La Spezia, in Liguria, has put forward its candidacy as Italian Capital of Culture 2027. 

“We will involve the entire community” 

“The bid,- says La Spezia's mayor Pierluigi Peracchini, - is an extraordinary opportunity to enhance La Spezia's rich historical, artistic, and cultural heritage, as well as to promote our excellence on a national and international level. We have approved the stages for submitting the bid, a process that will end in the spring of 2025 and which, if successful, will bring La Spezia's culture to the centre of attention in Italy, involving the entire community.

The city’s cultural sites are being enhanced

“La Spezia is undergoing a cultural rebirth: we have renewed the agreement with the Lia family for the enhancement of the Lia Museum, signed a public-private partnership with the Fondazione Carispezia for the relaunch of Camec, renewed the Mediateca and the Museo del Sigillo, and are enhancing the value of the San Giorgio Castle and the Ethnographic Museum with new exhibitions. This revolution involves all the city's cultural sites and will be completed by 2027, to show our beauty to all of Italy and to the world.”

Boosting awareness of culture as a tool for economic growth 

The Italian Capital of Culture project aims at supporting, encouraging and enhancing the cultural planning and implementation capacity of Italy’s cities. The aim being to boost awareness of culture as a tool for social cohesion, integration, creativity, innovation, economic growth and well-being. By 26 September 2024, the municipality of La Spezia will finalize its candidature and on 28 March 2025 the jury will recommend to the minister of culture the candidature of the municipality, metropolitan cities and unions of municipalities considered most suitable to be awarded the title of Italian Capital of Culture for the year 2027.  

With three months still to go to the end of 2023, Grandi Navi Veloci has posted a strong balance sheet in 2023. 

Four new ships to be delivered from 2024

Having celebrated its 30 years of activity, the MSC Group company continues to play a leading role in Italy’s marine passenger and car transport sector. "The big news for 2024,- says Matteo Della Valle, passenger sales and marketing staff director, - will be the arrival of the first of the four new ships under construction in Chinese shipyards. These will be state-of-the-art craft in terms of both the customer experience on board and energy efficiency and will be delivered every six months.” An initial estimate puts this investment at half a billion euro, a figure not yet confirmed by GNV which is currently evaluating on which route the first new ship will be positioned.

“Last minute sales and ad hoc promotions led to a realignment of the results”

"Although 2022 is considered an annus mirabilis in terms of volumes for Italy’s maritime transport, also thanks to less competition due to some post-Covid resistance to travel abroad, demand and volumes have held in 2023 and we registered a slight growth in volumes compared to 2022. Demand was particularly strong from Italy as well as from Germany, Switzerland, France and Austria. Sales went very well from October 2022 to May 2023. Then the demand slackened somewhat as we had to deal with new destinations, the cost of living and the many promotions on the market. However, last minute sales and some ad hoc promotions led to a realignment of the results.”

Adding dog-friendly cabins and services

For the autumn/winter season GNV’s Sardinia route will end, but the historic Genoa-Palermo, Naples-Palermo and Civitavecchia-Palermo will continue to operate, as well as routes to Morocco, Tunisia, Albania and the Balearic Islands. As far as on-board services are concerned, "We realized that more customers are travelleing with their dogs. In 2022 more than 73,000 animals boarded our ferries, some 60% more than the previous year, so we are increasing dedicated services like ad hoc cabins and dog runs. And, until December, passengers on all our 25 ships with the name Mediterraneo will find the cake created by Chef Damiano Carrara exclusively for our 30th anniversary in our self-services and restaurants.” 

Elite Premium for agents with best seasonal results

Grandi Navi Veloci’s relationship with the trade is fundamental for its growth. "From this year there will be an even more elite cluster: the Elite Primium. We will highlight the ten Italian and foreign travel agents with the best seasonal results for payment efficiency, and they will be able to access further advantages, discounts and special benefits.”

Casale Monferrato’s Tenuta Mandoletto is investing in hospitality, in a niche and very beautiful wine-growing area in Italy’s Piedmont region.  

Vineyards alternate with hazel and beech forests

The Tenuta Mandoletta is in the municipality of Casale Monferrato and the ambitious project is the brainchild of three brothers Enrico, Stefano and Massimo Bonzano of Bonzano Vini, together with oenologist Donato Lanati. The roots of this family history lie in the land in the municipality of Rosignano Monferrato in hills where vineyards alternate with hazel and beech forests. 

Adding Bed & Breakfast accommodation

"A few years ago Bonzano Vini took over the cellars of Castello di Uviglie,- says Beatrice Bonzano. – While Bonzano Vini is a more innovative company and aims to appeal to the tastes of younger consumers, Cantine di Uviglie has a more traditional production. We organize guided tours and tastings, and not far from the wine cellars it is possible to visit Uviglie Castle and the local quarries. We are working on setting up a Bed & Breakfast but in the meantime visitors can rely on some nearby properties.” 

