Hotel Flora Noto

Elegant hotel in perfect location for exploring Noto’s architectural splendours 

The modern, elegant Hotel Flora is perfect for
exploring the architectural treasures of Noto 

You can enjoy a spectacular view of the Baroque city of Noto, which is in the province of Syracuse in Sicily, from the breakfast room at the Hotel Flora in Via Pola, whose windows perfectly showcase the honey-coloured 17th century buildings in the historic centre.

Right in the heart of Noto, the hotel is in a superb position for getting to know the beautiful city, which was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 2002 because of the amazing array of Sicilian Baroque architecture grouped together in one location.

The comfortable, modern rooms at the Hotel Flora, with their immaculate bathrooms and elegant contemporary furniture, are a perfect complement to the town’s wealth of architectural treasures nearby.

It is a short walk from the Hotel Flora, through a garden and along a tree-lined avenue, to Porta Ferdinandea, the gateway to the town, where you will find more than 40 examples of magnificent Baroque buildings to explore, including the Cathedral, palaces a theatre, and churches, all situated within a few streets of each other.

Noto's Duomo - the Cattedrale di San Nicolò - is 
just one example of the city's stunning architecture 

The medieval city of Noto was destroyed by an earthquake in Sicily in 1693. It was decided to rebuild Noto on its existing site and so the buildings in the centre were all built within a matter of decades of each other, in the same beautiful Sicilian Baroque style.

The town is sometimes referred to as Giardino di Pietra (Stone Garden) because many of the buildings were constructed using a soft tufa stone which takes on a honey tone in the sunshine.

The Hotel Flora was built in 2010 and offers visitors air conditioning, wifi and every modern facility.

A generous buffet breakfast is served between 7.30 and 10am in the breakfast room overlooking the town.

Bus services to Siracusa (Syracuse) and Catania stop within a few yards of the hotel, which has a car park and its own bar. Noto's railway station is less than 15 minutes' walk away.

There are plenty of bars, restaurants and shops, plus a tourist office, within walking distance of the Hotel Flora.

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Death in the High City

A successful decade for crime novel set in Bergamo

Death in the High City, the first detective novel written in English to be set in Bergamo in northern Italy, was published ten years ago this summer.

To mark the tenth anniversary, East Wind Publishing have issued a new edition of the mystery with a front cover showing Bergamo’s Via Colleoni at night. The historic street in the Città Alta, Bergamo’s upper town, features as a key location in the novel. 

Referred to as un romanzo giallo in Italian, Death in the High City centres on the investigation into the death of an English woman staying in Bergamo while working on a biography of the opera composer Gaetano Donizetti, who was born and died in the city. 

The dead woman had been living in an apartment in Bergamo’s Città Alta and much of the action takes place within the walls of the upper town. 

The novel was the first in a series to feature the characters of Kate Butler, a freelance journalist, and Steve Bartorelli, a retired Detective Chief Inspector, who is of partly Italian descent. 

At first the local police do not believe there is enough evidence to open a murder enquiry and so journalist Kate Butler, the victim’s cousin, arrives in Bergamo to try to get some answers about her relative’s death, on behalf of her elderly aunt, who is too frail to make the journey herself.

She stays first at a hotel in the Città Bassa and then moves to a hotel in Bergamo’s historic Città Alta. Like the characters and events in the novel, the hotels are fictional, but the descriptions of them were inspired by the wonderful hospitality the author has experienced in Bergamo over the years. 

Kate visits many of the places in Bergamo with Donizetti connections and her enquiries also take her out to Lago d’Iseo and into the countryside around San Pellegrino Terme.

 But after her own life is threatened and there has been another death in the Città Alta, her partner, Steve Bartorelli, joins her in Bergamo to help unravel the mystery and trap the killer.

The reader can enjoy Bergamo’s wonderful architecture and scenery from the comfort of their own armchair, while savouring the many descriptions in the novel of local food and wine.

After the novel was published, Author Val Culley was invited to present Death in the High City to an audience in San Pellegrino Terme in Lombardy, and sign copies of the book, as a guest at the fifth anniversary celebrations of Bergamo Su e Giù, a group of independent tour guides based in the city. During the evening, she was presented with a book about San Pellegrino Terme by the town’s mayor. 

She also made two appearances on Bergamo TV to talk about the novel with presenter Teo Mangione during his daily breakfast programme. During one of her visits to the studios, she presented a copy of the book to the Mayor of Bergamo, Giorgio Gori, who took office the year the novel was published. 

Val was invited to Bergamo for a further visit by the Cambridge Institute to give a talk about Death in The High City to a group of 80 Italian teachers of English and to sign copies for them. 

