Plaza Premium Group, a world leader in airport lounges, has opened its second lounge at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo Da Vinci Airport (FCO). 

Relaxation and world-class service for up to 76 guests

Located in Terminal 1 in the Schengen Departure Area, the lounge is a quiet and relaxing area with world-class levels of service delivered by a passionate team of hospitality experts. On 400 sqm it can accommodate up to 76 guests and is divided into two separate areas inspired by the beauty of Italian culture, art and architecture, with elegant marble and natural wood elements that make the ambience even more welcoming.

The also lounge has a buffet and a shower area

There is a buffet where guests can enjoy a wide selection of freshly prepared international dishes and there is also a shower area in which to refresh and rejuvenate before flights. As Plaza Premium Group celebrates 25 years of unparalleled hospitality this year, the opening marks another milestone for the group on both a local and global scale. The new lounge is the latest addition to the Group’s global network, following the recent lounge openings in Adelaide, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Orlando, Edinburgh, Cebu and Dubai and anticipating openings in Nagoya, Japan.  

The lounge in Terminal 3 is a Skytrax winner

"The launch of our second lounge at Fiumicino Leonardo Da Vinci airport is a significant milestone for our expansion plan in the area and a positive sign for the post-pandemic recovery. Our award-winning Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 3, has received Skytrax recognition as one of the top five best independent lounges in 2022”, said Okan Kufeci, senior vice president Plaza Premium Group EMEA.

Introductory discounts and bookings online

The Plaza Premium Lounge is open daily from 4:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. for passengers of any airline or travel class, even without advance bookings. Guests can take advantage of an introductory offer with a 15% discount on the official rate and save an additional 20% by subscribing to the Smart Traveller loyalty programme. All services can be booked on the official Plaza Premium Lounge website. The lounge also offers access to certain credit card holders, including American Express and Dragon Pass. 

ITA Airways’ new Airbus A320neo planes, the new crew uniforms and the smart new Hangar Lounge in Rome’s Fiumicino airport were presented this week by the airline’s CEO Fabio Lazzerini.

new crew uniforms

New uniforms for flight ad ground personnel

Also present at the inaugural ceremony was Italy’s minister for tourism Daniela Santanchè and Carolina Kostner, the former world and Olympic ice skating champion to whom the first new Airbus A320neo is dedicated. Guests at Fiumicino Airport were welcomed by flight and airport personnel wearing the new uniforms styled by Brunello Cucinelli, which are now on board all the company's flights, and the official opening of the Hangar Lounge crowned the day dedicated to the ITA Airways new look.  

Ita Airways new Airbus A320neo

“By 2026 some 80% of the fleet will be next-generation”

“This Airbus A320neo is the first aircraft that is exactly as we designed it, with our own seats and carpeting and the lights designed as we wanted them,” said CEO Lazzarini. “Now all our new aircraft, both short-haul and long-haul, will have this configuration. Next-generation aircraft are very important for the company's accounts, as they have a fuel consumption of around 25-28% less than traditional aircraft.  By 2026 some 80% of the fleet will have them, and already this year, with the arrival of 33 new planes, 55% of the fleet will already be next-generation.”   

ITA’s new Hangar Lounge is in Fiumicino’s Terminal 1

The new Hangar Lounge is for passengers departing on domestic and international ITA Airways flights from the Schengen area. Located after the security gates in Terminal 1, the Hangar Lounge is open from 06:00 to 23:00 daily. Access can be purchased through the ita-airways.com website or directly at the airport for passengers holding an ITA Airways ticket.

Basilicata’s multifaceted tourism appeal goes from nature to culture and food as recently highlighted by the APT tourism promotional agency.

Showcasing the region’s natural beauty and green activities

Basilicata's APT highlighted the region’s role as a prime destination for green tourism and wellness, presenting its multifaceted tourism appeal to the German market at the recent ITB in Berlin Showcasing its natural beauty and its environmental and cultural heritage, from the Metapontino and Tyrrhenian coasts to the mountains, and from its five parks to its wine and food heritage, the agency also focused on outdoor activities such as cycling and walking.

