A food and wine tour in the historic villages of Trentino

In its valleys the Trentino region encompasses a host of small romantic villages – recognized by the association of “Borghi più Belli d’Italia” (“the most beautiful villages of Italy”) – with stone houses, courtyards and old barns, each offering home-style recipes worth tasting, the ideal locations for a romantic trip to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Your couple’s itinerary can start from Canale di Tenno, a medieval village on a hill overlooking the turquoise waters of Lake Tenno. A little further on, you’ll find Rango, an amazing example of rural alpine architecture. After a walk hand-in-hand among its barns and cobbled streets, make sure you try the famous Bleggio walnut pie. From here, you can set off again towards San Lorenzo in Banale, set between the Brenta Dolomites and Lake Garda. Scattered over seven hamlets, this village is an invitation to discover ancient rural traditions and tasty traditional food.

Overlooking Lake Idro you’ll find Bondone, an ancient village of coalmen. There you can venture into its labyrinth of lanes admiring the frescoes that decorate the facades of the houses. Try an energizing polenta carbonera, a hit of the cuisine from Trentino. Then move to the eastern side of Trentino to discover romantic Mezzano. The village at the foot of the wonderful Pala Group will bowl you over with its cataste e canzei, a permanent exhibition of wooden architectures. Before leaving try tosela di Primiero, a local cheese best sampled with polenta and luganega from Trentino. Your romantic tour through the historic villages of Trentino can end in Vigo di Fassa, a sunny village from which you can admire the Marmolada, the queen of the Dolomites, as she turns pink at sunset. Don’t miss out on visiting a couple of museums and tasting typical Ladin dishes like cajoncie da fighes and cher de fascia.

Three days immersed in the beauty of Maremma

If you want a Valentine’s Day at a slow pace dedicated to wellness and culture, we recommend a romantic weekend in the Maremma area, in southern Tuscany. Enjoy thermal springs, historic villages and idyllic landscapes. Your ideal starting point could be Saturnia. The town features an archaeological park hosting ruins from the Etruscan and Roman ages, striking natural waterfalls of thermal water – the Cascate del Mulino – as well as some of the most famous thermal baths in the world, dating as far back as ancient times. Having left Saturnia, head for Sovana, in the heart of the Tuff area. Sovana is a noteworthy Etruscan center, medieval and Renaissance village, and episcopal center. It will amaze you with its houses carved out of tuff and its exquisite medieval palaces. Just beyond it, you’ll come across Sorano. The ancient city was founded in the most flourishing Etruscan period. Browse workshops of the craftsmen and women who make and sell picturesque ceramic artefacts, visit the Renaissance fortress and the archaeological park of the City of Tuff, with its necropolis carved into the rocks.

Your next stop will be Pitigliano, a center built thousands of years ago, located on a cliff, also carved out of tuff. Plan your visit at sunset, and treat your eyes to a host of breathtaking, romantic views. Pitigliano preserves traces of prehistoric settlements, Etruscan tombs and Roman ruins. You can also stroll through the old alleys of the Jewish ghetto, which earned it the title of “Little Jerusalem”. Appreciate the excellent white wines produced locally, especially the Bianco di Pitigliano. To round off your romantic trip, we recommend Capalbio. This historic village is surrounded by walls and full of medieval architecture, skimmed by the rolling hills of the Maremma scrub and unspoilt beaches. Last but not least, before leaving, take a stroll in the beautiful nature reserve surrounding the shores of Lake Burano.

A romantic weekend at Lake Garda

Lake Garda offers the right combination of relaxation, nature and culture, perfect for a Valentine’s Day packed with ideas and attractions. The most suitable location for your sweet weekend for two has to be Sirmione, with its peninsula stretching out on the lake, its striking views and historic center. Sirmione is fascinating to cover on foot, to explore attractions like the Scaligero Castle and the Roman ruins of the Grottoes of Catullus, and the location’s characteristic alleys. It is also an amazing destination to visit on board a motorboat, for an ultra-scenic perspective of this beautiful town. As well as the rich cultural wealth offered by its historic center, Sirmione is also an ideal venue for a relaxing trip thanks to its famous thermal baths, overlooking the lake, as their famous waters have unrivalled therapeutic and preventive properties.

In the evening, head to nearby Desenzano. Enjoy an aperitif and dinner, and take a romantic walk along the walls of the Castle, admiring the lights of the lake from above. Your romantic tour can then continue further north, in Gardone Riviera. It is one of the most famous resorts of Lake Garda, affording amazing views of Mount Baldo. Here you can visit the “Vittoriale degli italiani”, residence of Gabriele D’Annunzio. A little farther on, you’ll find the renowned center of Salò, rich in history, architecture and art, where you can stroll along the pretty lakefront or enjoy some typical Garda cuisine, with delicious dishes made from freshly caught fish.

Recharge your batteries in an original maso in South Tyrol

If you want to pamper yourself with a Valentine’s Day in Italy dedicated not only to the mind and body, but also to the palate, choose something different. A trip of discovery to South Tyrol, and a stay in one of its traditional masi, ancient rural homes turned into cozy agritourism facilities and excellent bed & breakfasts. In the masi of the “Gallo Rosso” group, 1.600 ‘holiday farms’ scattered all over South Tyrol, in both isolated and central locations, you can enjoy an out-of-the ordinary experience, rediscovering old agricultural customs at a slow pace. This is the perfect occasion to taste some authentic flavors, enjoy rural life surrounded by nature and also recuperate your psychological and physical wellbeing with hay saunas, milk baths, detoxifying treatments and reinvigorating massages.

