The aim of “Lifestyle Italy” is to list recent openings of hotels, hotel re-openings, new services in existing hotels, restaurants and shops as well as new flights and transport news. * This is a press release from the Italian State Tourist Board.
NEW HOTELS
VISTA HOTEL (5*) DE LUXE IN COMO
Opened on 1 June in the centre of Como, the Vista Hotel offers 18 Luxury suites, a whole floor dedicated to leisure with a restaurant and library and it is hosted in the historic Palazzo Venezia in the central Piazza Cavour. www.vistalagodicomo.it
LORDS OF VERONA LUXURY CONDOTEL(5*)
Hosted in a historic palazzo and a tower dating from the 13th century in Verona it offers 32 luxury serviced apartments equipped with the latest high tech facilities and furnished in modern style. www.allegroitalia.it
ACTIVE LUXURY RESORT CAMPZERO (5*) IN AOSTA VALLEY
The Active Luxury Resort Camp Zero in Champoluc (Aosta Valley) is a new eco-sustainable resort. It offers 30 suites all with private garden, a Spa and swimming pool, an aromatic herbs garden with mountain views, a boulder bar and a golf club, and a gourmet restaurant. www.campzero.com
HOTEL HEUREKA (5*) IN VENICE
Situated in the Cannareggio area of Venice and housed in a renovated 16th century palazzo, the new Hotel Heureka is a new luxury hotel in the Serenissima. All of the 10 rooms are luxuriously appointed with Christian Lacroix soft furnishings and Julia Khol painting. Cocktails and breakfast are served in the inner garden of the hotel.
www.hotel-heureka.com
VOI MARSA SICLA' HOTEL, NEAR SCICLI IN SICILY
A new Voi Hotels has recently been opened in Sampieri di Scicli, Inspector Montalbano country in Sicily, in a setting full of history, art, natural beauty and pristine beaches. www.voihotels.com/it/voi-marsa-sicla-resort
SINA FLORA HOTEL (5*) IN CAPRI
The Sina Villa Flora Hotel is a boutique hotel situated in a strategic position on the island of Capri, near the famous Piazzetta, but at the same time in a peaceful location overlooking the Faraglioni and the Certosa di San Giacomo. It offers 24 rooms and suites, panoramic swimming pool and solarium where breakfast is served in the good season. www.sinahotels.com/it/news/sina-flora-capri.html
MONASTERO DI CORTONA HOTEL & SPA (4*), in Cortona, Tuscany
The Monastero is the result of an extensive transformation from an old convent to a luxury Hotel and Spa in the charming town of Cortona in Tuscany. The old refectory is now the hall and in the bar area there are fragments of a fresco from the 17th century, the rooms are decorated with light and warm tones. The old cistern has been transformed into a spa and outside there is a garden and an open air pool. www.monasterodicortona.com
PRINCIPE DI LAMPEDUSA HOTEL (4*) IN PALERMO
The new Principe di Lampedusa Boutique Hotel in the central Piazza Borsa in Palermo was inaugurated in June 18 after a careful restoration work of an early 20th century building. The hotel is decorated in modern style and it is near the major attractions of the Sicilian capital. http://www.principedilampedusa.it/languages/en/
NEW HOSTEL IN SANTA SEVERA CASTLE, LAZIO
The magnificent Castello di Santa Severa along the northern Lazio coast now hosts a hostel for young people and families. It offers 40 bedrooms in its historic surroundings, restaurant, bar, café' and local produce shop. In other areas, the Castle also lends itself as wedding location, event and entertainment space and can hosts meetings, seminars and conferences. http://www.castellodisantasevera.it/
RE-OPENINGSAND NEW SERVICES
RE-OPENING OF THE HILTON TURIN LINGOTTO (4*)IN TURIN
The Turin Lingotto Hotel has recently been re-opened under the brand Double Tree by Hilton and now offers 141 rooms and one presidential suite. The restaurant and other public spaces have been renovated and their design updated. The Hotel is housed in the famous Fiat factory in the Lingotto area of the city.
