A day spent in Rome’s Villa Borghese park where art meets nature, is the perfect escape from the city’s crowded attractions.

Over 200 acres of lush greenery and culture

Amid the hustle and bustle of Rome’s historic streets lies a serene sanctuary just waiting to be explored. The Villa Borghese urban park, which is on over 200 acres, offers a delightful contrast to the city’s frantic energy, drawing visitors into a peaceful world of lush greenery, cultural treasures, and unique attractions. So both for art enthusiasts and those simply in need of a relaxing break, Villa Borghese promises something for everyone.

One of the world’s great art galleries 

This tranquil retreat is a simple stroll away from the Spanish Steps, the park’s towering trees and open spaces beckoning adventurous visitors to step away from the urban chaos and immerse themselves in nature and art,   At the heart of Villa Borghese stands one of Rome’s finest cultural landmarks, the beautiful Galleria Borghese art gallery which is home to an incredible collection that spans the Renaissance and Baroque periods. With great masterpieces by the likes of Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian, and Correggio, alongside magnificent sculptures by Bernini and Canova, the gallery’s intimate, elegant setting invites visitors to experience these iconic works up close, offering an art experience unlike any other.

Rome’s zoological gardens and a Globe Theatre

The Villa Borghese park is also a lively space for relaxation and recreation. Families will find plenty of excitement at the Bioparco di Roma, the city’s zoo, where children can learn about animals from all over the world in an educational and entertaining environment. In the summer months in the replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, live performances transport audiences into the world of Elizabethan drama in a captivating open-air setting, while film buffs can indulge in art-house movie in the world’s smallest functioning cinema, the Cinema dei Piccoli. Young and old alike will delight in bike rides through the sprawling grounds or renting a rowing boat and gliding across the park's picturesque lake: two simple ways to enjoy a tranquil moment while reflecting on the beautiful nature of the Villa Borghese.

Volotea has opened sales on the Paris- Orly-Turin route for next spring, when flights will be operated twice weekly, on Thursdays and Sundays, from 30 March with a total of 22,536 seats on sale.

Bringing Turin and Paris even closer

The decision confirms the interest in Paris Orly as a destination, after the flight went on sale as early as Christmas 2024 for both tourist and business traffic. This Volotea service brings Turin and Paris even closer, boosting the potential for interconnection between these two cities, where style, tradition and innovation coexist in perfect harmony. From next spring passengers departing from Paris will be able to discover the city with the famous Mole Antonelliana as well as the wonders of the Piedmont region, including wine and food itineraries, regal residences and a wide range of mountain landscapes.

“We believe in the potential of this route”

“We very much believe in the potential of this route and that is why we will be re-establishing it as of next spring,- commented Valeria Rebasti, Volotea's international market director. -The  airline confirms its convenient and direct connections to three suggestive tourist destinations: Alghero, Olbia and Naples, which represent an ideal opportunity to plan a relaxing break on some of Italy's most desirable beaches, and to discover the historical and natural beauty of these splendid regions. “Thanks to Volotea's flights to Paris Orly, our airport will be able to offer passengers a wider range of services to France and its capital city- said Andrea Andorno, managing director of Turin Airport . -The Thursday and Sunday scheduling makes the flight very interesting not only for tourists, but also for the business travel segment, which we are sure will be able to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Confirmed the two eagerly awaited new Italian openings by The Social Hub (formerly The Student Hotel).

550 rooms and an Olympic pool on the roof

Florence Belfiore is due to be inaugurated on 1 February with bookings already available. Located near the historic centre in the San Jacopino district, the property will feature 550 rooms, coworking spaces for over 600 as well as restaurants, bars, meeting and event spaces, an Olympic-size swimming pool on the roof, a shopping boulevard, and a neighbourhood garden. The centrepiece of the building is the 7,000 sqm roof garden terrace, much of which is accessible to the public via an external staircase.

Co-working spaces and areas for events  

The Social Hub Roma in the San Lorenzo district is scheduled to open in spring, with bookings available from January. The 392-room property is on an area of 24,000 sqm with a 10,000 sqm public park, which will be the hub of the complex. The property is designed to be a district within the city embodying the spirit of the former Customs House. The three main facilities include a new building in contemporary style and with renovated areas that already house the Accademia Italiana Institute (a campus dedicated to fashion and design) and an outdoor events area. In addition there is a rooftop bar and swimming pool overlooking the Eternal City, restaurants, a coworking space for 160 and additional meeting and event areas.

Italy is The Social Hub’s second biggest market

With these new openings The Social Hub doubles its portfolio in Italy, which already includes another property in Florence and one in Bologna, for a total initial investment of €560 million. Italy thus becomes the company's second most important market, and in the first half of the year, a 310-room complex in Porto is due to debut, bringing the hybrid hospitality brand to 21 properties in 19 European cities.

Volotea will connect Comiso to Lille in Northern France from 8 April 2025 with over 10,400 seats already on sale for the route, operating once a week on Tuesdays.

Making it easier to holiday in the south of Sicily

“From 8 April 2025, we are ready to hit the ground running with something new for Comiso airport: a new international connection by Volotea. Passengers departing from the north will be able to take advantage of the new flights to organize holidays in the south of Sicily, an area with an incredible variety of places to discover, including history, culture and gastronomy. And then there is the wonderful sea which they will find in this part of the island,” csaid Valeria Rebasti, Volotea's international market director.

“New growth opportunities for the entire region”

The new international route will create further growth opportunities for the entire region. In particular French visitors will be able to visit south-eastern Sicily to discover the beauty of a unique part of the island: a veritable treasure chest of historical and natural treasures, including the sea, nature reserves, baroque cities and ancient villages.

