The Foscarini is a 4-star Luxury Bike Hotel in Mogliao Veneto, in a Venetian country villa dating back to the 1600s. 

An ideal starting point for bikers

Strategically positioned halfway between Venice and Treviso, Mogliano Veneto serves as an ideal base to explore major destinations in the region, including art cities, the Dolomites, Prosecco hills, Venetian villas, and the Riviera. The hotel provides various cycling itineraries, such as the 130-kilometre ring on the Prosecco DOCG Hills and the Asolo and Possagno Route, offering challenging yet satisfying routes through the picturesque landscapes of the Venetian countryside and pre-Alpine mountains.

Rooms and suites distributed across three units

This digital, eco-sustainable hotel prioritises design and offers a unique cycling experience. The villa, after a recent renovation, seamlessly combines historic architecture with modern style, creating a welcoming and sophisticated atmosphere for cyclists and cycle tourism enthusiasts. The 31 rooms and suites are distributed across three units: Villa, Barchessa, and Ca' Nova, the latter  dedicated to the cycling world, and allowing guests to bring their bicycles directly into their rooms. 

Services for cycling enthusiasts

For cycling enthusiasts, the hotel also offers amenities like monitored storage, e-bike charging stations, bike washing and repair facilities, an affiliated workshop, a changing room with a shower and a self-service laundry for technical clothing. Additional services include a well-equipped gym, a breakfast with homemade products, and an app for independent access to hotel services.

The Antico Sipario Boutique Hotel Signature Collection, is the Bwh Group’s new Italia entry.

The hotel is on the border of Umbria and Tuscany  

The hotel owes its name (sipario means stage curtain in Italian) to the discovery during renovations of the stage curtain of the small theatre that was once in the building. It is in the historic centre of Paciano, a medieval village in the Lake Trasimeno area in the province of Perugia, on the border between Umbria and Tuscany.

A garden, a cloister and a conference room 

The eight Superior and Deluxe rooms and the communal areas are therefore a tribute to the building’s artistic tradition with the the concepts of theatre and performance declined in all their expressions with references to art, opera and great personalities from the history of the theatre. The Antico Sipario also has a garden, a cloister, a conference room converted from the old theatre, while the hall has been conceived as an open space for meeting and sharing.

A meeting room for up to 40 people

The meeting room accommodates up to 40 people, has excellent acoustics and is ideal for business meetings, training courses and other private events. The hotel also has a long tradition of organizing weddings and there is a playroom for young guests. From the hotel it is only a 15-minute drive to Castiglione del Lago on Lake Trasimeno, and less than 50 minutes to Perugia, Orvieto, Montepulciano and Cortona, while Rome and Florence can be reached in less than two hours. 

A shop with local specialties and wines 

The shop has a selection of local products such as honey, jams, preserves, home-produced Trasimeno wines and extra virgin olive oil, as well as a line of 100%  bodycare organic cosmetics. There is also a Bookcrossing library corner and an area where children can colour, draw, play with  puzzles and enjoy reading.

The new five-star luxury La Maviglia Golf & Spa resort in Puglia, owned by the former Southampton chairman, will be the Ionian competitor to Borgo Egnazia.

A 500-acre estate with trulli and olive groves

What some are already labelling as the Ionian competitor of Borgo Egnazia will open in Maruggio, in the province of Taranto, in the land where Primitivo wine is produced. La Maviglia Golf & Spa Resort, from the Swiss company Ultimate Collection, is led by former Swiss-Italian banker and the owner of Southampton, Nicola Cortese. Designed by Oppenheim Architecture and landscape architects Enea, the resort will be developed on a 500-acre estate that includes over 40 Saracen trulli and olive groves. The property is said to have been purchased in 2023 for €12 million, while the total investment for the entire operation is expected to top €200 million.

There will be 70 suites and an 18-hole golf course

Upon completion scheduled for 2027, the complex will include a resort with 70 suites, ranging in size from 55 to 150 sqm, as well as an 18-hole golf course on some 200 hectares, which will be flanked by a Golfer's Lodge with 20 rooms. The complex will also have a clubhouse with a restaurant, bar, lounge and conference rooms. The plans also call for the construction of a further 35 one-to six-bedroom villas, with living and dining areas, outdoor spaces and swimming pools, ranging from 90 to 450 sqm, while four more restaurants and a 5,000 sqm medical spa will be added.

The State Road 452, better known as the Strada della Contessa has reopened between the Umbria and Marche regions.

Historically an important link between Umbria and the Marche 

Tourism in the area suffered significant losses, with a drop in turnover of more than 10% in the province of Pesaro and Urbino alone, equivalent to around €2 million during the eight-month closure for extraordinary maintenance on the road. Historically it has been a crucial link between Gubbio, in north-east Umbria, and the province of Pesaro and Urbino in the Marche region.