http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/italy/doubletree-by-hilton-turin-lingotto-TRNTLDI/index.html
RE-OPENING OF THE MELIA VILLA CAPRI (5*)IN CAPRI
The boutique hotel Melia Villa Capri has recently been re-opened in Anacapri and affords wonderful views over the sea. The hotel offers 19 rooms and suites all luxuriously appointed with direct access to the private terrace on the roof, a Spa and a swimming pool covered with a blue tile mosaic. www.melia.com/en/hotels/italy/capri/melia-villa-capri/index.html
NH COLLECTION HOTEL PORTA ROSSA IN FLORENCE AND MILANO PRESIDENT IN MILAN NOW 5*
The NH Collection Hotel Porta Rossa in Florence is now a 5*. The 72 room hotel is housed in an historic Renaissance palazzo and adjacent tower and all its rooms are decorated with minimalist furniture. The new Savini Tartufi Restaurant offers truffle specialities and it is also open to the general public. The Milano President Hotel offers 274 rooms in the heart of Milan and has recently launched within its Bar le Colonne the new Panhini concept, a truly local tradition offering a wide range of paninis created by the Company's three Michelin-starred chefs: Chris Naylor, Paco Roncero and Oscar Velasco. www.nh-hotels.com/hotel/nh-collection-firenze-porta-rossa
COLOSSEUM SUITE HOTEL (5*) IN ROME
The Necci Hotel Group had added the Colosseum Suite Hotel to their portfolio. The Hotel comprised four luxury suites situated very near the Colosseum, all furnished with luxury furniture, marble and travertine stone. http://www.colosseumsuite.com
ROMANTIK HOTEL THE INN AT THE ROMAN FORUM IN ROME
The Hotel chain Romantik Hotels has recently acquired and re-launched the Inn at the Forum which is situated near the Roman Forum. The Hotel is an historic landmark in itself as it hosts corridors and a crypt which was part of the Forum and a terrace with breath-taking views over the Colosseum, Piazza Venezia, Capitol Hill and the Forum.
www.romantikhotels.com/it/alberghi/romantik-hotel-the-inn-at-the-roman-forum-roma
MODICA BEACH RESORT (4*) IN SICILY
Eden Hotels has recently re-opened the Modica Beach Resort situated on the south-east coast of Sicily near the Baroque town of Modica. The hotel is near the beach and offers 111 rooms and suites, private beach, a Spa, swimming pool and solarium, restaurant and bar. https://modicabeachresort.edenhotels.it
CHOCOLATE SUITE AT THE GOLDEN PALACE HOTEL IN TURIN
Not only a luxury suite but also a veritable interactive experience awaits chocolate lovers at the Golden Palace Hotel in Turin. There the guest will find visual installations dedicated to the “food of the Gods”, multi-sensorial experiences culminating with a delectable chocolate tasting. The suite is the invention of Guido Gobino, patron of one of the most important labels in fine chocolate production.
http://www.goldenpalace.it/suite-a-tema/suite-cioccolato/
THE GRAND HOTEL VILLA SERBELLONI ON LAKE COMO – 100 ANNIVERSARY OF THE BUCHER FAMILY OWNERSHIP
The grande-dame of Lake Como, the iconic Villa Serbelloni celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Bucher family ownership. Celebrations include a culinary journey at the Michelin starred Mistral Restaurant going back 100 years with long forgotten recipes and mouth-watering menus. La Goletta Restaurant, ideal place for a family lunch or dinner also offers delicious meals overlooking the lake.
https://www.villaserbelloni.com/
NEW SERVICES AT THE MASSERIA TRAPANA IN PUGLIA AND FONTELUNGA HOTE& VILLAS IN TUSCANY
The Masseria Trapana in Puglia has updated its wellness offer by introducing a new space in its subterranean space (where olives used to be stores) with a Spa with two treatments rooms, a plunge pool and outdoor shower. Yoga classes are available in the citrus garden. http://www.trapana.com/en/
A new Yoga Gazebo has also been introduced at the boutique hotel Fontelunga & Villas which is in addition to their outdoor terrace overlooking the Val di Chiana countryside, the swimming pool, hot tub and tennis court. https://fontelunga.com/
NEW NIKKI BEACH CLUB IN COSTA SMERALDA, SARDINIA
The new Nikki Beach Club Costa Smeralda opened in mid June in Cala Petra Ruja. The iconic brand now offers to visitors exclusive beach facilities such as open air restaurant, relax area, bars, parasols and loungers on the beach. It's exclusivity I guaranteed by being only accessible by boat or yacht and the wide range of activities it offers.