And while relaxing the mind and pampering the body, it’s then time to take care of your taste buds. The host of the maso will offer you the chance to taste the typical home cooking of South Tyrol, full of local produce and characteristic flavors. You will also learn how to recognize herbs and the virtues of plants, secrets handed down from generation to generation. And if there is some other aspect of country life that interests you, aside from wellness, just ask! There is a maso for all needs and tastes: in addition to masi dedicated to wellness, in the Gallo Rosso group you will find also masi specialized in sports activities, food & wine, organic farming and historic houses, all perfectly kept, providing you with the ideal opportunity to immerse yourself in the splendor of bygone days.

Valentine’s Day in Verona, the city of love

A Valentine’s Day in Italy wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the City of Love. If for Valentine’s Day you want to spend a weekend with your partner in the ultimate romantic location, there is only one obvious choice: Verona, the city where Shakespeare set the most famous romance of all times: that of Romeo and Juliet. The myth of the two lovers lives again in the medieval Juliet’s House, but also in the ancient squares of the city, its lanes, courtyards, fascinating views and along the meanders of river Adige. To mark Valentine’s Day, the city of Verona is organizing the event Verona in Love. From February 9 to 14, 2025, the most atmospheric corners of the city, from Piazza Bra to Juliet’s House, will be decorated and illuminated in red; there will also be markets in the city with local handicrafts (in the classic heart shape), tastings, guided walks for couples in search of the secrets and legends of Romeo and Juliet, themed evenings and many other romantic surprises. New this year is a music competition for young Italian cantautori, where the best love song will be awarded the Premio Arte d’Amore. Sports enthusiasts, on the other hand, can prove their fitness in the footsteps of Romeo and Juliet in the half marathon on February 15 through the city of love.

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Milano Cortina 2026 and On Location, the official hospitality provider for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, have announced that ticket-inclusive hospitality and overnight packages will go on sale in November 2024.

The Milano Cortina 2026 hospitality program will be the largest in Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games history, offering more people than ever before the opportunity to enjoy an elevated service at the Olympic Winter Games, courtesy of a vast range of hospitality experiences and price points.

Hospitality packages offer fans guaranteed tickets to their favorite events with access to a variety of accommodation and entertainment options that suit their needs and budgets. These options range from in-venue private suites, premium shared lounges, unique hospitality spaces and premium hotels, to entry-level hospitality offerings.

This is the first time in Olympic Games history that fans will have the opportunity to secure these packages before they officially go on sale to the general public. A fully refundable Priority Access deposit of €200 will give fans first choice of the most in-demand sporting events with premium seating, service and hospitality experiences, accommodation in exclusive hotels, dedicated transportation to competition venues, haute cuisine prepared by renowned chefs, Olympic and Paralympic champion meet-and-greets, and more. 

On Location delivers premium hospitality experiences for major sports and entertainment events, as a result it has been appointed as the first exclusive, official hospitality provider of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The official Olympic Winter Games Hospitality Program is the only guaranteed and safe way to buy ticket-inclusive hospitality packages. 

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Originally constructed as the Assicurazioni Generali headquarters between 1897 and 1901, Palazzo Venezia’s design sought inspiration from architect and historian Luca Beltrami, who played a pivotal role in the restoration of the area between the late 19th and early 20th century. The reopening of this historic building under Meliá Hotels International kickstarts the redevelopment of Piazza Cordusio, a square that connects the Duomo to Sforzesco Castle.

The original Generali Assicurazioni emblems have been incorporated in the design, paying homage to the history of the building and original esthetics of the era.

Along with the interior restoration, 84 rooms and suites have been created, each characterized by grand windows and, in some rooms, private balconies with views of Piazza Cordusio, Via Orefici, Viadei Mercanti and the Duomo.

Palazzo Cordusio Gran Meliá brings renowned dining experiences to Milan. The hotel opening introduces four new homegrown concepts to Palazzo Venezia’s dining scene with Gioia Pasticceria, Giardino Cordusio, Isola Restaurant and SACHI. Gioia Pasticceria offers fresh pastries to be enjoyed with the hotel’s ground-floor views overlooking the Square; Giardino Cordusio, an upscale champagne bar and lounge, is located in the hotel’s internal courtyard; Isola offers Italian dishes and an extensive selection of wine pairings; and SACHI, a well-established culinary experience in London led by Chef Moon Kyung Soo, offers Japanese cuisine.

Other facilities include an indoor swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath, relaxation lounge, and a gym with views of the Palazzo della Ragione and Piazza Mercanti.

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This year, it’s not “Ho, ho, ho” that ushers in the festive season, but a hearty “Buongiorno”, as Santa Claus has taken up residence at Villa d’Este on Lake Como. With life-size nutcrackers, festive decorations, a cozy greenhouse and a chocolate room that invites guests to sample traditional treats, the Grand Hotel promises a feast for the senses that captures the magic of a Christmas fairy tale in all its facets.

