16 Dec 2016
LIFESTYLE ITALY BULLETIN 2016 –n. 3
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. *
Enjoy it!
NEW HOTELS
HOTEL GLANCE (4*) in Florence
Hotel Glance opened at the end of September in the Santa Maria Novella Station in Florence. The hotel is spread over 6 floors and offers 68 rooms, meeting rooms and an open air swimming pool on the rooftop (open May to October) with a bar.
THE BUILDING HOTEL (4*) in Rome
The Building Hotel has been inaugurated at the end of November 2016 in the tranquil Castro Pretorio area in Rome, near Termini Station. The hotel is the result of a sympathetic renovation and transformation of a catholic school where original features co-exist with more modern touches and comforts. The hotel offers 108 rooms and suites, piano bar in the lobby, meeting rooms and a spa. The restaurant “Gourmand's” is located in the old chapel giving onto to the lobby with a balcony.
VINILIA WINE RESORT in Manduria, Puglia
The Vinilia Wine Resort was opened in late summer and it is the result of a careful restoration of an old manor with tower and turrets, battlements resembling a small medieval castle, previously renovated in the early '900 by the Schiavone family of Manduria. The property was recently purchased by Lacaita / Parisi Family and has now been completely restored to its former glory. It is situated in the Salento area of Puglia, famous for its natural and wild beauty. The resort offers rooms and suites all individually designed, the “Casamatta” gourmet restaurant, swimming pool and spa area. www.viniliaresort.com
VILLAVERDE HOTEL & RESORT (4*) near Udine
Villaverde Hotel & Resort, in the province of Udine in Italy's Friuli Venezia Giulia region was inaugurated at the end of the summer. The hotel overlooks the magnificent Golf Club Udine course and offers its guests, golfers, sportspeople, travellers and business people, a range of services devoted to the wellbeing of mind and body: a major wellness area, a medical centre focused on prevention and movement medicine, a fitness suite with Technogym equipment. The Resort's construction was focused on eco-friendliness and energy-saving. It has “A” energy classification, being powered by geothermal and photovoltaic systems. The resort offers two restaurants and two bars and private meeting rooms. www.villaverderesort.com
HOTEL MILU' (4*) in Florence
The Hotel Milu' opened in October in the very central Via Tornabuoni in Florence. It is housed in a building dating back to the 15th century and that was once home to private residencies of some of the noblest families in Florence. The hotel offer 22 individually designed rooms each following a different colour palette all with wi-fi, TV and coffee machine. The Open Gallery at the hotel is a rotating art exhibition space where various international artist show their creations that can also be purchased by the guests. www.hotelmilu.com
BEST WESTERN LANGHE HOTEL (4*) in Cherasco, Piedmont
The Hotel Langhe Cherasco is in the town of Cherasco is the new offer by Best Western and it is an ideal base to visit the Langhe area of Piedmont with its numerous small medieval villages, to taste the local food accompanied by some of Italy's best and most famous wines and to play golf. The hotel offers 84 rooms, and its restaurant “La Porta delle Langhe” serves local dishes which draw inspiration from locally sourced ingredients such as truffles, artisan cheeses and hazelnuts. http://www.langhehotel.net/en/home-page.aspx
HILTON LAKE COMO (4*) opening in Spring 2017
The new Hilton Lake Como will open in Spring 2017 on the western lakefront and it will be the first Hilton hotel in the lake area, 3 minutes away from Villa Olmo and 15 minutes to the city centre. The hotel will offer 170 rooms, an infinity pool on the rooftop, indoor pool, fitness centre and spa area, a restaurant and a sky bar on the rooftop, meeting rooms and ballroom.
http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/italy/hilton-lake-como-MXPCOHI/index.html
RE-OPENINGS AND NEW SERVICES
RE-OPENING OF THE HOTEL EDEN (5*) in Rome, Spring 2017
Now part of the Dorchester Collection, the iconic Eden Hotel is going to re-open in Spring 2017 in Rome after an 18 month refurbishment. Centrally located and affording incredible views over the Eternal City the Eden will offer 98 rooms and suites, a new panoramic gourmet restaurant for romantic dinners and lunches and a state-of-the-art new urban Spa. https://www.dorchestercollection.com/en/rome/hotel-eden/
RE-OPENING OF THE LE MERIDIEN VISCONTI PALACE (4*) in Rome, 1 February 2017
The now Meridien Visconti Palace in Rome, a Starwood hotel, will re-open after a major facelift on 1 February 2017. Situated in the Prati district of Rome, centrally located for the Vatican and the main shopping areas, the Visconti Palace is illuminated by warm daylight that streams through floor-to-ceiling windows. It offers 240 guest rooms and suites all appointed with contemporary décor and furniture, free wi-fi, TV and luxurious toiletries. The hotel also offers a fitness area, fine dining restaurant and panoramic bar on the terrace.