“Comiso Airport is a driver of economic and cultural growth”

“This new flight is a significant step in the boosting of our airport's network of connections with Europe,-  said Nico Torrisi, CEO of Sac, the company that manages Catania and Comiso airports. - The new route not only expands mobility opportunities for passengers, but also improves the strategic role of Comiso Airport as a driver of economic and cultural growth for south-eastern Sicily. The connection with Lille will be an important boost for incoming tourism, allowing more and more visitors to discover an area unique for its extraordinary historical, artistic and natural heritage.” 

Business is growing for the trulli and luxury villas management company Puglia Paradise.

Income from extra services rose by 72%

The trulli and villas have private pools and premium services and among the the driving factors of Puglia Paradise’s growth this year was the expansion of the portfolio, with eight new villas, totalling 31 trulli and luxury accommodations. Another significant step was the increase in the sale of extra services by 72%, including excursions, wellness and food and wine experiences, which now account for 10% of the total value of bookings.

Growing demand from large families

Guests at Puglia Paradise came mainly from the US (30%), UK (21%) and Northern Europe (21%), with significant increases also coming from Australia and New Zealand (5%). Italian customers accounted for 10% of the total. The average price per stay also increased by 9%. For 2025, the company is aiming for a further 25% rise in turnover, thanks in part to the addition of three new villas. Two of these are on over 500 sqm and have six to seven bedrooms, meeting the growing demand for stays for large families and multi-generational groups.

“We guarantee guests an exclusive and fully customized experience”

“For the coming year our goal is to continue to grow our luxury hospitality model for villas in Puglia, consolidating our role as a partner of excellence for owners and guaranteeing guests an exclusive and fully customized experience,” says Puglia Paradise’s founder Massimo Valentini.

The Medici Villa in Castello Florence, has undergone a historic restoration.

A milestone for Tuscany 

The work involved the four façades, the courtyard, the roof, the entrance halls and the windows and lasted about two years. ”The system of the Medici Villas in Tuscany,- said Eugenio Giani, president of the Tuscany Regional Government, - is a heritage of extraordinary beauty and incredible historical, artistic and architectural worth. Adding to the charm of the Castello villa is the fact that it is home to the Accademia della Crusca, which safeguards the Italian language. The restoration of the villa's exterior brings it back to its former splendour and is a milestone in the recovery of the historical and cultural heritage of our region and of Italy.”

“Villa Careggi will reopen by 2026”

 President Giani also took the opportunity to take stock of the restoration of another of the Medici villas in Florence, Villa Careggi, which is owned by the Tuscany Regional Givernment. “The restoration work on this Medici villa where Lorenzo the Magnificent died, is proceeding well, and I am confident that by the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026 it will be open to the public.”

Miramis is the new luxury hotel brand of the Swedish investment group Qarlbo. 

Investing in urban regeneration projects

This is the launch of the Erqole Collection, an Italian hospitality company that is part of the same Scandinavian group. The brand's launch portfolio includes the La Roqqa hotel and the Isolotto Beach Club in Porto Ercole, both of which will open in 2023, together with the Torre di Cala Piccola hotel in Porto Santo Stefano and the La Capitana farmhouse in Magliano, Tuscany, which will both undergo major renovations. In addition, as part of a series of urban regeneration projects, a new hotel is to be built in the area of the former Cirio factory, also in Porto Ercole.

“Exploring unique tourist destinations”

“With Miramis we are celebrating a new brand. Our objective is to explore unique tourist destinations and create authentic and unforgettable experiences,” says Qarlbo Hospitality's CEO, Flavio Bucciarelli. The brand intends to base its identity on the values of social and environmental sustainability, respect for communities, and innovation. A goal reflected in the decision to hire local staff, source raw materials regionally, and embrace a farm-to-table philosophy supported by its own gardens. 

A carefully selected portfolio

“The launch of Miramis is an important milestone for our company,- added Erqole's CEO Stefano Cuoco. -With a carefully selected portfolio and a solid operational base, we are ready to embark on this exciting journey.”

The historic Neapolitan hotel Britannique, formerly affiliated with the Hilton soft brand Curio Collection, it be become the de Bonart Naples. 

The hotel was renovated in 2020

The hotel was built in 1870 and was given a major renovation which was completed in 2020 under the Caracciolo Hospitality Group, founded in 2022 and which can now boast a portfolio of three properties: the former Britannique (since 2016), Palazzo Caracciolo Naples (since 2001, newly branded Tapestry by Hilton), and the Grand Hotel Telese, in the province of Benevento.

There are 150 artworks on display

The new name, contemporary look and feel, renovated spaces and a brand new lifestyle aim to make the hotel a landmark in the city not only in terms of hospitality, but also for the celebration of art and culture in Campania. The soul of the Bonart Curio Collection is in fact an ode to art with the name created using the terms Bon and Art, to the extensive collection of works by contemporary Campania artists specially created for the hotel.  Some fifty artists were involved in interpreting the myths and legends of the city, creating the 150 works that can now be found inside the hotel.

A rooftop restaurant and cocktail bar

The names of the suites are dedicated to Neapolitan myths: Partenope, Ovo, Diamante, Sibilla, ‘Mbriana and Donna Regina. In addition to the 72 rooms, of which six are suites, the de Bonart, embraces the Gulf of Naples and The Macphersons Rooftop restaurant, with its Mediterranean cuisine, and the NiqBar Rooftop cocktail bar, are other standout features.