Since Villa d’Este was converted into a grand hotel in 1873, it has been considered the place to be on Lake Como – but until now only in the warmer months, as it traditionally remained closed in winter. To mark its 150th anniversary, it opened for the first time last year over the Christmas period and caused a sensation with an Advent spectacle. This year, the Villa d’Este will once again shine in winter splendor and transform into a glamorous winter residence until January 6, 2024.

The extravagant Christmas decorations, created by floral designer Vincenzo Dascanio, transport visitors to a fairytale world. Glittering trees line the colonnade like an avenue and the sweeping staircase becomes a stage, decorated with ornaments, berry branches and dozens of nutcrackers.

A specially built greenhouse overlooking the lake is transformed into a cozy oasis, furnished with velvet sofas, tartan cushions and two fireplaces, where you can relax with afternoon tea, an aperitif in the evening and live music. A chocolate paradise awaits those with a sweet tooth in the Sala Colonne, where Christmas desserts, pralines and homemade panettone can be enjoyed and even purchased as souvenirs. Patissier Fabrizio Bertola offers baking courses for those who want to get hands-on.

Other culinary highlights are provided by the hotel’s renowned head chef, Michele Zambanini, with special festive menus. From the traditional fish menu on December 24th to the Christmas lunch with on Christmas Day. The New Year is rung in with a seven-course New Year’s Eve menu, where caviar, lobster, truffles and fillet of beef are served with the best French and Italian wines. The gala night culminates in a colorful fireworks display on the lake, followed by the most glamorous party on the longest night of the year.

About Villa d’Este

Villa d’Este, one of The Leading Hotels of the World, is home to 152 rooms and luxury suites as well as four elegant private villas and is located directly on the shores of Lake Como, which is considered the most beautiful lake in Italy with its impressive landscape and is synonymous with glamor. The legendary estate not only impresses with its extraordinary atmosphere and listed architecture, but also with its extensive park, the famous nymphaeum with its numerous fountains and water features and the pool floating on the lake. Villa d’Este is around 40 minutes by car from Milan Malpensa Airport.

Photos: Villa d’Este

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And so even in the city you can feel a little bit of vacation, sipping a drink at sunset or daring the last swims in the pool, strictly with a view. For those who do not resign themselves to the end of summer, here are some of the most interesting and best rooftops in Italy where you can enjoy the view and relax.

Merano, wellness and panoramas

Those who are planning a mountain getaway to take advantage of the last mild days can make a reservation at Hotel Therme Merano, South Tyrol’s only spa hotel, which on the top floor counts on the Sky Spa’s panoramic terrace with breathtaking views of the city’s rooftops and the surrounding mountains. Here, after relaxing in the infinity pool or with a massage, you can try the cocktails offered by the barman such as the Sky Aperitif made with limoncello produced directly by the hotel, Prosecco and Bio Lemon. Or, choose the non-alcoholic Healthy with apple, ginger, cucumber and lemon.

Milan, drinks with a skyline view

The atmosphere becomes decidedly more metropolitan and contemporary in Milan, where there are several spots from which to admire the Milanese skyline with a cocktail in hand.

Going up to the 13th floor of the Hyatt Centric Milan Centrale there is a terrace, 131 feet high, where you will find the Organics SkyGarden, a project that aims to mix art, music, fashion, flavor and design, born from the organic and non-alcoholic beverages The Organics by Red Bull. The terrace is open daily from 6pm to midnight and also hosts live music and DJ sets. The Organics SkyGarden rooftop is also present in Rome at the Aleph Hotel and in Courmayeur at the intermediate station of Skyway Monte Bianco, Pavillon The Mountain.

Also in Milan, one of the scenic novelties is Vertigo, the new rooftop of the nhow Milano hotel in the Tortona District, a district now with a focus on fashion and design among its revamped industrial architecture. The terrace with its 8.000 square feet of space, houses 3 circular pools, a lounge area with cocktail bar, a solarium area and an Infinity Pool.

Casa Baglioni Milan, the latest address from the Baglioni Hotels & Resorts collection, has officially launched its new Milanese rooftop bar: Casa Baglioni Rooftop by Sadler. Nestled within the iconic Brera district – the only local rooftop serving Michelin-starred gastronomy – Rooftop by Sadler offers breathtaking, 360-degree panoramic views of Milan’s most iconic landmarks, including the Duomo Cathedral and the skyline of Porta Nuova. It is open daily from 6pm to 1am and offers guests some of the Chef’ Claudio Sadler’s iconic dishes as well as a selection of signature cocktails.

Tuscan rooftop in Lucca

An aperitif overlooking the Tuscan skyline is the experience offered by the historic hotel Grand Universe Lucca. Nestled in the heart of this vibrant city, Grand Universe Lucca offers breathtaking views of Saint Martino’s Cathedral, all the churches, monuments, and towers. Take in sweeping views of Lucca’s historic city center and the majestic Piazza del Giglio as you enjoy a glass of champagne under the open sky at our luxurious hotel’s rooftop bar. The Sommità Martin Orsyn Champagne rooftop overlooks Piazza Napoleone and is an ideal place to relax after a tour of the city.

