Langhe, Monferrato and Roero are a single territory and preservation, diversification and innovation are cardinal objectives, says tourist agency director Bruno Bertero.

Sustainable tourism is a benchmark

“We are working on complementary levels, and on different tourist segments," says Bertero, who took over last year as director of the Langhe, Monferrato and Roero Tourism Agency. “Our strategies are directed towards the identification of a feasible action plan to promote sustainable tourism, starting from the base and aiming at product diversification.” 

“We have to maintain that balance recognized by UNESCO”

The products for which the area is famous go from white truffles to wines, and they have made it a destination of gastronomic excellence on the national and global scene. Another fundamental element that distinguishes the destination is its nature, and in 2014 it was given six UNESCO awards. "The UNESCO recognition underlines the importance of preserving and protecting the territory which is the real challenge for the future.. We must ensure that the destination in its fragility is able to maintain that balance recognized by UNESCO."  

Unique landscapes and places of distinction

The UNESCO awards consist of four highlighting the special link between the area’s variety of grape, terroir and winemaking techniques. The other two are for places of particular distinction: wonderful landscapes shaped by the combined action of nature and man, gentle hilly expanses dotted with vines as far as the eye can see, ancient villages surrounded by meadowlands, and imposing castles perched on hilltops.

Luxury hospitality accommodation 

“We have a wide range of hotels, and our tourism rentals market is of a high level. But, while renting to tourists can earn much more than renting to residents, it inevitably leads to depopulation. We must maintain a balance as the cultural factor provided by the resident community is extremely important, we know only too well what happened to Venice. Our hospitality facilities provide luxury in small places, a luxury of experiences that responds to a demand for exclusivity, and it is appealing to visitors who know how to spend but expect quality.”

There is a place that a famous writer liked to call the “Florida of Italy,” a captivating place in which to admire the range of colours and enjoy the beauty of nature, even out of season. The author was Ernest Hemingway and he was referring to the coast of Lignano Sabbiadoro, in Friuli Venezia Giulia, where he stopped in the 1950s on a strip of land washed by three different types of water - the sea water of the Adriatic to the south; the brackish water of the Marano lagoon to the north, and the fresh water of the Tagliamento river to the west.

All the colours of dawn 

To best discover the beauty of this landscape, start with the colours of dawn near the sea in Lignano Sabbiadoro. For early risers, the suggested route connects the sea to the lagoon, starting from the Faro Rosso red lighthouse, which has always been a landmark for sailors. It is here that the sun rises every morning, embracing and warming the panorama and the spirit with its first light.

Faro Rosso - Lighthouse  

Cycle-pedestrian trails and a fitness area 

The cycle-pedestrian route begins in the area of Villa Zuzzi (also known as Villino Zuzzi), a historic Art Nouveau building, skirting the golden sand and perhaps strolling along the shoreline with a few seagulls.  For the more sports minded there is a fitness area with a view of the sea, and the benches on which to relax and enjoy the salty air are a good alternative for everyone. The route ends at Ufficio 19, where the promenade merges with the pine forest and the scents of nature.

Casoni Marano Lagunare - Ph Credits: Francesco Marongiu

The casoni fishermen’s houses on the water

From Lignano it only takes a few minutes by boat to take a plunge into the past by landing on the shores of Marano Lagunare, a land of fishermen. In the harbour you will notice the batele typical lagoon fishing boats, which are four metres long, have a flat bottom and are designed to navigate in shallow waters. But the real "stars" around here are the casoni: simple huts on stilts, made using local materials, such as marsh reed, that let the water run off while sheltering the interiors from the rain. In the casoni’s single room the fishermen would rest and warm themselves by the fire until dawn the next day. 

Ph Credits: PTFVG

A bird-watchers paradise 

Adding life and colour to this precious ecosystem are swans, herons, birds of prey, flamingos and many other bird species, of which there are over 300 in the area.  Many sightings are possible for birdwatchers or even the merely curious. From the purple heron, which breeds among the reeds of the Stella River delta, to the marsh harrier, which in this area boasts one of the highest concentrations in the whole of Italy, and various passerines, including the little basking warbler, the great reed warbler and the reed warbler. While in the surrounding lagoon inlets it is not uncommon to spot entire flocks of water birds congregating during the winter season, among them coots, gadwall, teal, shoveler, pochard, and ducks. 

Cape Lignano Sabbiadoro_©AP AL MARE

Arsenale is to export the Dolce Vita Train to Saudi Arabia as the Dream of the Desert train.

To be branded as Orient Express in Italy

The plans for Arsenale’s Treno della Dolce Vita, which in Italy will also be branded as Orient Express, include Saudi Arabia. Paolo Barletta, CEO of Arsenale, the group behind this concept of luxury travelling hospitality, recently signed an agreement with Bashar Al Malik, CEO of Saudi Arabia's national railway company, Saudi Arabia Railways (Sar), to develop the format in the Middle Eastern country.

