Palazzo Sanzio in Rome is due to make its summer debut under the Radisson Collection brand.

A historic building in the heart of Rome

With renovation at Palazzo Sanzio completed, the hotel, wholly owned through the IHF fund managed by Castello SGR, is in a historic building on the Lungotevere Raffaello Sanzio 15, in Rome. Approaching the final stages ahead of its opening, scheduled for this summer, the five-star luxury hotel will open under the Radisson Collection brand.

A short walk from cultural, leisure and shopping districts

Dating back to the beginning of the 20th century Palazzo Sanzio is a prestigious architectural landmark overlooking the River Tiber, just a short walk from Rome’s main cultural, leisure and shopping districts. The extensive and meticulous architectural and interior design project carried out by the international firm De.Tales, has completely transformed the building into a five-star luxury property, combining its historic architectural character with contemporary luxury design and international operational standards.

Views of the river Tiber and Rome’s skyline

Once completed, the property will have 70 rooms and suites as well as refined dining options, an exclusive wellness and fitness centre, and a panoramic terrace with exceptional views of the river Tiber and Rome’s skyline. The hotel will operate under the Radisson Collection brand, part of  the Radisson Hotel Group’s global premium portfolio.

Rome, a premier destination for global luxury tourism

Michelangelo Ripamonti, head of hospitality investments at Castello SGR explained: “The completion of Palazzo Sanzio, the future Radisson Collection Hotel, consolidates Castello SGR’s leadership in the luxury hospitality sector in Rome. This transaction follows the successful openings of the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace and the Leonardo Boutique Hotel Rome Monti, as well as strategic financing for the Nobu Hotel Roma and the Orient Express Hotel La Minerva. Castello SGR’s commitment to the capital city continues to gather pace with the recent acquisition of a new property between Via Veneto and Piazza Barberini. These investments confirm our commitment to elevating Italy’s hospitality heritage to the highest international standards of excellence, thereby ensuring that Rome remains a premier destination for global luxury tourism.”

Four hotel and resort projects in Italy

Emanuel Arbib, CEO of IAM Capital, added: “We are delighted to announce the imminent opening of our first luxury hotel in Rome, as well as our partnership with RHG, with whom we have been collaborating for almost two years to create what could be the best RHG Collection hotel in the world. We have spared no expense or effort to offer our guests the best possible experience in Rome. Palazzo Sanzio, the group’s third hotel property, is the first of four hotel and resort projects we plan to open in Italy over the next two years and demonstrates our strong commitment to the hospitality sector in Italy, both for our group and for its funds.”

Tua4Fly is the new integrated transport service promoted by Tua Abruzzo, in collaboration with Saga, the company managing Pescara Airport, to connect to the station. 

Timed for arriving and departing passengers

The service is set to launch this May and aims to strengthen connections between the airport and the main urban and regional transport hubs. Designed to ensure connections with trains, urban and inter-city buses, and the trolleybus, the system features services timed to flight schedules. Buses will depart from the airport 30 minutes after landing, whilst from the railway station they will be scheduled to allow passengers to arrive at the airport at least one hour before take-off.

Pescara Airport

Connecting with up to 36 flights a day 

The timetable will vary depending on the day of the week and the number of flights: in May, for example, this ranges from 22 flights on Mondays to 36 on Saturdays. A further adjustment is planned from June, when there will be an increase in flight connections. Tickets cost €3, are valid for 90 minutes and can also be used on other urban routes. They can be purchased on board at no extra cost using a contactless card, via the Tua app or through Trenitalia’s sales channels.

"A new concept of regional mobility"

Various bus liveries have been designed, dedicated to some of the region’s iconic locations, from the coast to the mountainous areas, including Pescara, Rocca Calascio and Civitella del Tronto. “With Tua4Fly, we are not simply launching a connection to the airport: we are bringing a new concept of regional mobility to life,” says Tua’s president, Gabriele De Angelis, adding that Abruzzo Airport must be “a modern, connected and recognizable gateway. This is why we have created a service synchronized with flights, integrated with the railway, with urban and inter-city buses, and with the La Verde trolleybus. Passengers must be able to step off the plane and immediately find a straightforward connection to Pescara and the rest of the region.”

