The San Nicola in Peschici  tourist resort has become part of the Baia Holiday family.

The open-air operator based in Salò recently closed negotiations for the acquisition of the 12-hectare resort in Puglia, 70% of which is in a beautiful wooded area in the Gargano Park. 

On the seafront for 1,500 guests

San Nicola's strong points, in addition to the natural beauty of the area, include its seafront position on a 700-metre stretch of soft sandy beach on which is has its own private lido bookended  by two stretches of cliffs that form a perfect bay. There are 420 pitches, some directly on the sea and many are in shady areas. There are also twenty-three masonry bungalows with private bathroom and verandas and the complex can accommodate 1,500 guests. 

Sports for all tastes and a children’s playground 

In San Nicola there is also a restaurant and a bar directly on the sea, a supermarket, two tennis courts, a five-a-side football pitch, a beach volleyball court, a children's playground and a games room. The area is also perfect for kitesurfing, windsurfing, horse riding, diving, canoeing, on-road and off-road cycling and canoeing.  With the new acquisition Baia Holiday now  has ten camping villages, two residences and a 4-star superior hotel from Lake Garda to the Venice lagoon, the Gulf of Trieste, the island of Lussino (Croatia), the Rome area and various seaside resort areas in Sardinia.

“We manage and market our properties” 

"We are very pleased that we have added San Nicola resort, an important new property in a key region such as Apulia, thus increasing the number of our properties which are totally managed and marketed by us. San Nicola is unique for its position in the Gargano park and for the beauty of the surrounding area,” said the CEO of Baia Holiday, Valerio Vezzola. 

In Governolo, a charming village in the province of Mantua, everything is ready for the most anticipated event of the year.

From Thursday 9 to Monday 13 June, and again from Saturday 18 to Wednesday 22 June, great food, music and various shows will be the order of the day.

This is a wonderful opportunity to discover the best Mantuan wines, to be enjoyed with many typical local delicacies, including ostrich in many forms, from appetizers to desserts. 

Tasting lunches, live bands and orchestras

On Sunday 12 and Sunday 19 June at 12.30, two tasting lunches are scheduled by reservation and every day there will be entertainment in the square from 9.15 pm. Ranging from 70s/80s disco music to classical favourites the best bands and orchestras in the area will be performing on stage.

The town stands where two rivers meet

Due to its unique geographical position at the confluence of two rivers, Governolo was once the gateway for navigation from Mantua to the Adriatic Sea. The ancient hydraulic basin, designed by Bertazzolo, recently renovated and fully illuminated, together with the nearby Matildic Tower, are just two of the town’s main tourist attractions.

Fascinating riverine industrial archaeology

In the same area there is the Mincio River Museum with many models, exhibition panels and videos illustrating centuries of local history and hydraulic archaeology. On the path along the former riverbed visitors can admire the mechanical devices that used to regulate the river level and allow boats to overcome the difference in height of the waters between the Mincio and the Po rivers. Lovers of outdoor walks will enjoy strolling along the cycle paths on the banks of the two rivers, losing themselves in the serene and tranquil countryside.   

Lefay Resorts becomes part of the Legend category of Preferred Resorts & Residences. This is the most prestigious cluster of the US soft brand, and also includes the subgroups Lux, Lifestyle, Connect and Residences.

"It is a great honour to be included among the five Legend properties in Italy - said Alcide Leali, Lefay's CEO – we are confident that this new strategic partnership will further enhance international attention on our group. It will also allow us to approach an increasingly diversified audience interested in our wellness destinations.”

 

Discovering Lake Garda and the Dolomites 

"We are very proud of the new partnership with Lefay," adds Preferred's vice president Europe, Roberta Possenti. "The Garda-based company’s hotels are perfectly suited to the Legend Collection and represent a must-visit destination for travellers who want to discover the wonders of Lake Garda and the Dolomites.”

Villa Gelsomino is an Art Nouveau residence on the Gulf of Portofino, an oasis of luxury overlooking one of the most exclusive stretches of the Ligurian Riviera in the province of Genoa.

The five enchanting suites in the 19th-century residence overlooking the beautiful coastline, are named for some of the Ligurian Riviera’s most famous little towns: Portovenere, Camogli, San Fruttuoso, Portofino, and the Cinque Terre.

Villa Gelsomino is managed by an all-female team
The sea views from the property have seduced poets and artists down the centuries and the property, managed by a young, enterprising and all-female team, has conserved the atmosphere of an Art Nouveau residence, but with harmonious contemporary details. The period inlaid floors and ceiling frescoes, antique furniture and crystal chandeliers are complemented by the comfortable contemporary beds and modern bathrooms with LED lights and minimalist allure.