Rome, dinner with the Eternal City

Fall is sweet in Rome and you can savor it even after shopping in Rinascente on Via del Tritone. Going up to the top floor at Maio Restaurant & Rooftop, you can taste among the different specialties brand new dishes such as Cacio e Pepe Risotto with lime and chopped purple prawn, crispy egg Carbonara with Falisco pecorino cream, four peppers and crispy bacon.
The new menu features different options from morning to evening, for experiences to be associated with different moments of the day. Between contemporary design and city views, the restaurant is located on the 6th and 7th floors of Rinascente Roma and is open from 10 am until dinner.

Immerse in your personal Dolce Vita at the rooftop of Rome Marriott Grand Hotel Flora, right on top of the noble, iconic Via Veneto and next door to the Villa Borghese gardens and the 2000-year-old historic Roman walls. The Flora Roof Restaurant & Cocktail Bar is the terrace of a palace that was once the Ludovisi family’s hunting lodge. It has reopened its verandas to guests. There are at least three ways to experience this rooftop in the heart of the capital: a breakfast with the lights of the Roman sunrise, an unusual aperitif on the rooftops of the historic center or a dinner with the backdrop of the ‘Dome. 
The new open-air tasting and mixology ‘living room’ has a lounge area on one side and a restaurant area on the other, with a menu curated by the Neapolitan chef Massimo Piccolo.

Palazzo Ripetta, the new 5-star hotel in the center of Rome, inaugurates the Etere rooftop. Located between Piazza del Popolo and Piazza di Spagna, the hotel is inside a building which housed the Conservatorio della Divina Provvidenza in the 17th century; became a hotel in the 1960s after its renovation by architect Luigi Moretti and in 2020 jumped into the luxury segment thanks to a major redevelopment desired by the owners, the Ginobbi Group. The structure and the 78 rooms and suites were redesigned according to the standards of luxury hospitality: design, comfort and refined materials.

Now, with the inauguration of the terrace, Palazzo Ripetta Etere offers its customers a location with a view of the city’s history. Hidden on the fourth floor of Palazzo Ripetta, Etere, the new rooftop of the hotel is a mix of flair and design that concretizes the expression of the wine bar par excellence in shapes, structures and furnishings that in shades of red and gray run along the terrace, characterizing it and making it unique. Deliberately informal, Etere is an open-air cellar, where the selection of the bar is the master and the proposal of Executive Chef Marco Ciccotelli is an absolute certainty.

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In addition to the cultural and historical importance of the places, sustainable aspects of the tourist infrastructure, an intact old town without car traffic, the preservation of the architectural fabric, living traditions as well as the promotion of the quality of life play a significant role in the award as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.

14 new Villages in the “Borghi più belli d’Italia” association

Called the village of churches, Badolato is a medieval village characterized by narrow and winding alleys that intersect between the houses close to each other. Badolato is situated on a hill a few kilometers from the Ionic coast in Calabria. The hill dominates the wide valley of the torrent Gallipari, whose harsh strokes and the beauty can be admired in all their splendor. The road to the mountain and the plateau of Serre connects the ancient village with the s.s. 106 thus allowing the visitor to go in just a few minutes from the hot amenities of the ionian coast to the charm of a mountain still unspoiled. It divides in Badolato Village (or higher) and Badolato Marina. In Badolato’s ancient village you can visit 12 churches (the other 2 are located in the hamlet of Marina) that, for their position, seem almost to protect the country from all four sides.

Bagno di Romagna in Emilia-Romagna is a renowned center for thermal cares and nature tourism. It is located 56 miles southeast of Bologna. The nearby national park Parco Nazionale delle Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona, Campigna offers woodlands, miles of paths in the woods, mountains and a major artificial lake.

Borgo Valsugana, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, is situated between Levico and Primolano and not far from the idyllic Val di Sella in Trentino. It is the vibrant center of the Valsugana and features a characteristic river landscape. Not only historic buildings and portals characterise Borgo Valsugana, but also frescos and other decorative elements, which provide the village a Venetian style. Moreover the Brenta river which crosses Borgo, splits the village into two parts.  Well deserved being among the “Borghi più belli d’Italia”

Castagnole delle Lanze is a small Piedmontese village located in the province of Asti, embedded between the hills of the Langhe and Monferrato, in an area with a strong vocation for tourism and a deep-rooted winemaking tradition. Included within the World Heritage areas of southeastern Piedmont according to UNESCO, Castagnole delle Lanze is nestled among enchanting hills, long rows of vineyards and hazelnut groves typical of the area. The Piedmontese village is also an Orange Flag, an initiative that has been marking tourist excellence on Italian territory since 1998, and is a symbol of sustainable tourism, hospitality and high quality itineraries, thanks to the presence of a valuable natural, artistic and cultural heritage.

Celle Ligure is a small jewel of the Western Ligurian Riviera, overlooking the sea. The village has colorful houses lined up along the coast, sandy beaches and characteristic alleys overlooked by buildings of great artistic value, including Palazzo Ferri, the current Town Hall. Its historic center still retains the charm of the ancient fishing village. To fully enjoy the beauty of the country, there is nothing better than getting lost in the alleys and squares.

Golferenzo is an ancient village in the hills of Oltrepò Pavese in Lombardy, with magnetic charm and excellent food and wine. Curious tourists will find delicious and unusual panoramas in Golferenzo with vineyards nestled into the hillsides making excellent wines and Riesling and Pinot in particular.

