In the 1950s post-war years in Italy it was all about recovery and social redemption. And so an architectural identity was reconstructed to overcome the rationalism of an era that had just ended and that needed reinterpretation.

It was in this context that the Hotel Ariston was built in Milan in 1954, designed by architect Giovanni Pellegrino.

The Ariston was Europe’s first ecological hotel

The Hotel Ariston was flanked by a similar building by the same architect, and together they are the two Romanesque towers of the old city walls of Milan. The hotel was bought in 1979 by Francesco Vitrano Catania and Girolamo Calandrino, two Sicilians whose first foray into the world of hotellerie this was. Totally renovated in 1991 the Hotel Ariston was the first ecological hotel in Europe, and in 2005, the founding partners were succeeded by their daughters with the hotel continuing to put respect for the environment at the heart of its philosophy.

An exciting new venue in Milan’s Carrobbio district

In 2020 administrators Vincenza Calandrino and Giovanni Bonaccorso embarked on a further renovation, again on the theme of sustainability. The idea of a conservative restyling of the hotel's internal structure, which began in 2020 and will be completed in 2021, respects its history while maintaining its same green spirit. The entire forecourt has been redeveloped with new greenery, an outdoor bar and a dehors for aperitifs with gourmet food tastings. Soon this exciting new property in the Carrobbio district will be an elegant venue combining Milanese tradition with the lively hospitality typical of the South of Italy.

The Fiat 500 joins Maggiore’s electric mobility fleet as, with the In un Baleno (In a flash) campaign, Maggiore presents its ever-expanding electric mobility availability as well as its commitment to promoting a more sustainable driving lifestyle in the cities of Rome and Milan.

The Fiat 500, one of the models recently added to the brand's growing fleet of electric vehicles, is being used to promote environmentally friendly driving.

The Maggiore Select & Drive programme

The 500 Arcobaleno Limited Edition can now be rented for a day, a weekend, or a week through the Maggiore Select & Drive programme, using the Maggiore E-City service. This all-inclusive formula provides free parking on blue-line parking areas in Milan and Rome, unlimited mileage, but most importantly, free access to the B and C areas of Milan and the ZTL limited traffic zones in Rome. Furthermore through Maggiore's partnership with E-GAP, the first mobile charging operator for electric vehicles, it is possible to request on-demand charging at points in the cities of Rome and Milan already covered by the service.

One aim is noise and pollution reduction

At the same time Maggiore is assisting in the transition of more and more consumers to electric vehicles, namely the ability to test zero-emission vehicles and thus promote their diffusion, regardless of the purpose of purchase or simple use. All with the goal of reducing noise and pollution, as well as improving air quality, especially in increasingly congested cities, and thus contributing to the development of a more sustainable transportation ecosystem. The Fiat 500 Arcobaleno Limited Editions can be rented at both Milan’s Linate airport and Rome’s Termini railway station.

Exclusive partnerships and a wide range of services

Maggiore has been in the car rental industry for over 65 years and has been owned by Avis Budget Group, a world leader in the provision of car rental services, since April 2015. The company has always prioritised quality service and has consistently invested in Italian style, which has always been a core value. Through exclusive partnerships and technological innovation, Maggiore's activities today differentiate the brand in terms of timing flexibility, a wide range of services, and an integrated transportation offer.

More information is available at www.maggiore.it. 

When in Turin Fiat’s Lingotto test track and two eateries are not to be missed. Not only for the spectacular 360-degree views of the city which is surrounded by the Alps, but also for the many fascinating monuments and tourist attractions just waiting to be discovered. 

Europe’s largest suspended garden

The test track, built directly on the factory roof in 1926-1927, was unique and so innovative that Le Corbusier used it in his famous Vers une architecture (1923). So now this old Lingotto test track has been transformed into a sustainable oasis: a large linear garden with nearly 40,000 small trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, and is Europe’s largest suspended garden.

Credits: Velvet Studio BarbarCorsico

Two eclectic eateries

This industrial reconversion also has two eateries, the appropriately-named La Pista and the FiatCafè500. La Pista is a panoramic lounge bar with views over the city and a one-of-a-kind restaurant with modern furnishings and large windows where Chef Roberto Cordisco, a former sous chef at Enoteca Pinchiorri, features contemporary and international cuisine. And at the end of an unforgettable lunch or dinner the Specialty Coffees 1895 Coffee Designers by Lavazza, a collection of coffees selected from among the world's finest products in their countries of origin, are an absolute must.

