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BIAUTOJUMBOFFICE SESTESE: Giampietri 4, Carminati 3, Catalano 10, Della Volpe 14, Corti 4, Giacomelli 12, Bruni 1, Bottai L. All. Marchi
LA SPEZIA: Louza 5, Cai 6, Ferraguti 13, Kolev 1, Perassolo 1, Orlandi 2, Moretti 2, Bettucchi 3, Briata L. Borrello. Coach Parisi.
BiautoJumboffice Sestese bids farewell to its fans with a convincing performance that earns it an easy victory against Spezia. The match was immediately in the hands of Marchi's athletes who, only at the end of the second half, allowed the guests to become dangerous. The rest of the match was practically a monologue of the locals who bravely imposed their game.
Lots of well-deserved applause at the end of the match for a team that has played an overall positive season. The last round of the Serie B tournament will see Sestese on stage in Reggio Emilia, against a San Martino that has the same points as Della Volpe and his teammates.
StillitanoJAN KRUGER GETTY IMAGES EUROPEGetty Images via AFPFrom starting in the American minor leagues to organising one of the most important friendly tournaments in the world
Spezia President Charlie Stillitano has big ambitions with the Serie B club.Football
is experiencing a golden age in the United States
Today it is the fourth most popular national sport
some 15% of Americans declare themselves fans of a football team (it was less than 4% in the 1990s)
And the next two years will be crucial for the growth of football in America
the US will be the home of the first Club World Cup
while the following year it will be the turn of the 2026 World Cup (to be played not only in the US but also in Canada and Mexico)
A sport on the rise thanks to long and constant work
often fuelled by the passion of European emigrants and their descendants
who have never abandoned their love for football
One of those people is Charlie Stillitano, the new president of Spezia Calcio
has been one of the architects of the growth of football in the United States
From the formation of the Italian American Soccer League
a league organised by the Italo-American community and set up by his father around 1972
to the management of one of the most important tournaments in the world such as the International Champions Cup
a summer competition that until the pre-covid era brought together all the best European clubs in the United States and Asia
he and his family have been important cogs
he accumulated a lot of experience in big events such as the organisation of the 1994 World Cup in the US - "a time when I learnt the business of football" - before he became General Manager of the New York/New Jersey Metro Stars
where he made player management and the business side of the sport his own
Stillitano and MatthausProfimediaWith a first-rate CV that is now at the service of one of the most interesting clubs in the scene
"I feel like I'm coming home,' Stillitano says with a twinge of emotion
"I grew up in a family where football was the only thing that mattered."
to whom the new President has emotional memories of
I still remember when Italy lost the World Cup semifinal in 1990
I was at the stadium that day and at the end of the game I called home
"My mother answered and said 'Are you ok?' I couldn't speak and she put my father on the phone
In '94 I started this adventure and my father was no longer there
Today he would be happy to see me here"
In the 1970s, when football in the United States was taking its first steps, Stillitano had an encounter he would never forget. After an exhibition match between Santos and Lazio, the legendary Pele wanted to give him his jersey
but Charlie decisively refused: "I don't want it
recalling Italy's defeat at the hands of Brazil in the 1970 World Cup
destiny still wanted him at Pele's side as a friend
Stillitano rewound the thread of memories right in front of the 'Myth' during lunch
"You are the only one who ever refused my jersey," Pele said
"But you wouldn't have respected that child if he was false," was the reply
A lesson in consistency and a true love of football
delivered him a frame with his autographed Brazilian national team jersey inside
Anecdotes and memories that make Stillitano's presence in Italian football and in Serie B even more special
decided towards the end of April to take over the club from the Australian Paul Francis
A decision that came thanks to 'Charlie's many years of international experience in the world of football.'
Top of Serie BFlashscore"Tom is someone I trust
When the financial problems came up I called him to get him involved
I told him 'There are really reliable people here
The coach is doing a great job with the team
and the club is not spending so much'
They have done a great job both football-wise and financially," says the new president
We don't want to create confusion or stir things up
We just want to make sure that we help stabilise the club"
all this while the team continues its march towards the Serie B playoffs
Spezia are having a good season and will finish the regular season among the top four
which will allow them to play directly in the semifinals
"Our project will only work if we manage to get into Serie A
"We didn't plan to get to the top flight straight away
But of course our goal is to achieve promotion
Spezia upcoming fixturesFlashscoreRoberts' decision to invest in Italian football was dictated not only by his passion for football
but also by the certainty of being able to count on the experience and contacts of a manager like Stillitano
"Tom was very clear when he agreed to throw himself into this adventure
He told me 'I don't need you for the money
I don't need you for the actual operational management
but I do need you for your football expertise
I don't know Italian football and I need someone like you.'
To myself I thought 'It would really be a waste
all the relationships I've created.' I think I can really help Tom
and I think I can also help the club and the community
but I don't want to say who yet,' he adds with a half smile
And among the big names in world football who have congratulated Stillitano on his new role, in addition Del Piero, Pirlo and Maldini, are icons such as the very powerful prosecutor Jorge Mendes, Real Madrid CEO José Ángel Sánchez and people of the calibre of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Sir Alex Ferguson
"I was certainly moved by the messages from Sanchez and Ferguson," Stillitano continues
Stillitano and FergusonEZRA SHAW Getty Images North AmericaGetty Images via AFPStillitano certainly doesn't hide his ambition
the players and the club structure are very solid
I think that if we look at everything through Tom's eyes as an investor
there are many opportunities on the business side
what we dream of is to become a stable Serie A team."
"The long-term goal is to become a stable Serie A team, like Udinese, Torino or Verona
but the ultimate dream is to be like Atalanta," Stillitano reveals
"They will certainly work on the commercial side
exploiting the beauty of the area (Cinque Terre) to attract tourism and grow the brand internationally
But we must focus on one thing first: football
who has always been used to moving between passions and international projects
Spezia can become much more than just a stage
"It is curious," he smiles in conclusion
"I was born into a family of Calabrian origins
the main port hub of the American Northeast
to another port city: one of those places from which one departs
WISNIEWSKI 6: he holds his own against the Granata forwards, he has the ball on his head for a possible equaliser at the end.
CHRISTOV 6: he never lets go even if Gondo puts him in difficulty at times. He puts a patch on it by defusing a poisonous counterattack.
VIGNALI 5,5: he doesn't play his best match, in the second half he makes a fatal mistake by serving Cassata who was marked, allowing Reggiana to counterattack (59' MATEJU 6: provides solidity).
ELIJAH 5,5: cuts through the Granata defense with constant accelerations but lacks the final pass. Portanova is lost on 1-1. Booked, he will be suspended (68' CANDELARES 5,5: no spark of quality).
NAGY 6: head passes and pedals, he fits well into the spaces. He tries with a shot from outside that grazes the top corner (76' SERIOUSLY 5: confusing and wasteful).
ESPOSITO S. 6: he shows off good football despite losing a few too many balls. From his velvet foot, with a perfect corner kick, comes the goal signed by Lapadula.
CASSATA 6: brings his usual competitive verve, with particular attention in the interdiction phase (58' KOUDA 5,5: does not shift the balance).
AURELIUS 5: so-so in coverage, leaves too much space for Ignacchiti to play, for the winning cross to Portanova. Little quality up front.