Guarene in Piedmont, is a beautiful ancient town, perched on a hilltop with stunning views on the vineyards of the Langhe and Roero territories, recognized as a World Heritage site by Unesco. Large part of this old town is occupied by the Castle of Guarene, a finely designed baroque palace built between 1726 and 1775. Today, the palace continues to make people’s dreams come true. Preserved as it was in its heyday, with all its works of art intact, it is now also home to a top-class hotel. 

Malcesine, a picturesque village overlooking the Veronese shores of Lake Garda, dominates the lake and mountains with its castle: the ancient stronghold rises below the hills planted with olive groves; all around develops the village, rich in history and culture, while just outside the center, you can see natural beauty to be reached on foot, by boat or by cable car. The village of Malcesine actually extends over a large area, which includes coast and hill, protected behind by Mount Baldo: an area rich in natural beauty, history and culture. Malcesine definitely deserves to be on the list of “I Borghi più belli d’Italia”.

Discover the town of Ossana in Val di Sole, Trentino. Walk through the streets of the village with 1000 nativity scenes and visit Castel San Michele. Ossana lies at the mouth of the Val di Peio valley, at the foot of the peaks of the Presanella chain. The village is dominated by the Tower of the Castle of S. Michele (1191), which is nestled in a hill that has been inhabited since the Bronze Age.

Ronciglione is a ‘dual’ village: medieval, the village above, Renaissance the one added in 1500 by the Farnese family. The town in Latium, not far from Viterbo, boasts one of the 10 most beautiful Carnivals in Italy. It is also a stop on the Via Francigena North. Now, Ronciglione has been named as one of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages.

Where flavors become emotions! Sammichele di Bari in Apulia is located on the Murge Plateau and is built primarily on agriculture. On the last weekend of September, there is a festival called Sagra della Zampina, to promote the local products. The town’s castle houses the “Museo della civilltà contadina” in which there are pictures, utensils, and clothes concerning farmer’s life in the 19th century.

San Donato in Poggio is located in the middle of the classical Chianti territory of Tuscany.  The town has maintained much of its classical medieval architecture and has incorporated delicious restaurants, charming B&B accommodations and hosts several fun events throughout the year. Treat yourself to exploring a piece of the Tuscany that played an important role in the rise and fall of the Florence and Siena powers and contributes to the culinary and wine cultures of today.

By now, I am sure, you have noticed that mostly medieval towns have been included in the most beautiful villages in Italy. Stroncone in Umbria is another one. The historic center has preserved intact its enchanting medieval atmosphere, with narrow winding streets, beautiful stone doorways and an ancient well, which is just inside the walls near the beautiful gate called Porta del Borgo. At the entrance to town there is a monumental 17th-century fountain with an elegant design. 

Tempio Pausania is an enchanting, large town in the heart of Gallura, in north-eastern Sardinia, a “granite temple” surrounded by water and greenery, famous for its carnival, cork and moscato. The town is famous for working granite and cork, to which the cork machinery museum is dedicated, for its wines (Vermentino, Karana and Moscato), and for lu carrasciali timpiesu, an allegorical carnival par excellence that attracts 100,000 visitors every year. 

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Art and cuisine – where better to enjoy than in Italy?

Putting together two cornerstones of the Italianness makes powerful tourist attractions: art and cuisine. In Italy it is possible to eating (well) in exhibition spaces – whether in public museums or private galleries. Visitors can prolong their stay and move from the exhibition rooms to the dining rooms, becoming themselves destinations, as it already happened with some architectures. Now, a new museum restaurant has opened in Rome: Molto at the Galleria Borghese.

Molto’s culinary offer at the Galleria Borghese

Molto features a double soul: bistro and café (with classics of the genre, including croissants, cakes and club sandwiches) open to the public and not only visitors. The offer is tasty and simple, yet straightforward.

The menu is made up of tried and tested dishes as well as new proposals for a tasty, fresh and modern menu. Italian raw materials take center stage here: Gerardo di Nola tomatoes, bottarga of the Spanu brothers, and most of the vegetables from the kitchen garden. They range from Sardinian fregola pasta, cacio e pepe ravioli with artichoke, saffron rice pancake, or even lasagna. The take-away box invites to picnics in the Villa Borghese Garden, while the Giotto pastry shop offers Gobino chocolate, as well as other Molto brand products. Also available is Geraci’s Nocellara del Belice extra virgin olive oil, Molto rosso (from Pinot Nero grapes) and Molto bianco (from Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi grapes) wines, as well as pasta by Verrigni.

Molto is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 7 pm
Piazzale Scipione Borghese 5, 00197 Roma

More dining in museums

Eating in museums is no longer a taboo topic, as proven by the many new openings. From city to city, from museum to gallery, projects are on the rise.

Staying in Rome, there is also the renewed Caffè Doria at Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, café and bistro flanked by special events and dinners. Caffè Doria is the place where art, food and passions come together in the refined and evocative setting of Palazzo Doria Pamphilj.

A Bistro in perfect harmony between contemporaneity and classicism, where the cuisine travels in perfect balance and synthesis between tradition and innovation, always faithful to Chef Massimiliano Mazzotta’s concept of “Comfort Food”. This elegant café can be enjoyed right from breakfast. A precious and cozy living room in the historic center of Rome, where you can indulge in your passions until after dinner, when even the Mixology finds its perfect connotation thanks to the exclusive Gin Trolley.