A new 100-seat tasting room to be inaugurated in May

“We are renovating and building new areas, starting from the cellars up to the new 100-seat tasting room that will be inaugurated in May. Most of our visitors are Italian (a sharp increase compared to the pre-Covid period), but a good number also come from Switzerland, France and the United States. Many are individuals who book through social channels, but thanks to the collaboration with some tour operators we also have groups. With the new areas available we will also be focusing on events.”

Tuscany is consolidating a trend that emerged in 2022, namely the growth of international arrivals.

“Estimates show that in 2023 we will return to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, and probably even exceed them,” says Leonardo Marras, regional councillor for tourism. “This year we will re-launch our offline and online promotional campaign and work with public and private players to guarantee efficient services, and we will be giving substance to the commitments made with foreign markets to help make them grow.”  

Tuscany's promotional plan foresees a strong push for the verticalization of travel themes and for targeting specific countries, in particular in certain sectors such as wellness and long business stays.

"We are ready with new ideas for school, wedding and sustainable tourism,- adds Marras, -and bike tourism and hospitality facilities for female travellers are also in the pipeline. In the coming months our tourist destinations will set in motion projects financed by regional funds, collaborating with public and private concerns to maximize the effectiveness of our promotions.”

 "We have set up horizontal governance,- continues the councillor, -and this allows for the continuous exchange of information both between the individual territories, and between the territories and the Region. Within a year we will make a further qualitative leap with the realization of the projects launched with the contribution of regional resources. Teaming up is not always easy, despite the efforts and great strides made in recent years. And paradoxically the wealth of content and proposals can also be a limit, but it is a challenging limit that makes us always feel proud to be in Tuscany and committed to doing better day after day.” 

Tuscany’s promotions will focus on Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, and the UK, but also on Greece, Spain, and Poland, also through collaborations with countries that, like Tuscany, are part of the Necstour network.

“We are also looking at more distant markets,- Leonardo Marras concludes, -especially America, and we are also starting to open up to the Chinese market. Currently our destination portal, visittuscany.com, is available in five languages, Italian, English, German, Spanish and French.”

A new cycle route links the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic seas on two routes that currently have no connecting axis.

The new cycle route will run through Tuscany Umbria and Marche

"We will fill this gap by signing a memorandum of understanding between Tuscany. Umbria and Marche,” says Stefano Baccelli, Tuscany’s regional councillor for infrastructure and mobility.

The Monte Argentario-Civitanova Marche Cycle Route will run through Tuscany, Umbria and Marche and the towns of Albinia, Pitigliano, San Casciano dei Bagni, Orvieto, Todi, Perugia, Assisi, Foligno, Serravalle di Chienti, Tolentino, Corridonia and Civitanova Marche.

The cycle route will have food outlets and services 

It will interconnect with the Ciclovia del Sole and the Ciclovia degli Appennini, as well as with the Via Francigena, Via di Francesco and Via Lauretana which can also be travelled by bike.

"Our intention,- adds councillor Baccelli, -is to create an interconnected, protected network with bicycle and pedestrian routes through places of environmental, landscape, cultural and tourist interest. It will not just be a mini strip of asphalt but a new road with a network of services and facilities, including refreshment outlets.” 

Plans to connect to the regional and national railway network

The route will also connect with the regional and national railway network at San Casciano dei Bagni and Albinia. On the final Albinia-Porto Santo Stefano section there are also plans to recover the route of the former Argentario railway as far as Tombolo della Giannella. 

The historic Treno di Dante in the footsteps of the great Italian poet, travels between Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany.

This year, from 4 June to 10 July and from 27 August to 1 November 6,922 passengers boarded the train belonging to the Italian State Railway’s Centoporte Foundation. The train is one of the symbols of Italian railway locomotion inspired by the diligences of the early 20th century, and it retraces Dante Alighieri's journey along the 136 kilometres separating Florence and Ravenna. 

Trains are scheduled for Easter, April-May and September-October 2023

With passenger numbers up +37.5% over 2021, and the entire train sold out in the second part of the season, the organisers are already planning  the 2023 edition. The train will start again at Easter and run in April-May, as well as in September-October. And there will be two special "cruises" of three days/two nights in Emilia-Romagna, to discover the art, cultural and traditions of important art cities like Ravenna.

“This is an excellent balance,” says Andrea Corsini, regional councillor for tourism, transport, and commerce, “thanks to the teamwork of local authorities, local players like the Emilia-Romagna APT, and the Tuscany Tourism Promotion Agency.”

