The garden of Kolymbetra in Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples is a striking feature in the Sicilian archaeological site and is mentioned by Andrea Camilleri in one of his popular detective novels.  

 
Montalbano phones Marinella. Livia had just returned. She is happy. 'I discovered a wonderful place, do you know it? It is called Kolymbetra. Just think, it used to be a gigantic pool, dug by Carthaginian prisoners". "Where is it?" asks Montalbano "Right there, at the temples. Now it's a kind of enormous Garden of Eden, recently opened to the public...promise me you'll go there one day." 

The garden was entrusted to the Italian Environmental Fund

This passage, taken from Camilleri’s La pazienza del ragno describes the Kolymbetra Garden which in 1999 was entrusted to the Italian Environmental Fund (FAI) by the Sicilian Region for a period of 25 years. It thus became one of the most important archaeological and naturalistic sites in the region and in Italy, ending the state of abandon in which it had languished since the last decades of the 20th century. 

A water system for the city of Akragas

The Greek term Kolymbetra indicates a type of pool used for water games in Roman times, and the origins of the garden date back to when the Greeks colonized Sicily in 500 B.C. Diodorus Siculus narrates that the tyrant Theron entrusted the architect Phaeace with the task of designing a water system to supply the ancient city of Akragas which ended at the foot of the urbe and was known as Kolymbetra.

An ancient hypogea and a citrus grove

With its five hectares, the garden is a compendium of the agricultural and natural landscape of the Valley of the Temples. In the steepest areas there are intact patches of Mediterranean scrub, along the stream running through the valley floor there are poplars willows and tamarisks on the wide terraces, as well as an ancient citrus grove with many rare species and varieties. Of particular note are the ancient hypogea or Phaeacian aqueducts, the only ones visitable in the Valley of the Temples. Dating back to the 5th century B.C. they fed the ancient pool from which today limpid waters still gush out, irrigating the garden with its ancient citrus, fruit and olive trees.

Water sports on Lombardy’s lakes from Lake Garda to Lake Maggiore are gaining in popularity and are being practiced by adventure lovers looking for thrills and fun.

Lake Garda
New water sports are becoming extremely popular in the summer months, with wakeboard, flyboard, kitesurfing and SUP (stand up paddle) being the most common, though there are also subwing, wingfoil and fliteboard. Lombardy, with its five major and many minor lakes, is the ideal natural gym in which to practice these water sports, surrounded by splendid Alpine landscapes.

The adrenaline-pumping wakeboard and contemplative SUP

From the adrenaline-pumping wakeboard to the contemplative SUP the new water sports all promise an exciting mix of fatigue and fun. On the flyboard the jumps in the air become even more spectacular with or without the jet ski as the thrust produced by the propulsion system and transmitted to the boots and technical jacket will literally lift you off the ground! Kitesurfing too promises the adrenaline thrill of surfing in the clouds and doing acrobatics on the surface of the water. What do you need? Wind, a board, and a kite to hold onto using a trapeze with a handle.

Subwing, wingfoil and fliteboard

In addition to the more well-known sports, other trendy water sports are becoming popular in Lombardy, from subwing, a sort of underwater motorized snorkeling pulled by a boat, to wingfoil which involves flying over the waves on a board with a hydrofoil fin equipped with an inflatable wing with which to catch the wind. And for those who could be termed  lazy there is the fliteboard, an electric surfboard with remote control for navigating the waves.

Lombardy’s surfing lakes

With natural currents, beaches and winds such as the Pelér and the Ora on Lake Garda, or the Magiuur on Lake Maggiore, Lombardy’s lakes are perfect for indulging in the new range of exciting water sports. And there is no shortage of centres that rent out equipment and provide professional instructors.

In Lignano Sabbiadoro two-wheelers will be the focus of summer 2022 with pedaling, rowing, walking, running and sailing expeditions to explore the fascinating natural and cultural heritage of the Friulian lowlands, an area crossed by the Adria Bilke cycle route.

In addition to the Adriatic Sea, the water ways in the area are the Tagliamento river, to be experienced by pedaling or paddling, and the Marano lagoon.  The lagoon can be experienced pedaling along it, on an SUP or in a canoe or a kayak, following the mouth of the Stella river or enjoying a glass of de paluo Friuli wine.

 

  

Free excursions and electric bicycles

The free excursions range from 17 to 70 kilometres and the bike trails vary in length and difficulty. With a professional guide you can discover many beautiful routes and a world that would otherwise be difficult to approach. And, while stocks last, you can also use a bicycle - in some cases electric - provided free of charge by the Lignano Sabbiadoro Gestioni organization. 

