Wizz Air is adding three new routes from Armenia, Moldova and Northern Macedonia to Bari's Karol Wojtyla Airport.

Bari is a strategic crossroads for the Mediterranean area

The new routes from Yerevan (Armenia), Chișinău (Moldova) and Skopje (North Macedonia) underline the importance of Puglia in the airline’s growth strategies, transforming Bari into a strategic crossroads for the Mediterranean area. The route from Yerevan was inaugurated on 26 October and operates twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays. The flights from Chișinău are operated three times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and those from Skopje, twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays.

Cancellations were reduced by 68.6% 

From January to October 2025 the company operated over 3,800 flights and carried more than 756,000 passengers. Operational excellence is evident in the reliability and punctuality figures: a 99.8% completion rate, an increase in punctuality of +11.9% year-on-year and a drastic reduction in cancellations of -68.6%. "The start-up of the routes from Yerevan, Skopje and Chisinau represents a further step in the path of growth and internationalization of our airport system, says Antonio Maria Vasile, president of Aeroporti di Puglia. -These connections strengthen the role of Puglia as a natural bridge between the Balkan and Caucasian areas and Europe, fostering cultural, tourist and economic exchanges of great value. We thus reaffirm our commitment to boosting connectivity, encouraging the deseasonalization of tourism and supporting local businesses.”

Italy is Wizz Air’s first market

Currently, Wizz Air operates 12 routes to Bari from eight countries, offering over 1.1 million seats in 2025 and consolidating its position as the second largest carrier by market share (11.6% ) at the airport. Bari's network already includes Tirana, Sofia, Budapest, Warsaw Chopin, Wroclaw, Bucharest Băneasa, Bucharest Otopeni, Cluj-Napoca, Craiova and Timisoara, and now expands with Yerevan, Chișinău and Skopje. Italy confirms its position as Wizz Air's first market in terms of the number of passengers carried on the company's entire international network, with almost 77,000 flights to and from Italy in 2025, over 245 active routes in 32 countries and more than 17.1 million passengers carried (+9% compared to the same period in 2024). Currently, the company operates out of 27 Italian airports with an offer of 23.4 million seats in 2025 and 27 aircraft based at five airports.

Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel has listed Sardinia  as one of the destinations not to be missed in 2026.

“Places and experiences that… are worth a trip in 2026”

The traditional selection made by Lonely Planet saw 25 destinations and 25 experiences on the podium for the first time. “For the first time we have decided not to draw up a ranking of countries, regions and cities that are absolutely not to be missed,- explained Angelo Pittro, director of Lonely Planet Italy. -This year we are proposing 25 places and 25 experiences that, in our opinion, are worth a trip in 2026. The reasons may be different and this is why everyone will create their own personal ranking within our selection, taking into account personal tastes and aspirations.”.

Centering on Sardinia’s archaeological treasures 

The Sardinia honoured by Lonely Planet is not just its nature and the sea. It is an alternative Sardinia, centred on the charm of its archaeological treasures, as the regional councillor for tourism, crafts and trade, Franco Cuccureddu, pointed out during the presentation. “In addition to its undoubted natural beauty, for example with the beaches of Cala Goloritzè and Cala Mariolu in the Gulf of Orosei, La Pelosa in Stintino and the Spiaggia Rosa in Budelli, Sardinia also has archaeological, historical and folklore treasures. The latest is the recognition given this year to the Domus de Janas, which entered the UNESCO World Heritage List on 12 July.”

For ItaliAbsolutely 2025 was a highly successful and satisfying year; we took a closer look at lesser-known Italy and established a closer relationship with foreign buyers. ItaliAbsolutely has a mailing list of some 70,000 global specialists who sell Italy, and our daily news and views are presented in over 4,000 articles that introduce buyers to the most interesting and marketable dynamics of the industry in Italy. ItaliAbsolutely is where international buyers discover the Italy they can sell.

But ItaliAbsolutely does not stop here with the portal and the special edition printed magazines, it also becomes a series of events. In fact every year we also promote what Italy has to offer from North to South at international events, on fam trips and on webinars involving hundreds of travel agents.

And again this year the print magazine will be distributed abroad, at ITB Berlin, Las Vegas Travel Agent Forum and WTM London. Under our partnership with ITB Berlin the special edition will be given to all the buyers attending the prestigious international event, ensuring greater visibility for the Italian companies and destinations featured. ItaliAbsolutely uses English as its mother tongue and is not translated by Google or other systems.

The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics drive rail travel demand in Northern Italy.