Green electricity and no single-use plastic
There is no more delightful way to start the day than by enjoying the spectacular Riviera view from the colonnaded patio of the Villa Gelsomino, or in the gazebo in the garden with is centuries-old palm trees and perfumed jasmine, over a breakfast of quality home-made products, jams and cakes made from local ingredients. In this natural paradise only green electricity is used, and trees are planted to offset the emissions from cooking and water heating in collaboration with the Treedom project. Special attention is also paid to the Plastic Free Certification Standard project, that eliminates single-use plastic in favour of environmentally friendly alternatives, such as micro-filtered water dispensers instead of bottles.



Romantic bespoke menus
Villa Gelsomino is open all year round, and guests can treat themselves by booking a private chef who will prepare a romantic menu for two inspired by the best Italian traditions. 

Villadorata Country House in Sicily is a country residence a few kilometres from the town of Noto, nestling in the rolling hills of the valley of the same name.

A former palmento where oil was produced and dating back to the end of the 19th century, it has undergone a restyling and been transformed into a contemporary and welcoming residence. The Val di Noto consists of eight Baroque towns in the south-east of Sicily, and is one of Italy’s most stunning UNESCO world heritage sites.  

22 hectares of olives, lemons and almonds and a vineyard

In a separate building from the 7-room hotel in the historic centre of Noto, Country House Villadorata is an ideal link between the town and the countryside, enhancing the different aspects and uniqueness of the area which is on the edge of the Vendicari Nature Reserve. Surrounded by a luxuriant 22-hectare estate of olive, almond, lemon and orange trees and a small vineyard, all cultivated organically, the Country House is committed to minimizing emissions and maximizing the use of renewable energy, the aim being to achieve energy self-sufficiency.

Five suites with private pools

The eight deluxe rooms with verandas are divided between two buildings, and the five spacious independent suites have private pools. Completing the services offered by the hotel there is a large swimming pool – the water enriched with a blend of natural salts with beneficial properties combining health, well-being and pleasure. The W Villadorata Restaurant, helmed by Viviana Varese, is an immersion in the flavours of southern Sicily, also thanks to the farm-to-fork products from the resort's own land and from a nearby farm where the utmost respect for the environment is the name of the game.

Themed tours in the UNESCO Val di Noto  

The magnificent Val di Noto has a wealth of precious hidden treasures immersed in a wild and harmonious natural setting. To help guests discover this splendid area and to promote its beauty Country House Villadorata offers a choice of themed tours in the surrounding area. 

InHomie, Italy’s first hotel without staff, is to open in Rimini and is the brainchild of Nardo Filippetti, former founder of Eden Viaggi.

After taking over the Hotel Naiade in Rimini, the current president of the Lindbergh Hotels&Resorts group will renovate and transform it into a highly automated property - but simple to use, he is keen to point out - which will have a receptionist as its only staff member.

No in-house catering

InHomie is a pilot project in which the company will invest €3.5 million, Filippetti explained to the Corriere di Bologna newspaper. The idea stems, among other things, from the current difficulty in finding qualified staff. The luxury property, which will have 43 rooms and be sold at rates of around €55 per night, will not have any in-house catering, but guests will be able to use the city's wide range of delivery services.

The format could open in cities like Milan and Rome

If the pilot project is successful, Lindbergh's president is already thinking of exporting the format to other regions of Italy, especially to main commercial and economic hubs such as Rome and Milan for hotels with 40 to 50 rooms. The novelty is also part of the company's ambitious expansion project which, according to a report in the daily Il Sole 24 Ore, does not exclude the possibility of future collaborations with large groups and investment funds. 

Livigno, in the heart of the Italian Alps in Lombardy is known as Italy’s Little Tibet and, as well as a winter wonderland with over 115 kilometres of ski trails, it is also a popular summer destination, a place in which to regenerate the mind and the body enjoying a direct and privileged contact with nature. 

Modern lifts to over 3,000 metres altitude

The start of Livigno’s summer season is 11 June, coinciding with the opening of the Mottolino Bike Park. On 25 June it will be the turn of the Mountain Park Carosello 3000 and, on 1 July, of the Mountain Area Sitas with modern lifts that quickly reach over 3,000 metres altitude with just one Bike Pass, which is the summer version of the Ski Pass. With these openings Livigno gets into full summer mode with a network of hiking, running and biking trails that are accessible to all and a varied range of opportunities for fun and relaxation with outdoor experiences, good food and glamorous shopping in its over 250 exclusive boutiques.

Chasing the myth of great Italian cycling

With more than 3,200 GPS-mapped kilometres, 17 of cycle paths and three bike areas for all levels, the bicycle is undoubtedly the queen of an active holiday in Livigno. Enduro, cross-country, flow-country, downhill, e-bike and road-bike: there is no discipline on two wheels that cannot be practiced here, and those approaching it for the first time will find qualified instructors and guides at the Bike Skill Center. 