The Saudi Arabian train will have 40 cabins

Arsenale’ Dream of the Desert project will start by 2025; the train will have 40 cabins and run on Saudi railway lines. The project will be worth €51 million in manufacturing and €10 million in further investments in Italy. The know-how will in fact be 100% Italian and the carriages will be completely refurbished in factories in Italy. For Arsenale, this is the international debut of a model that can be replicated worldwide.

Palazzo Velabro, the new exclusive mixed-use hotel in the Eternal City, overlooks the Roman Forum and is under the management of LHM.

“Our concept is a room is not enough”  

LHM is the white label company specialized in hotel management founded by Cristina Paini, and is a leader in Italy in the development of the condohotel and mixed-use hotel format.

"Palazzo Velabro is a project that we have overseen and followed over the last two years, and today we are at the soft opening. Our concept is "a room is not enough" and this has allowed us to bring together under one roof design and contemporary art, books and cinema, the study of greenery and food," said CEO Cristina Paini.

Palazzo Velabro - Ph Credits: Danilo Scarpati

The intimacy of a private residence with all comforts 

Built in the first half of the 1700s and transformed in the 1960s by the rationalist architect Luigi Moretti, Palazzo Velabro, a Marriot's Design Hotels™ brand, comes back to life with 27 design suites and six rooms with contemporary art and design features. Guests will enjoy an exclusive experience that combines the intimacy of a private residence with the all the comforts offered by a luxury hotel with a restaurant, a fitness room and a cinema.

Palazzo Velabro lobby Ph. Credits Danilo Scarpati

Caronte & Tourist is ready for the new season and for the return of foreign markets. With a fleet of 21 ships connecting destinations and islands in the Mediterranean, the shipping line was founded over 50 years ago.

"For example our routes make it possible to bypass the highways of Calabria and reach Sicily and the smaller Sicilian islands more comfortably," says Claudio Di Mare, passenger area sales manager of the Caronte & Tourist Group.  

Ferries to some of Italy’s smallest islands 

The Caronte & Tourist Group also counts Cartour, Siremar which connects to the smaller Sicilian islands, Sardinian subsidiary Maddalena Lines, and Blu Navy with crossings between Tuscany and Portoferraio, and also operates on Mediterranean islands with challenging ports.

"For example on Alicudi, a small island that is little more than a rock, the port is just a concrete quay jutting out into the sea, and the same is true for Stromboli and Marettimo.  The ships that operate these services are specially designed for these situations, and depending on the weather conditions there can be days when crossings have to be cancelled.”   

“We are hoping for a return of foreign markets”

“In 2020 our ships were non-Covid, and in 2021 we saw the first real signs of recovery that became more apparent in 2022. We are hoping for a return of foreign markets. We are ready for the new season, although our season does not stop with the summer, because in addition to passengers we also transport goods."

In the month of February 17,080 passengers were handled by the San Francesco d'Assisi Aeroporto dell’Umbria airport. This is a growth of +147% over February 2022.

Wizzair, Albawings and Ryanair flights

In the winter of 2022-23 new Wizzair flights from Tirana were introduced to Aeroporto dell’Umbria in addition to those already operated by Albawings from Cluj-Napoca, operating twice weekly until May, and also twice weekly Ryanair flights from London Stansted, Malta, Catania and Palermo.

Six international airlines fly into Aeroporto dell’Umbria

Starting on 26 March 16 routes into the airport will be operated by six airlines, with up to 98 weekly scheduled flights. These are from/to Barcelona (Ryanair), Brindisi (Ryanair), Brussels Charleroi (Ryanair), Bucharest (Ryanair), Cagliari (Ryanair), Catania (Ryanair), Krakow (Ryanair), London Heathrow (British Airways), London Stansted (Ryanair), Malta (Ryanair), Olbia (Aeroitalia), Palermo (Ryanair), Rotterdam (Transavia), Tirana (Wizz air), Tirana (Albawings), and Vienna (Ryanair).

Hakuna Travel, which specializes in Italian sea and sun holiday villages, opened ten years ago in Palermo.   

A wide offer of multi-brand holiday villages

"In Italy we have a very wide and varied offer of multi-brand villages at highly competitive prices. Initially we worked with agencies in the south but now we have many clients in central and northern Italy, although we are particularly strong in Sicily and Campania," says Simona Apprendi, booking manager of the Palermo-based operator.  

Mangia's Pollina Premium Resort - Ph Credits: Hakuna Travel

“This year expectations are good” 

This year numbers are returning to pre-pandemic levels, says Simona Apprendi who adds that they also programme Sharm el Sheik in Egypt and Tunisia.

“In 2021 we were able to survive thanks to the July and August upward trend for sun and sea holidays, and this year expectations are good, thanks to the return of the demand for medium-haul destinations, despite the hike in prices.”   

Travel on Trenitalia's highspeed Frecce trains in the Emilia region for discounts.

Discounts in museums in Parma, Piacenza and Reggio Emilia

Anyone travelling on Trenitalia’s highspeed services qualifies for discounts in main museums in Parma, Piacenza and Reggio Emilia and also special deals for hotels and restaurants in the three Emilian art cities.