EXPOSITO P. 6: recriminations for his sure-fire right-footed shot deflected into a corner by Lucchesi. Good dialogue with Lapadula, he drops in the second half with signs of tiredness.
LAPADULA 6,5: a relentless sniper in the penalty area, he silences Mapei with an unstoppable left-footed shot (68' COLAK 5: never dangerous).
ALL. D'ANGELO 6: It's a Spezia with two faces, brilliant in the first half, surprisingly below par in the second half.
The metamorphosis of many players, now decisive, is impressive... "I often talk to them, I like to understand the man, it is fundamental especially when you come on. In addition to this, I had perceived that they had something to light inside and I tried to do it; then I do not forget that in the first two weeks of work we pushed a lot on the physical level".
How important was the return of Rozzio? "He was monumental, I have few adjectives for him now, he gave us calm, balance, personality. But I can say the same about others. I think of Girma who I sacrificed like Sersanti and started from the bench".
Cedric gondo he was exemplary and once again he scored... "He is a boy with a big heart and sensitivity and I don't have only him with these characteristics. We have reaped the benefits of many tough days. After Modena I wasn't sure about our recovery, we had had a very high intensity and instead we even recovered the disadvantage. It was a real battle".
And what does the coach deserve? "I hadn't coached for a year and a half, but I had had requests. I wanted to choose well. I asked the boys to follow me through thick and thin and they did. We keep a low profile, I liked how humble we were, even more than Modena where at times we were affected".
LESMO: Colombo, Bonsi, Randazzo, Gaspani, Galbusera, Seveso, Ferrao, Riffaldi, Mariani, Postiglione, Tartaglia. (Available Brambilla, Vicini, Dadati, Castelli, Marsaco, Brembilla, Tagliabue, Brutto). All. Brambilla
SPICE WOMEN: Aliquò, Pozzi, Fuggle, Lehmann, Monetini, Dezotti (75' Manea), Adami, Lovecchio (70' Ciccarelli), Buono, Codecà, Parodi. (Subs: Sensi, Lombardo, Del Freo, Dehima, Vacchino, Sansevieri, Scattina). Coach Salterio
Referee: Pappalardo of Crema. (Gugliemini of Saronno and Morandi of Busto Arsizio).
networks: 17' Good (S), 43' Riffaldi (L), 80' Fuggle (S)
MONZA – Mission accomplished, but with more effort than expected. The Spezia Women wins on the Lesmo pitch and gets his ticket to the Italian Cup semi-finals, the second seasonal objective of the undisputed leader of its league group.
It begins with a minute of silence for the passing of Francesco Ferruccio Capovani, for a long time responsible for logistics of Asd Spezia, who passed away in recent days: the Aquilotte players dedicate a banner to him. The match develops with two teams that are equal and give life to a hard-fought match. That of the Bianconere is a hard-fought victory against opponents who saw the 2-1 goal disallowed at the end of the first half, a goal that could have changed the outcome of the match.
With two rounds to go, fate is now in the hands of Reggiana, who have a precious margin to guard. The stadium today was more garnet than ever, with all the fans in all sectors equipped with flags given by the Curva Sud, while in the away sector there were just 34 Ligurian supporters as the sale here was prohibited to residents of the province of La Spezia. The enthusiasm was momentarily extinguished in the 15th minute by the goal of lapadula after a corner, a Ligurian specialty.
The Granata don't accept this and with a great performance they take it back with a header from portanova on a nice cross from Fiamozzi. Then we go to half-time, and in the second half, after only 6 minutes, Gondo he finishes off a counterattack started by Libutti with a beautiful lob (post-goal), first with an anticipation and then with a millimetric assist.
Then just a little bit of suffering, but at the final whistle it's all reality: third win in a row, and salvation a little closer. All that's missing is 180 minutes to go (two games), we were saying: the focus is on Friday (20.30pm), with the away match Castellammare di Stabia against Juve Stabia (who today drew 0-0 in Brescia). Sersanti will be missing due to suspension.
REGGIANA (3-4-2-1): Bardi; Libutti, Rozzio, Lucchesi; Vergara (17'st Girma), Portanova (39'st Kumi); Gondo. Subs.: Motta, Sposito, Sosa, Stulac, Destro, Maggio, Kabashi, Nahounou. Coach: Dionigi
"We didn't have time. It was a fantastic satisfaction and then as a Reggio Emilia native, with my family here, you can imagine... But it was right to leave the party to the fans and dive straight into training. We play every three or four days and there's no time to waste. We've spent a lot both physically and mentally, so I'm curious to understand how we'll get to the challenge with Spezia. Our key words, however, remain the same: sacrifice, dedication and humility".
And the turnover will be limited also because the alternatives are very limited, but will you at least recover Meroni?
"Yes, Andrea has only had one training session, but he will be there. In general, I only look at the next ninety minutes and try to be balanced to see it through to the end. Reinhart is also not at his best, but he should be available."
The impression is that the team has also found a good athletic condition, so much so that in the second half in Modena you held the field well, despite the heat. What do the data at your disposal say?
"The data is important and it's already the second time we've scored close to the ninetieth minute, even if in addition to the physical aspect, the mental one counts a lot. Before giving an absolute answer, however, I want to see how we'll react tomorrow (today, ed.)".
Do you think the safety quota can always be at 42?
"B is strange, everyone thought we were dead until two games ago and then you find yourself able to play it until the end. I think the quota has remained the same, but anything can happen. However, as I have already said, we must go beyond the timetables".
"They have the most important team in Serie B or at least one of the most important together with Sassuolo. A tough team, very physical and difficult to overcome. We have no secrets, we simply have to put in the effort, give it our all and play an intense ninety minutes. We know that they are very good at set pieces and we have studied some tricks, but at this point the difference is made above all by the mental attitude and compactness".
The fans can give you a great push, just like at the 'Braglia'.
"In the end, they made us win the derby, there's no point in beating around the bush. They understood that we could have drawn and that we had put them there. After Girma's goal, with every shot or cross, there was chaos. I hope that as many people as possible will be at the stadium, because their drive is of vital importance for us. I thank them."
an American sports executive who was once the general manager of the New York/New Jersey MetroStars and has worked most recently as a soccer events promoter
is to become president of the board of directors of Italian Serie B team Spezia after the club was acquired by the U.S
located by the Ligurian sea between Genoa and Pisa and situated around 138 miles away from Milan
The team is currently placed 3rd in the second tier of Italian football with five games of the regular season to play
The top two teams are promoted automatically into Serie A but Spezia
who are seven points behind second-place Pisa
are more likely to compete in the play-offs
as they attempt to secure the final place in the Italian top flight
Spezia spent three seasons in Serie A before being relegated in 2023
Stillitano told The Athletic on Tuesday night the takeover is not contingent on the team achieving immediate promotion to Serie A
He said they have an ambition to establish Spezia as a “solid” Serie A team in the medium-to-long term
Spezia’s last two ownerships have also been from overseas
before selling it to Paul Francis’ F32 Holdings Inc
Long-standing private equity investor Roberts told The Athletic: “I can confirm that I will be purchasing the club with personal resources
Charlie Stillitano will be representing me in this investment and representing me on the board of directors as President of the club.”