An homage to the little Fiat 500

The FiatCafè500 on the fourth floor of Pinacoteca Agnelli is a new venue that combines the history and design of the famous little Fiat 500 car with a special meeting and sharing space for the public. So when in Turin take time to delight in this unique suspended garden on the roof of the Lingotto, discover the artistic installations that will regularly fill its spaces and delight in its cuisine.

Boataround, a leading boat rental platform, offers three itineraries that feature the queens of summer: the islands, and in particular the beautiful Aeolian Islands, real jewels set in seas of a thousand shades, for all those who, as Mark Twain said, want to “sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails, explore, dream, discover.”

Sailing among the 7 sisters

The Aeolian Islands, seven sisters united by the beauty of their blue sea off the coast of Sicily, are the ideal setting for a Mediterranean-flavored adventure to discover crystalline seas. Lipari and Vulcano are the first two you meet after a few hours of navigation from the Sicilian coast. The first is the largest and most famous of the archipelago and owes its fame to its enchanting black and white beaches. On bewitching Volcano, on the other hand, you will find black sand, thermal mud, and fumaroles from the island's still active volcano, which is responsible for the typical sulphur smell in the air. The itinerary continues to the three wildest islands of the Aeolian archipelago: Salina, Filicudi and Alicudi which have breathtaking panoramic views.

Tiny Panarea and a volcano

Sailing south you come to the more fashionable Panarea: a tiny pearl surrounded by the islets of Basiluzzo, Dattilo, Bottaro, and Spinazzola that cannot fail to enchant you with their beauty. The unmissable Stromboli is the final stop with 12 square kilometres of black sand that stretch into a deep blue sea. This little island is dotted with distinctive white houses and is home to the Iddu volcano, better known as Stromboli, which is still active today.

About Boataround

Boataround, the industry's leading online boat rental platform, was founded in 2016 by Jana Escher and Pavel Pparmi, a former Booking.com manager. With over 20,000 sailboats, catamarans, yachts, and gulets, including 1,800 in Italy, Boataround has one of the largest online boat selections in the world. Boataround has over 1,400 destinations in 72 countries and over 150,000 users worldwide.

The 25th Chestnut Days in South Tyrol’s Lana region will be organized from 16 to 30 October, with the municipalities of Lana, Foiana and Tesimo-Prissiano celebrating the chestnut. 

Chestnut trees and fruits have always been part of the local landscape and culture of this part of the Alto Adige region, In the Middle Ages the chestnut was a staple food of the population, and still today it is one of the main ingredients in autumn dishes in the South Tyrol Alto Adige. 

Cultural and hiking events

From 16 to 30 October 2022, during the annual Keschtnriggl Chestnut Days celebrations selected restaurants will present traditional local dishes and surprising innovative chestnut-based creations. There will also be a programme of cultural events,  traditional customs and themed hiking events in the company of local foresters and farmers.   

A farmers’ market and guided hikes

The heart of the Keschtnriggl event is the Foiana Festival, which this year will be held on 16 October, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.. This farmers' market (Foiana is about 35 kilometres from Bolzano) with typical handicrafts, stalls, farmers' dishes, traditional music and chestnut specialities, will also feature guided hikes on the Chestnut Nature Trail accompanied by forest rangers.

A nature trail for children

The Foiana Chestnut Nature Trail is particularly suitable for children as it is on level ground. Ten themed stations, some of which are interactive, tell the story of the chestnut tree and also illustrate its different varieties. 

For further information: keschntriggl.it 
For information on the Lana region: lanaregion.it. 

An Experiential Edition of the Castel del Giudice Apple Festival on 15 and 16 October will feature taste workshops, apple picking, guided tours, hikes and many activities in the Molise village on the border with the Abruzzo region.  

Stalls and food trucks with local specialties

In the embrace of the colours of autumn foliage, local organic and artisanal producers will set up their stands and food trucks in the town hawking traditional delicacies, recipes and typical products from Italy’s central Molise and the Abruzzo regions. The Apple Festival is organized by the Municipality and the Pro Loco of Castel del Giudice and is part of the Molise Region’s Tourism is Culture programme.