“An itinerary of great interest for visitors, particularly foreign guests”

“For the second year in a row the Treno di Dante has allowed visitors to discover the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines,” says Luigi Cantamessa, general manager of the FS Foundation.” “The train is a link between areas that are on an itinerary of great interest for visitors, particularly foreign guests,” said Massimo Bucci, president Il train of Dante Srl.

Dante's train is a project that has been developed in collaboration with the APT Services Emilia-Romagna and the Tuscany Tourist Promotion Agency using historical trains from the FS Foundation.

For more information: www.iltrenodidante.it 

Magical, surprising, dreamy, delicious. Lake Garda’s traditional Christmas markets are a blend of a fairytale winter wonderland and art-filled towns.

The 5-star Lido Palace is right on the lake 

The lights have been switched on, and Lake Garda and its ancient castle are at their magical best. The Christmas Village is a food-lovers dream and the Father Christmas House in the ancient fortress is a place to play and let your imagination run wild. For a refined stay choose the Lido Palace, a 5-star hotel directly on the lake. 

Special offers from 18 November to 8 January

For the period of the Christmas Markets from 18 November 2022 to 8 January 2023, excluding holidays, four nights are at the price of three, and a week is at the price of five nights starting from €136 per person per night. And from Lake Garda in just a few kilometres you can reach the markets in Canale di Tanno, Rovereto and Trento.

Local delicacies, nativity scenes and much more

The Christmas Markets in Brunico and Bressanone (BZ) (25 November 2022 to 6 January 2023) are full of surprises with biscuits and pretzels, the dulcet notes of Christmas carols, unique handcrafts, nativity scenes, candles and much more. In Brunico the charming medieval historic centre is a romantic backdrop to the typical local houses and the ice rink, with a view of the snow-covered Plan de Corones. 

The Castel Maurn Hotel has adults-only apartsuites

In Bressanone they light a fireplace on the cathedral square and tell Christmas stories, and both Krampus Day on 5 December and St Nicholas Day on 6 December are not to be missed. The enchantment begins at the exclusive boutique hotel of Castel Maurn in Palù, a hamlet of San Lorenzo di Sebato (BZ), with eight adults-only apartSuites, period frescoes, a heated swimming pool and a spa. Prices per suite for two people are from €350 euro per night.

The 3rd. edition of Discover the Marche. Discover the Marche Region, promoted by Inside Marche Live, with the collaboration of Travel Quotidiano, was a concrete opportunity for operators, administrators, and institutions to discuss the strengths of what the region has to offer as well as the problems and needs of the sector.

“Innovation passes through digitalization” 

Maria Elena Rossi, director of promotion and marketing of ENIT Italia, the national tourist board, who was the guest of honour at the event, said that "Le Marche has much to offer from an experiential point of view. Innovation and sustainability are the pillars of this transitional stage. We are collaborating with the Marche Region on several fronts, and it is important to emphasise that today more than ever, the offer has to be digital to intercept the tourist demand.”

A qualified industry audience

For the partners of Inside Marche Live the event was an opportunity to engage with an industry audience. Among those present were the ALTE Marche Unione Montana Catria e Nerone with its President Alberto Alessandri, the Municipality of Urbino with Councillor for Tourism Roberto Cioppi presenting the city which this year is celebrating the 600th anniversary of Federico Da Montefeltro. Also present were the Municipality of Monterubbiano which, thanks to the presence of historian Walter Scottucci, highlighted the attractions of the Marche’s smaller towns, and Pesaro, Italian Capital of Culture 2024 with Marco Perugini, President of the Pesaro Municipal Council. 

The visitor is the real protagonist of the holiday

"The Alte Marche region consists of nine municipalities," explained President Alberto Alessandri, "We share nature, culture and food and wine, as well as the great resource of our rivers. The visitor will always be the real protagonist of the holiday, and will be warmly welcomed by the locals.” Gianni Rebecchi, national president of Assoviaggi Confesercenti said that pre-Covid there were over 2,700 agencies specialised in inbound travel. “Our aim is to enhance and support them. One of our first commitments will be to meet the new minister to highlight the sector's strengths and problems.”

Tradition, family, but also innovation, these are the three ingredients of the success of Zeffirino, a historic restaurant in Genoa, known and appreciated all over the world for its pesto and other local specialities.

Seasonal local specialties

When visiting or touring Genoa, a stop at Zeffirino is a must for a true immersion into the tastes and scents of the city. It is also an inspiring encounter with a great family whose hospitality has fascinated locals, tourists and celebrities, who still come for  Zeffirino's pesto. The Zeffirino restaurant has always been synonymous with high quality cuisine, using selected raw materials, linked to the area and always seasonal.

