There is great excitement on Lake Como. Following the news of the acquisition of the Britannia Excelsior hotel by Bain Capital, which will transform it into a luxury lifestyle property, and the forthcoming opening of Villa Passalacqua in late spring, there are now two more important developments in the upscale segment.

The new 5-star Musa Hotel Lago di Como which is scheduled to open on 15 May next year, and the Villa d'Este  which has reacquired the adjacent Villa Bellinzaghi.   

Villa Bellinzaghi will undergo a total renovation

Transformed into a luxury hotel in 1873, Villa Bellinzaghi was for many years part of the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este, as a private residence. The property, which will undergo a total renovation, is currently spread over three floors on a total area of 2,500 square metres, and also includes a greenhouse, a dock and a pier for mooring boats.

A large apartment with lake views

The hotel will have 12 rooms and suites, a restaurant, cocktail bar, and a large apartment with lake views and an equipped kitchen, while Villa Musa, the private residence in Mezzegra, consists of six bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a Jacuzzi, a swimming pool with lake views, and a gym.

Magdalene. The Mystery and the Image the new exhibition dedicated to Mary Magdalene at the Musei San Domenico in Forlì focuses on this great female myth, a mysterious and misrepresented figure, and will run to 10 July 2022 in the Musei San Domenico in Forli, half an hour’s drive from Rimini. The exhibition, conceived and realized by the Fondazione Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì in collaboration with the Municipality of Forlì and the Musei San Domenico, features some 200 works by great artists from the 3rd century B.C. to the 20th century depicting the unresolved mystery of a woman who still disquiets and fascinates.  

Depicted as a sinner and a saint, a penitent and an intellectual

From the Middle Ages onwards Mary Magdalene has been depicted as a sinner, a saint, a courtesan and a penitent, an intellectual and an apostle. At the side of Saint Francis in the mendicant reform of the 13th and 14th centuries, a courtly lady in the 15th century, and a Christian Venus from the 16th century and throughout the following centuries, then symbolizing the feminine revolution in the 19th and 20th centuries. 

Works lent by major international museums

The exhibition is divided into 12 sections and include extraordinary examples of painting, sculpture, miniatures, tapestries, silverware and graphic works, like those from the Archaeological Museum in Naples to Marc Chagall's The Deposition from the Cross (1968-1976) from the Centre Pompidou in Paris, to Veronese's Noli me Tangere from the Musée de Grenoble, and also includes Bill Viola's Acceptance as well as masterpieces by Antonio Canova and Francesco Hayez. 

Ph credits: Emanuele Rambaldi

Tenuta Duca Marigliano is an independent boutique hotel of charm in a former 19th-century hunting lodge beside the Greek walls of Paestum’s archaeological site in the province of Salerno. It is an oasis of beauty and tranquility surrounded by lawns and gardens, citrus trees and centuries-old oaks. 

Pergolas and gardens and a wellness area

This small hotel has 19 rooms, a gourmet restaurant, pergolas and gardens, and an intimate and reserved wellness area, with a sauna, a Turkish bath and a mini pool Jacuzzi. Owners Rosario and Loredana Paolillo and their young and attentive staff manage the house with grace and total dedication.

Just five minutes from the sea

Tenuta Duca Marigliano is a great starting point for exploring the region and the archaeological area, with the majestic temples of Hera, Neptune and Athena, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. Just five minutes from the sea, the long coastline has wonderful beaches with fine sand dunes and crystal-clear waters.

The gourmet Casa Coloni restaurant

The renovations on the property have preserved and enhanced the historic architecture of the manor house. Contemporary materials and design elements enhance the interiors with their high ceilings and barrel vaults and fragments of stone and of the old walls have been deliberately left bare. The 19 rooms are all different, divided between the main house and a second unit which also houses Casa Coloni, the restaurant helmed by chef Luigi Coppola which is also open to the public.

There are a la carte and tasting menus 

Originally from Capaccio Paestum Chef Coppola researches the raw materials and the cuisine of the Cilento tradition for his dishes which are highly creative and celebrate the culture and the region which is rich in history and biodiversity. In addition to the a la carte menu, there are two tasting choices: the meat-based Cis Alentum and the fish-based Da Paestum a… Paestum and the maitre d’ Michele Mascolo with the sommelier Danilo Manzo make sure that guests wine and dine like kings. Double rooms from €80-300  Extra services: exclusive use of the Spa.  Bicycles for hire.