She has also formally presented a copy of Death in the High City to the Biblioteca Civica (Civic Library), a beautiful 16th century building in white marble, designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi, situated in Piazza Vecchia, a location that features frequently in the novel. 

She was later invited to give a talk about Death in the High City at a sixth form college in Zogno, a comune in Valle Brembana set in beautiful countryside in the hills above Bergamo. 

Another highlight was when the New York Times mentioned to Death in the High City in a travel feature they were running about Bergamo. 

The novel came out in Kindle format in May 2014 and a paperback version was released in July 2014. It has since sold copies in the UK, Italy, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Germany, America, Australia, Canada, and Mexico. 

Death in the High City will interest readers who enjoy the ‘cosy’ crime fiction genre, or like detective stories with an Italian setting.

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Mercure Bergamo Centro Palazzo Dolci

A modern Città Bassa hotel in a convenient location

Housed in a traditional Bergamo palazzo, the
Mercure enjoys a convenient central location

A smart, four-star hotel, the Mercure in Bergamo’s Città Bassa is ideally situated for enjoying a visit to this fascinating northern Italian city.

Housed in the Palazzo Dolci on Viale Papa Giovanni XXIII, one of the main thoroughfares in the lower town, the Mercure is convenient for the railway station but also within walking distance of the Sentierone (which means broad path), at the hub of the Città Bassa, and handy for all the restaurants, bars and shops.

Opposite the Mercure there is a bus stop outside the beautiful church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, from which regular buses take passengers up to the Città Alta, Bergamo’s historic upper town. The stop for the bus to Bergamo Caravaggio airport is on the same side of the road as the Mercure, about five minutes’ walk from the hotel.

The pink-painted Palazzo Dolci has a simple, contemporary décor on the inside and provides generously proportioned, comfortable guest rooms with modern furniture. Some rooms feature a striking, large landscape of the Città Alta above the bed.

The Mercure's rooms are spacious and
have plenty of amenities

The air-conditioned rooms all have free wi-fi, a flat screen tv, and a mini-bar, and the large bathrooms are immaculate and well appointed.

A generous buffet breakfast offering guests sweet and savoury food and hot and cold dishes is served each day in the restaurant on the ground floor of the hotel.

The Donizetti Theatre and the monument to the Bergamo-born opera composer are close by, and there are churches housing masterpieces by Lorenzo Lotto within walking distance.

As an alternative way to travel up to the magical Città Alta, you can take a ride on Bergamo’s funicular railway, which is situated about 20 minutes’ walk away from the Mercure.

Book a room at the Mercure with Hotels.com

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Duomo Hotel Cremona

An elegant hotel in the heart of the city of music

The Hotel Duomo and restaurant is very close to
the cathedral, which can be seen in the background

In a central location, the Hotel Duomo is the ideal choice for visitors who want to explore the historic city of Cremona in Lombardy.

Situated in Via Dei Gonfalonieri, the Duomo Hotel is just a few metres away from Cremona’s main square, Piazza Duomo, where the Romanesque cathedral and its huge Torrazzo, (bell tower), are a magnificent sight.

The Duomo Hotel is housed in a traditional brick building with pretty, wrought-iron balconies. It has its own restaurant next door, which serves guests with a generous buffet breakfast and offers a full a la carte menu at lunch times and in the evenings.

The hotel opened in 1959, taking its name from the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, usually referred to simply as il Duomo. Although housed in an historic building, the hotel’s guest rooms are presented with immaculate décor in a contemporary style. The rooms have air conditioning, direct dial telephone, satellite television, internet connection, mini bar and safe.

There are plenty of bars, restaurants and shops near the Duomo Hotel and it is a comfortable walk from the main attractions of the city and the railway station.

The Piazza Duomo is one of the most
elegant central squares in Italy

Cremona is famous for the invention of the modern violin in 1566 and as the birthplace of composers Claudio Monteverdi and Amilcare Ponchielli.

Andrea Amati, who created the modern violin from the medieval fiddle, was followed into the profession by his sons, Antonio and Gerolamo and apprentices Andrea Guarneri and Antonio Stradivari, whose violins became recognised as the best in the world.

In Via Ugolani Dati, you will find the Museo Stradivariano, which is within the Museo Civico ‘Ala Ponzone’. The collection of items in the Stradivarius museum is displayed in the elegant rooms of a former palace.

Visitors can see how the contralto viola was constructed in accordance with the classical traditions of Cremona, view instruments commemorating Italian violin makers in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and look at more than 700 relics from Stradivari’s workshop.

Piazza Duomo, which is also sometimes referred to as Piazza del Comune, is considered one of the best preserved medieval squares in Italy. The decorative Duomo is connected by a loggia to il Torrazzo, which measures more than 112 metres in height and is the tallest bell tower in Italy and the third tallest, brickwork bell tower in the world. There is also a beautiful, octagonal Romanesque baptistery.

