What's new in Italy ? The Italian National Tourist Board have provided us
with a list of some recent openings of hotels, restaurants
some re-openings and new air connections
some re-openings and new air connections
TRAVELSTYLE: Italy
I have a rule when traveling - always trade up. It's hard to understand people who cheerfully swap the comfort of their own home to holiday in a place less comfortable or pay good money in a restaurant for food that isn't as good as something you might rustle up in your own kitchen. Someone once gave me some wine shopping advise. If you are where wine is cheap - never buy cheap. At least spend what you might expect the price of a decent wine at home. Do this and you should get something a bit more special.
I know people who, without fail or without thinking, head for the same old bargain basement or even to the exact same stores that we have at home. You're away from home - try somewhere different and with some contrast, perhaps style and this does not necessarily rule out some real bargains at local markets. And especially true in Italy, if style and elegant design rule anywhere, it rules here.
Let's look at what's new. Let me also add my proviso that I have not yet personally checked out these places but I've added some links to their web pages for more information.
(?) The red numbers in brackets refer to locations on our map
I know people who, without fail or without thinking, head for the same old bargain basement or even to the exact same stores that we have at home. You're away from home - try somewhere different and with some contrast, perhaps style and this does not necessarily rule out some real bargains at local markets. And especially true in Italy, if style and elegant design rule anywhere, it rules here.
Let's look at what's new. Let me also add my proviso that I have not yet personally checked out these places but I've added some links to their web pages for more information.
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| Red numbers refer to hotels, restaurants etc., below HOLIDAYezine map by Pat Keenan |
(?) The red numbers in brackets refer to locations on our map
(1)NH COLLECTION PIAZZA CARLINA HOTEL IN TURIN (5 STAR)
The new NH Collection Torino Piazza Carlina Hotel was recently opened in central Turin, just a few minutes’ walk from the Mole Antonelliana, Royal Palace, Palazzo Madama and the fashionable shopping arcades. The palazzo once belonged to Antonio Gramsci, a Marxist politician once imprisoned by Benito Mussolini's Fascist regime. The hotel offers 160 rooms, restaurant, fitness area and a rooftop terrace and aromatic herb garden.
(2) BOUTIQUE HOTEL LE NUVOLE IN GENOA
Boutique Hotel Le Nuvole, opened in spring this year in the historic port city of Genoa. The Hotel Le Nuvole spans four floors and has 12 stylish bedrooms and it is housed in an historic building in the “Palazzi dei Rolli” area of Genoa, built between the 16th and 17th century. The hotel décor is modern and combines perfectly with high ceiling and frescoed walls and ceilings, marble floors and original wooden shutters.
(3) PALAZZO DEL VICERE’ LUXURY GUESTHOUSE ON LAKE COMO
The Luxury Guesthouse Palazzo del Vicere’ was opened in June this year in Lezzeno, a charming village within close to Bellagio. The Palazzo is a carefully restored Renaissance palace overlooking Lake Como. Containing five apartments, with their own distinctive style the Palazzo offers; a one double bedroom, a junior suite, a one bedroom, a two bedroom and a three bedroom apartment. Guests have unlimited free Wi-Fi, a complimentary continental breakfast, a bar and a wine cellar.
(4) MOXY HOTEL MILANO MALPENSA AIRPORT
The new Moxy Milano Hotel opened in September 2014, the first of a new chain by Marriott is situated near Terminal 2 at Malpensa Airport. Moxy Hotels aim to redesign the traditional economy hotel experience in contemporary and comfortable style.
http://moxy-hotels.marriott.com/hotels/#/milan
http://moxy-hotels.marriott.com/hotels/#/milan
HOTEL re-openings
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| (5) www.luxurycollection.com |
(5) EXCELSIOR HOTEL GALLIA (5 STAR) IN MILAN
Luxury Collection Hotels have recently announced the re-opening of the historic Excelsior Hotel Gallia in Milan (scheduled for 1 December 2014). The hotel will offer 235 rooms and suites, a restaurant and a bar with panoramic terrace on the top floor, a lounge bar and cigar room, a spa, swimming pool and gym, two ballrooms and meeting spaces.