“We are also promoting outdoor activities like our trekking itineraries”

"Given the preferences of the German market we have given space to those aspects that have been most popular in recent months," said APT Basilicata's general manager, Antonio Nicoletti. "Everything is perfectly in line with our recent activities, like the publication in which Basilicata highlights its  physical and mental wellbeing facilities. We are also promoting outdoor activities like our trekking itineraries and food and wines.  Basilicata owes its charm not only to its unspoiled nature, its nature reserves and protected areas but also to its beautiful and authentic villages and towns.” 

There is optimism regarding tourist arrivals this year

With an increase of 32% in arrivals and 24% in overnights in 2021 compared to the previous year, bookings this year are confirming the APT’s optimism and confidence in the immediate future.

“These are signs that we must read with a commitment to strengthen and improve what we have to offer, as well as further boosting services, and the ability to grow our economy.”

Germany is the first foreign market for Tuscany and it has been included among the target countries of the Toscana Promozione Turistica agency’s 2023 promotional programme.

The new “Tuscany, Endless Renaissance” promotional campaign

The Tuscan tourism promotional agency was present at the ITB in Berlin with an 80 sqm stand in the Italy pavilion, where the region’s promotional, destination marketing and commercial activities were presented with the promotional campaign Tuscany, Endless Renaissance. Cycling tourism in Tuscany was given particular attention as a means of exploring the region’s historic villages in harmony with nature.

“Biking trails in Tuscany to discover its extraordinary sides” 

"Bicycle trails in Tuscany are one of the most beautiful and interesting attractions," said Francesco Tapinassi, director of Toscana Promozione Turistica. "We have many biking paths in and around Florence, which are a new way of getting to know the area. It is an alternative that lets you discover extraordinary sides of the city and its surroundings.” 

Environment, health, safety, discovery and regeneration

At the ITB Tuscany was presented to the German market and internationally not just for its classic and consolidated attractions, but as a destination in step with new trends. A place where history, heritage, culture and beauty blend to put the visitor at the centre of a universe where the key words are environment, health, safety, discovery and regeneration.

World Europa, MSC’s newest trailblazing World Class of ships, has arrived in the Mediterranean. 

An ecological ocean-going metropolis for 6,700 guests

World Europa, the newest and greenest vessel in the MSC fleet set sail from its homeport of Genoa on 12 April offering seven-night cruises with ports of call in Genoa, Naples, and Messina in Italy, Valletta in Malta, Barcelona in Spain, and Marseille in France. At 1,093 ft long and 22 decks high, there is accommodation for 6,762 guests in 2,626 staterooms of 19 different categories, many with balconies. 

World Europa is the first LNG-powered cruise ship  

The World Europa incorporates solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology on board and is powered by LNG, one of the world’s greenest marine fuels. Another first for the newest pride of the MSC fleet, which was presented by managing director Leonardo Massa to the Italian press and travel agents on its maiden Mediterranean cruise.  Massa outlined the company's latest milestones and upcoming innovations, focusing on three elements: fleet, destinations and sustainability. 

Leonardo Massa, managing director of Msc Cruises

In June a new ship, the Euribia, will join the fleet

"With the latest ships that entered the fleet over the last eight months we are now offering 7,000 more rooms and welcoming 17,000 more passengers every week. And the arrival of the World Europa is not the end of the line for us, because in June a new ship, the Euribia, will join the fleet.” 

“New York is a challenging new port of embarkation”

With regard to new destinations New York currently leads the way, said Massa.

"As an embarkation point New York is a challenge, but we are convinced that it will be a great success. It allows travel agents to propose a range of packages combining stays and cruises that from New York take them to some of the Caribbean’s best destinations. Like our private island, Ocean Cay, a pristine marine reserve accessible exclusively to MSC guests.” 