Monopolele, the ukulele festival will return once again to Monopoli from 28 May- to 1 June.

Concerts, workshops, jam sessions and street performances

Italy’s most important ukulele festival, and one of the most renowned around the world, won the jury prize at the Ukies 2025 (Anarchy in the Ukulele Awards) for Best Festival worldwide. And Monopoli will once again host the event for five days, with the picturesque Apulian village transformed into an open-air musical stage. Visitors will also appreciate its how Baroque squares, ancient harbour, deconsecrated churches and cloisters will be used as venues for concerts, workshops, night-time jam sessions and street performances.

ph.Valerie Tristan

Artists from all over the world

Among the new features of this edition is the introduction of four consecutive outdoor night-time jam sessions led by international ensembles: the Ankara Ukulele Big Band, Ukulele Tuesday from Dublin, and a group from Galway. The programme features artists from all over the world, including six-time Grammy Award winner Daniel Ho. The festival will open on Thursday at Porto Vecchio, whilst the evening concerts will take place in Piazza Palmieri. The Church of San Pietro will host the Sound Embraces concerts, featuring Arlo Anwin, Paolo Damiani and Strade Aperte.

Ukulele Tuesday

A youth orchestra from Cuba

This fifth edition will also feature a musical collaboration between Italy and Cuba. On Friday afternoon in the Cathedral Square, around a hundred young musicians from schools in Monopoli, Bari and Sulmona will perform alongside Son de Sol, a youth orchestra from Cuba, which will be among the headliners at Monday evening’s Grand Finale in Piazza XX Settembre, alongside Erica Mou and the other artists. Admission to all main events is free, which means that no booking is required. The street performances are open to anyone who wants to play, and the nightly open-air jam sessions welcome both professionals and amateurs. A music festival that welcomes talents of all ages and all qualifications!  

From hikes up volcanic peaks to walks through the salt flats, Sicily is focusing on cultural and outdoors tourism beyond beaches.

Skydiving with Mount Etna views 

Active tourism is offering a diverse range of experiences with high experiential value, meeting the demand for adrenaline-fuelled activities by combining them with unique natural settings. On the eastern side, between Syracuse and Caltagirone, skydiving is one of the most sought-after experiences, with jumps from around 4,000 metres offering a privileged view of Mount Etna and the coastline. Also at altitude, paragliding allows for scenic flights between Taormina and Castelmola, showcasing visually striking landscapes.

Kitesurfing, body rafting and canyoning

On the western side, the Stagnone Nature Reserve in Marsala remains an internationally renowned destination for kitesurfing, thanks to its shallow waters and consistent winds. Among freshwater activities, meanwhile, the Alcantara Gorges offer pursuits such as body rafting and canyoning, amidst basalt walls rising up to 25 metres high. Climbing has one of its main hubs in San Vito Lo Capo, particularly in the Salinella cliff area, which offers more than 800 equipped routes overlooking the sea, making it an iconic destination on the European scene. Mount Etna stands out as a key destination for high-intensity outdoor activities, ranging from downhill mountain biking on volcanic terrain to high-altitude trekking up to the summit craters, in a unique setting reaching an altitude of 3,300 metres.

Alcantara Gorges

Salt pans and a salt cathedral

Alongside these experiences, Sicily is expanding its offering by showcasing less conventional settings. In the Aragona area, the Macalube offer an almost otherworldly landscape with its sedimentary volcanic phenomena. In the Nebrodi Mountains, the Argimusco plateau stands out for its distinctive rock formations dating back millions of years. Along the western coast, the salt pans of Trapani and Marsala represent a significant landscape and cultural feature, combining traditional production methods and visual appeal with water basins reflecting the sky and ancient windmills. Underground, near Realmonte, the Salt Cathedral is carved into the salt rock, set within a system of underground tunnels. In the Ragusa area, Cava d’Ispica offers an experience that blends nature and archaeology, with a kilometre-long gorge featuring vegetation, caves, necropolises and evidence of ancient civilizations.