A partnership between Visit Emilia and Trenitalia

Up to 23 April 2023, thanks to a partnership between Visit Emilia and Trenitalia, travellers will receive discounts on admission to Emilian museums and promotions on accommodation, experiences and guided tours organised by the best Emilian tour operators.

A 15% discount for 2/night stays

Parma, Piacenza and Reggio Emilia have endless attractions from the splendid Camera di San Paolo to the historic Teatro Regio in Parma, from the Pilotta Complex to the Baptistery, from the contemporary art exhibitions of Palazzo Magnani and the Maramotti Collection in Reggio Emilia to the Cathedral Museum of Piacenza and the Civic Museums of Palazzo Farnese. For holders of Trenitalia tickets affiliated hotels will apply a 15% discount for 2-night stays from Fridays to Sundays.

Palazzo Pilotta Parma

“We encourage the use of the train” 

“The train is a sustainable and convenient way to get to Emilia, – says Cristiano Casa, president of Visit Emilia. - Thanks to the agreement with Trenitalia we encourage the use of the train and promote tourism in our cities. We are very satisfied with the feedback from the tour operators and all involved who immediately joined this important Visit Emilia project.

Reggio Emilia

Comfortable, sustainable travel by train

“The partnership with Visit Emilia once again highlights the central role of the train in the development of local tourism systems. Travelling to Parma, Piacenza, and Reggio Emilia, comfortably and sustainably, will encourage visitors to discover these three splendid art cities,” says Pietro Diamantini, Director of Trenitalia's High Speed Business Department.”

Travel Open Day Srl, the publisher of ItaliAbsolutely and Travel Quotidiano, brought together hoteliers and suppliers at TOD Hospitality, an innovative Travel Open Day workshop-market in Urbino in the Marches. 

Analyzing hospitality products and services

Reactions were positive and close to unanimous for the success of the first edition of Travel Open Day Hospitality, organized in collaboration with Asteres and Inside Marche Live. Everyone liked the formula, and very much so, with the day-long event offering visitors and exhibitors in-depth analyses of hospitality products and services.

"This is an opportunity to be close to operators and companies”

"Here in the Marche we have history, culture and also innovation, and this event is an opportunity to be close to operators and companies,” said Roberto Cioppi, Councillor for Tourism of Urbino, sponsor of the event together with the Pesaro hoteliers association and Assoturismo.   

“We need more professionalism and the support of the institutions”

Alessio Viola, owner of Businessence, a Forlì company offering marketing and management services to small and medium-sized businesses liked the TOD Hospitality formula. “So much so that we are thinking of a collaboration to develop it in other locations. Italy is a country with a great deal of tourism potential, but we need more professionalism and the support of the institutions, and these events are indispensable to develop both.”

 

Interested in contacts with inbound operators

“It was a very well organized event,-  said Valentina D'Amelia, hospitality manager Tenuta di Tavignano di Cingoli, Macerata. - It was interesting to exchange views with exhibitors and companies in the area.” Eva Polonara, founding partner of the Marche events company Asteres, which collaborated with Travel Quotidiano in organising the event, said the hotels present were “interested in contacts with inbound tour operators to favour growth from foreign markets.”

Building mutual trust with hoteliers and property owners

“Compared to global competitors Italy is a large market made up of small operators,” said Silvia Calciolari co-owner of consultants Ex Works of Milan. “We strongly believe in the potential of bottom-up aggregations. Getting to know small and medium-sized properties such as those at TOD Hospitality enables us to build the necessary mutual trust with hoteliers and property owners.”

Media gallery

Ragosta Hotel’s Raito Amalfi Coast has reopened on the Gulf of Salerno, amid the citrus groves and greenery of the terraces on the Amalfi Coast.

76 rooms and suites, a spa, and two outdoor pools

With spectacular views over the Gulf of Salerno and of Vietri sul Mare the Hotel Raito Amalfi Coast is easily reached from Salerno and is a favourite destination for wellness and relaxation and good food, thanks to the mastery of Chef Francesco Russo, who also makes it a gourmet stop for weddings and special events.  The property has 76 rooms and suites with panoramic terraces or private balconies sloping down to the coast, two outdoor pools and the Expure Spa with a Turkish bath, whirlpool, relaxation area and solarium.

The Hotel Raito Amalfi Coast has two popular restaurants

"The 2023 season opens with a new lobby, while the garden is being restyled," says Giuseppe Marchese, CEO Ragosta Hotels Collection. The Il Golfo restaurant and the Grill pizzeria, with a wood-burning oven and open for both lunch and dinner, are popular with guests and locals. The Hotel Raito Amalfi Coast thus joins the Palazzo Montemartini Rome, a Radisson Collection Hotel, open all year round and easily reached by high-speed train in one and a half hours. Other seasonal openings of the Ragosta Group's hotels - La Plage Resort Taormina and Relais Paradiso Amalfi Coast - will follow in April in two of Italy's most beautiful destinations.