Milan is reinforcing its role as a gateway

The rise in rail travel is reported by Rail Europe which points out that booking figures show that Milan is reinforcing its role as the main international gateway, while Venice and Verona are emerging as key rail-connected destinations on Olympic travel itineraries. Rail Europe is seeing strong booking activity on major high-speed lines including Milan-Venice and Milan-Verona. At the same time, cross-border rail traffic to Milan from major European hubs, including Paris and Zurich, remain consistently high.

“Rail plays a key role…across national borders”

“Major international events highlight the need for reliable and seamless mobility,- says Björn Bender, CEO and executive chairman Rail Europe. -Rail plays a key role in connecting cities, regions and Alpine destinations across national borders. With the Milan-Cortina Games approaching, rail is a flexible and efficient way of travelling in northern Italy, supported by strong international connections and a well-developed regional network. Milan occupies a central position in this changing tourism landscape. For many visitors to the Olympics, it represents the nearest major international air terminal. In parallel, the city serves as a primary railway hub connecting northern Italy with France, Switzerland, Germany and Austria.

Verona will host the closing ceremony

Rail connectivity is also crucial for access to the Alpine regions hosting winter sports events. Destinations such as the Valtellina can be reached via Tirano, with train connections from Milan and cross-border connections from Switzerland via the Chur-St. Moritz corridor. Recent infrastructure improvements on these routes have increased the comfort and frequency of services, strengthening the role of international railways in winter sports travel. Verona, which will host the closing ceremony of the Olympics, is equally well integrated into the railway network of northern Italy. Its connectivity allows travel planners to combine participation in the Olympics with wider itineraries in the Veneto and Alpine region, positioning rail as a practical alternative to road travel. Cortina d'Ampezzo, rail travel is typically combined with local transport from nearby railway stations such as Calalzo di Cadore or Dobbiaco. This model keeps the railway at the centre of the journey, while addressing access to the last mile, with total journey times from Milan generally varying between five and six and a half hours, depending on connections.

From the arrival of the Frecciarossa at Milan Malpensa to the global reinforcing of rail and intermodal connections Trenitalia and Busitalia are offering more services for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Also intermodal train+bus services

There will be many extraordinary services towards the main competition areas will, including increased High Speed and Regional services, flanked by integrated intermodal train+bus services. Road transport will be further intensified to meet the needs of both spectators and athletes, guaranteeing easier and more capillary travel throughout the territory. Frecciarossa, on weekends from 7 February to 15 March 2026, will reach Malpensa airport with direct services from Milan to Venice/Udine.

Frecciarossa trains plus bus services

From 31 January until 16 March, after the conclusion of the Games, the intermodal FrecciaLink train+bus will guarantee daily services with Cortina d'Ampezzo and the Cadore, Tesero and Predazzo areas. The offer to Cortina d'Ampezzo will make it possible to leave by Frecciarossa from Milan, Naples, Rome, Florence, Bologna and Padua, continuing the journey from Venice Mestre by bus. In addition, departing from Rome, Florence, Bologna and Verona and stopping at Ora (Bolzano), it will be possible to reach Val di Fiemme by bus to Tesero, the new FrecciaLink stop, and also Predazzo.

Regional trains will also be boosted

Trenitalia will also reinforce the Regional trains towards the Belluno area, gateway to Cortina d'Ampezzo. On the Venice-Belluno line the service will be guaranteed every day, for a total of 39 trips daily, while on the Padua-Belluno line there will be 40 trips daily. The Treviso-Montebelluna and Belluno-Calalzo lines will also be upgraded. Thanks to the collaboration with Dolomitibus, the “Cortina 2026 Link” will be available, allowing passengers to reach Cortina with a single train+bus ticket, starting from Ponte nelle Alpi station.

Enhanced Busitalia services

More options are also available with Busitalia, which has activated daily connections to Cortina d'Ampezzo and Livigno from the AV stations of Padua and Milan, with convenient connections also from the airports of Orio al Serio and Venice Marco Polo. The Padua-Cortina Link will connect Padua to Ponte nelle Alpi, Longarone, Tai di Cadore, San Vito di Cadore and Cortina d'Ampezzo, offering a direct and continuous service to the Dolomites.

Airports will also be connected

The new Milan-Livigno line is the only direct service between Milano Centrale and the main ski resorts of Alta Valtellina-Bormio, Valdidentro and Livigno. The service operates from Monday to Friday, departing from Milan at 9:45 a.m. and returning from Livigno at 3:00 p.m. On weekends departures are scheduled at 10:15 a.m. from Milan and at 3:30 p.m. from Livigno. Airport connections complete the offer: Orio al Serio Airlink, with 24 trips per day also operating at night, and the Padova-Venezia Marco Polo service, operating all week with 54 trips daily.

50,000 reserved seats for accreditations

Some 50 charter trains and more than 400 buses daily will be provided for athletes, sports staff and accredited persons to travel to the Olympic venues. More than 50 thousand seats reserved for the event will also be available on high-speed trains on the main routes, in particular the Milan-Venice and Milan-Trento lines.