World Europe’s luxury Yacht Club has 24-hour butler service

The World Europa’s Promenade with restaurants and shops is seven decks high, and the ship has sporting facilities, kids’ clubs, seven swimming pools and 33 cosmopolitan F&B facilities including a steak house, gin lounge, coffee emporium, champagne bar and a fine dining fish restaurant. The “ship-within-a-ship” luxury Yacht Club, for guests who prefer a more intimate cruise, features suites with butler service, a private pool and sundeck, dedicated massage rooms in the spa, and a private lounge with complimentary drinks and à la carte fine dining. 

The beautiful Italian town of Polignano a Mare, in the province of Bari, wins the title of the world's most welcoming town.

The highest levels of hospitality all year

The little seaside town of Polignano a Mare beat off competition from 220 countries to place first in the Traveller Review Award 2023, which crowned it the most welcoming city in the world. This prestigious award, from booking.com, goes to destinations that are committed to providing guests with the highest levels of hospitality throughout the year.

A town that knows how to make guests feel at home

And, as Polignano’s mayor Vito Carrieri pointed out, what makes this little town, nestled on the Adriatic coast between Mola di Bari and Monopoli, so special is that is has something for every kind of tourist thanks to its vocation for hospitality. Polignano knows how to make each and every guest feel at home.

A mix of nature, culture and traditions

The town captivates visitors with its unique mix of natural attractions, cultural events and traditions, plus the warmth and welcome they get from its inhabitants.  Built on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Adriatic Sea, strolling along its paved alleyways, through little white squares with flowering balconies, and taking in the wonderful views from the rocky headland that frames the town, leaves visitors with lasting impressions. Domenico Modugno, a popular singer in the 1960s is Polignano’s most illustrious citizen, and there is a bronze statue to him, his arms outstretched,  on a little square on the seafront.   

The mild climate and local cuisine are an added plus 

The favorable climate is another important factor in making Polignano the perfect place to visit at any time of year.  Many of the town’s hotels and guesthouses are in old houses in the historic center that have been renovated to guarantee quality stays in charming and relaxed settings. And then there is the food. Fresh fish specialties and other typical Apulian delicacies can be enjoyed in the many restaurants, from a simple tomato focaccia to be enjoyed on the beach to a romantic dinner overlooking the sea, there is something for all tastes and all pockets in Polignano a Mare. 

The Boutique Hotel Torre Cala Piccola on Lazio’s Monte Argentario reopens for the summer season with a slew of new amenities. 

“Innovations provide guests with a top-tier experience”

“Over the winter, we introduced many innovations in terms of service and facilities, with the goal of providing guests with a top-tier experience,” says Boutique Hotel Torre Cala Piccola’s gm Stefania Marconi. The hotel's strong point is its seafront location, and it has 53 rooms and suites set in a vast park with breathtaking views of the islands of Giglio and Giannutri. 

A range of eateries and sunset cocktails

Chef Francesco Carrieri's excellent cuisine can be enjoyed in a variety of settings, including breakfast on the roof terrace and lunch at the outdoor bistro shaded by trees. Evening cocktails can be enjoyed at the renovated bar adjacent to the suggestive Spanish tower, and dinner is served in the panoramic Torre d'Argento Restaurant, or with a sunset view. 

A beach club, spa and amenities for pets

Guests staying at the Boutique Hotel Torre Cala Piccola can choose between the magnificent infinity pool that extends to the Argentario's magnificent blue sea and the beach club below, which are easily reached with golf carts. The sensory park, where you can breathe the aromas emanating from essential oils and resins rounds out the range of services together with the wellness centre with its relaxing massages. Four-legged friends are warmly welcomed and find a Puppy Kit in the room with absorbent mats, bags, and a food bowl.

Tuscan cuisine and innovative techniques

Francesco Carrieri, chef of the Torre d'Argento Restaurant, focuses on seasonality and quality, using only the freshest raw materials sourced from local suppliers. Tuscan cuisine meets the most innovative techniques in his creations, and there is no shortage of vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and kid-friendly options. 

A new decree obliges visitors to keep strolling through some areas of Portofino, with no stopping allowed until 15 October 2023.

