The winner of the 2022 Unconventional Breakfast Awards, the competition presenting breakfasts for travellers with specific dietary needs or preferences, was the Campania region. The winning recipe was a vegan and gluten-free Torta Caprese and the regional contestants presented it in a fun and engaging storytelling way that harked back to the days of Al Capone. 

Lombardy, Piedmont and Apulia also triumphed

Lombardy and Piedmont tied in second place with Lombardy’s Rice Porridge with Saffron and Dried and Dehydrated Fruit, and Piedmont’s IGP Hazelnut Cake. Both regions produced versions suitable for unconventional foodies from vegan to gluten-free and lactose-free as well as foods for athletes and that are halal and kosher-friendly. Apulia placed third with the Carrubotto, a new and unprecedented version of the Pasticciotto using a carob.  

Eco-sustainability and the non-waste were important elements

All nine regional teams taking part in the challenge, devised by Concetta D'Emma, were praised by the 13 judges for the originality of their creations. The judges also based the rankings on the history of the products, their connection to the participating regions, their eco-sustainability and the non-waste methods adopted by the contestants. 

Hotel guests become regional ambassadors

“The beauty of this challenge is that it provided a new awareness for those who work in tourism, of the need to go beyond the status quo, involving hotel guests in the process by turning them into  testimonials of the properties as well as regional ambassadors for the local specialities,” added Concetta D’Emma. 

Riccardo Canella born in 1985 in Padua is the new executive chef of the Belmond Cipriani in Venice.

He has worked with some of the world's greatest masters such as Gualtiero Marchesi, Fabrizio Molteni and Massimiliano Alajmo. He also worked with René Redzepi for seven years, as sous chef of the acclaimed Noma in Copenhagen.

The Oro restaurant is scheduled to open on 10 March 2022

Cannella will take the reins of the Oro restaurant when it reopens for the 2022 season; this is scheduled for 10 March. The chef will also express his culinary creativity at Cip's Club, Porticciolo and the Gabbiano Bar as well as at private dinners and events.

“Venice is a magical and mysterious landscape”

Canella says that returning to Italy, tiptoeing into what is his homeland, in a landscape as magical and mysterious as Venice, is the only avenue he would have taken to test himself at this point in his career. “I am happy and extremely lucky to finally express my way of cooking through this amazing destination which has so many stories to tell and treasures to be brought to light."

Follonica is a magical small town on the Maremma coast of Tuscany surrounded by kilometres of wild and unspoiled nature where you can spot dolphins and other marine species.

Its long stretches of white sand beaches are part of the Cetacean Sanctuary, an internationally protected area that is committed to protecting marine mammals and their habitats.

In a place like this, where nature remains the protagonist, the best choice is to stay at The Sense Experience Resort, where you can live and breathe the true essence of the wild Tuscan Maremma region.

A protected marine area

Follonica, along with Grosseto, Elba and the other islands of the Tuscan archipelago, are the heart of the International Cetacean Sanctuary. Thanks to an agreement between the Principality of Monaco, France and Italy, this protected marine area defends the habitat from the negative impacts of human activity. It is a protected basin of 87,500 square kilometres and is the richest area of marine fauna in the entire Mediterranean.

You can spot 12 species of mammals

According to an estimate, there are 12 species of mammals here: the fin whale, the second largest animal in the world, the sperm whale, the common dolphin, the bottlenose dolphin, a rare species of dolphin, the striped dolphin, Risso’s dolphin which belongs to the same family of dolphin and the pilot whale. Among the rarest species, the minke whale, orca and pseudorca can also be found here.

Visitor groups are accompanied by marine biologists

Boat excursions are organized during the spring-summer months to visit the marvellous cliffs overlooking the sea and the solitary idyllic beaches. Groups are accompanied by marine biologists and given the chance to spot turtles, manta rays, swordfish, tuna, sunfish, seagulls and other seabirds, with lunch served on board.

Exclusive stays at The Sense Experience Resort

Connecting with this truly unspoiled nature is good for both the heart and the mind, and can only be optimised by staying at the Icon Collection Group’s The Sense Experience Resort. This exclusive resort in a five-hectare nature park overlooks the sea and has a private beach. Among the services available there is also a heated outdoor swimming pool. The resort consists of five buildings with 112 keys including Comfort, Deluxe and Superior rooms and different types of thematic suites as well as two-bedroom suites with sea views and outdoor Jacuzzis.

Fine dining and a popular bar

Discovering this area extends naturally and delectably to the table. The culinary offerings are  curated by the Executive Chef Franco Manfredi who enhances the quality raw ingredients and local products, creating traditional Tuscan dishes. There are two restaurants, the à la carte Dimorà and the new fine dining Eatè restaurant directly on the beach. And the Red Rabbit Mixology Bar is a another favourite with guests.

Planning a bike tour in Italy, but you’re not quite sure how to get around? On Cyclando you will find a selection of exciting Italian cycling tours from the best tour operators in the sector. To book one all you have to do is click, and you will be ready to leave immediately for your next adventure!

