The new Eurowings Salzburg-Cagliari flights are operational every Saturday until 24 October.

Also flights from Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Stuttgart

This brings the number of destinations served by the German airline, part of the Lufthansa Group, from Sardinia’s main airport to four: in addition to the new Salzburg route, the summer 2026 schedule confirms flights to and from Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Stuttgart

Eurowings is part of the Lufthansa Group

Thanks to the new Eurowings flights, Cagliari and Sardinia will be able to attract further tourist traffic from an area with historic ties to the region, aided by the opportunity to travel via the extensive network of Eurowings and the Lufthansa Group.

Strong interest in southern Sardinia

“The new Salzburg flights are a further step forward in the consolidation of our airport’s international links and confirms the strength of our partnership with Eurowings and the Lufthansa Group,” explains a statement from SOGAER, the company managing Cagliari Airport. The launch of this route, the note continues, is a strategic opportunity both for inbound tourism to Sardinia, thanks to the strong interest in southern Sardinia from the Austro-German region, and for the outbound market, offering Sardinian passengers the chance to easily reach one of Europe’s most fascinating cities.

Rome has many spectacular fountains, beyond the iconic Trevi.

Fountains with fewer crowds

The Eternal City’s many fountains are statements of power, engineering, and theatrical statement. While the Trevi Fountain draws the crowds (too many crowds, Romans complain) some of the city’s most spectacular water displays lie elsewhere. And, experiences without the crush of Trevi’s - now paying – visitors, they are equally thrilling emotional experiences. 

Fountain of the Four Rivers on Piazza Navona

Bernini’s fountain on Piazza Navona is spectacle in motion. Four colossal river gods - representing the Nile, Ganges, Danube, and Río de la Plata rivers, one for each continent - twist and strain around a rock formation, above which rises an ancient Egyptian obelisk. What makes this fountain extraordinary is its sense of instability, with the stone appearing to cave in, the figures reacting to unseen forces, and the water animating the entire structure. This fountain is a controlled explosion of movement, and is best appreciated by walking slowly around it.

Fountain of the Acqua Paola on the Janiculum Hill

Known to Romans simply as il Fontanone (the big fountain) this monumental fountain is less sculptural but more overwhelming in scale. Built to mark place where the Acqua Paola aqueduct arrives in the city, it functions as both water terminal and urban façade. Its wide arches pour water continuously into a vast basin, producing a constant roar that dominates the entire Janiculum hilltop. And below it Rome spreads out  in one of the city’s broadest and most spectacular panoramas. 

Fountain of the Triton on Piazza Barberini

Compact but intensely dynamic, Bernini’s Triton Fountain is a masterclass in vertical energy. The muscular sea god kneels on four intertwined dolphins, blowing water upward through a shell. Unlike grand basin fountains this work concentrates the force of water into a single jet, making water itself the main protagonist, the fountain becoming a living, pulsing mechanism at the centre of the square.

Why these fountains matter

These three stunning fountains show in how many different ways Rome uses water. No one of them relys on sheer size alone, instead they reveal Rome’s ability to turn engineering into emotions and to make water speak as loudly as the stone from which they are carved.

Vueling is stepping up its presence in Italy with over 250,000 additional seats for the coming winter season and is adding four new flights from Bilbao to Italy. 

A total of 89,000 seats to the four Italian cities

Tickets for the flights from Bilbao to Rome, Venice, Naples and Turin are already on sale, increasing the number of seats available on existing routes for the 2026 winter season, with over 100,000 additional seats. The winter schedule, which will therefore offer around 89,000 seats from Bilbao to these four destinations, is structured as follows: the Bilbao-Rome route, previously available until 13 September, will remain operational throughout the winter season and, from 25 October, will operate four times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

"We added over 250,000 seats from Barcelona and Bilbao this year"

The route to Venice will operate three times a week (on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays) from 25 October; the route to Naples will commence on 4 December, also with three weekly flights on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays; finally, the route to Turin will be available from 25 October with two weekly flights, on Thursdays and Sundays. “At Vueling, we are committed to strengthening connections between Italy and two of our main hubs in Spain, Barcelona and Bilbao, where we have added over 250,000 seats this year, consolidating our leadership at both airports,” said Jordi Pla, Vueling’s chief network & strategy officer.