www.luxurycollection.com
www.luxurycollection.com
(6) GRAND HOTEL PALACE IN ROME (5 STAR) NOW A MILLENIUM HOTEL
This five star boutique hotel is situated on the prestigious Via Veneto; Rome’s most elegant and fashionable street and the centrepiece of the Dolce Vita. An impressive period building, Grand Hotel Palace was once known as the Ambassadors' Palace and is one of the masterpieces of architect Marcello Piacentini. Decorated with frescoes depicting Roman high society in the 1920s, by the Venetian artist Guido Cadorin. The 87 well-appointed guest rooms are stylish and modern, with contemporary art deco design and designer furnishings. The hotel has a luxury spa, a bar, restaurant and bistro, offering Italian and international cuisine. www.millenniumhotels.com/grandhotelpalacerome/
(7) CINEMUSIC HOTEL IN ROME (4 STAR) NOW A BEST WESTERN
A new Best Western hotel in Rome, in the San Giovanni area, near the San Giovanni in Laterano Basilica. Housed in an historic palazzo, the Cinemusic has 35 rooms, some with terrace, a roof garden where breakfast is served and a business centre. www.cinemusicrome.com
(8) HOTEL CALACUNCHEDDI (4 STAR superior) IN SARDINIA
The Hotel Calacucheddi in Capo Ceraso near Olbia, Sardinia has recently re-opened after extensive restoration and improvement work. The hotel blends seamlessly with the park, the olive trees, the sea and the promontory of Capo Ceraso. It has 80 rooms and suites, two restaurants, a fitness centre, spa and meeting rooms. www.calacuncheddi.com
(9) NIRA MONTANA HOTEL (5 STAR) IN LA THUILE, VAL D’AOSTA
The Nira Montana Hotel is scheduled to open on December 5, 2014 in the picturesque town of La Thuile, at the foot of Mont Blanc, in Val d’Aosta. This hotel will have 55 rooms, an authentic Italian restaurant, and wellness facilities including an indoor pool, spa with sauna and steam room and a fitness centre. The Nira Montana will be the only 5*hotel in La Thuile. www.niramontana.com
NEW WHYTHEBEST HOTELS IN FLORENCE AND VENICE opening Dec. 2014
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| (10) www.whythebesthotels.com |
(10) HOTEL GARIBALDI BLU IN FLORENCE (3 STAR)
The newest of the 3 stars of the group is located in Piazza Santa Maria Novella. Open from December 2014, for young globe-trotters and design lovers, its decor pays homage to the world of denim with coatings in the famous Genoa canvas and blue touches in the rooms and common areas. United by the fashion and young philosophy of the Hotel Rosso 23, physically is joined to the latter by an internal connection, with large common areas and services of a four star hotel that introduce a new innovative format "Two in one" in the world of hospitality: two hotels, two different styles together under the same roof. www.whythebesthotels.com
(11) HOTEL BALESTRI IN FLORENCE (4 STAR)
This charming traditional establishment will reopen in December 2014 after a total renovation and will become a 4-star hotel with vintage style and great atmosphere in the district of Santa Croce. The Balestri hotel is situated in an enviable location directly overlooking the river Arno and just few steps from Ponte Vecchio, from its rooms the Hotel offers priceless views and exclusive corners of Florence: on the Renaissance palaces of the square, on the roofs of the city including the bell tower and Palazzo della Signoria and on the other side, on the Arno, Ponte Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo to roam the hills of San Leonardo and San Miniato. www.whythebesthotels.com
(12) HOTEL L'OROLOGIO VENEZIA (4 STAR)
The Hotel has, in common with its Florentine sister hotel, the concept inspired by the world of collectible watches, and it is located a privileged position in the heart of Venice. The Hotel is housed in a nineteenth century building overlooking the Grand Canal, close to the famous Ponte di Rialto, 5 minutes walk from the beautiful Piazza San Marco. www.whythebesthotels.com
NEW RESTAURANTS/BARS/SHOPS
(13) LIEVITO MADRE IN MILAN
Pizzeria Restaurant is the first Milan offshoot of the famous Sorbillo Pizzeria in Naples. The dough is handmade and the pizzas are cooked in a wood-burning oven, the variety is limited to seven toppings and carefully crafted with the finest ingredients like Neapolitan mozzarella cheese and baby tomatoes grown on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius. www.sorbillo.it
(14) TARTUFI & FRIENDS IN MILAN
Tartufi & Friends is a new concept restaurant and shop offering dishes and products based on the delicious tuber “tartufo” or truffle, white and black. The restaurant, with four different rooms: a white room is for takeaways, a black room is for brunch or quick meals, a room with a vertical garden is a restaurant with menu a la carte and the last room hosts a smaller restaurants and it is decorated with 16th century maps that illustrate the story of truffles and truffle hunting. There is a sister restaurant in Rome as well. www.tartufiandfriends.it
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| (15) www.seasideroma.it |
(15) SEASIDE IN ROME
The Chef Dario Tornatore has re-invented himself by transforming his old restaurant Brad to the new Seaside. Seaside is the Instant Food Experience, dedicated to raw fish served directly by the chef and combined with aperitifs or fine wines. Dario believes in simplicity in cooking fish, the accent being on the freshness and combines traditional Italian recipes with fish in new exciting ways like “mozzarella in carrozza with oysters” www.seasideroma.it
(16) RICHARD GINORI FLAGSHIP SHOP IN FLORENCE
Richard Ginori , the iconic fine china producer, re-opened in June its historic Florentine shop at n. 17/r Via de' Rondinelll - the ultimate expression of Italian excellence in the finest artistic porcelain.The fully renovated boutique, representing the new Ginori "home", is located in the centuries-old building Palazzo Ginori, in the Tornabuoni neighbourhood of Florence.
www.gucci.com/cn-en/worldofgucci/articles/richard-ginori
www.gucci.com/cn-en/worldofgucci/articles/richard-ginori
NEW FLIGHTS TO ITALY
(17)British Airways has new flights London-Gatwick to Cagliari, scheduled in Summer 2015
(18) Easyjet will launch a new service from London-Luton to Naples (as from 29 November 2014) and will also fly from London-Luton to Rome in Summer 2015.
Jet2.com
(19) Jet2.com will fly from Manchester to Turin as from December 2014 and will also introduce a service from Belfast to Rome as from 5 April 2015.
www.jet2.com
www.jet2.com