A cycling tour is a slow travel experience

There are many bicycle trails and paths in Italy and it can often be difficult to decide which type of trip you really want. The mountains or the sea? Cities or small towns? Exploring Italy by bike is a unique travel experience that allows you to discover the country’s incredible variety of landscapes and its vast cultural heritage. And it is the perfect way to experience green and slow travel. 

The best way to explore Italy is by bike

The many existing Italian cycle paths and trails have increased in recent years, and they connect different geographical areas and regions, ensuring that cyclists get to see every corner of the country. From north to south you will find that Italy has not only splendid art cities but also ancient villages and unspoiled landscapes, and the best and easiest way to see them is, of course, on a bicycle. 

Many cycle paths start from Milan

So if you are planning a bicycle tour of Italy these are some of the itineraries you must not miss: the St. Moritz – Milan cycle path, tours of Sicily, the Eroica route, the scenic Drava cycle path, the Po Delta and Ferrara, the Via Francigena and Umbria, which is the green heart of Italy. Milan, which is usually regarded a business city, is actually a focal point for cycle paths in the north, and it is in this city that some of the most beautiful itineraries start, connecting it with the Valtellina region, with Lake Como and with the Swiss Alps. A cycling trip in Italy is an experience you will never forget!

For more information click here. 

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The Chianti Ultra Trail, which runs from 25 to 27 March, is a Chianti Classico endurance test through the vineyards and cellars of one of the world's most famous wines. Many itineraries and events are planned to learn about the colour, taste, and secrets of Chianti Classico, including the first edition of the Chianti Walk Taste, a food and wine walk to get lost in the region's flavours and colours.

The Chianti Ultra Trail is a fascinating endurance race

The fourth edition of the Chianti Ultra Trail, one of Italy's most fascinating endurance races, winds through vineyards and along dirt roads. Ultra Wine also returns with the trail, with a calendar of events in collaboration with Casa Chianti Classico: a programme of visits with tastings in historic cellars, sensorial and museum itineraries, introductions to the art of the sommelier and outdoor buffet dinners - all by reservation to ensure maximum safety.

A variety of Chianti Classico routes to choose from

In collaboration with Casa Chianti Classico, a series of events will accompany the racing weekend, including a stroll through the cellars that make this wine one of the most famous and best loved around the world. From Friday 25 March there will be a variety of routes to choose from, including wineries, castles, and museums; each one the perfect way to immerse yourself in this delightful region.

The first food and wine walk is a highlight

The Chianti Walk Taste, the first food and wine walk between Pievi and Castelli, organised by the Pro loco of Gaiole in Chianti and Chianti Live Sports, is one of the edition's highlights. Scheduled at 11 a.m. on Sunday 27 March, three tasting stops are included along the 8-kilometre route The first stop is at Meleto Castle, the second at the Verdimonti farm, and the third when you arrive in Gaiole in Chianti.

A blindfolded wine tasting and a sommelier course

Participants will walk through the interactive rooms at the Casa Chianti Classico with a "blindfolded" glass of wine in hand, intent on recognising its main characteristics and appreciating its colours, aromas, and taste. In addition to the tour, you can attend the Become a Sommelier in 30 Minutes seminar in the Friars' former refectory, led by an expert sommelier.

A tasting path and a guided cellar tour

The historic Dievole company has two proposals for the Chianti Ultra Trail. The first is a technical tasting path, an intense sensory experience of discovering four E.V.Os and DOP wines. The second is a guided tour of the wine cellar, the barrel cellar, and the ancient cellar, concluding in the elegant Wine Club with a tasting of the best Tuscan wines.

An elegant buffet dinner

The buffet dinner will be in the cloister of the historic building, accompanied by the greatest Chianti Classico wines. This is a unique opportunity to relax in the evocative atmosphere of an ancient Franciscan monastery, now the seat of the Consorzio Casa Chianti Classico and home to the sensory museum.

The Langhe and Roero Road is a romantic mosaic of infinite landscapes, vineyards and charming small towns.  Impossible to embrace them in a single glance: it is better to discover them one at a time, following roads and paths that allow you, little by little, to reconstruct an entire universe.

A true journey of discovery 

This romantic trail introduces visitors to a landscape that is both unique and multifaceted through aspects that, by tradition or suggestion, are able to evoke its overall spirit. From hilltops or in the shade of ancient towers, visitors will find ideas and suggestions that beckon them to continue on their journey of discovery.

Eleven observation points

Along the trail there are eleven places of rest and observation: panoramic points that invite visitors to take time for themselves, to sit down and read a book or to relax and chat with friends. 

A land of wines, truffles and hazelnuts 

From stage to stage, as you discover some of the most fascinating panoramas in the world, coming into contact with the jewels of this land: its luxuriant wine production, its truffles and its hazelnuts. You will also discover its centuries-old traditions, the little gems of rural architecture to be found in its villages and on its hillsides, the castles and towers from the feudal era and the sumptuous residences that peek out from parks and woodlands.

Over one hundred kilometres of roads and paths

The Romantic Road of Langhe and Roero is a physical and emotional journey. Over one hundred kilometres of roads and paths set in a landscape of irresistible charm, and through places packed with infinite emotions as you explore this welcoming region and delight in its beauty.