In the streets running off Piazza Duomo you will see the workshops of liutai (luthiers) who continue to keep up the tradition of violin making in Cremona.

Ristorante Pizzeria Cremonese has a
spacious main dining room 

Restaurant recommendation:

A short walk from the Duomo Hotel you will find Ristorante Pizzeria Cremonese in Piazza Roma, which is open every day at lunch time and in the evenings, and serves a big selection of classic Italian and Cremonese dishes.

There is a large, comfortable main room with plenty of tables and the family-run restaurant has friendly staff, who provide excellent service.

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Hotel Luna Venice

Stay at the hotel where Lord Byron enjoyed the food

The Baglioni Hotel Luna has its own jetty, which
allows guests to arrive by gondola or water taxi

The iconic Hotel Luna is the oldest hotel in Venice and is also one of the most centrally located, as it is just a short walk from Piazza San Marco and easily accessible from the Grand Canal if you arrive by gondola, water taxi or vaporetto (water bus).

The poet Lord Byron and his old university friend. John Hobhouse, dined in the restaurant at the Hotel Luna on 15 November 1816 and Hobhouse recorded in his journal that ‘the eating was good.’

The Hotel Luna’s history is known to date back as far as the 12th century because it was recorded as having given shelter to the Knights Templar in 1118. The hotel was built on the site of a former church and convent.

By 1574, the hotel had become known as Locanda della Luna, but the actual building in which Byron and Hobhouse dined was erected in the 18th century. The interior was decorated with frescoes by pupils of the great Venetian artist, Giambattista Tiepolo, which guests can still admire today while having their breakfast.

The Luna Hotel has recently been renovated and spacious new suites have been added with terraces that have beautiful views of the island of San Giorgio Maggiore and the lagoon.

The hotel’s award-winning Canova restaurant serves lunch and dinner, offering diners dishes created using modern interpretations of traditional Venetian cooking.

Harry's Bar, once a favourite celebrity haunt, is
just a few steps from the Luna's entrance

You can arrive at the Hotel Luna in style, travelling down the Grand Canal and alighting at the hotel’s private jetty, but there is also an entrance from Calle Vallaresso. This is very handy for visiting the famous Harry’s Bar and the stylish boutiques and shoe shops situated along there, making the hotel convenient for shopping, sightseeing, and experiencing daily life in the centre of the city. But although the Hotel Luna is right at the centre of things, the interior is always quiet and peaceful.

The Hotel Luna is now privately owned by Baglioni Hotels. The high ceilings and original features have been carefully preserved and it has been beautifully redecorated in Venetian style, with Murano glass chandeliers and beautiful furniture and fabrics.

Editor’s note: “I have been lucky enough to stay at the Hotel Luna twice and found the location perfect for exploring Venice, as it is both handy for the lagoon and all the main sights of the city. I loved the hotel’s unique atmosphere and the way its history and traditions have been carefully preserved over the centuries. Staying at the Hotel Luna certainly helped to make my visits to the historic city of Venice magical.”

How to find the Baglioni Hotel Luna:

A few steps from Piazza San Marco, the Hotel Luna has entrances on Calle Vallaresso and Calle larga de l'Ascension, two narrow alleyways off Salizada San Moise, which is the street one joins when leaving the piazza through the archways beneath the Museo Correr, at the end opposite the Basilica. The nearest vaporetto stop is San Marco Vallaresso, right outside Harry’s Bar. For guests arriving by water taxi or gondola, the Luna’s landing stage is next to the entrance on Calle larga de l’Ascension.

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Celebrate the New Year in Italy

Dine on pork and lentils and wear red underwear for a prosperous 2023

Why not spend the New Year in Rome,
Italy's beautiful capital city?

Italy is a great place to see in the New Year as there is always a festive atmosphere with fireworks displays, concerts, and parties in even the smallest towns and villages.

In Rome, if you treat yourself to a hotel near the Colosseum or the Villa Borghese you will find plenty of free activities to enjoy.

If you choose to stay in elegant Milan, head to Piazza Duomo to see in the New Year, as it is traditional to gather in front of the beautiful cathedral.

In Naples, you will be able to watch fireworks displays from the sea front. It is worth staying near Piazza del Plebiscito, the main square of the city, where they have live music and processions to enjoy.

If you go to Turin, head to Piazza San Carlo to experience the musical celebrations and see the fireworks let off from the banks of the River Po.

Residents and visitors traditionally gather in Piazza San Marco in Venice to see in the New Year. Fireworks are let off from Riva degli Schiavoni after midnight, which light up the lagoon in spectacular style.