New controlled red and yellow zones avoid overcrowding

Certain areas of the little Ligurian coastal town, like the piazzetta square overlooking the sea, and the Umberto I pier which are regularly taken by storm by crowds of visitors from Italy, Europe, the USA and Japan, have been declared red and yellow zones with only strolling and no stopping allowed. The aim is to allow all visitors to stroll around and enjoy the beauty of the Tigullio coast, while avoiding overcrowding.

No stationing or gathering at group meeting points

The new rules prohibit “the stationing of people at gathering and meeting points for groups and cruise passengers waiting to board boats or other vessels.” This, the authorities emphasise is to avoid “problems of fluidity of pedestrian and vehicular circulation” and “serious obstructions and potential danger deriving from the excessive density of people in relation to the available surface area.” Hence the new regulations, which will remain in force in Portofino until 15 October.

“It is not a closed number” says Portofino’s mayor

The new restrictions in the first red zone which goes from the Delfino restaurant to the Umberto 1 Pier are in place from 10.30 am to 6 pm, while in the second red zone they are from 7.30 am to 6 pm in the area between the Molo Umberto I and the Da Vince complex. Anyone not complying with the new provisions can find themselves having to pay a fine of between €68 and €275.

“It is not a closed number," says Portofino’s mayor Matteo Viacava, “the aim is to allow all tourists coming to Portofino to enjoy the town to the fullest, but also to manage security in the piazzetta.” So Portofino’s new rule is: ok to walking, but without stopping and gathering, in designated areas.

The Val Mivola in the Marche region, the tourist destination created a year ago from the union of nine charming little towns, offers an infinite number of itineraries, and just as many unmissable experiences. 

In the Marche region, between the mountains and the sea

The Val Mivola, in the province of Ancona, is a destination with many cultural, traditional and relaxing attractions in close contact with nature. With the Apennine mountains on one side and the Adriatic coastline on the other, these nine charming towns -  Arcevia, Barbara, Castelleone Di Suasa, Corinaldo, Ostra, Ostra Vetere, Senigallia, Serra De' Conti and Trecastelli -  are unique, each with its own character and really worth visiting.

Senigallia

Beaches, art and medieval architecture

Starting with Senigallia, with its 14 kilometre-long golden beach and the fascinating Rotonda sul Mare pier, it is a very popular seaside resort. You cannot miss a visit to the Palazzo del Duca, home to the works of the great photographer Mario Giacomelli, who was born and lived in the city: a permanent collection of around 80 photographs that recount Giacomelli's poetic and artistic universe. Continuing on to Trecastelli we find the interesting Nori de' Nobili Museum, while Ostra is a not-to-be-missed stop for the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Rosa and the small La Vittoria Theatre, a fascinating horseshoe-shaped gem built in 1863, Moving inland we come to Corinaldo, a delightful little town encircled by 1 km of old walls. The mediaeval centre unfolds in narrow alleyways in which to lose oneself, encountering enchanting squares along the way.

Teatro Ostra - Andrea Giuliani

Ostra countryside

A fascinating ancient Roman site

In Ostra Vetere, you cannot miss a stop at a construction that dates back to the early 20th century and represents an interesting example of the poor or “atterrati” architecture typical of the Marche region. We find more history and antiquity in Castelleone di Suasa, where the remains of one of the most interesting Roman sites in the region can be found. The municipium of Suasa was an important settlement, especially from a commercial point of view, and it experienced a period of great splendour between the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C., only to be abandoned in the 7th century A.D.

Barbara

Charming and lively towns with much to offer visitors

Once you reach Barbara follow the Canalecchia route, a fascinating itinerary to discover the legends and the treasures of this little town. In Serra De' Conti, not to be missed is the Museum of Monastic Arts "Le Stanze del Tempo sospeso" (The Rooms of Suspended Time) with artefacts belonging to the nearby Monastery of S. Maria Maddalena. The last stop on this charming itinerary is Arcevia with its castles, set in green woods and surrounded by high walls, where time seems to stand still in a place that was once the scene of bloody battles between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines. The Val Mivola awaits visitors with a warm welcome and a myriad of characteristic and lively towns to discover. 

Serra De' Conti, Museum of Monastic Arts