Caffè Doria is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8 am to 9 pm
Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, Via della Gatta 1, 00186 Roma

Also new is Roland at Spazio Field, art gallery and multicultural center inside Brancaccio Palace. Roland’s elegant setting is immersed in the works of art and original decorations of the building. The rooms of Roland are adorned with stuccoes and canvases from the 1400s and house the drawings of Francesco Gai, historical artist of the Brancaccio family as well as ancient oriental embroidered silks.

Roland is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 am to 12 am
Via Merulana, 248, 00184 Roma

In Tuscany, the synergies of Massimo Bottura & Co with Gucci, led to the opening of Gucci Osteria at the Gucci Museum in Florence, now also a cocktail bar, led by Karime Lopez. She creates her own culinary universe by interlacing the colors and flavors of Italy and beyond.

Gucci Osteria is open daily from 12.30 pm to 3 pm and 19.30 pm and 10 pm
Piazza Della Signoria 10, 50122 Firenze

Also in Florence, is the Cortese Cafè 900 at the Museo Novecento, the raw pastry shop by Vito Cortese. Chocolate, biscuits, pralines, spoon desserts and ice cream, all strictly without flour, milk, eggs, yeast and sugar. Vito Cortese, the most important raw-food pastry chef in Italy, has opened his gourmet restaurant in the heart of Florence, in the new spaces of the Museo Novecento café overlooking Piazza Santa Maria Novella.

Cortese Cafè 900 is open daily from 8 am to 8 pm
Piazza Santa Maria Novella 10, 50123 Firenze

At the Centro Pecci in Prato there is Angiolo Barni who manages the two souls of Myo, restaurant and bistro. The restaurant is inside the Pecci Museum, a center for contemporary art. The location is beautiful, the tones enhanced by works that are hosted inside the restaurant.

Myo is open Tuesday to Saturday from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm and 8 pm to 10.45 pm;
Sunday from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm
Viale della Repubblica 277, 59100 Prato

After years at the Lucca Center of Contemporary Art, Cristiano Tomei moved his restaurant L’Imbuto in 2018 to Palazzo Pfanner, well known for being the set of the movie ‘Marchese del Grillo’. You could go to L’Imbuto and ask for the same dish, but each time you will find a landscape with new details. Chef Cristiano Tomei’s surprises are renewed every day, and they are unpredictable. The wine cellar in turn seeks out exciting labels, singular vintages and vintners devoted to biodynamics.

Ristorante l’Imbuto is open Wednesday to Sunday from 12.30 pm to 2 pm and 7.30 pm to 9 pm
Piazza del Collegio 7, 55100 Lucca

In Milan, we have the Fondazione Prada’s Bar Luce café, designed by director Wes Anderson, featuring its unmistakable imprint that mixes pop and retro charm. Bar Luce recreates the atmosphere of a typical Milanese cafè. As explained by Anderson, “the approach I used to design this bar is exactly the opposite I usually use for the set designs of my movies. I tried to make it a bar you’d like to go to five times a week.

The café is located at the entrance building of Fondazione Prada. The range of colors, the formica furniture, the seats, the floor, and the wood wall panels are reminiscent of Italian popular culture and aesthetics from the 1950s and 1960s, echoing artistic decisions Anderson made for his short film Castello Cavalcanti (2013).

Bar Luce is open every day except Tuesday from 8.30 am to 8 pm; Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 8 pm
Largo Isarco 2, 20139 Milan

Turin ranges from the contemporary art with the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo – which has entrusted Alessandro Mecca with the restaurant Spazio7 – to historical spaces such as the Reggia di Venaria, where chef Alfredo Russo is firmly at the helm of Dolce Stil Novo.

Spazio7 is a place where cuisine and art come together to create a gastronomic center with an eclectic and contemporary soul. 7 is a magical and spiritual number. 7 is synonymous with evolution. 7 is the lucky number that it was decided to associate with the name “Spazio”, inherited from the restaurant inaugurated at the same time as the birth of the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, where the restaurant is located. A restaurant, a cafeteria, a location for events: Spazio7 is this and much more. In 2018, the restaurant received a Michelin star.

Spazio7 is open Tuesday to Saturday from 7 pm to 10.30 pm; Sunday from 12.30 pm to 3 pm and
7 pm to 10.30 pm
Via Modane 20, 10141 Turin

Dolce Stil Novo is a unique trip between culinary pleasure and history’s emotion. Venaria Palace – an architectural, cultural, artistic masterpiece. A highly charming place which seizes and conquers with its beauty, stateliness and grandeur. On the last floor, just above Diana’s Gallery and one step below the sky, there is Dolce Stil Novo’s restaurant. It is the only restaurant inside a royal palace, with a breathtaking view over the Gardens, the Fishpond, the Courtyard of Honor and the Deer Fountain.

Dolce Stil Novo is open Tuesday from 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm; Wednesday to Saturday from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm and 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm; Sunday from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm
Piazza della Repubblica, 4 – Reggia di Venaria, 10078 Venaria Reale

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Year after year, classic car enthusiasts gather on the track to admire jewels of automotive history such as old models of Bentley, Aston Martin, Maserati, Bugatti and Alfa Romeo in the beautiful Italian countryside. Allowed are vintage cars built between 1927 and 1957.