NEW RESTAURANTS/SHOPS
GUCCI OSTERIA IN FLORENCE
The recently opened Gucci Osteria is an experiential restaurant overseen by the three-Michelin-starred chef Massimo Bottura and housed in the Gucci Garden, a new concept store near the Uffizi Gallery. Prices are not above €30 for each dish, so comparatively affordable. www.gucci.com/it/it/store/osteria-bottura
LOCANDA PERBELLINI and AIMO E NADIA BISTRO IN MILAN
Two famous restaurants have opened their new ventures in Milan. The Michelin starred chef Giancarlo Perbellini, of the Perbellini Restaurant in Verona, has recently opened the Locanda Perbellini in the Brera area of Milan where he offers same exquisite quality dishes at reasonable prices in a cosy and elegant restaurant. https://locandaperbellini.it/
Aimo e Nadia, already well know in Milan for their first restaurant recently opened the BistRo of the same name in Via Bandello, styled by the star designer Rossana Orlandi with colourful furnishing. www.bistroaimoenadia.com
RE-OPENING OF THE CAFFE' QUADRI IN VENICE
The historic Caffe' Quadri in St Mark's Square re-opened in April, extensively restored and re-designed by the famous architect Philippe Starck. The Caffe' dates back from the 18th century and many of its features have been sympathetically restored in keeping with the original design. However, Philippe Starck also included more modern elements such as the wall paper on the first floor now featuring satellites and astronauts instead of gondolas and carriages.
www.alajmo.it/en/sezione/grancaffe-quadri/grancaffe-quadri
CRACCO IN GALLERIA IN MILAN
The star chef Carlo Cracco opened his new restaurant in Milan at the end of February. Situated in the iconic Galleria in Milan it comprises 5 floors all dedicated to the culinary expertise of Cracco. On the ground floor we find the Café' with its stucco walls, mosaic floor and bar desk dating from the early 19th century Paris. The proper Restaurant is situated on the first floor, 3 rooms plus 2 private function rooms, a mix of innovative design and traditional features with windows over the Piazza and the Galleria. The other floors include an event space, an art gallery and in the basement a wine cellar with the most famous labels dedicated to tasting and selling wines. www.ristorantecracco.it
TRANSPORT NEWS
NEW FLIGHTS FROM THE U.K. and EIRE TO ITALY
Please consult airline's website for more details
EASYJET
Easyjet will operate its London Gatwick-Bari route in winter as well as summer. In winter the flights will be twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
A new flight London Gatwick-Ancona has been introduced for the summer season, twice a week (Wednesdays and Saturdays)
Also there is a new Belfast-Venice flight operated twice a week.
More info on: www.easyjet.com
RYANAIR
New routes introduced as from summer from Manchester to Cagliari, Palermo and Treviso. More info on: www.ryanair.com
BRITISH AIRWAYS
BA introduced two new services from Manchester and Edinburgh to Florence in Tuscany. More info on: www.ba.com
AIR MALTA
Air Malta now flies from London-Southend to Cagliari and Catania for the summer '18 season. More info on www.airmalta.com
ITALO HIGH SPEED TRAIN
A new train service has been introduced by high-speed train operator, Italo from Turin to Venice, passing through Milan, Lake Garda,Verona and Padua and reaching Venice in 2 and a half hours (Milan-Venice) www.italotreno.it
Stefania Gatta,
Press and Communications Executive
Italian National Tourist Board
E-mail: stefania.gatta@enit.it
*NB: The hotels, restaurants and other services mentioned in this Bulletin are listed for information only and this is not meant to be interpreted as a recommendation for any particular establishment. The Italian Tourist Board does not have photos or PR contacts for the establishments featured in this bulletin, please contact the hotel/restaurant directly should you need more information.
Information is correct at date of publication.
July 2018