He added that funds from his company Equality Asset Management would not be involved with the purchase of the club
North American interest in Italian football has been rising with eight Serie A teams owned by Americans: Milan
Stillitano said that Ferguson and Real Madrid chief executive Jose Angel Sanchez offered him their views on taking on the Spezia role
He said: “There was this genuine feeling for me that it’s good to be back and to be really at the heart of the game.”
Stillitano became Major League Soccer’s first employee as the New York/New Jersey MetroStars’ (now the New York Red Bulls) general manager
he recruited famous names such as Roberto Donadoni
but the team finished last in two of its first four seasons before his departure
He more recently worked as executive chairman of Relevent Sports
an events and marketing company owned by the billionaire Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross
before departing amid a now resolved legal dispute in 2021
He is currently president of TEG Sport for North America
the umbrella Manchester United were brought under to play Liverpool in South Carolina last summer in pre-season
His return to club football has come due to a personal connection with Roberts
who he coached playing soccer while the pair were at Princeton University in the 1980’s
Stillitano had already become a board member at Spezia earlier this year due to relationships with existing club personnel
Stillitano told The Athletic: “A few weeks back
we heard rumors on the street that they were looking for investors
When (future USMNT coach) Bob Bradley was the coach of Princeton and I was his assistant
said he had an interest and he wanted to do this personally
they’re all athletes and I think he likes the idea of being involved with an Italian soccer team.”
the bulk of the executive staff will remain at the club
with the new ownership seeking consistency
Stillitano said: “We don’t want to change anybody
Stillitano said the club has stability due to its 12,000-seater stadium and a state-of-the-art training complex
both of which are long term lease agreements on generous terms
He added: “We think the organization is really well-run
It’s punching way above their weight as far as teams spending money goes
You’ve got to give the manager and the players credit
everything from youth development to stadium naming rights
This is in a seaside town and you have a stadium by the water that the cruise ships come into
The bus in front of the stadium takes you from there to Cinque Terre
There’s got to be different things that can be done and this is what somebody like Tom (Roberts) looks at
“We don’t have any illusions that we’re going to be Juventus or Milan,” he insisted
a team with a 7,000-seater stadium who are now in Serie A
and a dream in the long term to emulate Atalanta
who he cited as a model example of how to grow a club
Stillitano concluded: “If we’re going to do pie in the sky
to have a team that is really a solid team in Serie A
and if we aspire to be like Atalanta… that is not easy
(Top photo: Jan Kruger/Getty Images for Soccerex)
With the rise of new operational scenarios characterised by asymmetric and hybrid threats
innovation is at the core of defence systems
An area where it becomes necessary for European companies to form alliances and synergies in order to compete together in the global market
In the current context of geopolitical instability and constant technological evolution
Leonardo's La Spezia site plays a leading role in the development
production and integration of naval and land systems
for which the Group is the only manufacturer in Europe
The facility also houses a training centre based on immersive virtual reality
where customers and users can carry out maintenance training activities
Some of the technologies with which Leonardo meets current and future operational requirements are developed in the Ligurian site
designed to be installed on a vast number of different platforms
available in crewed and remote-controlled ultralight versions
up to the HITFACT designed for heavy vehicles
Optical suite manufactured in the Leonardo site in Campi Bisenzio (Firenze
which measures the distance between two points by emitting a low-energy laser beam
It directly transmits the information to the ballistic computer for rapid and automated engagement
The HITFIST is a crewed tower
Conceived in the early 2000s to equip the Italian Army's (Esercito Italiano - EI) ‘Dardo’ VCC (Armoured Fighting Vehicle)
it is characterised by its modularity and ease of integration on different hulls
Its latest evolution equips the 8x8 VBM (Medium Armoured Vehicle) of the EI
It features the new 30mm weapon system developed in-house
the new LOTHAR SD and JANUS D-L digital optical sensors
which enables the exchange of information between towers and platforms
as well as constant dialogue with the tactical command and control systems involved
Modular and compact targeting device designed to provide precise identification
gyro-stabilised viewer for Main Battle Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles
as well as for use in urban scenarios and high-altitude target viewing
aimed at countering unmanned aerial systems
designed and developed at the La Spezia site
was born out of the need to support large-calibre
Its objective is to enhance the effectiveness of highly mobile vehicle operations
despite the fully automatic loading system
as a possible back-up solution in case of malfunctions
one housing the crew and electronic systems
the other intended for the instruments and loading system
to maintain the highest STANAG (Standardization Agreement) safety standards
the tower is equipped with a state-of-the-art fire-fighting system
terms and conditions for technical equipment or procedures in the military field between the member countries of the alliance
aimed at creating a new European core for the development and production of military combat vehicles in Europe
which intends to strengthen cooperation with international players
will allow Leonardo to position itself at the centre of the consolidation process of the European Defence industry
The main objective is the development and commercialisation of the new Main Battle Tank (MBT) and the new combat vehicle platform for the Armoured Infantry Combat System (AICS) programme
electronic suites and weapon systems integration will be developed and produced by Leonardo according to the requirements of the Italian customer
The technologies developed will form the basis for the development of the future European Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) and new versions aimed at international export
delivery activities and logistic support will be carried out in Italy
The MBT and AICS programmes will see Leonardo engaged in the development of new products in different areas
These new competencies in the land domain will have direct recourse to the La Spezia site
where new medium-calibre technologies will be developed and substantial workshare will be provided in the construction of the new MBT tower
Innovation will be the central element at 360 degrees
with the use of technologies related to mechanical engineering
In addition to continuing with the production of large-calibre defence systems
the management of assembly and machining of the hulls and the logistics aspect will continue
La Spezia will also be responsible for field support for all systems
including the most innovative ones such as the simulators to be used for training phases
contribute to the development of the C4I concept within the so-called ‘tactical multi-domain bubble’
capable of making different systems cooperate with each other
Multi-domain operations (MDOs) aim to orchestrate and synchronise military and non-military activities across all domains (land
space and cyber) and operational environments
enabling converging effects at a relevant speed
Key capabilities for MDO development leverage digital transformation and the adoption of Emerging & Disruptive Technologies (cloud
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one of Cinque Terre's scenic clifftop villages
So pretty that it inspired 2021's Disney movie Luca, Cinque Terre ("five lands") consists of five startlingly photogenic fishing villages on Italy's northwest coast
their candy-colored houses stacked down the sides of ravines and on top of cliffs
jaw-dropping sea views and photo opportunities at every turn
this is everything people love about Italy
that beauty is also its curse – it's one of the most overtouristed parts of the Bel Paese (the beautiful country), with thousands of daytrippers crowding into the narrow streets
eager to take a couple of quick shots for the 'Gram and then leave
Most people day-trip around the five villages
but stay longer – even three or four days – and you'll get a real appreciation of this extraordinary landscape
One of the most remote parts of Italy – the single road arrived in the 1960s
and the railway a century earlier – Cinque Terre has always been a place of visceral beauty
