explora is designed for customers who love high-end holidays and who until now probably did not consider cruises as an alternative, - says Leonardo Massa, managing director MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys Italia. -In this ship high-end travellers will find a way to connect to the values of the ocean and the sea. On Explora the hardware is unparalleled, as are the details in the services and the exclusive itineraries, which we have researched and designed, and there is a lot of quality food on board, giving added value to the experience.”  

Ready to set sail towards Northern Europe

The Explora I is now ready to set sail towards Northern Europe on her maiden cruise from the port of Copenhagen, scheduled for 1 August, on an itinerary that will go from Iceland to Greenland. In Autumn it will then move to the United States towards the East Coast for the foliage period, sailing between New York and Quebec. In the winter it will be the turn of the Caribbean, and Explora I will return to the Mediterranean in the summer of 2024.

The four Explora Journeys class ships will cost €2.3 billion

The construction of Explora I was an investment of €500 million, for an impact on the Italian economy of more than €2 billion. The overall order with Fincantieri for the four ships of the Explora Journeys class amounts to €2.3 billion, for an economic impact on the country in excess of €10 billion.

The mixed-use HTM Hybrid Tower Mestre in the town close to Venice features short-term rental apartments, temporary offices, a health centre, and a restaurant. 

From studios to three-room apartment with a restaurant

Built in 2016 the Hybrid Tower Mestre spans nine floors, housing 34 apartments ranging from studios to three-room apartments. These residential units are interspersed with offices and a health centre. The restaurant is situated on the top two levels, topped by a panoramic terrace offering views of the Venetian Lagoon and the Pre-Alps.

The hybrid tower appeals to digital nomads who bring their families

The target customers for Htm’s Hybrid Tower Mestre are primarily medium to high-end, the accommodation appealing to global tourists seeking a comfortable stay near Venice's centre but away from the hustle and bustle of the water city, and with a nearby tram providing easy access. And business clients are also attracted by the tower's proximity to the train station, airport, and ample parking. Halldis also pays special attention to the growing phenomenon of digital nomads, professionals who choose to work in a foreign country for certain periods of the year while bringing their families along to combine work, relaxation, and high-quality tourism.

“We aim to contribute to the decentralisation of tourists in Venice”

 “The city of Venice is a dream for many, and as a result, tourist flows are constantly increasing,- says Vincenzo Cella,  general manager of Halldis. - With this project we aim to contribute to the decentralisation of tourists in Venice by combining the short-term rental demand of tourists with those of business clients. Being able to choose an area where guests can stay in real apartments, while also having access to parking and a restaurant, makes the decision easier.”

“The demand is calling for mixed-use properties like Htm”

 “In two or three years high-end professional products with services will enter the market. Demand is becoming more fluid, calling for mixed-use properties like Htm. While countries like France and Germany have ample availability of high-level residences and numerous mixed-use properties, in Italy, the real estate stock is vast but highly fragmented, which hampers conversion projects,” says Michele Diamantini, CEO of Halldis.

Following a year of restoration, the Castello Sarriod de la Tour is due to reopen to the public on 5 August. 

Free guided tours on 5 and 6 August

Immersed in the orchards of Saint-Pierre, a small town in the Valle d’Aosta region some two hours north of Turin, this handsome old mansion is returned to the public with many new features, and will welcome visitors from 5 August, the date of its reopening.  On 5 and 6 August entrance is free for the guided tours that will leave every half hour. Visitors will be accompanied outside and inside on a tour that explores the 15th century in the Valle d'Aosta, a period of great artistic splendour between late Gothic and Renaissance days.

A rare 15th-century bas-relief 

Restoration, co-financed with regional and European resources thanks to cross-border cooperation, was carried out on the old walls while a new circular visitor route has been created with spaces for conferences and exhibitions. The symbol of this rebirth is a recent regional acquisition, which has found inside the castle: the Lamentation over the Dead Christ by Jean de Chetro, a Valdostan sculptor. This 15th-century bas-relief, which has revealed its original colours, is one of the rare testimonies to the work of an artist who probably trained in the workshop at the Sarriod residence. 

The castle was owned by the Sarriod de la Tour family for nine centuries

With the reopening of the castle visitors can also admire the exhibition Visions of the Middle Ages, an itinerary between the sacred and the profane that sheds light on the most curious aspects of medieval art, with a focus on the noble Sarriod de la Tour family, who owned the castle for over nine centuries.

MagicSplash, Rome’s new water park is a unique and exclusive Caribbean-themed environment in Valmontone, next to the MagicLand theme park, just 37 kilometres from Rome.

The new water park is as big as seven football pitches

MagicSplash is on a huge area of some 40,000 sqm, the equivalent of seven football pitches, has over 16,000 tropical plants and a real beach - Playa del Sol - of almost 10,000 sqm that required no less than 5,000 tonnes of sand. The area is equipped with natural straw umbrellas and comfortable sun loungers with lots of space between one umbrella and the next.   MagicSplash can be accessed either from a dedicated access, or from inside the MagicLand theme park by purchasing a combined ticket. 

“We work closely with our travel agency partners”

“MagicSplash, is a new and unrivalled destination for those seeking to chill out and relax during the hot summer months. It’s like spending a day in the Tropics,- says Guido Zucchi, managing director of MagicLand. - MagicSplash and MagicLand together are unparalleled entertainment, and they attract visitors chiefly from central and southern Italy. We work closely with our travel agency partners, and we would like to attract the MICE market which would allow us to lengthen the season, organizing congresses and other events that would bring us into November and December.” 