The route from Brescia runs along Lake Garda via Mantua, Ferrara, Cervia, San Marino and Umbria to Rome, back through Tuscany via Siena, Viareggio, Parma, Salsomaggiore Terme, Pavia and Monza. Before the final finish in Brescia, the participants pass Bergamo, a kind of symbolic anticipation of the twinning that will link the two cities in 2023 as part of the Italian Capital of Culture Brescia-Bergamo project.

More info on the Mille Miglia race, here https://1000miglia.it/en

Mille Miglia Museum

For those who can’t get enough, there is also a Museum. The Mille Miglia Museum is housed in a magnificent former Benedictine monastery in the S. Eufemia neighborhood, east of Brescia’s city center. A museum that captivates not only the fans of vintage cars and the famous car race of the Mille Miglia, but also many curious people and families who, visiting the museum, immerse themselves in an era that now no longer exists and is preserved here with the utmost care.

The Mille Miglia Museum is not just an astounding exhibition of four-wheeled treasures. The Museum stands out from other automobile museums precisely because of its location at this hugely important historic site. 

The Museum is dedicated to the ‘Red Arrow’ race and was brought to life by the Mille Miglia Museum Association. It was established in December 1996 by a group of Brescian businessmen known as the “Friends of the Mille Miglia”. The Association today has 50 shareholders.

Vintage cars in a magnificent exhibition circuit

The new Museum was opened to the public on 10 November 2004 and displays classic cars in a perfectly organized and comfortable exhibition tour. Visitors receive an audio guide tablet that explains the various sections of the museum with explanations and films. On display are vintage cars from 1927 to the ’60s, a section dedicated to the contemporary race and a long list of precious rarities such as photographs, posters, road signs and even fuel pumps.

The vintage cars are rotated to allow them to participate in various events, including the famous Mille Miglia, which is based in Brescia.

In addition to the exhibition tour, there is a historical archive about the famous car race, which has now been fully digitized, a restaurant, a museum store and event and conference rooms.

The Mille Miglia Museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm. More info is available at https://www.museomillemiglia.it/en

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Leave the winter behind, tread new paths, let wide horizons take effect. This is best done on Lake Maggiore. The lake, which has already fascinated Ernest Hemingway, Hermann Hesse and many other cultural figures, offers beautiful landscapes and distant views at their best in every season.

In front of the ten- and thirteen-thousand-feet peaks in its neighborhood, the Sasso del Ferro looks like a dwarf. The “ironstone” rises only about 3,280 feet above sea level on the eastern – the Lombard – shore of Lake Maggiore. On the summit of the “dwarf”, however, there is a scenery to kneel down. On the horizon, the peaks of the Ticino and Upper Valais Alps and the Monte Rosa massif towering over everything, marking the Italian-Swiss border like a sublime colossus.

At the foot of the mountains, scattered like blue pearls in the landscape, smaller and larger lakes and Lake Maggiore with the Borromean Islands, which seem to lie at anchor like ponderous frigates. On clear days – and they are numerous, especially in the winter months – the Sasso del Ferro is recommended as one of the best panoramic terraces far and wide. It can be reached on foot or by car. But the most beautiful way is to let the “Funivia del Lago Maggiore” take you gently to the summit. The ride takes about 15 minutes, and with every foot of altitude that the tiny cabins move away from the valley station in Laveno-Mombello, the world becomes a little smaller and bigger at the same time.

Cadorna Line – Military History and views to Switzerland

Plans to secure Italy’s northern border with a military installation to protect the young state from attacks by its neighbors were already being made at the end of the 19th century. They were put into practice during the First World War. Italy’s army command feared that Austro-Hungarian or German troops might enter the country from Switzerland. Luigi Cadorna, chief of the general staff, had a system of tunnels, trenches and observation posts built high above Lake Maggiore. Thousands of men and women were drafted for the construction. The feared attack, however, failed to materialize.  

Today the “Cadorna Line” is interesting not only for military historians. It is ideal for panoramic hikes and mountain bike tours. Easy to walk in any season, the route leads from the pass Il Colle on the edge of the Val Grande National Park towards Monte Morissolo. A little below the summit is the entrance to the tunnels, which are open to the public. Their embrasures open wide views over the borderland. From the top of Monte Morissolo, you can see almost the entire Lake Maggiore, from Locarno in Switzerland to the southern shore. Turning your back on the lake, the peaks of the Val Grande National Park will leave you speechless.

View of seven lakes from Monte Mottarone

Monte Mottarone rises between Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta. Cycling fans may be familiar with it as an energy-sapping stage in the Giro d’Italia. The Mottarone unfolds its charm when you can admire the 360° panorama from its summit. Lago Maggiore, Lago d’Orta and five other lakes lie at the feet of mountaineers – and even more, a piece of northern Italy that stretches from the edge of the Alps to the Po Valley. In recent years, the Mottarone has developed into a veritable mountain biker’s paradise. Over its partly wooded, partly treeless slopes run courses of varying length and difficulty.