Look up beyond those colored houses: for over 1000 years
the residents have terraced the cliff sides and cultivated olives and wine that were once the toast of Europe's top tables
Today, the entire area is a national park that celebrates human ingenuity as well as Mother Nature, with around 120km (75 miles) of footpaths allowing you to explore it in the raw. But as well as a place to walk, this is also a place to relax. Watch the waves beat against the rocks from one of the medieval castles scattered along the coast – a hallmark of Liguria
Drink a glass of wine cultivated on those very cliffs
Watch the colors of the setting sun light the sea aflame
And rejoice that you chose more than a day trip
This first-time guide to Cinque Terre shows you how to make the best of your trip to this bucket-list Italian destination
Vibes: The southernmost village packs fine-dining restaurants and good bars into its teeny terraces
If you're wondering where to start in Cinque Terre
the clifftop castle overlooking the village
Eat: In the mornings or for lunch on the run, grab a pastry or piece of focaccia at Panificio Rosi. The best views in town are from A Pié de Ma, a superb wine bar and restaurant on the cliffs that has an unbeatable selection of local wines by the glass. Run by Sicilian brothers, La Lampara is a superb seafood restaurant
Stay: Locanda Ca da Iride has simple
comfortable rooms (but no breakfast) in the higher part of the village
Vibes: Arguably the prettiest part of Cinque Terre, cutesy Manarola has cottages stacked up and over the cliffs
as well as the area's loveliest main street
which spirals down a canyon to the water's edge
See: Take the footpath forking upwards from the north side of the village to find yourself immersed in cliffside vineyards with spectacular sea views
Eat: From breakfast to late lunches, Cappun Magru is the place for exceptional sandwiches, pastries and cakes, all washed down with local wine. You can't beat Nessun Dorma for an aperitivo with a view – it's jammed onto the cliffside and delivers sunset views
Stay: Posidonia is a sweet guesthouse with wonderful owners in the quiet
Vibes: Tiny Corniglia
is the only clifftop village in the region
descend) the 383 steps between the sea-level train station and the village
Eat: Dai Luca offers panini, focaccia and street food for snacks or meals on the run, while the wine bar Terra Rossa has a lovely selection of local dishes and drinks overlooking a pretty garden. A Cantina de Mananan is a lovely osteria (cafe) in the village serving the best Cinque Terre ingredients
Stay: Il Carugio di Corniglia has rooms and apartments overlooking the sea
Vibes: The busiest village, Vernazza was the most important in the past – though it's crowded
head up the steep staircases to quiet medieval alleyways – as twisty and atmospheric as the caruggi (narrow streets) of regional capital Genoa
See: Wander round the small harbor and step into the atmospheric 13th-century church of Santa Margherita d'Antiochia
Stay: Restaurant Gianni Franzi has rooms scattered throughout the village
Vibes: With its long, sandy beach, this – usually known as plain "Monterosso" – is the largest village and the one that most resembles a regular beach resort
See: Wander through the warren of the old town and head up to the humbug-striped Convento dei Cappuccini to see a painting called Crucifixion attributed to Van Dyck
Stay: Friendly Hotel Marina is near Buranco
just outside the historic center of the village
Unlike nearby resorts along the Italian Riviera
this isn't really somewhere to flop on a beach – not least because Monterosso has the only real beach
The other villages either have rocky coves
boulders doubling as diving boards or harbors to swim in
Since most visitors come for an active trip with plenty of hiking
Crowded throughout the year – unbearably so in summer – the area is quieter in winter
though it's not always possible to hike due to the weather
Cross-reference your dates with Italian public holidays
as the villages can be impossibly busy with daytrippers
The vast majority of visitors come here for a day trip
and while it's possible to visit all five villages in a day
to do so is to completely miss the beauty of the area
you probably need at least three or four full days in Cinque Terre to get a true taste
sit back with some of the local wine as you take in the views
and even visit some of the villages further up the cliff sides
and you can add lesser-known hikes and visit some of Italy's most spectacular vineyards
Even longer is better – I spent two weeks on my first trip and enjoyed every minute
This is a relatively tough-to-reach location
which makes it even more important to spend as long as you can here
The closest airports are Genoa and Pisa – both are around 1–2 hours by train from Cinque Terre
One extremely important point: driving here is absolutely to be avoided
steep climb outside the villages (only residents are allowed to park inside)
clifftop roads can also be frightening for newcomers to the area – the Amalfi Coast has nothing on these lanes
and even as a seasoned Italian cliffside driver
one time in Cinque Terre was one time too many for me
Even if you already have a car on your trip
it's best parking outside Cinque Terre (try La Spezia or Levanto) and coming in on the train
The best way to travel between the villages is definitely by rail. Trains run around every 15–20 minutes throughout the day, stopping at each of the five villages – the journey time between each stop is only a couple of minutes. Tickets cost €5–10 (US$5.25–10.50) per journey (even if you're just doing a two-minute hop) depending on the season, and it's often better value to buy a timed Cinque Terre Card
which allows unlimited train travel between Levanto and La Spezia (the cities north and south of the area)
as well as bus travel to the more remote villages
You can also get around by boat. Navigazione Golfo dei Poeti runs between La Spezia and Levanto, calling at all the villages. Golfo Paradiso has a line from Genoa
and boarding with a lot of luggage can be tricky
the only real option is walking and the paths are steep
Those with mobility issues will certainly find it difficult – Manarola and Riomaggiore are particularly tricky
The centers of Corniglia and Vernazza are largely flat
Take a boat with Navigazione Golfo dei Poeti to see Cinque Terre's extraordinary landscape from the sea
It gives you an idea of the remoteness of the place – there wasn't a road here until the 1960s – and of how the locals have sculpted terraces from the sheer cliffs
making an uninhabitable landscape productive
Docking at the villages' tiny harbors is a memorable experience
and you can go onwards to La Spezia or (my pick) Levanto
For centuries, Cinque Terre has been known for its wine: sea-flecked salty whites grown along the cliffs. Try it by the glass at bars like A Pié de Ma in Riomaggiore or Cappun Magru in Manarola – both of these offer wine flights and tastings
nothing tells you more about Cinque Terre than perching high up in the hills
hearing how the locals have produced bottles that
were so famous that they graced the tables of royalty and popes
Tilling those cliffsides is backbreaking manual work
and while the vineyards are a fraction of what they were
they're important for stabilizing the increasingly fragile landscape and warding off the effects of climate change
The best – and most fun – way to understand this is with a vineyard tour. You'll catch me high up on the hills above Vernazza on a tour from Cheo – from the vineyards, there are astonishing views of the village, castle and sea below. Don't forget to try the heavenly sweet Sciacchetrà wine that Cinque Terre is famous for – that sea-salt breeze adds an incredible tang.
You won't find any bargain restaurants or trattorias – prices are up there with high-end joints in major cities – but on the plus side, Liguria is the home of Italian street food, and there are plenty of small bakeries offering tasty snacks like focaccia that are good for lunch.
4Basic room for two: €140–250 (US$147–262)
Self-catering apartment (including Airbnb): €150–250 (US$157–262)
Public transport ticket: €5–10 (US$5.25–10.50)
Glass of Cinque Terre wine: €6–15 (US$6.29–15.73)
Bring layers, no matter the season. Weather changes fast on the Liguria coast, and even in the hottest summer months, you'll probably need a jacket or sweater at night and if you go out on a boat during the day.
Be prepared to walk… a lot. Don't underestimate how challenging the villages can be for those with mobility problems. Even if you're not planning to hike, Manarola and Riomaggiore are extremely steep. Be aware of that when you book your accommodation, too – there are limited porter services, and you should be prepared to cart your luggage up the cliffside.
With a Cinque Terre card you can village hop without counting the cost. The card includes access to all the hiking trails and allows you onto the bus routes to villages higher up on the cliffs. The proceeds go to the national park.