Firework displays are a major part of New
Year celebrations all over Italy

New Year’s Eve in Italy is known as the Festa di San Silvestro in memory of Pope Sylvester I who died on 31 December 335 in Rome.

It is not a public holiday, but it is always a festive occasion with special dinner menus offered by the restaurants.

Popular dishes include cotechino (Italian sausage), zampone (stuffed pig’s trotter) and lenticchie (lentils).

Pork is said to represent the fullness or richness of life, while lentils are supposed to symbolise wealth or money. Many Italians believe the coming year will bring prosperity if these foods are eaten on New Year’s Eve.

It is also believed wearing red underwear will fend off negativity and help people find happiness and love in the coming year.

The President of the Republic delivers an end of year message from the Quirinale in Rome, which is shown on most Italian television channels during the evening. A live concert in the open air from a town square somewhere in Italy is shown afterwards.

In some parts of Italy, you may witness the custom of throwing old possessions out of the window at midnight believed to symbolise readiness to accept the New Year.

Cotechino e lenticchie - sausage and lentils -
is a popular dish on the New Year's Eve menu

Sylvester I was pope from 314 until his death in 335, an important time in the history of the Catholic Church.

Some of Rome’s great churches, the Basilica of St John Lateran, the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, and the old St Peter’s Basilica, were founded during his pontificate.

San Silvestro in Capite, the Basilica of Saint Sylvester, is in Piazza San Silvestro on the corner of Via del Gambero and Via delle Mercede, on the opposite side of the Tiber from St Peter’s. Dating from the eighth century, it was bestowed on English Catholics by Pope Leo XIII in 1890. It is now known as ‘The National Church in Rome of Great Britain’ and mass is regularly celebrated in English there.

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Hotel Imperiale Rome

Enjoy a taste of ‘la dolce vita’ at this stylish hotel on the Via Veneto

In one of the best locations in Rome, the elegant Hotel Imperiale offers guests luxurious surroundings with the convenience of being close to many of the city’s famous historical attractions.

The Hotel Imperiale is situated on Via Veneto,
 one of Rome's most elegant streets

Established in 1895, the Hotel Imperiale is located on the iconic Via Veneto, close to statues, fountains and old buildings that will seem familiar to millions of film goers.

The interior of the hotel has retained many of its original architectural features and these are complemented stylishly by contemporary furnishings and every modern facility visitors might require.

A generous buffet breakfast is served each morning and the hotel also has its own gourmet restaurant with chefs and a sommelier on hand to help guests discover the finest Italian cuisine and the best wines to accompany it.

Hotel staff will be happy to arrange visits to Rome’s many attractions or book theatre tickets for the guests and there is also a spa with a sauna to help them relax at the end of a busy day seeing the sights.

Editor’s note: ‘I have wonderful memories of both my stays at the Hotel Imperiale. I loved the hotel’s glamorous Via Veneto location, which is within walking distance of many of Rome’s most famous sights, and there is a wide range of shops, bars and restaurants close by. I was impressed with the facilities the hotel had to offer and the level of service given by the helpful staff.’

Location

The Hotel Imperiale is in Via Veneto at number 24, in the heart of the most fashionable area of Rome. Situated close to the bottom of Via Veneto, nearest to Piazza Barberini, it is on the left hand side as you walk in the direction of the Villa Borghese complex of museums and gardens at the top.

Bernini's Fontana del Tritone in
Piazza Barberini

During the Empire, the Via Veneto was part of a suburb where the rich families owned luxurious villas and gardens. After the sack of Rome, the area became open countryside again, but started to recover its lost splendour with the building of Palazzo Barberini in the 17th century, which was designed by the architect Carlo Maderno for Pope Urban VIII. After 1900, Via Veneto developed into a street of grand hotels and cafes and featured in Fellini’s 1960 film La Dolce Vita, which helped to establish the Via Veneto’s fashionable status.

What to see near the Hotel Imperiale

Close to Hotel Imperiale is the beautiful Triton fountain (Fontana del Tritone) at the centre of Piazza Barberini, which was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the 17th century. The hotel is also within a short walk of the Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi) and the Spanish Steps, which lead down to the Keats-Shelley House, a museum commemorating the English Romantic poets, John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley.

What to eat in Rome

Look out on restaurant menus for Bucatini all’Amatriciana, a dish of long pasta served with a piquant sauce made from tomatoes and bacon, and Saltimbocca alla Romana, a veal dish with ham and sage. Saltimbocca literally means ‘jump in the mouth’, which refers to the combined taste of the ham and sage and Frascati, the wine in which the veal is cooked. Frascati, a town to the south of Rome, produces a delicious, light, dry white wine,. It is said the wine ‘non viaggia bene’ - does not travel well - but it is usually fresh and fragrant when sampled in Rome.

Book a stay at the Hotel Imperiale in Rome

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