Brilliant view from San Carlo’s head

A colossal statue made of bronze and copper plates is enthroned on a hill near Arona. It commemorates Carlo Borromeo, the former archbishop of Milan. Borromeo had made a name for himself in the 16th century as a fierce opponent of the Protestants, but also as a caring helper of plague sufferers. In 1584, at the age of only 46, he himself died of the plague and was canonized just a few years after his death. At the instigation of his cousin and successor in office, construction began in 1624 on the walk-in monument that later served the USA as the model for the Statue of Liberty. Including the pedestal, “Sancarlone,” as the statue on Lake Maggiore is called by the locals, is 115 feet high. Those who do not fear the climb up the spiral staircase and ladders will be rewarded with an enchanting view from San Carlo’s head.

A place, almost floating between the rocks and the lake

The hermitage of Santa Catarina del Sasso is one of the most impressive excursion destinations on Lake Maggiore. Here, where a steep rock wall plunges into the lake with no shoreline to speak of, a Milanese merchant and usurer is said to have withdrawn into a grotto as a hermit in the Middle Ages after a drastic experience in order to lead a godly life from then on. A monastery was later built next to the grotto. The graceful church and the outbuildings seem to literally cling to the rock. Located on the Lombardy shore, between Arona and Laveno, the place can be reached by car. However, its full beauty is revealed only if you board an excursion boat on the opposite, Piedmontese shore and approach it by water. From the lake, Santa Catarina appears as an almost unreal place, suspended between rocks and water.

_{Photos: Roberto Maggioni}

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Imagine that: From your bed into the free-standing bathtub. A healthy sweat in the private panoramic sauna. Relax in the jacuzzi on the suite terrace. Take a whey bath in a hollowed chestnut log and then, snuggled up in your bathrobe, relax in front of the fireplace. How does all that sound?

Private Spa turns wellness into exclusive vacation moments. Relaxation and recreation in an intimate atmosphere guaranteed. Honestly, who doesn’t want to get away from it all in private and treat body and soul to some soothing time out?

Alta Badia: Private pampering moments

The wellness area at Dolomiti Wellness Hotel Fanes is one of the largest in the Dolomites, with over 53,000 square feet: soothing symbiosis of alpine wellness, professional treatments and high-quality products. In the Fanes Spa Suites, wellness treatments become unforgettable hours for two, in a private retreat for relaxation. The dark, pleasantly smooth wood of the two hollowed chestnut logs in the “Realm of Fanes” spa suite is a delight for the skin. The whey bath in it, is a real feel-good moment for body and soul. In the black and gold room “Caveau”, the anti-aging products from the hotel’s own care line unfold their beneficial effects. And lovers of very private wellness moments stay in the “Dolomites Mountain Spa” or “Natura Loft” suites with their own wellness area. Five-star wellness with private Turkish bath, Finnish sauna and whirlpool with valley view on the terrace.

Algund: Private retreats

The unmistakable beauty writing of the mother-daughter duo Christine and Magdalena Erlacher enchants everywhere in the Forsterhof with private retreats. There, the vacation feeling comes all by itself. Simple, caring elegance and individual wellness instead of a general spa area. For sauna lovers, the Suite Marie with private hydro-soft sauna is just the right thing. Jacuzzi connoisseurs should book the Stella double room. There, nothing stands in the way of the jacuzzi on the terrace and bathing under the starry sky with a glass of champagne in hand. The highlight: the new 540 square feet light-flooded Suite Giardino, a ground-level retreat in the fringed private garden, with loungers and private whirlpool. Inside, spacious rooms and a hydro-soft sauna provide the right atmosphere for pleasant moments of relaxation. Omnipresent: the typical Algund landscape with its apple orchards and vineyards, in which the nearby Merano located Suites&Breakfast is embedded.

Limone sul Garda: Lakeside Dream

Inspired by the Celtic word Eala, which embodies the swan in all its elegance and beauty, the new Hotel on Lake Garda is nestled against the mountains of the western shore. The surrounding area is filled with Italian Dolce Vita, on the Lago is the private beach, and in the hotel, you will find a 16,000-square-feet Luxury Spa with two indoor and one outdoor pool. For luxury lovers with a penchant for undisturbed wellness enjoyment, choose the Spa Suite Argantos. About 750 square feet of nobly furnished interior, in which stone and parquet flooring harmonize. Complemented by the simple elegance of Italian furniture design. The open bathroom impresses with suspended bathtub and Turkish bath with integrated shower, an indoor wellness heaven.  Outside you can enjoy the panoramic sauna and air pool on the terrace. If you relax here, you’ll always have a view of Lake Garda from an elevated vantage point. The Risatti family knows, from 60 years of hotel experience, what guests dream of. And, makes these dreams come true.

Mals: Power place in Val Venosta

Wellness in a stylish ambience has long been cultivated at the Gerstl: Infinity pool, natural bathing pond and sauna area with panoramic view. Here you can relax, together with other hotel guests. Completely privately and completely new is the Arunda Suite. This exclusive Alpine & Relax Suite is for all those who want to indulge in their own individual wellness pleasure. Enjoy feel-good moments for two in the room’s free-standing luxury tub.  When the petals seem to almost float on the surface of the water, bathing pleasure becomes a luxury experience. The wide window directly in front of the tub lets the view wander to the snow-capped mountain peaks. After the bath, all you want to do is snuggle up comfortably in the inviting double bed. Or would you rather go out onto the spacious balcony and enjoy the view of the Ortler mountain range from the sunny south-facing slope in which the Gerstl nestles, while treating yourself to a glass of champagne? Your choice!

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