Levanto and La Spezia bookend Cinque Terre and are included in Cinque Terre train tickets, so if you're booking last minute and the villages are sold out, try here (I prefer Levanto – La Spezia is a bigger city).
Like all overtouristed areas, Cinque Terre's future depends on how tourists treat it. Stay longer and support local businesses. Shop at local artisan shops for souvenirs and eat at restaurants that use local products like marinated anchovies and regional wine. The latter is an important one – young locals replanting vineyards are helping to stabilize the fragile cliff terraces.
Baglietto Shipyard continues its strong start to 2025 by launching the seventh hull in its acclaimed T52 series
marking the shipyard’s second launch of the year
with interiors co-created by Margherita Casprini
this vessel exemplifies the core principles that have made the T52 line one of the most respected series in contemporary Italian yachtbuilding
Representatives from Royal Yacht International
including Manuele Thiella and Tommaso Chiabra
attended the event on behalf of the yacht’s owner
underscoring the growing global interest in Baglietto’s unique design language and build quality
10259 continues the tradition of the T52 series
This yacht carries a contemporary aesthetic with a timeless essence
something Baglietto has come to define over its history
sculpted exterior silhouette reflects a harmonious blend of modernity and heritage — a hallmark of Paszkowski's design philosophy
The T52 model has gained recognition not only for its looks but also for its innovative spatial design
the hallmark open stern beach club remains a focal point — developed over three distinct levels and firmly established as a Baglietto signature
This area provides a true luxury-at-sea experience
connecting owners and guests with the ocean
One of the standout features of this stern design is the adaptable pool with an up-and-down flooring system
the pool’s floor rises to flush with the rest of the deck
multifunctional space — a testament to the shipyard’s clever engineering and design efficiency
Baglietto continues to push the boundaries of onboard livability with the T52 No
floor-to-ceiling windows envelop the lounge on three sides
offering panoramic views and natural light in a space that can function year-round
This "al fresco" area includes a conversation zone and a dining setup
ideal for extended stays onboard in varying weather conditions
The seamless indoor-outdoor transition is central to the yacht’s design and highlights the shipyard’s attention to lifestyle and usability in real cruising environments
Another feature that cements this yacht’s uniqueness is its expansive sun deck
stretching approximately 24 meters — an extraordinary dimension for a yacht of this size class
and reflects the influence of Baglietto’s displacement yacht heritage
A distinctive retractable staircase at the bow connects the sun deck directly with a bimini-covered area forward of the wheelhouse
This architectural flourish is visually striking and functionally enhances circulation between decks
giving guests more options for movement and relaxation
10259 is powered by twin Caterpillar C32 engines
delivering a cruising speed of 11 knots and a top speed of 16 knots
These specifications support comfortable and efficient long-range cruising
making the vessel ideal for extended itineraries across the Mediterranean or further afield
and energy efficiency — areas where the shipyard has earned accolades for delivering refined engineering in compact superyacht formats
“This is a truly extraordinary figure for a shipyard like ours,” said Baglietto’s Chief Commercial Officer Fabio Ermetto
referring to the company’s goal of launching seven yachts in 2025
“We always eagerly look forward to a new launch
we will be savouring this special moment an impressive seven times.”
Such momentum reflects a clear shift in the market
where discerning owners seek out more personalized
design-forward vessels with strong craftsmanship foundations
long regarded as a boutique builder with a strong identity
expanding its portfolio while staying true to its roots in quality and individuality
Baglietto reinforces its role at the forefront of Italian yacht building
and enhanced outdoor living to offer a compelling package for modern yacht owners
As Baglietto looks to launch five more yachts this year
the message is clear: the brand is not just growing—it’s evolving with purpose
384 pages featuring the best of the best from the last ten years in the luxury yachting world
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Wanted in RomeMagazine
Two original pages from the "first edition" of Dante Alighieri's masterpiece The Divine Comedy
have been found in the Italian city of La Spezia
announced by the city's mayor Pierluigi Peracchini on Saturday and reported by news agency ANSA
came about during the relocation of state archives
The two pages belong to the canticles of Purgatory and Paradise in Dante's epic work which the mediaeval poet and philosopher completed a year before his death in 1321
In addition to the pages of La Divina Commedia
documents related to the so-called "Pax Dantis" were found
a 14th-century agreement that put an end to the conflict between the noble Malaspina family and the Bishops of Luni
highlighting a direct link between Dante and the history of La Spezia
Mayor Peracchini said that the city is evaluating
a way of putting the precious parchments on public display
Dante’s connection with La Spezia dates back to the period of his exile from Florence
from 1301 to his death two decades later in Ravenna
La Divina Commedia is a long narrative poem representing a 14th-century vision of the afterlife
describing Dante's journey through the three realms of the dead: Inferno (hell)
who began composing the work in or around 1308
wrote the poem's 14,233 lines in the vernacular
opting for the Tuscan dialect over Latin which was the language reserved for the most educated readers
This groundbreaking decision meant that the work was accessible to the masses and led to Dante being credited as "the father of the Italian language"
Today Dante's masterpiece is widely considered to be the pre-eminent work in Italian literature and one of the greatest works of world literature
Each year Italy celebrates Dante with a national day in his honour on 25 March
the date given by scholars for the start of the journey to the afterlife in The Divine Comedy
Wanted in Rome ™ is member of the Wanted World Wide Ltd network.Click here to find out more about our Network or Follow us on social networks
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An extraordinary discovery at theState Archives of La Spezia
several newspapers have headlined referring to the alleged discovery of documents concerning Dante Alighieri in the La Spezia archives: it would be
which quotes La Spezia Mayor Pierluigi Peracchini
“two pages of the first edition of the Divine Comedy” that were allegedly “found during the transfer works of the La Spezia State Archives” and the “original of the Pax Dantis”that is
the Peace of Castelnuovo (or “Dante’s peace”) signed on October 6
in Castelnuovo Magra between the Malaspina family
represented by Dante Alighieri (who therefore dressed in diplomatic garb on that occasion)
and the bishops of Luni at the end of a war that had pitted them against each other
the documents whose photographs were published are well known
in some newspapers there has been talk of the "original pages of the Divine Comedy," with an emphasis that may lead readers to further misunderstand and believe that nothing less than the sheets penned by the hand of Dante himself have been found on the shores of the Gulf of Poets
In that case it would indeed be an extraordinary discovery
The “two pages of the first edition of the Divine Comedy” are actually neither pages nor editions: in fact
This is a fourteenth-century parchment: at the time
so one cannot speak of an “edition,” since the term designates
while “pages” are those that make up a printed volume: the sheets whose photos have been circulated are instead manuscripts
it is a fragment of a codex of the Commedia (with the end of Canto XXVI of Purgatorio
later used as a wrapper to a protocol of the notary Tommaso De Tomei
As explained in an online focus compiled by the La Spezia archive itself
the sheets on the peace of Castelnuovo are seven archival units (the oldest in the institution
which are part of a cartulary (a notarial register) from 1306 belonging to the notary Giovanni Parente di Stupio
highlight “important facts and personalities of a historical period in which a dispute between potentates
was taking place in the territory of Sarzana
with an inevitable clash of interests on both the economic and political levels