For open-air tourism this year the Human Company, in collaboration with Thrends, forecasts 45.4 to 48 million overnights, of which approximately 54% percent Italians, and an 8%-2% growth rate compared to 2021.

These are the encouraging signs from  the new edition of the Human Company’s Observatory for Outdoor Tourism in collaboration with the consulting firm Thrends. "The Observatory aims at painting an in-depth picture of the world of outdoor tourism in general and of outdoor travel in particular,” explains general manager Domenico Montano.

“Spending seems much higher than in the past” 

"Our estimate for the summer of 2022 - adds the director of Thrends, Giorgio Ribaudo  - is based on the model of the forecasts made in 2021 which, compared to the final balance, proved to be well founded. If there is no escalation of the ongoing conflict, it will be a very positive outdoor summer, with an almost total recovery of pre-pandemic volumes in terms of attendance. In this two-year period 2021-2022, spending seems much higher than in the past, opening the door to greater expectations and the search for more authentic experiences."

Two possible scenarios

Starting from the current macroeconomic framework, which is primarily influenced by the war in Ukraine and complicated by the uncertain pandemic situation, and using Istat and Eurostat sources, the 2022 Observatory points to two possible scenarios for open-air tourism. The first is a resolution of the conflict by 15 May, with a significant increase in the arrival of visitors from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland as well as from central and northern European countries. The second is a continuation of the war with a consequent increase in instability and insecurity.

The best outlook is for 48 million overnights

The best outlook is for 48 million overnights, an increase of 8% over last year and a close match to the pre-Covid results of 2019 (-14%), for a total expenditure of €2.55 billion, and a daily expenditure of €53 per guest. In this scenario the Italian market has 26 million overnights in campsites and villages, a 5.2% drop from the pre-pandemic results of 2019. In the report's worst-case scenario, attendance is estimated to be 45.4 million, a significant stalemate compared to last summer (+ 2 percent) and a more marked decline compared to 2019 (-18 percent), with an economic impact of €2.41 billion. In this case, foreign markets are slowing down whereas the Italian market remains relatively stable at 25 million (+8% compared to 2021 and the same percentage but down on 2019).

Inbound arrivals are essential to save the season

In short, the inbound market will be critical. Foreign arrivals are expected to grow by nearly 8% in the summer of 2022 to 22 million. In the worst case scenario 20 million visitors are estimated to be in line with what was recorded in 2021 (-0.4 percent). The best hypothesis predicts a general increase by the top five foreign markets: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and France and an increase of more than 9%, for a total of 19.5 million arrivals. The worst-case scenario would reflect how last season ended with approximately 18 million arrivals.

An oasis of well-being and beauty in historic Milan, the QC Termimilano is a day spa close to the Porta Romana in an Art Nouveau building that once belonged to the Milanese tramway company.

An old tram has been converted into a sauna

With an enchanted garden, an herbarium and a vegetable garden there is also a cognitive path and an experiential barefoot walk. The garden is surrounded by the 16th-century Spanish walls of Porta Romana and an old ATM tram has been converted into a sauna. On the lawn guests can relax on comfortable designer beds, while small wrought iron tables with white tablecloths are placed in delightful corners in which to enjoy special blends of tea.

Open again after a 12-month closure

"Our aim has always been to do things that please people, offering beauty and quality of life in an accessible way," explains Andrea Quadrio Curzio, CEO, and founder of the group. The QC Terme opens again after a 12-month closure, because “it was not possible to avail ourselves of smart-working. The thermal tourism sector was devastated by the pandemic, and it has not been easy to start over.”

Openings planned for Salsomaggiore and Lake Garda

Now the spa model that was launched in Bormio has been brought into a metropolitan context, and many new projects are underway. While the search for ideal locations around the world continues, and after the opening of the Governors Island headquarters in New York, the next developments in Italy will be Terme Berzieri in Salsomaggiore and Palazzo Arzaga sul Garda. And the group is also looking at new locations in Arizona, the Rocky Mountains and Chicago.