More routes also from Barcelona

As a result, over the course of the year, the airline will offer up to 31 routes from Bilbao Airport, 17 of which are international. Vueling will also scale up its service between Bilbao and Milan, increasing it to seven weekly flights, which is one daily flight, and over 55,000 available seats. The carrier will also expand its service from Barcelona to three destinations: Naples, which will increase from 14 to 21 weekly flights; Turin, which will add six flights to reach 11 per week; and Palermo, which will have eight weekly flights, three more than last winter.

Turin and Palermo also get more flights

Furthermore, in the second half of the summer, Vueling has also increased frequencies from Barcelona to Turin (from 5 to 11 weekly flights) and Palermo (from 7 to 11 weekly flights), between 15 September and 24 October. The airline is thus adding over 150,000 extra seats on these routes, bringing the total to over 330,000 seats.

Art and hospitality blend into one in the DUPARC Contemporary Suites in Turin. 

A dynamic new district

Turin is a city that evolves while preserving its elegant, Savoyard soul and embracing contemporary culture, architecture and design. And nowhere is that balance more visible than in the district surrounding DUPARC Contemporary Suites which is poised to become a dynamic cultural destination following the restoration of the Medieval Quarter and Valentino Park, the redevelopment of the Po River cruise service and the arrival of the futuristic new National Library. 

"A genuine urban and cultural renaissance"

For Ana Paula Bracarense, general manager of DUPARC Contemporary Suites, these changes are a natural continuation of the hotel’s identity. “The extraordinary transformation currently taking place in our area serves to amplify the DUPARC’s inherent character. We find ourselves at the heart of a genuine urban and cultural renaissance, a dynamism that perfectly reflects our own identity.”

DUPARC Superior Junior Suite

"A new type of design-conscious traveller"

Designed as a modernist architectural landmark with a permanent contemporary art collection, DUPARC Contemporary Suites has always occupied a unique position in Turin’s hospitality landscape. And today, as the city attracts a new generation of international travellers drawn to culture, design and creativity, the property’s original vision feels more relevant than ever. “This urban buzz naturally attracts a new type of design-conscious traveller who is seeking an extension of the cultural experience the city has to offer,” says Bracarense.

A fluid and vibrant cultural hub

The DUPARC supports emerging designers and local creative businesses, positioning itself not simply as accommodation, but as an active participant in Turin’s artistic ecosystem. Looking ahead, Bracarense envisions the hotel evolving into “a fluid and vibrant cultural hub, integrated into the urban fabric. Rather than simply staying within a work of art, the experience we offer our guests is that of inhabiting art itself,” she says. “We want to move beyond the static and purely contemplative experience typical of a museum visit.”  

The art is woven into the guest experience 

Throughout the property works by leading figures of Arte Povera and Italian contemporary art coexist naturally with daily life with the art woven into the rhythm of the guest experience, from enjoying a signature cocktail in the bistro to relaxing in the spa. “The artworks are not merely decorative elements, but an integral part of daily life. The spacious proportions of the original building remain, with the addition of expansive glass walls that flood the interiors with natural light. The Classic Suites are minimalist with the period furnishings of the original structure, while newer Superior Junior Suites reinterpret those generous spaces in a more contemporary hospitality spirit, while the refined Junior Suites and larger Luxury Suites are undergoing a complete redesign.

And elegant city and a hub of art and culture 

This sanctuary in the centre of Turin is a place where architecture, art and hospitality coexist with rare harmony. And Bracarense sees DUPARC continuing to evolve remaining faithful to Turin’s distinctive identity while embracing its increasingly international cultural future. "Turin is a splendid city that has always adapted to the changes imposed by the times. The Turin of the future cannot be different from its essence: it will always be the Savoyard city, elegant and reserved, yet unafraid to open its doors as an international hub of art and culture.”

Intercontinental flights may be able to land at Milan Linate in the near future. 

Linate is Milan's city airport

Perhaps. And according to speculation by the Italian daily Il Corriere.it, which has had access to the draft document on the new National Airport Plan, the strategic document outlining the development of Italian civil aviation up to 2035. According to this document the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport is reportedly considering opening Milan’s city airport to intercontinental flights, particularly flights from and to New York, provided they are operated by single-aisle aircraft configured exclusively in business class and managed by traditional airlines.

Only narrow-body aircraft

This would inevitably require an amendment to current legislation. At present Linate is subject to strict restrictions set out in the so-called ‘Giovannini Decree’ of 2022, which permits only point-to-point flights; the use of narrow-body aircraft; routes within 1,500 km; and connections only to airports in the European Union or countries with which agreements are in place (such as the United Kingdom).