In South Tyrol, the village of Tirolo welcomes Spring with the blossoming of the apple trees, walks, sporting activities and culinary events.

One of the most beautiful hiking trails in the Alps

High in the mountains, Dorf Tirol, near Merano has thermal baths abd is a destination for relaxing family walks or more challenging hikes. One of the most beautiful hiking trails in the Alps, the Merano High Trail (Meraner Höhenweg Trail in Dorf Tirol) is  approximately 100 kilometres long, with a total elevation gain of 5,000 metres. Whilst an experienced hiker can complete the circular route in about a week, it can also be explored in individual stages and joined at various points. One of these is located at the top station of the Alta Muta cable car, above Dorf Tirol.

ph credits: Helmuth Rier

Many different walking trails

There are numerous scenic walks and themed trails winding their way through castles, farmsteads, apple orchards and vineyards. Among the easiest walks, the Apple Trail is a must-see during the apple blossom season, as is the Wine Trail. Other options include the Falkner Promenade, the Culture Trail, the Tappeiner Promenade, the Forest Path, and the Panoramic Trail. For the more active, there is no shortage of opportunities such as Nordic walking, road cycling or mountain biking, and even paragliding.

ph credits: Thomas Rötting

Activities for children 

Younger children can have fun in the well-equipped playgrounds, such as in Burglehen Park, and with the various activities designed to stimulate curiosity and direct contact with the environment. Among the family-friendly initiatives, young and old alike are involved at the Gufyland bird rehabilitation centre, where they can learn about the world of birds of prey, their habits, conservation and rehabilitation. Tirolo’s squares and open spaces are also transformed into places for gathering and celebration, with events where music, tradition and gastronomy bring the whole town to life. Among the most eagerly awaited events, “Sapori in Piazza” on 1 May is the occasion where local producers invite visitors to sample, purchase and savour their specialitie.

ph credits: Maria Gapp

For further information: dorf-tirol.it 

In the village of Sutri, one of italy's most beautiful small towns in the province of Viterbo, “Sutri in Fiore” celebrates the beauty and identity of the Tuscia area until 31 May.

Cultural events, exhibitions and activities for all ages

Throughout the event the streets and squares of one of “Italy’s "Borghi più Belli," most beautiful small towns, will be adorned with floral displays. The programme is rich and varied, featuring cultural events, exhibitions, workshops and activities for all ages. There will also be a dedicated area showcasing local flavours, with tastings, traditional products and culinary delights. 

Wine tastings and craft workshops 

Among the events, on 2 May from 5.00 pm, “Sutri tra Rose e Rosé” will take participants on a wine tasting with the Fisar Tuscia Viterbese delegation, an experience that will be repeated the following day from 12.00 pm. Also on 3 May, in the historic centre, Kairos – Le Forme dell’Anima will welcome visitors with markets, art, wellness and magic. The following weekend will feature creative and craft workshops, as well as a walk along the Via Francigena, a European trade route that in medieval times led pilgrims from Canterbury to Rome, of which Sutri is an important stop.

More than twenty events across the various weekends

On 16 and 17 May, the focus will shift to local cuisine, with cocktail suppers, lunches in gardens, show cooking, tastings and the AperiOpera. This will followed by another weekend of art, good food and activities dedicated to discovering bees and honey production, and the event will conclude with further initiatives and a classic car exhibition, totalling more than twenty events across the various weekends.

Roman remains and Etruscan walls

Sutri is a charming village in the Tuscia region and its beating heart is the Piazza del Comune square, accessed via an ancient arch topped by a bell tower with a clock, and along characteristic narrow streets with tuff walls,  small artisan shops and ancient treasures.The ancient City of Sutri park is an archaeological site with a Roman amphitheatre entirely carved out of tuff and an Etruscan necropolis with dozens of tombs as well as Etruscan walls and a Mithraeum with mosaics and paintings from the early Christian era, later converted into a church dating from the Middle Ages. The Romanesque Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is also among the perfectly preserved archaeological finds.