“The focus is now on boosting the economy”

The two regions launched the “Contessa, a Gateway between Land and Sea” project which led to the reopening, and it was  recently presented in the Rome headquarters of ENIT, the Italian tourism board.  “The focus is now on boosting the economy by highlighting the local food and wines,-  said Amerigo Varotti, director of Confcommercio Marche Nord. -As well as routes dedicated to the discovery of restaurants and typical products in Umbria and Marche, the project includes historical and cultural itineraries through places linked to the Montefeltro and Della Rovere families. And, on the archaeological front, there are sites of great interest such as the Roman Theatre in Gubbio and the Mallio Bridge in Cagli, as well as the museum and archaeological park in Fossombrone, and the Arch of Augustus in Fano.” 

“The project highlights the area’s tourism potential” 

Barbara Marsili, president of Confcommercio, emphasized the importance of highlighting the excellence shared by the two regions, countering the tendency to bypass central Italy, and stressing that “thanks to the support of the municipality of Gubbio, the Chamber of Commerce of Perugia, and the Umbria region, this project aims at highlighting the tourism potential of the area while promoting inter-regional collaboration that transcends administrative borders.”  

Launched in 2021, ItaliAbsolutely is the evolution of authentic Italy, and emerged from decades of publishing expertise by the Travel Quotidiano media group.

 A pioneering B2B platform for the inbound market

This pioneering B2B platform entirely in English quickly established itself as a premier resource for professionals in the inbound tourism sector. With a dedicated team of 30 passionate professionals, ItaliAbsolutely has published over 2,300 articles to date, drawing over 70,000 international operators to its newsletter.

Over 2,300 articles published

The portal provides incoming operators with an exceptional platform to showcase their offers, delivering unmatched visibility and opportunities. Buyers regard ItaliAbsolutely as a trusted partner for reliable information which is updated daily, while DMOs and DMCs use it as a primary channel for targeted, high-quality promotion.

Special print editions for major trade fairs

Beyond information dissemination, ItaliAbsolutely plays an active role in promoting Italy abroad. We distribute special print editions at key trade fairs such as the WTM in London, TTG Experience in Rimini, the ITB in Berlin, and the Las Vegas Travel Forum.

Fam trips, workshops and B2B meetings

Further boosting our industry presence, we organize events that connect international buyers with Italian suppliers through fam trips, workshops, post tours, and B2B meetings. These are stimulating networking and business opportunities that enhance the understanding of Italy’s diverse destinations and allow international operators to discover first-hand the thousand facets of Italy.  

Operators are invited to Hop on Board!

These activities foster exciting networking and business opportunities, and they enable international operators to experience them firsthand. ItaliAbsolutely's journey is just beginning, with many innovations and developments on the horizon. "Hop on board!" is the invitation we extend to all operators in the sector to join us in this exciting venture.

More about ItaliAbsolutely

Robert Allyn, chairman of Through Eternity Tours, says post-pandemic demand for Italy has exploded. 

“A year ago we opened in Fort Lauderdale” 

The demand is focused on Florence, Pompeii and Venice. But also Padua and Verona and many other destinations, especially for repeat customers, with a focus on customized products, “ said Robert Allyn, chairman of Through Eternity Tours,  speaking to Italiabsolutely at the Las Vegas Travel Agent Forum.  “Our head office is in Rome, but a year ago we also opened an office in Fort Lauderdale in Florida, to be closer to our customers and partner travel agents in the US and avoid problems linked to the time difference of at least six hours.”

Working in Europe but also in Greece and Turkey

Grasping the importance of a diversified offer, and eschewing the fashions of the moment, Through Eternity Tours has expanded its products and today, in addition to Italy, it also markets other important European cities from London, Paris and Madrid to Barcelona and also destinations such as Greece and Turkey.   

“Sometimes we have difficulty meeting demand”

The post-pandemic for Allyn has been a real explosion. “Towards Italy in particular we are handling huge numbers. They are so impressive that sometimes we even have difficulty meeting demand for some top attractions, such as the Vatican Museums or the Uffizi, where it is not always easy to get enough tickets.” 

The new Rome-Riyad route was presented by Visit Saudi and ITA Airways in Rome.

100 million tourist arrivals in just three years 

For the occasion the downtown Rinascente Roma store was transformed into a living showcase of Saudi Arabia with dedicated panels, videos and corners with tourist information about the country.  In the just three years since it opened to tourism, the country has exceeded 100 million tourist arrivals, said Hazim Al-Hazmi, president Europe and Americas of the Saudi Tourism Authority, Visit Saudi, who expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration with Rinascente. 