www.lemeridienviscontirome.com
RE-OPENING OF THE SHERATON DONNAFUGATA GOLF RESORT (5*) in Sicily
The Donnafugata Golf Resort re-opened last autumn after re-branding with Starwood Hotels and Resorts. The resort is situated inside a 240 hectares of land in the province of Ragusa in south-east Sicily, blessed with sunny and warm climate all year round. The resort offers 220 rooms and suites, all with private garden, patio or balcony, fully equipped spa and wellness area, 4 bars, and 4 restaurants. Two 18 holes golf courses and club house complete the offer. http://www.donnafugatagolfresort.com/en/resort/resort/
RE-OPENING OF CURIO BY HILTON COLLECTION LA BAGNAIA RESORT (5*) in Tuscany
La Bagnaia Resort, an exclusive medieval estate in the heart of the Tuscan country, 12 km far from Siena, will re-open in March 2017 as part of the the Curio by Hilton Collection brand . The La Bagnaia hotel offers 72 rooms and suites housed in 8 different buildings lovingly restored from the original medieval hamlet. The Resort also offers two restaurants, a swimming-pool, a tennis court, the Golf Academy, the 18 hole Golf Course, and the Buddha Spa wellness centre.
www.labagnaiaresort.com
RE-OPENING OF THE NH GENOVA CENTRO HOTEL(4*) in Genoa
The NH Genova Centro hotel, formerly known as NH Genova Plaza, is located in the heart of Genoa's commercial and financial district and it has been renovated and re-opened in October 2016. The hotel itself is made up of 2 buildings, one of which dates back to 1850 and is linked to the famous politician and statesman Giuseppe Mazzini.The 146 rooms of the hotel are a mix of classic and contemporary styles. The hotel also offers 6 meeting rooms, La Terrazza Bar and the “Villetta di Negro” Restaurant which offer typical Italian and Ligurian dishes. http://www.nh-hotels.com/hotel/nh-genova-centro
RE-STYLING OF HOTEL AMBRA (4*) in Cortina
One of the most glamorous hotels in Cortina d'Ampezzo has recently been awarded 4 stars after a major re-styling. The owner Elisabetta Dotto has created 18 new concept rooms and dedicated every floor to different themes celebrating Fashion, Nature, Cinema and Theatre. Many of the rooms feature Jacuzzi, double shower and four poster beds. www.hotelambracortina.it
NEW RESTAURANTS
QUIRINETTA CAFFE' E CUCINA in Rome
The “Quirinetta Social Bar”, the iconic venue which occupies the premises of the old Teatro Quirinetta, now also offers a restaurant in the adjacent building “Quirinetta Caffe' e Cucina”. It provides 80 seats and offering Italian cuisine using the finest ingredients, it is open from 7am to 2am. http://www.quirinetta.com/ristorante-quirinetta-caffe-e-cucina/
ANTONELLO COLONNA “OPEN BISTRO'” AT TERMINAL 1 FIUMICINO AIRPORT IN ROME
Renowned Roman Chef Antonello Colonna has recently opened an “all you can eat” Open Bistro' at Terminal 1, Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome. Minimalist in décor and covering over 240sqm, this new bistrot can also host art and photography exhibitions and offers dishes devised by Antonello Colonna, a guaranteed feast of the senses. http://antonellocolonna.it/openbistro/
IL LIBERTY MILANO in Milan
Il Liberty in Milan has re-opened this autumn with a whole new look, clean and sophisticated lines to accompany the creations of chef Andrea Provenzani, a bright new star in Italian new cuisine. Tradition and innovation are both present in Andrea's creations, he uses the most genuine and locally sourced ingredients adding his creative touch to produce delicious dishes such as: double anchovy bucatini pasta, gnocchi with chestnut, radicchio and Bra cheese, braised veal cheek with mustard and “Liberty tiramisu”. www.il-liberty.it
SO' RISO BISTROT in Milan
Acclaimed chef Davide Oldani has devised delicious dishes all made with rice (riso in Italian) for this new Bistrot, So' Riso, in Milan, perfect for anybody who has to eat gluten-free food. Born in cooperation with Valentina Scotti the Bistrot offers gluten-free bakery and cereals and yogurt with rice milk for breakfast. For lunch you can taste all kinds of risotti, soups and salads and scrumptious cakes made with rice.
https://www.facebook.com/sorisomilano/
TRANSPORT NEWS
NEW FLIGHTS FROM THE U.K. and EIRE TO ITALY
Please consult airline's website for more details
BRITISH AIRWAYS
British Airways will introduce a direct flight from London Heathrow to Brindisi, 2 times a week (Tuesdays and Saturdays) from June to September 2017. More info on: www.ba.com
RYANAIR
Ryanair has recently introduced two weekly flights from Belfast to Milan-Bergamo (Wednesday and Saturdays). With the Summer Schedule it will also introduce two weekly flights from Manchester to Naples, East Midlands to Naples and Liverpool to Bari . More info on: www.ryanair.com
EASYJET
Easyjet will introduce more new flights for the Summer 2017 schedule from Bristol, London Luton and Manchester to Turin. For more info: www.easyjet.com
NEW WATER TERMINAL AT MARCO POLO AIPORT IN VENICE
The new “Water Terminal” has been recently opened at Marco Polo airport in Venice. The Water Terminal is a building of 5000 sqm, on the north east side of the port and it resembles a comb with its branches on the water of the lagoon. It receives the passengers coming via sea to the airport. The 12 docking fingers provide 24 landing stations. There is a “Moving Walkway” from the Water Terminal accessible through two escalators and three lifts, a walkway also links the port the passenger terminal and the parking areas.
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.
December 2016