Children are catered for with slides and a spray park

For children there is Tiki Bay, an aquatic playground with six slides in the pool which has water that is just 20 cms high. Laguna Tiburon is  a spray park for the little ones, and Cala Tortuga has more water slides for the whole family. For anyone wanting want more privacy Playa Parais has reserved access, and day rentals of the six Cabanas each with its own private beach, refrigerator, private safe, sun beds and beach towels. Two Cabanas are also equipped with private Jacuzzis.

An over-16 wellness pool with a private sandy beach

In addition, for wellness lovers (access is for over-16s)  and those looking for peace and relaxation, from the end of July there will also be Bayahibe, a huge whirlpool and a splendid wellness pool of over 400 sqm with a private sandy beach. MagicSplash has quality food outlets with hamburgers, pizza, hot dogs, snacks, ice creams, cold drink, cocktails and more. MagicSplash is open every day to 10 September from 10am to 7pm and from 10am to 6pm in September. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket offices or on www.magicland.it from €14.90 for the whole day or from €9.90 for admission at 2 pm. For information: https://magicsplash.magicland.it/en

Mangia’s Brucoli Resort has reopened following a €27 million renovation, the third since the joint venture between the Mangia's Group and Hotel Investment Partners in 2021. 

Suites, swim-up suites and a raft of sporting amenities

The collaboration initially involved a total Capex investment of around €90 million for the six properties included in the joint venture. The Sicilian resort, now repositioned as a 5-star hotel will join the Marriott Autograph Collection soft brand by 2024.

There are 402 rooms, including 69 suites and 16 Swim-Up suites, and an array of new amenities, from a running track and tennis courts to padel and basketball courts, beach volleyball, and a five-a-side football pitch. Water sports enthusiasts can enjoy sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding.And new additions to the pool area include beach huts, a natural sea pool, and a secluded bay.

Four dining outlets including the buffet Perseo Restaurant

Guests can also indulge in the new wellness centre, explore the unprecedented retail offerings, and avail themselves of the kids club. Moreover, the resort now features new interior spaces, such as a coworking room and a meeting room with a capacity for 120 people. The culinary experience is divided among four outlets: three on-site à la carte menus crafted by the chefs at Donna Floriana Bistrot, Grano Pizzeria, Scausu Grill, and Kaigan Sushi Bar, along with a buffet offering Italian and international dishes at the Perseo Restaurant. For relaxation and refreshments, visitors can head to the Lime Pool Bar and the Donna Floriana Cocktail Lounge.

Jo&Joe, Accor's new-generation hostel brand will open in Rome this autumn, the first property in Italy. 

Private rooms and dormitories 

Located in the heart of Rome, near the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon, the hotel will open next autumn in a former 16th century monastery. With 49 rooms, it will have a total of 210 beds, including 15 private rooms for two with en-suite bathrooms and dormitory-type rooms for four to eight persons, which, thanks to modular solutions, offer relative intimacy. The designer beds will have sheets, safety lockers, electrical and USB sockets, and the en-suite bathroom is shared, as well as Out of Ordinary rooms for two to four persons, with a private terrace, bright colours and innovative furnishing solutions.

Rooms with heritage elements and large windows

The configuration of the rooms will integrate heritage elements, such as coffered wooden or frescoed ceilings, while linear and contemporary touches and street-art by local and international artists will play a prominent role. Everywhere, large windows will allow daylight to filter through and the inner courtyard will also provide a unique setting for enjoying a drink in a relaxed and festive atmosphere. 

A night club, restaurant, pizzeria and rooftop

The common areas, organized around the same central courtyard and spread over several levels, will include a bar, a night club, a restaurant and pizzeria, a meeting room, a lounge and a rooftop. And there will also be a dedicated space with a stage, to relax to the notes of the best DJs and enjoy concerts.

Rock, blues, chamber music and more are on the bill in August at San Leo Cashmere close to San Marino.

Each concert will end with a tasting of typical local products

San Leo Cashmere will be the venue for three musical events, offering excellent music and, for those who wish, the opportunity to visit and learn about the breeding of hircus goats and visit the San Leo Cashmere company. San Leo Cashmere is in the province of Rimini, on the border with San Marino (Montemaggio), and each concert will end with a tasting of typical local products. For this first edition of Musica e Cashmere the two August musical evenings on 3 and 18 August will feature two very different sounds and are organized by the San Leo Cashmere company and the Associazione Musicale Camerata del Titano di San Marino.

A concert with a vocal and electric guitar duo

On Thursday 3 August at 9 pm, the silence of the valleys between San Marino and San Leo will be shattered by I Grandi Classici with the vocal and electric guitar duo Thundern Brothers who will proposes elements linked to the term classical in its broadest sense. The Thundern Brothers’ repertoire goes from blues and soul to rock and pop with songs taken by Redding, Pickett, Prince, Mina and Brown among others.

Both concerts are free

On Friday 18 August at 9 pm the intriguing and original concert will feature the saxophone and the harp with the Alexander Duo of Alessandro Creola and Alessandra Zivieri who will reinterpret classics like Vivaldi, Piazzolla and Brumke. The concerts are free.

For information: San Marino Artist Communication: 337 1008856 - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.