25 Feb 2014
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
PALAZZO PARIGI HOTEL & GRAND SPA (5*) IN MILAN (Sept.2013)
The new Palazzo Parigi Hotel is situated in the historic quarter of Brera in Milan and offers 98 rooms and suites, 6 meeting rooms with garden view, a tea lounge and bar and a gourmet restaurant run by Michelin starred chef Carlo Cracco. In spring 2014 a Grand Spa, roof garden with panoramic views over the Duomo and swimming pool will be introduced to complete the offer of this hotel, previously know as Palazzo Kramer, a 17th century building housing a bank until its full restoration and transformation in a luxury hotel. www.palazzoparigi.com
PALAZZO MONTEMARTINI (5*) IN ROME (end 2013)
The Palazzo Montemartini is the result of four years of careful restoration and transformation of an old palazzo adjacent the Diocletian Baths in Rome. The ancient Roman Servian Walls form part of this hotel and make it, therefore, unique. The hotel offers 82 rooms and suites, Senses Restaurant & Lounge Bar, 600sqm Ex-Pure Spa and meeting and events rooms. www.ragostahotels.com
VILLA TOLOMEI HOTEL (5*) IN FLORENCE (2013)
Villa Tolomei Hotel & Resort is a new fantastic luxury hotel inFlorence. Villa Tolomei, housed a magnificent Renaissance, offers 27 double rooms, 3 suites with view and the exclusive Junior Suite with private Terrace, all superbly decorated
The hotel, set amidst extensive gardens, olive groves and vineyards, has a panoramic outdoor swimming pool with breathtaking views over the valley of the river Arno, a Gym fitness area covering 70 sqm, Turkish bath and a Restaurant offering the best in Tuscan cuisine. www.villatolomeihotel.it
MAGNA PARS SUITES HOTEL (5*) IN MILAN (2013)
An all suites hotel, the Magna Pars offers 28 suites of various sizes (between 60 and 90 sqm). The hotel features leather couches and chairs, glass tables, a small private library and beautiful paintings by artists at the BreraAcademy. Each room has a modern corner bar, a bright and welcoming living area, a 46-inch 3D television, an elegant sleeping area with king-size bed, and a generous bathroom. All the Suites are on three floors overlooking the internal garden. The hotel also offers a gym and wellness area, bar and restaurant, internal garden and library. www.magnapars-suitesmilano.it
FIRENZE NUMBER NINE HOTEL (4* de luxe) IN FLORENCE (2013)
A home from home is the concept behind Firenze Number Nine Hotel, cosy and functional at the same time, offers rooms and suite equipped with all the modern comforts, a spa and fitness centre. The Prova del Nove Restaurant offers modern interpretation of Tuscan classics made with locally sourced ingredients.
ANTONELLO COLONNA VALLEFREDDA RESORT, near Rome (2013)
The renowned Italian Chef Antonello Colonna, opened this Resort just over a year ago in Labico, Vallefredda, near Romeand has recently obtained a Michelin star for his resort Restaurant. The Resort offers12 splendid rooms bathed in natural light overlooking a picturesque landscape as far as the eye can see through enormous picture windows and furnishings created by masters of design. The Resort also affords an outdoor pool, indoor heated thermal pool for hydro-massage with magnesium and potassium, Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, frigidarium, emotional showers with aroma and colour therapy. Finally the guests can taste the exceptional cuisine of Antonello Colonna in the 2 dining rooms, one with fireplace and one with lounge area. www.antonellocolonnaresort.it
PALAZZO DI VARIGNANA RESORT & SPA (4*), near BOLOGNA
Palazzo Varignana Resort & SPA is elegantly set in 20 hectares of parkland
near Bolognaoverlooking the hills of Varignana. The main hotel has been developed from Villa Bentivoglio, a historical residence commissioned by Count Orazio Bargellini in 1705, which then became the property of the Florentine Bentivoglio family. The hotel is a splendid example of the typical 17th-century Tuscan style country residence. In addition to 2 indoor swimming pools, Palazzo di Varignana Resort & SPA features 2 restaurants, a luxury spa, and a poolside bar. The 90 gustrooms and 16 suites open to balconies or patios with courtyard or garden views, other amenities include flat-screen televisions and private spa tubs. www.palazzodivarignana.com
PORTRAIT FIRENZE (5*) IN FLORENCE, Opening 1st May 2014