Best Western’s Oasi Sure Hotel Collection, just by a few steps from the historic centre of Levanto, is a boutique hotel 350 metres from the beach. With 14 rooms, each with different colours and design, the rooms on the ground floor have direct access to the garden. Levanto is a coastal town in the Liguria region, just an hour by car or train from Genoa. It has an old medieval centre and one of the longest sandy beaches in the area, and is just half an hour by car or 15 minutes by train from the Cinque Terre. 

A range of exciting experiences 

In their rooms guests will find a smartphone with unlimited international calls, a smart TV with apps including Netflix and Spotify, concierge service, bike rentals, beach equipment and guided tours. And with a range of experiences including cooking classes, a walk with an aperitif, yoga in the garden, wine tastings in the vineyard and many other activities to chiose from there are endless exciting things to do. 

A hotel with a strong personality

The food & beverage is equally exciting with organic breakfasts featuring local products, and with à la carte lunches and dinners in the restaurant which is 200 metres from the hotel and specializes in fish.  “Being part of a network such as Bwh Hotel Group Italia we have the opportunity to reach out to new markets. Our hotel has a strong personality and is in a well-known and very attractive location,” says hotel manager Silvia Moggia.  

Feltre, the "Venice of the Dolomites," which is close to Belluno in the Veneto region, will welcome its new Archaeological Museum at the end of April. 

The new facility will feature artefacts from Roman Feltria, a municipium with jurisdiction over the Alpine valleys between Belluno and Trento, and one of the most important ancient centres on the Venetian mainland's upper reaches.

A journey from the museum through the city

This new-generation museum, the work of the Municipality of Feltre in collaboration with the Archaeological Superintendency, will exhibit many unique finds and tell a fascinating story, on a journey that begins inside the museum and winds its way along the city’s major Roman and earlier Rhaetian monuments. Each exhibit has an in-depth digital analysis, connected to a web archive accessed via QR Code directly on the visitor's smartphone. The interactive exhibition path also has other multimedia devices such as video projectors, speaker systems and monitors.

Statuary and refined ornaments

A spectacular parade of Ionic-Italic capitals in soft stone from Vicenza welcomes visitors to the new museum. The adjoining room is dedicated to small statuary and refined ornaments that belonged to wealthy local residences between the 1st century B.C. and 2nd century A.D. Visitors can also see the monumental Greek marble statue of Aesculapius which was discovered during excavations in the cathedral's churchyard in 1974. Next to it is a votive altar to Anna Perenna, the ancient Roman goddess.

Artefacts from ancient burial areas

There is no shortage of artefacts from remote burial areas, such as those found in urban cemeteries, from personal ornaments to coins and furnishings in terracotta, blown glass, and metal. The tomb of Aeronia Maxima, discovered in Sovramonte in the 1950s, is quite unique, consisting of a tuffaceous urn containing incinerated bones and an inscription.  

After the rebranding project that started in 2021 The Place Firenze garnered international attention for the intimate and sophisticated redesign of its public areas, and now 2022 brings the unveiling of its restyled suites and rooms. Brainchild of architect Luigi Fragola the new look for the rooms and suites has been inspired by the materials and colours of the extraordinary Piazza Santa Maria Novella.

Antique floors and 8k video screens 

Now bright and airy, these master rooms ooze comfort and an exclusive Florentine intimacy. They have antique floors in reclaimed wood mounted in large geometric tiles, and fine handcrafted leather writing desks that underline the sense of home. Like the ornamental and comfortable sofas in soft shades of greenm they underline the unmistakable style of The Place Firenze. 8K video screens disappear into the furniture, and the sound systems have just the right contemporary tech-touch.

An elegant home away from home

In a world of hospitality that has profoundly changed in recent years, The Place Firenze aims to not only be a place to stay, but an elegant home away from home. Somewhere to entertain and meet friends or business partners, from which to enjoy the splendid view of the square from The Terrace outdoor area, or enjoy an evening with a signature aperitif and impeccable Italian cuisine.  With Chef Asso Migliore in The Kitchen & The Bar the cuisine is based on a careful search for ingredients and local suppliers, in full compliance with the-farm-to-table philosophy.

“We put guests at the centre of our universe”

“Over time and along the way, hospitality has become an industry,” says general manager Claudio Meli. "This is not us; we are not that kind of ​​hospitality. We are an artisan shop. Humanism was born in Florence, placing man at the centre of the universe. We put guests at the centre of our universe. For me, this is the essence of The Place Firenze.”

The Place Firenze
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