Linate Airport is already very congested

The Ministry’s aim would be to offer airlines greater commercial flexibility and attract premium customers directly to the centre of Milan, taking advantage of Linate’s strategic city airport location. However there is a significant constraint on the table: the airport can handle a maximum of 18 movements - take-offs and landings - per hour. But the airport is already very congested, so the introduction of long-haul flights would likely result in a reduction in some domestic or European flights.

Milan Malpensa could lose profitable traffic

If the project were to go ahead it would impact negatively on Milan Malpensa Airport as the latter could lose some of its most profitable traffic to Linate. It is no coincidence that the restrictions on the city airport were introduced precisely to encourage the growth of Malpensa as an international hub, especially following the crisis that led to Alitalia’s withdrawal from the airport. Among the airlines potentially most affected is ITA Airways, which, together with the Lufthansa Group, already holds a dominant position at Linate (around 52% of scheduled flights for the whole of 2026, according to Cirium data).

Three more Wizz Air aircraft in Milan Malpensa, Catania and Naples from 14 September. 

50 routes to 23 countries from Milan Malpensa

The number of aircraft based by the low-cost carrier will rise from 10 to 11, enabling the launch of four new international routes to Santander, Zaragoza, Porto and Agadir-Al Massira, all commencing in mid-September. With the arrival of this additional Airbus A321neo, Wizz Air’s offering at Malpensa will therefore comprise a total of 50 routes to 23 countries.

Two new aircraft in just two months 

In Milan the announcement of the 11th aircraft based there comes just under two months after that of the 10th Airbus A321neo stationed at Malpensa and the launch of seven new routes from Milan within the airline’s network: two domestic routes to Palermo and Naples (both with twice-daily frequencies) and five international routes to Dortmund (daily), Bilbao (five weekly flights), Cluj (four weekly flights – Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday), Iasi (three weekly flights – Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and Palma de Mallorca (daily flights).

3.4 million seats on sale this summer

This year, the airline will offer over 5.5 million seats to and from Milan Malpensa, an increase of 16.3% over 2025. During the summer 3.4 million seats will be on sale, with operational capacity up by 19.8% compared to last summer. “Milan is our second-largest base in Italy and has always been one of the most dynamic and strategic markets for our growth in Italy. The strengthening of our presence at Malpensa, with the arrival of our 11th based aircraft, confirms the confidence we have in this region and its potential. This investment is not only about the company’s operational expansion, but also a concrete contribution to the region’s development: together with our partner SEA – Milan Airports, we are proud to support the growth of Milan’s connectivity, creating new opportunities for tourism, business and the local economy,” commented Ian Malin, Chief Commercial Officer at Wizz Air.

Milan Malpensa's strategic centrality within European aviation 

“Wizz Air’s further expansion at Milan Malpensa Airport confirms the airport’s strategic centrality within the European aviation landscape. We welcome the decision to further increase the number of aircraft based at Malpensa and the launch of new international routes such as Agadir, Santander and Zaragoza (the latter two are brand-new destinations for Malpensa) which expand its network and strengthen its role in connecting the region, enhancing accessibility to Milan and Lombardy,” commented Luigi Battuello, chief commercial cfficer SEA Milan Airports.

An on-time performance rate of 99.6%

In 2025, Wizz Air carried over 21 million passengers in Italy, recording an 8% increase over the previous year and maintaining an exceptional on-time performance rate of 99.6%. With a fleet of 44 aircraft based in Italy this year and a market share of 12%, Wizz Air is now the second-largest carrier in Italy, aiming to offer more than 32 million seats in 2026 and to upscale its presence across the country.

Condé Nast Traveller recently reminded us of something Italians have always known - that travel isn’t about size, it’s about experience. In its article “20 Beautiful Small Towns in Italy to Plan Your Next Trip Around" the magazine lingers lovingly on small towns (at least five have fewer than 2,000 inhabitants) where "whatever your idea of a good time is, there’s a small town in Italy bound to satisfy your desires.”

Or course in Italy a “good time” can mean a thousand contradictory things, like a bar that opens when the owner feels like it, a church bell determined to make itself heard no matter the time of day, a view so theatrical it almost seems staged, and a plate of something so simple that it ruins you for everything else. 

These little towns do not perform for visitors; they simply continue being themselves and make you wonder Can life really be this pared back? Well, you soon come to realize that it can. And that when it comes to having a good time less can hold far greater value than more, and how easy it is to be tempted to stay just a little longer.

Pamela McCourt Francescone
Executive Editor