since in his exile the supreme poet in Lunigiana and Val di Magra was hosted by the Malaspina family
known as the Ramo Secco.” The first of the papers
the power of attorney conferred by Franceschino Malaspina of Mulazzo on Dante Alighieri
at the hands of the notary Giovanni Parente di Stupio in Piazza della Calcandola in Sarzana (today Piazza Matteotti)
the text describing the peace between the Malaspina family and the bishop of Luni
contain acts that resolved pending disputes still pending between the two sides
as the State Archives declared on the occasion of the 2021 exhibition
paleographic and diplomatic value” and “document Dante’s role as a diplomat in the service of the Marquis Malaspina in settling patrimonial and legal disputes between the Malaspina and the Bishop-Count of Luni
Antonio di Nuvolone da Camilla dei Fieschi.” They have
Where then did the incredible misunderstanding originate
attaching images of the archival documents
with this text: “A unique treasure of Dante Alighieri in La Spezia
In the State Archives of La Spezia we have a priceless heritage of the poet: the original of the Pax Dantis
which in 1306 ended the war between the Malaspina and the Bishops of Luni
and authentic pages of cantos from Purgatory and Paradise from the first edition of the Divine Comedy
I thank Director Rosetta Ferrara for the invitation to visit the State Archives and we will work together to expose these documents to the public in the near future!” Indeed
there is no reference in the first citizen’s post to any discoveries or findings
it is simply an acknowledgement of a relevant presence in the La Spezia archives
Ansa reports other less interpretable words from the mayor in a quotation mark: “it is an extraordinary fact
the discovery of a treasure of inestimable value
Now we intend to identify soon a path with the Ministry of Culture for an exhibition.” In short
it is unclear why these documents with which scholars have been familiar for decades and which have also been presented to the public
Two scholars have already made their voices heard on social media amid the wave ofunfounded enthusiasm
The first to intervene was historian Enrica Salvatori
professor of Medieval History at the University of Pisa
reiterating that the papers have been known for some time
is “an accumulation of errors.” “Dante’s so-called peace (I ignore why they use Latin) is composed of a series of different documents
preserved in the only preserved file of a lost notarial register,” the scholar wrote
“They are documents in which Dante Alighieri acted as procurator of the Malaspina
but certainly those are the best known and MOST studied.” The Commedia parchment papers are “valuable specimens of the ’Danti del Cento,’ or C
a very rich section of codices of the Commedia
first thought to be the work of a single copyist
but which recent studies have been able to assign to a writing workshop in Florence.”
writes directly under the mayor’s post the expert Eliana Vecchi
and author of numerous publications on the ancient history of Lunigiana
after the anniversary ceremonies and a subsequent publication edited by Giovanni Sforza.” After that
with the ’release of an important volume of the Historical Journal of Lunigiana
edited together with the’ State Archives of La Spezia
which holds the ’Dante relics,’ as they were called
They were finally reissued recently in the Dantesque Diplomatic Codex
since 2005 in more appropriate and secure cases
specially commissioned by the ’State Archives.“ Also ”the bifolium and parchment sheet
coming from a dismembered codex of the Divine Comedy and used later as the cover of a cartulary
had already been edited in 1890 and Giosuè Carducci came to see them at the Sarzana Notarial Archives where they were then preserved."
harbourside gelaterias and traditional restaurants that provide pitstop refreshments along the way
this villa is found in the heart of Manarola
offering the quintessential Cinque Terre experience
rooms prioritise both practicality and a clean design
brightly coloured a baby blue shade to perfectly match the palette of the framed paintings and sofa cushions beside
with golden mirrors and plenty of wardrobe space
plus there’s a charming balcony for sun-splashed breakfasts and late-night drinks
Sleeps: FourPrice: From around £254 per night
La SpeziaIn a peaceful nook of the mountains
this pretty pink home watches over both the Cinque Terre and La Spezia port city
although the free parking and local bus stop mean it’s far from isolated
and sofa bed are spread across three rooms
bookshelves and hand-crafted artwork create a homely vibe
The dainty living-dining area has whitewashed furniture
sheer curtains and a glass crockery cabinet
but you’ll be spending most of your meals al fresco
There's a shaded wooden table on the patio
with wild vines crawling up stone walls on one side
and unrivalled sunset views over the sprawling coastline on the other
Sleeps: FourPrice: From around £151 per night
ManarolaFor front-row seats of the Ligurian Sea
this detached villa nestles three floors and three terraces into Manarola’s rocky cliff face
with rosy blooms spilling out onto the sweet little garden at its foot
the spacious kitchen stretches towards a window-view dining table and snug sofa den
while the interconnected double and twin rooms above are perfect for small families
Interiors here embrace Italian tradition without feeling dated
while the marine-themed decor and royal blue furnishings complement the backdrop of endless ocean waves beyond
Sleeps: FourPrice: From around £422 per night
Monterosso al MareIf you’re after a beach break
This wonderful villa lies directly behind Fegina Beach
the largest sandy stretch in the Cinque Terre region
exposed brickwork sits beside a sleek forest green kitchen and smart TV
while a double bedroom is tucked in the corner
A white spiral staircase leads to a queen-size master room and triple bunkbed room
both with romantic French-style doors which open onto a shared green balcony
where you can dine at a large glass table surrounded by lemon and olive trees
Sleeps: SevenPrice: From around £422 per night
BonassolaAlthough Bonassola lies a few miles north of the Cinque Terre village
the colourful homes here have flown under the radar
offering a quieter stay in the same lovely atmosphere
all ensuite and equally sleek in their design
a terrace stretches along the length of the open-plan living space
The host also provides four complementary bikes for exploring the scenic cycling routes nearby
tennis court and huge landscaped lawn in your back garden
there’s plenty to keep all entertained onsite
Sleeps: EightPrice: From around £2,223 per night
this classic villa offers an impressive seven ensuite bedrooms
two lounges and a panoramic open dining veranda suspended over the sea
ornate dressing tables and floaty bed canopies are just some of the most lavish design touches here
such as highspeed WiFi and a washer-drying machine
Cross the quaint bridge on your doorstep to reach the beach promenade
and as Levanto is the town closest to the Cinque Terre villages
several local hiking trails also lead to the neighbouring region itself
Sleeps: FourteenPrice: From around £1,270 per night
Sleeps: EightPrice: From around £692 per night, with a three-night minimum stay
Leonardo and Rheinmetall establish a joint venture aiming at forming a new European nucleus for the development and production of military combat vehicles in Europe
The companies had already signed a corresponding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Rome at the beginning of July 2024
will be equal shareholders (50% each) in the new company Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles (LRMV)
which will have its legal headquarters in Rome and an operational headquarter in La Spezia
The definition of the agreement and the establishment of the company
which will be expected by the first quarter 2025
are subjected to usual regulatory approvals for this sort of operation
The primary goal of the joint venture is the industrial development and subsequent marketing of the new Italian main battle tank (MBT) and the new Lynx platform for the Armoured Infantry Combat System (AICS) programme as part of the Italian Army's programme for land systems
The development and production of other vehicles of this family
Both partners also expect their joint products to provide extensive sales opportunities in international markets
CEO of Rheinmetall AG: “We are creating a new heavyweight in European tank production
two leading European suppliers of defence technology
are joining forces to carry out ambitious projects
We are primarily addressing the Italian market
but we will also be targeting other partner nations which are in need of modernising their combat systems in the future
Rheinmetall has the perfect technologies for Italy's requirements.”