Guided tours, e-bike excursions and yoga in nature

There will be guided visits to the Giardino delle Mele Antiche apple orchard, to the Malto Lento agricultural brewery and rural walks with donkeys and goats with the peasant poet Carmine Valentino Mosesso. Guided e-bike excursions, beekeeping experiences with the Castel del Giudice Community Apiary, yoga in nature and many surprises for young and old will all add to the festivities. 

Discounts at the Borgotufi Albergo Diffuso

For a stay during the Castel del Giudice Apple Festival, the Borgotufi Albergo Diffuso is offering a 15% discount from 1 to 31 October 2022. Just enter the code MELA in the online booking system at www.borgotufi.it or call the hotel at 0865 946820.

iTEG are two events promoting Italian food and wine as a tourism product, organized by TEGing, the network founded in 2020 to boost and promote Italian Food and Wine as a tourism resource and product.

With its focus on a wide range of activities that go from training and innovation to consultancy services and communications, TEGing is organizing the two events in Galatina in Puglia on 30 September and 1 October, and in Rome on 1 December.

Starting with two events in Puglia and Lazio

The first two iTEG events (with the “i” standing for innovation, incoming and Italy among other goals) will bring together players at all levels from the tourism sector: hotels and non-hotel facilities and environmentally committed concerns, municipalities, local tourism promotion associations and groups working to enhance the regions.

“The common denominator - says Paola Puzzovio entrepreneur and founder of TEGing Italia - is a commitment to and respect for the virtues and traditions that give added value to the TEGing community.”

“TEGing includes experiential and green tourism. We focus on the unconventional”

“We launched in Puglia in 2020, are now expanding to other Italian regions, and we can already count a network of over 600 Italian and international affiliates. This is the only project of its kind in Italy that deals exclusively with wine and food as a tourism resource and product. It also includes experiential tourism and green tourism, and we focus on the unconventional. This means we put a lot of emphasis on how people are now travelling differently, on their inclinations and aspirations, as well as on the importance of making suppliers aware of the need to reply to different health and dietary needs.”

International and Italian delegates and speakers

The Puglia and Lazio events, slated for October and December, will include conferences and exchanges with DMOs, tour operators, local bodies, associations, business networks, communications experts and media representatives.

www.teging.it

The Luxury Bike Hotels in Apulia appeal to international travellers wanting to discover the delights of the Salento southern region with its beautiful coastline, age-old traditions and luxury accommodation. 

Marenea Suite Hotel in Marina di Marittima

Immersed in the enchanting Salento landscape of sheer cliffs and secluded bays, the Marenea Suite Hotel is a Luxury Bike Hotel in the heart of the Costa Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca and Bosco di Tricase Regional Natural Park. 

Bike rentals and massages

A new entry to the Luxury Bike Hotels collection, the Marenea Suite Hotel is a perfect starting point for exploring the area on two wheels thanks also to the many bike-friendly services the five-star hotel offers its guests. These include bicycle rentals, e-bike recharging stations, menus and snacks for bikers, and massages at the spa. 

20% Discount up to 22 October

The 25 elegant rooms are furnished in Salento style and have private sun terraces with sea views (except for the standard rooms), gazebos and sun beds. There are also pools, hydro-massage and a private lido as well as the La Terrazza sul Mare restaurant. Up to 22 October there is a 20% discount on the two-night package including a Lecce tour, a Castro tour with a fish tasting, a cooking class and a relaxing massage. 
For information: https://www.mareneasuitehotel.com

Nauralis Bio Resort and Spa in Martano 

The Luxury Bike Hotel Naturalis Bio Resort & SPA in Martano, in the heart of the Salentina area, is a former ancient farming village that has been transformed into a charming masseria-style property. 

The Torrino Suite is on three floors

Surrounded by over 20 hectares of organic olive trees, vineyards and aromatic plants the resort has 14 dwellings and suites with colours, names and furnishings that echo the themes of the surrounding countryside. The exclusive Torrino Suite, on three floors inside the majestic grain silo, has a private spa.

Salento specialties in the restaurant

In the restaurant guests can enjoy the flavours of the Salento, and relax in the Four Elements Exclusive & Private SPA wellness centre and at the organic swimming pool. The more active will enjoy cycling excursions and it is possible to hire mountain bikes and e-bikes directly at the hotel.

