The central Italian Emilia region is famous for its charcuterie and prosciutto and is widely known as the Kingdom of Parma Ham. It comprises the territories of three cities: Parma, Piacenza and Reggio Emilia.

Three cities, three provinces, a single territory where food, nature and culture meet. https://www.visitemilia.com  It also produces other incomparable specialties like Culatello di Zibello and Piacentini cured meats. On the Parma hills the Salumificio Conti in Langhirano guides lovers of good food through the stages of the production process of Parma Ham, immersing visitors in a whirlwind of scents in the aging cellars, and ending with a tasting of selected products.  http://www.contiprosciutti.it

Experiential tastings of charcuterie 

To get to know Piacentini cured meats, stop at the Salumificio La Rocca in Castell'Arquato, along the Strada dei Vini e dei Sapori Piacentini wine and flavour trail. This leads visitors to the production departments of the award-winning coppa air-cured pork, pancetta bacon and salami: experiential tours with tastings that also allow you to experience life in the Middle Ages.  https://www.salumificiolarocca.com 

Famous salamis and Zibello’s Culatello cured ham

A short walk from the Po River, in Zibello and Polesine Parmense they produce Culatello di Zibello and other masterpieces of local cuisine. With Artemilia Tours, you can find out all about local pig breeds, vegetable gardens and vineyards, and discover how Culatello, Fiocco, Spalla di San Secondo and Strolghino salami sare made. And you will conclude the visit with a delicious tasting or lunch.  https://artemilia.it

Domenico Muratore is the new hotel manager of the Tornabuoni in Florence (Unbound Collection by Hyatt).

Born in Rome, Muratore began his career in the hospitality industry in the Eternal City, as F&B manager at the Hotel de Russie, after which he moved to the Park Hyatt in Milan, again in the F&B division, then taking over the same role at the InterContinental De La Ville in Rome. Before moving to Florence, he was F&B hotel manager at the Westin Excelsior in Rome for almost ten years.

“A 5-star luxury hotel with a strong personality”

“I am honoured to join the Tornabuoni team, especially at a time when tourism in Florence is experiencing a strong recovery - says Muratore - this is a dynamic 5-star luxury hotel with a strong personality.”

The Tornabuoni will have five F&B outlets

It is probably no coincidence that the F&BB management of this 62-room hotel in the 14th-century Palazzo Minerbetti has been entrusted to a figure with strong experience in the field. When fully operational, the hotel will have five F&B outlets, including the two recently inaugurated Magnifico Restaurant and Cafè. The new additions will be the Lucie Gourmet on the rooftop,  the La Cave and the Butterfly Terrace, which will make its debut next spring.

It is a €300 - 400 million deal according to rumours leaked by the Winenews website. Chiara and Massimo Ferragamo, son of Salvatore and Wanda, founders of one of the most famous global luxury fashion houses, have sold the Castiglion del Bosco estate, famous for the resort managed by Rosewood and for the production of Brunello di Montalcino wine. 

A private 18-hole golf club designed by Tom Weiskopf

In addition to the five-star resort, the hamlet includes 2,000 hectares of land, 62 of which are vineyards, as well as a private 18-hole golf club, designed by British Open champion Tom Weiskopf. The operation was announced by the Italian company in an official note, in which it merely points out that the new owner is represented by "an important international family office."

The Ferragamos remain involved with the company

"The decision to take this step," the statement continues, "was aimed at guaranteeing the future development of both the hospitality and the agricultural parts of the property and to ensure continuity. Massimo and Chiara Ferragamo remain involved in the company, and the management, starting with CEO Simone Pallesi, is also confirmed."

The resort has 19 newly-designed private suites

The resort will also continue to be managed by Rosewood, which recently announced an expansion to the property with the addition of 19 newly-designed private suites. The resort now has 53 units, 42 suites and 11 villas with private pools, as well as a spa and two restaurants.

The Hotel de Len, Aldo Melpignano’s  new Cortina d’Ampezzo property, will have 22 rooms with a contemporary design inspired by Alpine traditions, as well as a spa with views of the mountains and the valley.

There will also be a bar and a restaurant where the menus will, once again, be inspired by the traditions of the famous little resort town which is part of the Veneto region’s Dolomite Superski complex. The Hotel de Len (len means wood in the Ladin language) thus becomes the new Cortina address of the San Domenico Hotels Group.

The architectural project focuses on sustainability and wellbeing

Announced last year, the new addition to the Group is the result of an agreement between Aldo Melpignano, who is the owner of the Apulian company and the patron of Borgo Egnazia, and the owner of the Hotel Impero, as the Ampezzo hotel was called before its renovation and change of management. The architectural project is by the Venetian firm Gris+Dainese, who have focussed on sustainability and wellbeing as the leitmotiv for the property.

Italy’s Emilia region is the Land of the Slow Mix, a place to explore culture and nature, food and wines and much more. And if there is an ideal way to visit Emilia, it is to not just to observe it with the eyes of a tourist, but to immerse yourself completely in the lives of the people.

Experience the territory of Parma, Piacenza and Reggio Emilia and get stuck into the myriad experiences the region has to offer. New and original journeys in the land of the Slow Mix where every holiday is unique and eclectic. Because Emilia is not a place you visit but a land to be lived.