Visiting lighthouses 

On Mondays the Pedalata dei due fari (35 km) includes the passage of the X-River, passing through the Veneto region of Bibione, before returning to Lignano.  The beautiful itinerary owes its name to two key points, the early 20th century Lignano lighthouse, a symbol of the city, and the Punta Tagliamento lighthouse in Bibione. Also on Mondays there is the Lignano-Vallevecchia-Caorle, 45 kilometres by e-bikestill using the boat pass, and following the cycle path to Porto Baseleghe

Protected areas, the lagoon and the sea

On Tuesdays the 45-kilometre Risalita della stella follows the course of the Stella river, an extraordinary protected natural area that allows you to immerse yourself in the exuberant flora and fauna in this part of Friuli Venezia Giulia. On Wednesdays the 17-kilometre Tour of the Three Waters flanks the three sides of the Lignano peninsula, bordered by the Marano lagoon, the Tagliamento river and the sea.  It is the easiest of the trails, is also suitable for children, and takes advantage of the urban cycle path network on over 30 kilometres.

Electric and fat bikes

On Thursdays Marano by bike and boat is a 40-kilometre ride combining cycling and sailing that ends in the fishing village of Marano where you can enjoy a plate of pasta with freshly caught fish On Fridays the protagonist once again is the electric bike with two excursions starting from Lignano and ending respectively at Spilimbergo (60 kilometres) and Grado (70 kilometres). On Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays set out on a fat-bike outing, starting at 7.30am with a qualified trainer. 

Bike and boat day tours 

There are other interesting boat and bike excursions like the 30 kilometres that takes about 5 hours, is suitable for everyone and arrives in Lignano where you continue by boat, and with the day ending at the Porto Vecchio dock where you embark for Marano Lagunare and cross the lagoon. 

www.sognandoinbici.it    

For information: www.lignanosabbiadoro.it - tel. 0431 71821

Italy’s top ten most beautiful diving destinations from Sardinia to Sicily have been compiled by Scubadvisor, the world's first app entirely dedicated to diving enthusiasts.

It provides details on the best locations, advice on how to book your dive in your favourite diving centre, as well as descriptions, prices, and maps to help you plan your trips alone or with friends.

 

Top of the ten

Ustica is ranked first by Scubadvisor 2022. The island was made Italy’s first protected marine reserve in 1986 and the listing dubs it "the best kept secret of the Mediterranean.” Ustica has 13 dive sites, one of which is thought to be more interesting than the others. It is the Secca della Colombara, about 500 metres off the island's north coast, where you can see huge groupers, snappers, star fish and sea sponges, sea urchins, octopuses, and, above all, large schools of amberjacks, barracuda, and moray eels. In addition, some ten years ago, a merchant ship carrying blocks of marble sank at a depth of 24 metres next to the shoal, and is a small Titanic in the heart of the Mediterranean!

Grotta di Nereo Capo Caccia (Sardinia)

In second place

Sardinia is once again ranked second on Scubadvisor. The Grotta di Nereo is located beneath the limestone promontory of Capo Caccia. There is a hidden underwater world with a unique charm here, between 15 and 30 metres deep: the largest submerged marine cavity in the Mediterranean and in all of Europe, with a main gallery of 300 metres and a secondary development of tunnels and chambers that allows it to reach a total length of half a kilometre, populated by groupers, bream, scorpion fish, and mullet, and where red coral is the absolute protagonist. The surroundings of the Nereo cave are not only for deep diving; it is possible to combine snorkeling activities in the water with surface trekking.

Lampedusa - Rabbit Island

In third place

Lampedusa, an authentic diving paradise, comes in third place. Among the numerous underwater sites frequented by Scubadvisor users, they recommend a dive south of Rabbit Island where you can see the bronze statue of the Madonna of the Sea.

Black coral in the Secca del Faro Gallipoli (Apulia)

In fourth place

The Secca del Faro di Gallipoli is ranked fourth. Dive with one of the local diving centres to discover an incredible underwater world, ideal for those looking for a slightly more challenging descent into the abyss, with a notable presence of black coral, red gorgonian, yellow gorgonian, and the rare gerardia savaglia. Furthermore large specimens of lobsters, as well as the very rare pencil hedgehog, can be found among the rocks.

In fifth place

The submerged park of Baia, north of the Gulf of Naples, also known as the submerged Pompeii, comes in fifth place. It is a protected marine area that was established exactly twenty years ago and is Italy's most important submerged archaeological site. Its extraordinary value stems from the archaeological finds' excellent state of conservation as well as their objective historical archaeological worth. Mosaics, frescoes, sculptures, roads, and columns are submerged five metres below sea level among schools of starfish, anemones and damselfish. This underwater exploration is also appropriate for inexperienced divers.