Just north of Sicily in the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the Aeolian Islands archipelago, tiny Panarea is a jewel where elegance meets wild natural beauty. 

Sicily’s Aeolian Islands

The Aeolian Islands—Lipari, Salina, Vulcano, Stromboli, Filicudi, Alicudi, and Panarea—are a UNESCO World Heritage site of volcanic origins and with dramatic landscapes. Each island carries its own unique character, but Panarea is often considered the crown jewel: small in size but with oodles of charm. Getting there is part of the adventure and the gateway is Sicily, with Milazzo, Messina, and sometimes Naples serving as main departure points. Milazzo is the closest and most popular port. Services are by ferry or high-speed hydrofoil and the journey lasts just over an hour, making Panarea really accessible despite its remote allure. In summer booking tickets in advance is essential as the island’s popularity means that seats fill up fast, especially during the peak season. 

Crystal-clear waters and  boat excursions to Stromboli

Panarea’s compact size is perfect for leisurely exploration. Its narrow, cobbled streets are lined with whitewashed houses and blooming bougainvillea. Punta Milazzese is an ancient archaeological site with ruins of a prehistoric village perched on a cliff overlooking the sea and very popular with history lovers and photographer. The crystal-clear waters surrounding Panarea are ideal for snorkeling and swimming especially in hidden coves like Cala Junco, where the sea shades from azure to emerald. Renting a small boat is a must to cruise around the island or take a day trip to Stromboli to witness the awe-inspiring spectacle of an active volcano. 

Dolce Vita vibes and seafood dining

At sunset Panarea’s nightlife is chic yet relaxed and much of it takes place on the charming piazza square where locals and visitors mingle over aperitivos and seafood dining, capturing the true Dolce Vita vibe. Panarea’s cuisine is a celebration of Mediterranean seafood from spaghetti with clams to grilled swordfish, and the traditional fish couscous. Pane cunzato is a rustic local bread topped with olive oil, tomatoes, anchovies, and cheese. A simple but unforgettable dish  to be enjoyed with a glass of Malvasia delle Lipari, the island’s aromatic sweet white wine. 

Prices are lower in May, June, and September

The ideal time to visit Panarea is from late spring to early autumn, which means May through September, when the weather is warm, the sea inviting, and nature in full bloom. July and August are the months to choose for those seeking social vibes while May, June, and September offer a more serene, intimate experience with fewer tourists…and also lower prices.

As Europeans mentally start packing their bags for 2026, Italy is once again high on their wish list. According to Jetcost, Italy is officially the second most searched country by Europeans to welcome the start of 2026, just behind Spain and well ahead of France, Portugal and the UK. Not bad for a country that already spends most of the year hosting everyone else’s holidays.

With flight searches at the end of 2025 up by 10%, staying home in the New Year is not an option, and Italy, with its mild winters, rich cultural calendar, good value hotels and legendary cuisine offers the perfect excuse to escape.  The most searched cities are Milan, which is particularly popular with British and Portuguese travellers, while Rome remains everyone’s favourite. Venice continues to enchant with its timeless beauty, and Naples draws visitors with its energy and food.

Southern destinations are also shining. Sicily, especially Catania and Palermo, tempts travellers with lots of sunshine even in winter, while Cagliari keeps Sardinia firmly on the map. Tuscany appeals for citlies like Florence and Pisa, Bologna is high in the rankings, and cities such as Genoa, Bari, Turin and Bolzano complete the picture.

The message is clear: to start 2026 in style the top choice is Italy which can boast more beauty, culture and delicious food than anywhere else on Earth.

Pamela McCourt Francescone
Executive Editor

Kosher Food tours to explore Rome’s Chalav Yisrael Kosher food.

Traditional Kosher flavors and heritage 

Discover the traditional flavors and heritage of Rome with the first-ever Chalav Yisrael Kosher Food Tour, offered by Rome Kosher Food Tour.   Take this tour through the heart of Rome’s historic Jewish Ghetto, which is one of the oldest continuous Jewish communities in the world, on an immersive journey through over 2,000 years of Jewish-Roman history and cuisine.

Stopping in local bakeries and restaurants

Guided by experts in Jewish culture and culinary traditions, each tour stop has been carefully selected for its Chalav Yisrael kosher certification and authentic connection to Jewish-Roman life. From local bakeries to hidden trattorias, participants enjoy full tastings of traditional dishes that have been passed down through generations.