Fate stepped in and the family never left for Argentina

It all started in 1939 when Zeffirino Belloni, founder and progenitor of the family, was called to arms and, as an orderly, was in charge of preparing the meals for a colonel. Not only did he learn a trade, he discovered he had a talent for cooking. A passion that would prove decisive for the choices he made later in life. When the war ended life was difficult and Zeffirino, together with his wife Olga, children, parents and siblings, left for Genoa with the intention of sailing to Argentina. But they never did as he decided to bet on the city. His first trattoria was called l'Emiliana, and the cuisine was linked to the family’s origins. 

A family business and an international brand

Zeffirino later decided to separate from his parents and siblings, who returned to Modena, and look for a larger restaurant that could ensure a dignified life for each of his children. He started looking in the city centre near the Monumental Bridge and he gave the new restaurant his own name: the historic Zefferino in Via XX Settembre. Today, thanks to Zeffirino and Olga's five sons, Gianpaolo, Luciano, Odino, Alberto and Giorgio, and their wives Giannina, Livia and Renata, their respective children and grandchildren, Zeffirino is an internationally recognized brand.  With family dedication and tradition going hand in hand with a desire for innovation.

Next stop: Monte Carlo

"The Coronavirus stop did not discourage us, - says Marco Belloni, the founder's grandson, who is in charge of the restaurant in Via XX Settembre. – On the contrary, it pushed us to think of new projects. First we renovated the restaurant here in Via XX Settembre then, in 2021, we opened two restaurants in Santorini, in the Zaffron Resort of the Radisson Blu Group: Ristorante Zeffirino and Trattoria Belloni. In November 2021 we had a pop-up restaurant in Riad, and in 2023 we will open a restaurant in Monte Carlo in collaboration with the Giraudi Group.”  

The signature dish is a blend of Emilia and Liguria

Zefferino uses only the very best ingredients, such as freshly caught fish in all its variations, aromas, spices and above all Prà basil for Genoese Pesto, for which Zeffirino has become a world ambassador. The dish par excellence that brings together Emilia and Liguria is the Paffutelli in Basil Veloutine, a blend of the luscious pumpkin ravioli from Emilia and Genoa’s pansotto, a recipe that the Zeffirino family created in 1970 and that still stands out on the menu today. Chef Dario De Spirito focuses on tradition and innovation using local products and only the freshest of ingredients.  

Frank Sinatra was a fan

Zeffirino's walls display photos of the celebrities who have passed through the restaurant's door: among them Frank Sinatra, who came here for the first time in 1984, then with his wife Barbara and with a series of friends including Roger Moore's daughter.

AmareItalia is a dynamic platform for booking Italy and global travel packages. It is the commercial brand of sostravel.com, a company set up by young entrepreneurs and professionals who came from successful careers in online and tourism.

Destination managers provide full assistance

Their aim in founding the company was to promote dynamic Italy holiday packages, starting with Sardinia and then adding Sicily, Apulia and Calabria, with the best resorts, holiday villages and hotels and replying to the needs of today’s customers. Choosing Amareitalia means relying on destination managers; consultants who take the customer in hand from the moment he chooses his holiday destination to the moment he returns home. 

Packages for Sardinia and Kenya

"Amareitalia started in 2021 as an innovative start-up. The aim was to enhance Italian tourism product using a dynamic digital tool," says CEO Massimo Crippa. "With our platform it is possible to design any kind of travel idea or package, taking advantage of contracts negotiated with the best airlines and shipping companies integrated with our Sardinia and Kenya products, as well as with leading global wholesalers. The package, to which multiple activities available on the selected dates can be added, can be saved, shared with friends, and automatically re-booked at a later date.” 

Customers can make savings using the Secret Village formula

The strengths are the directly managed products: properties marketed exclusively in Sardinia and Kenya. These five exclusive products include the virtual Secret Village formula which has a registered trademark allowing customers to make considerable savings and hoteliers to maximise occupancy.

Two apps provide baggage protection and tracking 

The excellent results of the 2021 season moved Amareitalia from startup to innovative scaleup status, and on 29 September Amareitalia became part of sostravel.com S.p.A., a company listed on the Milan Stock Exchange. It owns two apps that provide information and services such as baggage protection and tracking, real-time flight status notification and the ranking of the miles flown by each participant.

“In December we will add the Jumbo Resort in Watamu, Kenya”

“Thanks to this merger,” Crippa continues, “the apps will be further developed with additional booking functions, and the range of hotel facilities will increase from 1 December with the addition of the Jumbo Resort in Watamu, Kenya. "