Special package with many amenities

Valid from 1 October to 31 December, the Bio Naturalis offer includes accommodation in a junior suite with breakfast, an organic welcome drink, a tour of the greenhouses and extraction of pure aloe gel. They will also enjoy a green detox dinner, a Welcome Wander Spa with mini treatment, a one-hour wellness circuit, two 30-minute sports massages, one takeaway break, and an N&B cosmetics kit. Price per couple €890 for a three-night stay and €1,720 € for a seven-night stay.
For information: https://www.naturalisbioresort.com/it/home

This is the time for an autumn detox at the Josef Mountain Resort in Avelengo, a mountain plateau above Merano in the Alto Adige region. 

Excursions and outdoor activities

The Josef Mountain Resort is ideal for a regenerating autumn detox, combining excursions and outdoor activities with moments of absolute laidback dolce far niente in the hotel's spa.  Or you can choose to relax in the exclusive Forest Sauna, a charming outbuilding in the woods which is perfectly integrated with nature.

A forest spa

The Forest Spa is an oasis of well-being where you can eliminate toxins and tensions while absorbing positive energy with specific facial and body treatments. The avant-garde Methodist and Piroche cosmetic lines have incredible benefits and are based on local ingredients.

Regenerating outdoors

Fitness and workout sessions in the well-equipped gym overlooking the woods, yoga and meditation courses, Pilates and aquagym are available.  As are myofascial gymnastics and sauna ventilations to regenerate through outdoor activities. In addition guests who want a personalised programme have the support of the personal training service.

Indulging in a pinch of worldliness

If, on the other hand, you want to indulge in a pinch of worldliness or a few moments of retail therapy, no worries: Merano, an elegant spa and holiday town, is only ten kilometres away and easily accessible. 

Autumn packages up to 6 November

Up to 6 November prices start from €129.00 per person per day including ¾ board and all Josef special services, from the Forest Spa to the Active & Vital programme, and from the Guest Card for Merano and surroundings to Wi-fi and free covered parking.

For information: https://www.josef.bz /it/rooms-prices/services-included/28-0.html 

Autumn breaks in the Alpine Bonfanti Design Hotel, in the Val Pusteria which is a true outdoor paradise: a  wide valley with picture-postcard pastures, immense plateaus and the majestic peaks of the Dolomites in Italy’s South Tyrol.

Brunico has been twice voted Italy’s happiest town

Among the many exciting attractions Lake Braies, at 1,500 metres asl, in the enchanting Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park, is one of the most Instagrammable places in South Tyrol. Brunico, one of the most picturesque towns in the Puster Valley, was awarded the title Italy's happiest town in 2014 and again in 2015 for its exceptional quality of life, culture and the wide range of sports it offers both in summer and in winter.  

UNESCO peaks and a marmot trail

The Tre Cime di Lavaredo are the most famous peaks in South Tyrol and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With exciting routes and trails, idyllic landscapes and breathtaking views, they are hard to forget. The Marmot Trail is for those on holiday with the whole family. Strolling along the alpine pastures and lush vegetation near Chienes to the spectacular Moarhofalm, at 1,883 metres above sea level, you can sample delicious South Tyrolean specialities…and if you are lucky enough meet some of the marmots that inhabitat these heights.  Here both relaxation and fun are guaranteed for all the family.   

A wellness hotel with indoor and outdoor pools

Bonfanti Design Hotel is a modern retreat with an exclusive wellness centre that has an indoor and an outdoor swimming pool, saunas, a Turkish bath, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis and a fitness room with the latest Technogym equipment. 

Rooms with Alpine views and refined cuisine

Alpine-chic design also for the lovely guestrooms, like the Design Room Lux, Royal Design Suite and King Royal Suite with exclusive comforts and splendid views of the forest. In the kitchen Chef Maurizio Lauriola, who hails from Puglia, creates refined and simple dishes reworking Mediterranean flavours for international and traditional South Tyrolean specialities. “These dishes conquer the palate (and the eyes) of even the most demanding gourmands,” says hotel manager Jan Vlasak.

Three ¾-board special packages

Valid until 29 October: Design your weekend with ¾ board. A weekend with breakfast, light lunch and dinner at the hotel, starting from €390.00 per person for 3 nights. Design your week with ¾ board  is the same formula for a whole week, starting from €910.00 per person for 7 nights and Design your weekstart with ¾ board, starting from €540.00 per person, is for 4 nights from Sunday to Thursday.

https://www.bonfanti-hotel.com/en/bonfanti-design-hotel/inclusive-services