Vegetarian and other dietary options

They will be discovering such Roman favourites as Cariofi alla Giudia Jewish-style artichokes which are deep-friend to crisp perfection, and classic Roman pasta dishes like Pasta with Chickpeas, and Pasta with Sardines, as well as desserts like Ricotta and Sour Cherry Tart and the spicy Panpepato fruit and nut cake, all prepared with kosher ingredients. There are also vegetarian and other dietary options to ensure that no one misses out on the experience.

Special pasta-making classes

Beyond the food this tour is a fascinating cultural experience, bringing to life the resilience, creativity, and spirit of Rome’s Jewish community and participants get a digital brochure, listing the stops they have made and encapsulating what they have learned about the many culinary traditions they have encountered along the way. And for those who want to get hands-on, a special pasta master class follows the tour, with a local chef revealing the secrets of kosher pasta which is yet another way to connect with Rome’s Jewish heritage through its age-old culinary traditions. For information: www.romekosherfoodtour.com

Rome Fiumicino Airport has topped 50 million passengers in one year for the first time. 

A further two million passengers over the New Year 

The record was set on the eve of the Christmas holidays, during which Aeroporti di Roma, a Mundys Group company, expects to welcome a further two million travellers from 22 December to 7 January, in addition to the 180,000 expected at Ciampino rome’s second airport. 2025 will therefore close with more than 51 million passengers in total, an increase of more than 4% over 2024, and two million additional transits. The airport serves a network of 240 destinations, and this year 30 new routes were inaugurated to 80 countries around the by a hundred airlines, including six new carriers that chose Fiumicino in 2025.  

Long-haul was one of the main drivers of growth

"The 50 million passenger milestone is thanks to operational planning, a long-term industrial vision, consistent investments and the work of a great team of people who contribute to consolidating Rome Fiumicino's position as a global hub, - said Marco Troncone, CEO Aeroporti di Roma.  -The numbers confirm the role that this starred airport plays for Italy. This record is a further driver in the implementation of our Sustainable Development Plan, designed to guarantee capacity, resilience and sustainability also in the coming decades.”  Long-haul confirmed itself as one of the main drivers of growth with North America maintaining its leadership by closing the year with 4.7 million passengers, with summer peaks of 40 daily departures whil in November and December traffic grew by 20% over 2024 and by more than 75% compared to the pre-Covid period.

Strong demand from Asia as Fiumicino is named “Airport of the Year”

Asian movements increased by 16% in 2025, thanks to strong demand to Korea, Japan and Bangladesh and the return of the Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong. The short and medium haul market was driven in particularly by carriers such as Wizz Air and easyJet, whlle the entry of Lufthansa into ITA Airways is destined to further consolidate Leonardo da Vinci's role as a reference hub for Southern Europe. Rome’s Fiumicino airport, confirmed for the eighth consecutive time by ACI World as the best airport in Europe and named “Airport of the Year” at the recent International Airport Summit 2025 in Berlin, is a key infrastructure for Italy's international connectivity.  

Corinthia Rome, located in the former headquarters of the Bank of Italy in Piazza del Parlamento, opens for bookings from February 2026.

60 contemporary guestrooms

Marking the group's debut in Italy and designed in 1914 by architect Marcello Piacentini, the building has spanned the capital's 20th-century history as an imposing financial headquarters. Acquired by Reuben Brothers in 2019, it now becomes a Corinthia Hotel following a multi-year restoration of its 9,700 sqm on seven levels. Original features such as precious marble, frescoes and carved wood have been preserved and restored, and the interiors by G.A. Design create a style with contemporary and refined details. The hotel has a total of 60 rooms that combine historical charm with contemporary craftsmanship.

Carlo Cracco’s Rome debut

Corinthia Rome will have 21 suites as well as two restaurants and a bar overlooking an inner courtyard and a spa created from the bank's old vault. This project also marks the arrival of chef Carlo Cracco in Rome, bringing his culinary creativity to the capital for the first time for a collaboration that aims to position the hotel among the new gastronomic excellences in Italy.

“A benchmark for guests and Romans”

The opening is part of the group's global expansion strategy, with recently opened new properties in New York, Brussels and Bucharest. Danilo Zucchetti, managing director of Corinthia Rome, explains: "We look forward to welcoming our guests in the heart of Rome. We are in the centre of a city that is undergoing a remarkable renewal in the hotellerie scene. Our goal is to become a benchmark not only for international guests, but also for Romans, who will find here the art of hospitality in all its forms.

The hotel is right in the centre of Rome

The hotel's location gives guests easy access to the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps and the political centre of Rome. In keeping with the building's original size and architectural style, the 60 rooms and suites are spaciousness with natural light and a perfect balance of restored historical details and contemporary Italian design. Corinthia Rome is commited to celebrating and preserving its cultural heritage, and will offer a selection of original experiences for guests, allowing them to discover new angles of the immense cultural heritage of a city like Rome.