From the fantastic food to the spectacular history, Italy offers a diverse range of travel experiences for every type of traveller. Whether you are thinking about your first visit or are a regular visitor here’s a guide to what’s new in Italy to help you plan your next escape.
Boutique design hotels open their doors
Casa Brivio opens its doors, echoing Milanese fashion and culture
Casa Brivio, in the vibrant heart of Milan, epitomises Milanese design, fashion, and culture. Located in the picturesque Via Olmetto/Via Cornaggia, each of its sixteen rooms and suites is a homage to the city’s design ethos, with bespoke furnishings and tailored interiors that reflect Milan’s rich tapestry of fashion and culture.
Casa Brivio was conceived by the renowned architectural firm Matteo Thun & Partners and adorned with interiors by Cassina Custom Interiors. From the iconic spiral staircases lit by Murano glass lamps to the terrazzo floors, every detail at Casa Brivio serves up timeless elegance and refined comfort.
A big pop of colour and elegance arrives in Rome’s Monti district
Set to open this year in Rome‘s vibrant Monti district, Casa Monti is a celebration of artistic expression and Italian ‘sprezzatura’. Created by French interior designer and ‘queen of colour’ Laura Gonzalez, 26 rooms and 10 suites adorned with antiques, Italian craftsmanship and commissioned artworks, all reflect Rome‘s artistic legacy.
The hotel’s restaurant is a playful spin on the traditional Italian trattoria, extending from the hotel’s 18th-century facade to a terrace and vibrant patio. The rooftop terrace offers panoramic views of Rome.
Can’t-miss travel experiences
Venice Biennale set to dazzle, including a visit from the Pope (for the first time in history)
Venice is set to transform as it hosts the world’s most celebrated art fair – the Venice Biennale (20 April–24 November 2024). Drawing curators, collectors, and critics to the floating city every two years, the fair celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.
Pope Francis will travel to the Venice Art Biennale on 28 April to visit the Holy See pavilion at the women’s prison on the island of Giudecca. The pontiff is scheduled to visit members of the local church community, the visit makes Francis the first pope to visit the Venice Art Biennale since it was established in 1895.
San Casciano bronzes go on display at MANN
A trove of ancient bronze statues unearthed at the San Casciano thermal bath site in Tuscany in late 2022 can be admired in Naples from 16 February until 30 June. Titled Gli Dei Ritornano (The Gods Return), the exhibition takes place at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN) following a successful showing at the Quirinale in Rome.
The votive statues, dating from between the second century BC and the first century AD, emerged intact from the mud at the bottom of a Roman pool in the Tuscan hilltop town before undergoing a delicate restoration process.
The enchanting, Instagram-able Ninfa Gardens reopen for 2024 season
Described by The New York Times as “the most beautiful and romantic garden in the world” Ninfa will reopen to visitors from 16 March, with online bookings already available. Ninfa is located about 80 km southeast of Rome, near Sermoneta, at the foot of the Lepini mountains.
Belonging to the Caetani family since the 14th century, the site was abandoned in 1382 before being restored in the early 1920s by the family who created the garden as it is today. Spread out over eight hectares, this romantic English-style garden has over 10,000 shrubs, plants and flowering trees from all over the world.
Lesser-known destinations to uncover
Pesaro succeeds Bergamo and Brescia as the 2024 Italian culture capital
Pesaro, a city on the Adriatic coast, has begun a year of celebrations as the ‘Capitale Italiana della Cultura’ 2024. Located in the central Italian region of Le Marche, Pesaro is the birthplace of composer Gioacchino Rossini and is famous for its annual opera festival.
The city’s best-known sites include the 15th-century Ducal Palace and Rocca Costanza castle, as well as its Romanesque-Gothic Basilica, built between the fifth and 14th centuries. More than 300 cultural events are planned in the seaside city over the year, featuring 150 artists, for more details visit the Pesaro2024 website.
Swap a Tuscan escape for a trip to Umbria in 2024
Umbria, often overshadowed by its more famous neighbour Tuscany, is one of Italy’s many hidden gems. This enchanting region, known as the ‘Green Heart of Italy,’ is steeped in rich history, dotted with picturesque towns, and blessed with lush landscapes.
Nestled in the province of Terni, in the southern part of Umbria, the town of Narni is a great starting point and offers a unique glimpse into Italy’s medieval past, alongside stories and settings that have inspired literature and film.
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