The Lungarno Collection, owned by the Ferragamo family, will be opening the latest addition to their collection, Portrait Firenze on 1 May 2014. Located in the heart of Florencewith fabulous views over the River Arno and iconic Ponte Vecchio, the hotel styled by Florentine architect Michele Bönan, is inspired by the birth of Italian haute couture that took place in Florencein the 1950s. Each of the thirty-four suites is designed using hand-crafted furniture, exquisite fabrics and fine detailing to reflect the heritage of the Ferragamo family. Each suite features a kitchenette and includes complimentary use of an iPad and state of the art technology with access to a music and film library, a fully stocked mini bar with gourmet products, which can also be stocked in advance with personalised preference. www.portraitfirenze.com
RE-OPENINGS AND NEW SERVICES
RE-OPENING OF THE GRAND HOTEL BILLIA(5*) IN SAINT-VINCENT, Aosta Valley (2014)
The Grand Hotel Billia, dating back to 1908, has re-opened in Dec. 2013 after an extensive restoration. The hotel preserves the majestic façade, the regal staircase, the magnificent frescoes and offers state of the art facilities in its rooms and suites, two restaurants and a spa. www.resortsaintvincent.com/ghb
SEVEN NEW SUITES AT PALAZZO VICTORIA HOTEL (5*) IN VERONA (2014)
Palazzo Victoria, a chic five-star hotel in the heart of Verona, has introduced seven new wow-factor suites all individually designed to incorporate the preservation of original Veronese décor and unique characteristics. The unique suites’ original frescoes, refined upholstery, Italian marbles and parquet floors sit alongside the most sophisticated technologies. www.palazzovictoria.com
NEW ADDITIONS AT THE FORTE VILLAGE RESORT IN SARDINIA (2014)
Forte Village Resort, Sardinia– www.fortevillage.com opens for the new season from 8th March 2014 with the following news:
- New villa set in a beautiful Mediterranean private garden with a super-chic décor featuring 4 bedrooms, 2 living rooms, a kitchen, 2 dining rooms (one inside the villa and one outside with a barbecue area), stunning terraces, private swimming pool and dedicated butler & personal chef
- Stunning infinity Pool at Hotel Castello – now with a redesigned sunbathing area ensuring greater privacy
- Awarded first Michelin Star for the Belvedere restaurant at Villa del Parco Hotel - one of only three Michelin starred restaurants inSardiniaand set in a tropical garden with a creative menu offering Italian and Sardinian cuisine with a contemporary twist
- New Restaurant ‘The Bistrot’ – the latest addition toForteVillage’s extensive collection of restaurants with beautiful views of the sea and set in a garden with live music
- Matt Roberts Boot Camp with number 1 personal trainer and fitness expert in the UK - Matt Roberts - who is personal trainer to celebrities including Tom Ford, Naomi Campbell, Trudi Styler and Sting
- New BioParkfor children – giving children the chance to get up close to animals and exotic species www.fortevillage.com
BERNINI PALACE HOTEL IN FLORENCE NOW A 5 STAR (2014)
The historic Bernini Palace Hotel in Florencehas undergone an extensive modernization and renovation work which has resulted in being awarded the 5* status. Most of the rooms have been re-designed with particular attention to the historic Hall of Parliament, the façades have been upgraded and improved with a new lighting system and the new restaurant “La Chiostrina” has been opened in the 15th century cloister. http://hotelbernini.duetorrihotels.com/
NEW LUXURY APARTMENT AT GRAND HOTEL EXCELSIOR VITTORIA IN SORRENTO (2013)
A new stunning two bedroom apartment has been added to the luxury hotel Excelsior Vittoriain Sorrento. The apartment is set in the hotel’s private gardens and offers a spacious living room, a fully equipped kitchen, two bedrooms, a terrace and a dedicated concierge. http://www.exvitt.it/en/sorrento_apartments_E.html
BEST WESTERN AFFILIATIONS IN BERGAMO AND CASSINO (2014)
The extensively renovated Hotel Piemontese (4*) inBergamohas now been affiliated to the Best Western Hotel chain. The hotel is situated in a central location, offers 50 rooms, free wi-fi, breakfast room and bar and meeting room.
The BW Hotel Rocca (4*) in Cassino is ideal for business and leisure, is located near the Appennines Mountain range and only 30 minutes from the seaside resort of Gaeta.