Cycling with champions 

There are many ideal starting and finishing points for unforgettable trips over the Alpine passes that have made cycling history - Stelvio, Gavia, Mortirolo, Bernina, Foscagno and Maloja -  and the Wednesday Pedala con il Campione  pedaling with the champion events allow bikers to pedal in the company of the many professionals who choose Livigno for their mountain training. Add in quality accommodation services and facilities, hiking and trekking, excursions and climbing with Alpine Guides, but also running, horse riding, paragliding, golf, tennis and fishing, and Livinio has just the right activity for every age and taste.  

Plogging. Personal well-being and helping nature

To give even more value and meaning to an experience of total immersion in nature, this summer Plogging will return to Livigno. Imported from Sweden, plogging combines the search for one's inner wellbeing with the physical and mental benefits that come from taking care of one's surroundings. Before setting off on an excursion, those wishing to plog can collect a waste collection kit consisting of a rucksack, gloves and pliers from the Active Hotels and tourist information centres. Making a meaningful contribution to the protection of Livigno's natural alpine eco-system will be their reward on their return.

Shopping, nightlife and gourmet food

Experiencing a holiday surrounded by nature does not mean excluding the comforts and amusements typical of the city, and when it comes to lifestyle, shopping and nightlife, Livigno is a destination that knows how to please even the most demanding visitors. Summer 2022 will also see the return of big events with the Sentiero Gourmet (15 July), the tried and tested food format curated by the Livigno Association of Chefs and Pastry Chefs that offers visitors a chance to discover the tastes of the territory through gourmet finger food and traditional dishes prepared by five-starred chefs. 

For further information: www.livigno.eu

The Moon over the Colosseum, Rome’s new stunning moonlight guided tour starts tomorrow 20 May in collaboration with Electa and Coopculture.

The new route that has been developed for this 2022 edition features the monument’s history, with the Amphitheatre in ancient Rome told through the floor of the arena and the underground, and then moving on to the Christian Colosseum. The latter begins with the 17th century wall painting depicting an ideal view of the city of Jerusalem, and this is the great novelty of this year's tour. 

The Moon over the Colosseum is for a maximum 25 people

The tour, reserved for no more than 25 people, includes the extensive underground route and is available every Friday and Saturday from May to December, and on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between June and October. The itinerary passes through the tunnels and passages where the preparations for the performances took place, where stage materials were stored and where caged animals were loaded onto lifts to reach the arena floor for the famous hunting scenes and gladiator fights. Crossing a footbridge, the bowels of the monument will no longer hold any secrets and, as night falls the atmosphere that envelopes these ancient areas brings them to life again. 

A 7-minute historical video

For the first time the tour includes a multimedia reading of the painting depicting an ideal view - a bird's eye view - of the city of Jerusalem, on the bottom arch of the western archway, the so-called Triumphal Gate: the same gate through which gladiators and beasts once entered the arena. Lasting seven minutes the video, curated by the Colosseum Archaeological Park, is projected on the two lunettes of the western archway: on one side a selection of 22 scenes depicted in the painting and, on the other, the engraving with the same 1601 iconography by Antonio Tempesta.

The Colosseum used to hold 60,000 spectators

The narration and the atmospheric evening light bring the Old and New Testament narratives in the painting to life, and the painting reminds us that the Colosseum continued to live on after the end of the Roman Empire. In fact in 1750, at the behest of Pope Benedict XIV, it became the site of the now traditional Via Crucis, reinforcing the sense of the historical mission of the papacy. The itinerary ends with an extraordinary view of the complex structure of the underground and the vastness of the cavea terraces that once held and over 60,000 spectators. Guided tour times in Italian and English: 8 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. Tickets € 25.00 full price; € 22.00 concessions (groups/whole-slot fixed price/adults under 25); € 20.00 young people under 25.  Info and presale: Tel 06-3996-7700 Monday-Sunday 9 am-5 pm www.coopculture.it 

New Romagna Riviera rail services connecting Piedmont to the popular seaside Romagna Riviera area at weekends are planned for the upcoming summer season.

Starting on 11 June and running up to 11 September the new Trenitalia-Tper services - with the support of the Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont Regions - will link Turin, Asti, Alessandria and Voghera to the Romagna coast.

Speedy travel with no intermediate stops

In total there will be four departures - two on Saturdays and two on Sundays –taking tourists from Piedmont to Rimini, Riccione, Misano Adriatico and Cattolica. The departure will be from Turin at 6.20, and there will be no intermediate stops between Piacenza and Bologna or between Bologna and Rimini, with the trains arriving in Romagna before lunch time. Returns are scheduled after 4 pm and will arrive in Turin around 9 pm.

For weekend breaks or a day at the beach

"With this new service we are aiming to attract young people from Piedmont’s big cities throughout the summer season. They will be able to travel to the beaches of the Costa Romagnola quickly, comfortably and sustainably, taking advantage of a weekend break or a day at the beach” says Andrea Corsini, Emilia-Romagna’s regional transport councillor.