“Saudi Arabia is now closer than ever”

"For us, this represents an extraordinary opportunity to inspire Italians and introduce them to the wonders of Saudi Arabia, while offering a unique and unforgettable immersive experience for all who enter the store. Thanks to the opening of direct connections between Riyadh and Rome, and the flights to Jeddah which ITA Airways will introduce in August, Saudi Arabia is now closer than ever.” 

New ITA flights from Jeddah to Rome in August 

Saudi Arabia is a strategic market, and one in great expansion for ITA Airways especially for business traffic, said Emiliana Limosani, chief commercial officer ITA Airways and CEO Volare. “Having a prestigious partner like Visit Saudi marks a further step towards the growth of our international network. Thanks to this collaboration,- continued the CCO, -not only will travel between the two nations be facilitated, so will the power of cultural exchange in building bridges and promoting relations between our peoples.  Our commitment to the Middle East region will continue with the introduction of new direct flights from Jeddah to Rome in August."  

More and more international travellers are boarding Italo trains, and the company's web domain has changed to italotreno.com. 

A new web domain name

The change in the name of the web domain reflects the new clientele, with an increasing proportion of tourists and visitors from all over the world. With this change for Italo it will be easier to reach beyond Italy’s borders, inviting even those planning their first trip to Italy to discover the service it offers on high-speed trains, which stand out for their quality, comfort and safety. 

“Our plan is to conquer markets such as South America and Korea”

The aim is to offer international tourists better services both on digital channels and at the station, with language assistance, exclusive Italo Club lounges throughout the country, while working with various partners involved in international mobility. “The start of the year saw the launch of the first international Display and Sem campaigns, flanked by SEO and digital PR activities aimed at introducing the Italo name to the US and UK markets,- says Gianluca Marchio, Italo's head of digital & loyalty, who is leading the international digital transformation. -Thanks to the changeover to the .com domain, we will be able to boost our trust and accelerate our visibility plan, conquering new markets such as South America and Korea.

New multi-modality bus and regional services

In addition, to meet the demand of domestic and foreign tourists, Italo has extended its network with multi-modality bus and regional services, which now make it possible, for example, to reach the main Italian airports, such as Leonardo Da Vinci in Rome Fiumicino with the combined high-speed train and regional ticket which can be purchased from the Italo Treno website and from the mobile app. This also applies to locations not reached by high-speed with the combined Italo plus Itabus ticket, such as the tourist destinations of Sorrento, Pompeii and Salento.

“Travelling ‘plus’ is a good choice for everyone”

"For tourists fond of Italy, Italo is working to launch its Italo Più loyalty programme also to non-Italian residents. With the launch in April, on the occasion of Italo's 12th anniversary, of the new edition of the programme, the “Più” became “+”, a simple graphic change which sums up a new approach: travelling “plus” is a good choice for everyone and signing up becomes possible and easy even for non-residents.”

Discover Sorrento, a sun-soaked paradise of charm, history and beauty where lemon trees and pastel buildings meet turquoise waters. 

Luxury hotels and quaint cobbled streets

Sorrento which is on the Sorrentine Peninsula across the bay from Naples, the home of the much-loved Limoncello liqueur and luxury hotels, and attracts visitors with its charming streets and proximity to some of Italy’s most iconic destinations like Amalfi and Positano, without forgetting the city of Naples and, of course, Mount Vesuvius.  Starting at Piazza Tasso which is the heart of Sorrento, visitors wander along narrow cobbled streets lined with little shops, stopping at pavement cafés for a leisurely lunch.

Hidden Mediterranean coves and luxury dining

Culture vultures will not want to miss a visit to Queen Giovanna's Baths. This is a stunning natural swimming spot and archaeological site where, it is said, the Anjou queen bathed in the 14th century.  Many like to take boat trips to enjoy the Mediterranean coast’s breathtaking cliffs and hidden coves and these tours can include stops at Amalfi and Positano as well as on Capri, the renowned celebrity playground. With its luxurious shops and restaurants, take time for the Monte Solaro chairlift, coastal walks, and for a boat trip to the famous Blue Grotto. For Capri it’s best to beat the crowds by arriving from the mainland on an early-morning ferry or hydrofoil.  

Ancient history, and stunning nature

Not far from Sorrento there is Pompeii which offers a glimpse into ancient Roman life and has been preserved by Mount Vesuvius’s 79 A.D eruption. Walk the historic streets, exploring houses, temples, and amphitheaters frozen in time. Nature lovers will not want to miss climbing Mount Vesuvius, which towers over the city of Naples and is one of the world’s most monitored volcanoes. Coaches also depart for Vesuvius from Sorrento and Pompeii, and the more adventurous will want to hike the final stretch to the crater for the stunning panoramic views. Back in Sorrento many of the best sights are accessible by walking the numerous trails and mountain paths that lead from the town center through lush greenery, lemon groves, and charming hillside villages.