In sixth place

In sixth place is the Marine Park of Giannutri, which is part of the Sanctuary of the Cetaceans, a vast marine area between Liguria and Sardinia dedicated to the conservation of marine mammals. The most beautiful coves on Giannutri can be reached by boat or by walking along the island's paths.

In seventh place 

The Island of Elba comes in seventh place, with numerous opportunities to explore the deep blue. According to Scubadvisor, the most beautiful dive is the Elviscot wreck site. This small ship sank in 1972 and is now lying on its side on the seafloor between eight and 12 metres deep.

In eighth place

In eighth place we have the Secca del Papa in Sardinia, on the island of Tavolara, directly in front of San Teodoro. This diving point can only be reached through local diving centres, as it is a true paradise protected as a natural oasis. It has stunning walls of gorgonians, which are constantly monitored by marine biologists. The experience of swimming among giant groupers who are quite unconcerned by the divers is unforgettable, and with a bit of  luck you might be able to witness the reproduction of moray eels. 

In ninth place

The Elephant Rock on the Tremiti Islands in the Apulia region is ranked ninth. The rock, which is 20 meters high is near Punta di San Domino, and appears to have been sculpted by the wind into the shape of a pachyderm. It is ideal for combining a trekking experience with diving if you walk to the location. The maximum depth of two metres allows you to see one of the best unspoiled landscapes on the Tremiti Islands.

In tenth place 

The Secca della Formica, about a mile from Porticello near Palermo is ranked tenth; a mountain that is submerged for 60 metres and then re-emerges on the water's surface at both ends. The area was the site of disastrous shipwrecks during the Roman and Phoenician days, but it is now a diving paradise. Because of its shallow waters, it is also ideal for snorkeling and for less experienced divers. Among other things, it is one of the few underwater locations where you can still see an authentic rarity like black coral.

The Hotel Des Bains in Venice is to get a new €150 million relaunch investment. The property is one of the historic hotels on the Venice Lido, and on 5 July it will be 122 years old.

In the course of its prestigious history it has hosted the likes of Henry Ford, Robert De Niro, Liz Taylor and King Farouk of Egypt. It was also the scene of the first meeting between Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler. For a dozen years now it has been in a state of disrepair with part of the roof collapsed.

The numerous restoration projects presented to date have failed, and the original plan was to turn it into a residential building. But now the current owner, represented by the Milanese real estate company Coima, has come up with plans to renovate the hotel, its park, villas and beach facilities, while respecting the hotel's historical vocation.

Waiting for the agreements to be signed

Initially the idea was to invest just over €100 million, but the project, which was presented over a year ago, came to a halt. Then just a few days ago Coima announced it was committing no less than €150 million, practically a third more than previously planned.

More than half of the investment is expected to be financed by the banks, while the remaining €70 million will be put up by the Coima Esg City Impact urban regeneration fund. Now all that remains is to wait for the agreements to be signed so that work can finally begin. Although previous attempts never

Vivosa Apulia Resort is the answer for unique experiences and special holidays, and is the only resort in Puglia in a natural park directly overlooking the Salento sea.

Guests can enjoy unique sea-related experiences ranging from dinner on a sailboat (in the harbour) to the discovery of caves both on the Ionian and on the Adriatic, and from trips on a historic gozzo to those in canoes and kayaks. The 333 rooms are in ten limestone courtyards, like those in typical Apulian villages with stairs, arches, flowers, and patios. To get to the magnificent beach, you walk through flower-filled gardens, past the spectacular swimming pools that are on different levels, to find yourself among sand dunes and on the sea.

The Vos-Vivosa is Apulia’s only organic spa

The Vos-Vivosa Organic Spa wellness centre of Vivosa Apulia Resort also fits into the eco-theme, offering exclusive treatments with local products. This is Puglia's first and only organic spa and the Vivosa Fitness Crew organizes many activities like spinning, yoga, pilates, pinewood spartan path and meditation…to mention just a few. Families will have a great time and for children there are workshops on recycling, botany and ecology lessons, and games in the pine forest, on the beach, and in the theatre.

Dinner by starlight on a sailboat

Dine in a bay protected from the wind but not from the haunting perfume of the sea. On this unique experience we set sail at sunset along the coast admiring the colours of the two seas: the Ionian and the Adriatic. A welcome cocktail is served before a romantic candlelit – or rather a starlit – dinner that includes a three-course fish-based menu, a dessert and Apulian wine.

Excursions on board a historic gozzo

You will board the historic Bonaccia or the Maretta in the port of Torre Vago and sail along the coast of Leuca, the extreme point of Italy's heel, with its high rocky cliffs, small inlets, sea caves, and crystal-clear seabed. There are two swimming stops, as well as the option of snorkeling to explore the area’s magical underwater world. And lunch on board can be arranged upon request.