CEO of Leonardo: “This is a significant step towards the creation of a European defense system based on specialized shared platforms
Rheinmetall and Leonardo aim at developing state-of-the-art technologies able to compete at international level.”
The Panther KF51 developed by Rheinmetall will be the basis for the new main battle tank to replace the Ariete in the Italian army
The Italian AICS programme involves the procurement of over 1,000 armoured combat systems in 16 variants in the future
In addition to the classic infantry fighting vehicle
All models will have a modular design and the Rheinmetall Lynx infantry fighting vehicle shall form the technological basis
A 50:50 sharing of labour was agreed for the joint venture
with 60% of the work to be carried out in Italy
This concerns in particular final assembly
delivering activities and logistic support
electronics suites and weapons integration will be developed and produced by Leonardo according to the requirements of the Italian client
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The Rheinmetall KF51 Panther is understood to be used as the basis for the new Italian main battle tank (Photo: Rheinmetall)
Italy’s Leonardo and Germany’s Rheinmetall have officially joined forces in a venture that aims to consolidate the European defence sector and develop military combat vehicles in Europe
Both companies will be equal shareholders in the new company – named Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles (LRMV) – with headquarters in Rome and La Spezia
The establishment of the company is expected by the first quarter of 2025
with 60 percent of the work to be carried out in Italy
Italy weighs up the challenge of its tank replacement plans
Italy picks Rheinmetall and Leonardo for MBT and IFV and gives MGCS a boost
CEO of Rheinmetall AG said: “[LMRV] are creating a new heavyweight in European tank production
are joining forces to carry out ambitious projects”
commented that the joint venture marked a “significant step towards the creation of a European defense system based on specialised shared platforms” – one that both partners expect to compete at and sell in international markets
While the Italian market would be the initial focus
Papperger also added that the company would be targeting “other partner nations which are in need of modernising their combat systems in the future”
According to both companies, Rheinmetall’s KF51 Panther will form the basis for the new battle tank to replace the Ariete. Its KF41 Lynx infantry fighting vehicle will also form the technological basis for the AICS
Shephard Defence Insight has noted that the Italian MoD is understood to want to begin procuring vehicles in 2025
with the AICS project funded up until 2035
C1 Ariete Replacement [Italy]
AICS [Italy]
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to Premium News and Defence Insight …
Estonia has taken delivery of six Lockheed Martin High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) weapons
The delivery comes only a month after Australia received its first system and the company outlined plans to improve missiles fired from the system
Thales will modernise the Royal Netherlands Army’s TACTIS simulation system over eight years with enhanced synthetic environments
Hanwha will develop the multi-function radar of the Low Altitude Missile Defense (LAMD)
work which is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2028
Pulsar-L has already entered service and weighs about 12kg with range of 5km
It was only in May last year that the company disclosed that earlier versions were already in service
Her passion for the naval sector led her to become the first woman in charge of production programmes at the Leonardo site in La Spezia (Italy)
where the Group’s flagship naval defence systems are built
told in an article by Daniele Izzo in the newspaper “Il Secolo XIX”
I visited the Naval Museum” - Giulia says - “and the subject fascinated me.” This is how her professional career began
which Giulia defines as “a beautiful and stimulating reality
The article is an opportunity for Giulia to retrace the stages of her career in our company
she was hired by Leonardo and has never stopped since
progressively holding positions of increasing responsibility
she is the first woman to hold the role of Manufacturing Programme Manager in the naval defence sector
Her responsibility is to “manage multiple products within the production line
ensuring that they are delivered on time and in full compliance with the expected costs.”
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Luca Cambiaso’sAdoration of the Shepherds arrives on display in Liguria
at the Museo Civico ’Amedeo Lia’ in La Spezia
Visitors to the Ligurian museum will be able to admire it from December 14
on the occasion of Christmas.The exhibition of the canvas
will also be an opportunity for in-depth study thanks to the display of a drawing that appears to be related to the Bolognese canvas
It will thus be a comparison between the drawing
in whose synthesis of sign is already the whole compositional idea
made presumably in the years 1565-1570 for the Casali chapel in San Domenico in Bologna by Luca Cambiaso
The replication of the painting itself is due to the local fortune of this relevant figurative text
as evidenced by the similar text similarly conceived during the 16th century
also preserved at the Pinacoteca Nazionale in Bologna
introduces the complex issue of graphic art composed by Cambiaso and his workshop
introduces the broad question of theautography of the sheets referred or referable to the Genoese master
The grandiosity of execution was echoed by the prolificity of signs
And indeed the production turns out to be so copious because of those agilities of writing and speed of execution that the master enacted with incredible flair
Also extended until January 12, 2025 at the ’Amedeo Lia’ Civic Museum is the exhibition L’arte di viaggiare. Italy and the Grand Tour(you can read our review here)
"The extension of the exhibition L ’ arte di viaggiare
Italy and the Grand Tour until January 12 is confirmation of a great cultural success for our city," said La Spezia Mayor Pierluigi Peracchini
"With the arrival of Luca Cambiaso’s TheAdoration of the Shepherds
the Museo Civico ’Amedeo Lia’ is enriched with a masterpiece of extraordinary importance from the Pinacoteca of Bologna
which celebrates Christmas with a work of intense spirituality and beauty
This new collaboration is an important signal that La Spezia is increasingly a hub for culture
and with this new work the current exhibition at the Lia Museum
CAMeC - Center for Modern and Contemporary Art in La Spezia is preparing for a major exhibition event with Morandi and Fontana
a project that juxtaposes two key figures in 20th-century Italian art
is curated by Maria Cristina Bandera and Sergio Risaliti.The juxtaposition of Morandi and Fontana is based on a dialogue between artists with two different visions of life and artistic practice: on the one hand the silent suspension of time
on the other theirruption of gesture into space
dissolving matter in a rarefied and contemplative atmosphere
the visible and the invisible merge into a silent and profound reality of color and contemplation
In the face of this quest for essentiality
Fontana’s gesture appears as a radical break
the Italian-Argentine artist opens a gap in the work
denying the two-dimensionality of painting and suggesting a beyond of visible space
He abandons all figurative illusion by opening his gaze wide to the infinite
The exhibition at CAMeC thus presents a comparison between these two masters
seemingly irreconcilable but united by a common goal: to overcome the limits of the gaze and redefine the way we see art and the world
Morandi does this by eliminating every superfluous detail in order to capture the invisible
Two visions that reflect two opposing conceptions of art
but which have in common a relentless search for new horizons
For all info: https://camec.sp.it/
"A former sports manager of great importance - says Mayor Pierluigi Peracchini - Domenichini was a guide, an example of dedication and fairness, capable of being esteemed by all for his human and professional qualities. Remembering him through sport is the best way to keep his moral and sporting legacy alive. A day that will unite generations, values and memories, celebrating the passion for sport, the strength of the community and the beauty of being together".