The hotel has 68 rooms and a suite, free wi-fi, bar and restaurant offering local Ciociaria’s specialities. www.bestwestern.com
NEW RESTAURANTS/BARS/SHOPS
L’ALTRO VISSANI RESTAURANT IN CORTINA D’AMPEZZO
Gianfranco Vissani, the famous Michelin star Umbrian chef has recently opened a new restaurant at the Hotel Bellevue in the chic ski resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo, L’Altro Vissani. Vissani re-interprets Venetian dishes using local products adding his magical touch to transform them in real mouth-watering creations. www.latrovissanicortina.it
TERRAZZA BOSQUET RESTAURANT AWARDED A MICHELIN STAR, Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento (2014)
The Bosquet restaurant, which overlooks Mount Vesuvius and the Bayof Naples, offers a cuisine which captures an elegant combination of regional and Mediterranean specialities. Executive Chef Luigi Tramontano uses abundant local fresh produce, including a variety of citrus fruits from the Excelsior Vittoria’s orange groves. Chef Tramontano joined earlier this year having worked at a selection of Italy’s most exclusive hotels and restaurants including the two-starred Michelin Restaurant Don Alfonso 1890 in Sant’Agata. http://www.exvitt.it/en/sorrento_bosquet-restaurant_E.html
BANCOVINO WINE SHOP AND RESTAURANT IN ROME (2013)
Wine & gourmet food shop and restaurant, a place to stop for a tea or a glass of wine, an aperitif before lunch or have a full meal then buy a bottle of wine or other delicacies to take home, this is the new Bancovino situated in the St Peter’s area of Rome. www.bancovino.com
RISTORANTE BRAD IN ROME (Sept. 2013)
Brad is a new restaurant headed by Chef Dario Tornatore, a true herald of the new Roman cuisine combining tradition and innovation in his dishes. Brad is located near the iconic Piazza Navona and offers traditional Roman and Latiumcuisine with a modern twist using locally sourced ingredients. www.bradrestaurant.it
TAGLIO IN MILAN
Taglio is the brainchild of food writer Gianluca Biscalchin, author of Pret-a-Gourmet and opened in Milanat the end of 2013. Taglio is bar, restaurant, food emporium a meeting place for a coffee, an aperitif, a bite or a full meal. www.taglio.me
IL BORRO TUSCAN BISTRO IN FLORENCE
Il Borro Tuscan Bistro in Lungarno Acciaiuoli has recently been opened by the Ferragamo family. Shop, wine bar and restaurant is quintessentially Tuscan blending tradition and innovation using locally produced ingredients. www.ilborrotuscanbistro.it
GRIF – GLAMOUR RESTAURANT IN FLORENCE
Formerly owned by Roberto Cavalli, the new Grif – Glamour restaurant has re-opened in Sept. 2013 by a new owner. The place was originally re-developed from a deconsecrated Anglican church. The new structure, created by architect Italo Rota, has two different floors. On the ground floor, there is a bistro where a long table, surrounded by comfortable stools, is a nice social spot for lovers of good food. On the top floor, the restaurant stands out as a more classic space, where the tables are set with linen and damask linen tablecloths. Tuscan cuisine with a twist. www.grifrestaurant.it
RISTO-BOTTEGA ANTICA MACELLERIA FALORNI IN FLORENCE
The famous Macelleria Falorni (butcher shop) in Greve in Chianti, has opened a new Risto-Bottega in Florencein November 2013. Salami, cured ham and other delicacies can be bought but you can also eat the delicious charcuterie in the restaurant area of the shop with a glass of local wine. www.falorni.it
TRANSPORT NEWS
NEW FLIGHTS FROM THE U.K. and EIRE TO ITALY
Please consult airline’s website for more details
British Airways
New LondonCity–Florenceflight from 31 March 2014
Flybe
New frequency: Birmingham-Milan Malpensa will operate twice a day from 30 March 2014
Ryanair
New LondonGatwick –Cagliari, started Nov. 2013
New Bristol-Bologna flight from 1 April 2014
NewDublin– Comiso (south-eastSicily) flight from 3 April 2014
NewDublin–Bariflight from 4 April 2014
Stefania Gatta
Press and communications
E-mail: stefania.gatta@enit.it
*NB: The hotels, restaurants and other services mentioned in this newsletter are listed for information only and this newsletter 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.
Feb.2014
