Volotea has announced its new Florence base and 12 new domestic and international routes from its Tuscan hub.

Volotea now has seven bases in Italy

From Florence Volotea has launched new destinations in Italy (such as Bari, Cagliari, Olbia, Catania and Palermo) and internationally with France and Spain.

"We are very happy with this new launch, which allows us to reach the quota of seven bases in Italy," says Valeria Rebasti, Volotea's country manager Italy & Southeastern Europe. "On the Italian market we have returned to the capacity levels of the pre-pandemic period.”

Olbia and Verona are another two Volotea hubs

"This summer Olbia will have 28 destinations and over 1.1 million seats on sale”, says Sebasti.  No less important is the carrier's presence in the Veneto region, with two operating bases in Venice and Verona. "For the first time in our history Verona will be connected with two capitals (Paris and Berlin, with flights starting in May) and also Barcelona.

Access for foreign operators selling Italy

"A section of our site allows agents to access products exclusively for them and for foreign operators selling Italy we have an 'important route network, with direct flights to France on destinations that are normally not directly connected.”  

Contemporary design and stunning views of the Eternal City blend in MAIO Restaurant & Rooftop, the new gourmet rooftop of the Rinascente department store in the heart of Rome.

Open from 10.am to after dinner

The new MAIO Restaurant & Rooftop on the 6th and 7th floors of the Rinascente Roma department store on the central Via del Tritone, is now open from 10 a.m. to dinner and is one of the most beautiful in Rome. With the kitchen helmed by chef Umberto Vezzoli, guests are welcomed at the entrance in the scenic bar area where they can sip a drink while waiting for a table, enjoy an aperitif or an informal meal.

The 7th floor is another dining area

The covered terrace and the adjoining interior have large windows that give breathing space to the restaurant area with its warm woods, antique mirrors and carpets, while plants help to create areas of privacy. Stairs lead to the 7th floor where the terrace has a long counter and wonderful views to be enjoyed from high tables or at classical tables for lunch or dinner, and there is also a lounge area for informal drinks. 

The menu features fresh, seasonal dishes with a nod to Roman cuisine along with MAIO classics. Rendez-vous on the 7th floor with the champagnerie and oyster bar by Moët & Chandon is a “terrace above the terrace” with a selection of raw dishes and more, accompanied by the iconic champagnes of the Maison Moët & Chandon.

A Caribbean-themed water park with crystal-clear water and white sand is due to open near Venice at the end of May.

Lagoons, sandy beaches and waves

The theme water park is in Lido di Jesolo, 300 metres from the sea and 45 minutes from Venice. It was awarded Italy's best water park in 2022, and will open on Saturday 27 May. An immense tropical oasis, it is inspired by the beaches of the Yucatan and has over 2,000 palm trees, 10,000 tons of fine sand, lagoons and a series of exclusive engineering solutions, such as Shark Bay, the only pool in the world with waves and sand on the seabed. 

Solutions from €30 pp per night from June to September

Stefano Tamborino, sales manager of Caribe Bay, says:

"The park is a real destination within a destination, ideal to be enjoyed with a visit to Venice or as an unforgettable experience to enrich a beach holiday on the upper Adriatic. We have an area on our site reserved for the trade, and travel agencies can access the ticket office at net rates, for individuals and groups, or commissionable park+stay packages. In the low season, from June and September, we offer solutions starting from €30 euro per person per night, with 2 days' admission to the park."

A kids’ area and a slow river

Caribe Bay has relaxation areas and beach umbrellas and 27 attractions immersed in tropical vegetation: from Captain Spacemaker, the highest slide in Europe, to Roatan, a fun and relaxing slow river which is one of the longest in Italy. The Pirates' Bay lagoon, which is just a few centimetres deep, is for families and has a nursery and various attractions that allow the little ones to experience the thrills of the Caribbean. 

Limbo Show - Caribe Bay

An area with reserved access and cabanas

Playa Paraiso is an absolute novelty for guests who want a few extra privileges: a panoramic terrace with reserved access, cabanas for four people with all comforts and a scenic infinity pool carved out of the rock. The park also offers live shows, 11 dining outlets with culinary specialties from around the world, Caribbean Golf, shops and other facilities. 

Tiqets, the world's leading online booking platform for museums and attractions, has some suggestions for some stunning attractions and not-so hidden gems in Sicily.

Italy’s ancient sites are appealing to visitors

According to Tiqets data, relating to the purchasing behaviour of  Tiqets platform users, the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum, the Aquarium of Genoa, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and Pompeii were among the most purchased attractions in Italy from Saturday 22 April to Tuesday 2 May 2023.

Taormina's Teatro Antico 

Taormina’s Teatro Antico is 2000 years old

The amphitheatre was cut into the rock of the Sicilian hills about 2000 years ago and still gives unsurpassed views over the coast of Sicily, up to Mount Etna on the clearest days. Not only is this a wonderful place for history and nature, but it is also a natural setting for theatrical performances, opera, and Elton John to Robert Plant and  Stewart Copeland to David Garret are just a few of the international stars who have performed there. 

Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples has magnificent temples

The entire world is envious of the two ancient sites in Sicily. Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples is the world's largest archaeological site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, spans 1,300 hectares and houses some of the most remarkable ruins of the ancient Greek and Byzantine empires. Visitors find the Temple of Concordia, one of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world, the Temple of Hera, where the ancients made sacrifices to the goddess Hera, the Temple of Zeus and the lovely Kolymbetra Gardens.

Selinunte

Selinunte’s archaeological park has an acropolis

The archaeological park of Selinunte, a Roman-conquered and destroyed city has panoramic views of the sea. Walk through the ruins of these temples, some of which were the largest in the ancient world. The magnificent acropolis, which sits on an 8-meter-high wall and was the first object seen by travellers arriving by sea, can still be admired from the highest point. 

Sardinia’s Abi d'Oru Hotel gets a €20 million restyling with 50 sustainable renovated rooms, and a new swimming pool.

Rooms and suites named after famous Sardinians

The Abi d'Oru Hotel in Porto Rotondo reopens its doors for the 2023 season on 27 May, with a new look and a collection of seven suites and junior suites dedicated to eminent personalities in the history and culture of Sardinia. Each room is a small world containing the legacy left by a well-known Sardinian personality: from judge Eleonora d'Arborea to Nobel prize for Literature winner Grazia Deledda, from Antonio Gramsci to the designer Edina Altara, and from the great artist Maria Lai to Eva Mameli, the first woman in Italy to teach botany at a university.

A spa and a Bee Happy area for kids

With three restaurants and bars, the Abi d'Oru boasts one of the richest gourmet offerings on the coast, coordinated by executive chef Pierluigi Putzu. For lovers of relaxation, there is the Abi Spa, and for little ones, there is the new Bee Happy area which is made from eco-friendly, plastic-free and recycled materials. 

A restyling costing over €20 million

“There have been and will be many investments, but we are on the right path. It will be an amazing season for the Abi d’Oru, we are preparing to welcome everyone to our wonderful Sardinian home,” says managing director, Diana Zuncheddu. The restyling will resume this winter and be completed by the 2024 summer season, for a total investment of over €20 million."

The Gardens of Castel Trauttmansdorff in Merano, a must for nature lovers, consist of over 80 spectacular botanical environments.

A magnificent botanical garden

The seven kilometres of paths crossing the complex lead to four thematic areas, with plants from all over the world. Several fascinating guided tours are available to explore this magnificent botanical garden. Throughout the season, the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle is a 90-minute daily guided tour at 11.15 a.m. The cost is €7 per person. The Discovering Trauttmansdorff experience must be booked three weeks in advance on the trauttmansdorff.it website and allows groups to share this walk. The Immersion in Trumansdorff tour lasts 120 minutes and must be booked at least three weeks in advance. It costs €9 per person.

Special guided tours for disabled visitors

Visitors with disabilities can book (three weeks in advance on the site) a guided tour of the various botanical landscapes for €7, excluding the entrance ticket. In the Trauttmansdorff Castle Gardens, which are free of architectural barriers and obstacles, dedicated guides ensure even more serenity for visitors with disabilities during the 90-minute visit.

The Touriseum has films, models and sound effects

The Touriseum is a journey through the history of alpine tourism and includes a welcome toast followed by a presentation on the history of Trauttmansdorff Castle. To participate send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The cost is €4 per person. The Touriseum consists of some 20 rooms with mechanical and miniature models, films, and sound effects. Thematic tours for groups are also available upon request. 

Ryanair, the No.1 airline in Europe and Italy, will operate 40 routes at Palermo airport this summer.

A 60% growth compared to summer 2019

Ryanair has announced its biggest ever summer schedule with 40 routes, including a new route to Parma and increased flights on over 15 existing routes including Bari , Bologna, Dublin, Marseille, Milan, Naples, Trieste, Valencia, Venice, and Vienna This record operation will see Ryanair base 5 aircrafts in Palermo for summer 2023 and support over 3,100 aviation jobs. Ryanair's schedule for summer 2023 in Palermo foresees: 5 based aircraft, 40 routes, including one new route to Parma, +60% growth compared to summer 2019, over 575 flights per week – including about 200 weekly flights to Rome and Milan - and more than 4 million passengers to and from Palermo every year.

Flights from €25 one-way

Ryanair will operate over 575 weekly flights during summer 2023, offering the widest choice of flights at the lowest prices in Europe, while increasing both inbound tourism and local employment. To celebrate 25 years of Ryanair in Italy, customers and visitors to Palermo can now book a well-deserved summer break from just €25 one way for travel until June 2023, only available on the Ryanair.com website.

Five aircraft based at Palermo airport

“As the largest airline in Europe and Italy, Ryanair is delighted to celebrate over 20 years of operations in Italy and ten years since the opening of the Palermo base, with the launch of the largest ever schedule for summer 2023, with 40 exciting routes. This new schedule is underpinned by Ryanair's commitment to Sicily, where it will base five aircraft at Palermo Airport and support over 3,100 jobs.” said Eddie Wilson, Ryanair CEO.