Guided kayak & canoe excursions to Leuca 

In a canoe or a kayak, moving through calm waters and following your guide, your will discover the coast of Santa Maria di Leuca with its scenic landscapes, sheer cliffs on the sea, hidden coves and sea caves. Taking time to swim as you make your way along the coast, the instructor will help you discover a wonderful underwater world.

Boating with local fishermen

Spend an exhilarating day at sea with local fishermen, for a one-of-a-kind exciting experience, and with the possibility of sighting dolphins and turtles. Listening to the fishermen relate anecdotes about fishing, and their lives spent at sea, is a unique way to learn about local traditions. 

Bwh Hotel Group opens the Worldhotels Crafted Collection Mulino di Firenze. Located just a few minutes from the city's historic centre, the 4-star superior Mulino di Firenze has 41 rooms while the Grano D'Oro restaurant, overlooking the Arno River, seats 50 and expands its capacity, spilling onto the outdoor terrace in summer. The hotel also has a spa in an ancient 15th-century mill, now transformed into a haven dedicated to wellness and personalized beauty treatments. Access to the spa is by appointment, for two people, and is exclusively reserved for hotel guests.

A pool, a spa and meeting rooms for up to 320

The swimming pool, which opens in the summer months, is in the solarium area with deckchairs, sunbeds and parasols. Officine Condotte is the Mulino di Firenze's multifunctional space for receptions, meetings, weddings, exhibitions and installations and consists of two areas: an open-air amphitheatre on 400 square metres that can accommodate up to 240 people, and the plenary hall on 250 square metres for events from 210 to 320 people, and this can also be divided into three separate rooms. Transfers to the centre of Florence and free covered parking complete the hotel's facilities.

The Obereggen and Carezza ski areas get ready for the 2022 winter season in the Val d'Ega.

Just 20 minutes from Bolzano, in the snow-capped landscapes of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the two ski areas are preparing for the ribbon cutting of their many facilities which are ideal for all levels, from professionals to beginners, as well as for snowboarders and families with children.

One ski pass for 111 kms of slopes

In addition to being one of the 12 ski areas of the Dolomiti Superski, the Val d’Ega is part of the Obereggen-Val di Fiemme consortium. The local ski pass covers skiing on 111 kilometres of slopes in Obereggen, Pampeago , Predazzo, Cermis-Cavalese, Alpe Lusia and Bellamonte.

Slopes for skiing, snowboarding, sledding and snowshoeing

Carezza is the most popular ski area for families with children. The facilities for little ones there include ski schools, leisure areas, a themed run, a varied program of activities and a games room. The curtain was raised in November 2021 revealing many kilometres of slopes of all colours and 12 ski lifts. The area is easy and quick to reach by cable car from the village of Nova Levante, and has also upgraded its snow-making system, offering experienced winter sports lovers and beginners alike great slopes and countless opportunities for snowboarding, sledding, skiing. cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and freestyle.

A new 60-seat cable car 

The big news for 2022 is that the Tires cable car is operational, connecting the town of San Cipriano with the Frommer mountain hut in the Carezza area. The arrival and departure stations will be underground and the spectacular 60-seat cabin has a panoramic roof terrace.

Florence’s Helvetia & Bristol has opened the largest wellness centre in the centre of the Tuscan city. Open to both hotel guests and the general public, the spa is located where the Roman Florentia Roman baths once stood. The environment is suffused and dreamlike with Travertine surfaces, essential furnishings and areas for conviviality and relaxing.

Swimming pools with video art 

La Spa has a wet area that opens onto the calidarium, and continues with the aquamotus Vichy shower, the sudatorium Finnish sauna, the frigidarium and finally the tepidarium salt room. Then there is the lacus quietis, the area with swimming pools with different depths and various water features. Here the artist Felice Limosani has created a suspended piece of video art to be experienced immersed in the warm water: digital landscapes that through animations are reflected on mirrors and walls, creating a sensory experience for the body and mind. From the wet area, a path leads on one side to the gym, and on the other to the first floor with the treatment cabins, including a suite.  La Spa is managed by Snow Group Italia, part of the French group that owns over 60 wellness centres around the world.

“The new spa has a fascinating history, just like the hotel” 

"Helvetia & Bristol is a real icon,” says Elisabetta Fabri, president and CEO of Starhotels. “After a careful restoration and the recent addition of 25 new rooms and suites designed by Anouska Hempel, La Spa is now a destination within a destination and an exclusive experience. During the works we discovered that the ancient Capitoline thermal baths of Roman Florentia once stood here and this inspired us to create a spa that is unique in Florence. It is not just beautiful, it also has a fascinating history, as does the hotel.”