A delight for lovers of fine wines

With 147 PDO wine cellars, food and wine enthusiasts will be in their element! In the heart of the DOC Colli di Parma, Monte delle Vigne welcomes wine lovers to its 40 hectares of vineyards on the hills of Ozzano Taro. Visit the cellars to observe the winemaking processes, and enjoy a typical tasting of your choice with wine paired with local cured meats and Parmigiano Reggiano. https://montedellevigne.it/en/product/aperistreet.

A winery dating back to 1857

Cantine Romagnoli - credit Visit Emilia

At the foot of the splendid Val Nure hills, Cantine Romagnoli of Villò di Vigolzone, a historic winery which opened in 1857, reveals the secrets of its organic grapes and how its precious bottles are produced, including its classic sparkling wines, and delightful reds. https://www.cantineromagnoli.it Organic wines are the speciality of Tenuta Venturini Baldini, which embraces 132 hectares of vineyards in the Reggio hills. Here you can experience local traditions and discover the aromas of an ancient vinegar factory while enjoying tastings of wines and local products. https://venturinibaldini.it.

Discover Reggio Emilia’s traditional Balsamic Vinegar

There are 26 producers in the Reggio Emilia Consortium for Traditional Balsamic Vinegar. An unmissable stop is the historical vinegar factory Il Vascello del Monsignore in Cervarezza Terme, where you can discover ancient production methods and secrets and legends about balsamic vinegar, in the heart of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennine National Park. https://www.ilvascellodelmonsignore.com.

The Arsenale Group has received an injection of up to €300 million from Oaktree Capital Management.

Arsenale's current pipeline projects in the hotel industry include the future Orient Express Hotel de La Minerve in Rome and Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in Venice, as well as in the luxury train sector. Its new Orient Express La Dolce Vita, in collaboration with Accor, Trenitalia-Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato, and Fondazione Fs, includes a fleet of six luxury trains operating on dedicated routes throughout Italy and Europe. The Oaktree investment will directly contribute to the project's development and launch, which is scheduled to start in 2023. Arsenale is the result of a collaboration between Paolo Barletta and Annabel Holding, who retain complete ownership of the company.

Competing with major international players 

"We are very happy for the positive conclusion of this agreement, which lays the foundations for the expansion and strengthening of our company, both in terms of financial security and know-how,” underlines the CEO of Arsenale, Paolo Barletta. “The support of an international fund such as Oaktree consolidates our presence in hospitality, with a financial strength that allows us to compete with the major international groups.”

The group is also looking at acquiring new properties in Italy in the destination segment.

A Mira Hotels group is embracing the new micro-weddings trend in exotic locations that is now spreading fast through Italy as a result of the pandemic and the restrictions on the number of guests allowed at an event. Mira Hotels & Resorts supports this new trend, which has been popularized by celebrities and influencers. Getting married in a dream location far away from home for three whole days with fewer guests (maximum 50 or 60) but with great attention to detail, is turning out to be a much more intimate and exclusive way to celebrate the big day.

Mira organizes the wedding celebrations 

With Mira planning the event, guests are welcomed with an informal welcome dinner that brings relatives and friends together. The following day there is the wedding and the party, which can be customized as desired, and the celebrations continue with a farewell brunch on the third day, allowing guests to relax before saying their goodbyes. And those who want to stay longer, taking advantage of their stay to explore the area with friends and family, can rely on the assistance of the Mira Experience Advisor, who can recommend and plan activities to explore the destination. Mira also sets up stag and hen party packages that include sports, bicycle rides, and boat rides, and can be enjoyed over several days at the spa, on a farm, in a village or in a natural setting.  

There are Mira Resorts in Sicily, Tuscany, Apulia and the Alps

The four Mira resorts are situated in some of Italy's most beautiful regions, from the Acaya Golf Resort & Spa in Apulia’s Salento region, to Baroque Sicily with Borgo di Luce I Monasteri Golf Resort & Spa in Syracuse, and from the Maremma coast  with the Mira Riva Toscana Golf Resort & Spa to the Alagna Mountain Resort & Spa in the Alps. Let Mira organize it all, from the party to the ceremony. Each resort is in a stunning natural setting and has a wellness programme as well as a spa.

The Blowing in the Woods nature treasure hunts for children and families are organized just 15 kilometres from Parma in the Carrega Woods Nature Park. On 1,270 hectares between the Taro river and the Baganza torrent, it is as if the trees in this park speak a language all their own. To understand it all you have to do is read the messages hidden in over 120 glass jars scattered among the beech and chestnuts and through the ferns.

Children take photos to post on social media 

Children find it easy to understand the Blowing in the Woods messages project: an unusual treasure hunt in which valuable are not sealed in a chest under the ground, but are hidden around the park, allowing the young participants to experience a sense of discovery, the importance of respect for the environment and eco-sustainability. Those who find the messages can add their signature and then put them back, leaving their name in the woods. And they should not forget to take a photo and share it on social media with the hashtag #blowinginthewoods.

Family walks with donkeys

The Boschi di Carrega woodlands warmly welcome the investigations of these little adventurers and baby explorers  – with their parents in tow – and they can also take part in the research outings organized by BenNature Trekking (https://www.bennaturetrek.com/) and family walks in the company of the donkeys of the Asini nel Cuore centre (http://asininelcuore.it/).