Giorgio Domenichini's son, Marco, was sold by Canaletto to Fiorentina and then began a great career as Spalletti's right-hand man.
that two of the major exhibitions on the Grand Tour were held in two cities separated by just thirty kilometers
that were marginally touched by the travelers who descended from northern Europe
to Naples and then back up in the direction of Venice and from there back home
albeit with all the limitations of the case (the bulk of the material came from a single lender)
had nevertheless devoted an entire room to the Apuan landscapes
offering the public the opportunity to observe various glimpses of these lands at the time when some of the most daring grandtourists s’were set on going to see the marble quarries
the Lia’s exhibition dedicates to the landscapes of the Ligurian Levant nothing more than a beautiful watercolor by William Turner
of the albeit vivid interest that painters and travelers who happened to visit Italy between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries cultivated for the Gulf of the Poets
the gulf was not included among the milestones
had stopped here because he wanted to study the ancient city of Luni
evocative verses to the gulf (“The day shone
I seemed to proceed / Along the extreme edge of this
of our world; / But soon the waves retreated
wrote a lyric about the fireflies he had first seen amid the myrtle bushes along the La Spezia coast (“In many a sweet bay of Liguria / The myrtles shine green and bright
/ Shining with their snowy blossoms during the day / And blazing with fireflies at night; / And yet
Of Byron and Shelley it is even superfluous to speak
The Art of Traveling focuses primarily on the four “capitals of the Grand Tour,” as we might call them: Venice
in order of how they are presented to the public
with the works arranged within the excellent
original layouts designed by the Tub Design studio
which revolutionized the Sixteenth and Eighteenth-century rooms (works not functional to the exhibition were moved to the large room usually reserved for temporary exhibitions) to welcome visitors with a lively narrative
aimed at enhancing the works especially where the layout of the exhibition is weakest: the room dedicated to Naples
has been transformed into the room of a Pompeii domus to display some drawings of the Posillipo School
and the late 19th-century watercolors of the Neapolitan painter Vincenzo Loria
who was director of the Pompeii excavations and whose paintings were intended to document the wall decorations that had been preserved for centuries under the ashes of Vesuvius
The four sections are anticipated by an introductory room that is instead dedicated to the reasons for the journey
Where and when did the need to embark on the Grand Tour arise
It should be borne in mind that it is a phenomenon that is not as uniform as one might think: the formative journey through Europe was a codified usage as early as the mid-seventeenth century (in the opening of the exhibition it is rightly recalled that the term first appears in Richard Lassels’ Voyage of Italy
published in 1670: somewhere between a guidebook and a travel report
the work provided the reader with descriptions of cities and monuments that the English priest had seen in Italy)
and which lasted until the late 19th century
one will be enchanted by a view painted in 1844 by Giovanni Signorini
and displayed next to a splendid painting(The Arno at the Peach Farm of San Niccolò)
a class of bourgeois collectors was forming in Tuscany who appreciated the views of their cities and would become the main supporters of local painters (Signorini and Gelati’s collectors were mainly Tuscan)
refined international clientele who would continue to buy landscapes as travel souvenirs even in the 19th century
while relations between artists and patrons often grew closer
The relationship between Giovanni Signorini and the English consul Christopher Webb Smith was not so distant from the one that bound Canaletto to Joseph Smith
although it was not equally decisive for the fate of his career
as we understand it in the common imagination
involved travelers of different nationalities (although we tend to associate it with the British aristocracy of the Age of Enlightenment
but travelers who took the route to Italy came from all parts ofEurope)
could last a few months but also a few years
often varied (typically the southernmost point was Paestum
but there were travelers who went as far as Sicily)
and also experienced abrupt interruptions (by the time of the Napoleonic wars
cross-Channel travel had drastically thinned out)
one needed to have a minimum of preparation
and it was necessary to know trusted people who could act as references at the various stages of the journey (many former travelers
decided to settle in Italy and start what was a very lucrative profession at the time: the tour guide!)
And the Grand Tour is also a cross-cutting topic
The Lia exhibition deals with it in the most classic way: with the landscapes of the Grand Tour capitals
so much so that it could easily have carried a title like Landscapes of the Grand Tour or something like that
there is time to evoke the atmospheres that travelers found upon their arrival in Italy: here then is the first section of the exhibition
to project the visitor into eighteenth-century Italy
among casts of masterpieces of classical statuary
glimpses that the traveler could see on his way (the countryside with peasants described in anArcadian canvas by Giuseppe Zais
the Levante Ligurian coast as seen from the sea in Turner’s aforementioned watercolor)
personal effects that grandtourists carried with them (the nécessaire comes from the nearby Seal Museum)
portraits of those who in Italy had ’had been and
as was the custom for the gentlemen who stayed in Rome on their Grand Tour
took home their own image against the backdrop of the ruins of ancient Rome
a life-size portrait by Pompeo Batoni on loan from Palazzo Barberini in Rome
is one of the reasons the exhibition is worth visiting: it is one of the rare portraits of grandtourists in Italy’s public collections
and it is one of the best examples of the “tourist portraiture,” we might say
with which Pompeo Batoni would procure a steady source of income throughout his life
and it fully embodies the image the traveler wanted to preserve of himself: a young aristocrat (for such was the condition of most who embarked on the Grand Tour)
dressed in an elegant but practical outfit suitable for travel (here a red red redingote covering a light white silk suit)
proud to be portrayed near those antiquities he had studied and dreamed of
and it matters little whether they were real or fake
since the large white marble crater placed next to the Ares Ludovisi does not seem to match reality
but rather seems to be a figment of the Lucca painter’s imagination
It has been said that the modus operandi of the Amedeo Lia Museum is to mount exhibitions with quality pieces that strengthen its own collecting nuclei: it is worth lingering
on the four tempera paintings by Francesco Guardi
which investigate as many views of Venice in a phase of the great 18th-century painter’s career not yet fully oriented toward those misty and melancholy views that constitute the most innovative outcome of his production
or on the delicate watercolor by Ippolito Caffi (a view of Castel Sant’Angelo) which
together with a more naïve view of the Pantheon by Claude Nattiez
cleverly complements Caspar van Wittel’s extraordinary view from the Quirinale
Giovanni Paolo Panini’s Capriccio con Colosseo and Marco Ricci’s Capriccio con rovine
or three superlative images of Rome preserved in the Lia Museum’s permanent collection
not to mention the works by Signorini and Gelati mentioned above
It is also a way of investigating the theme of the development of landscape painting in the 18th century: we go from the descriptive and lenticular vedutismo of Caspar van Wittel to the visionary rovinismo of Giovanni Paolo Panini
crystalline and balanced vedutismo of Canaletto to the atmospheric vedutismo of Francesco Guardi
crossing the quasi-technical vedutismo of Bellotto and the imaginative vedutismo of Marco Ricci to arrive at the taking from life of Signorini and the veduta of Gelati that already looks to the France of Barbizon and acts as a prelude to the painting of macchia
that is all Italian: the exhibition lacks almost entirely landscapes by foreign painters
who also constituted an important presence in the Italy of the Grand Tour
A sort of manual of Vedutism unfolds before the eyes of the public of the Lia Museum under the guise of the Grand Tour exhibition
is even more complete than on other occasions (the Milan exhibition
lacked works by Francesco Guardi): those who want to delve into landscape painting in Italy in the 18th century would do well not to miss this exhibition that is perhaps a little underestimated by the public of big events
by the public that travels on weekends to see exhibitions
that these precise views were much appreciated by grandtourists: “precisely because of the rational restitution of the appearance of the places visited,” wrote Cesare De Seta who is one of the greatest Italian scholars of the Grand Tour
“they will be able for decades and miles away to reverberate their memory.” A memory taken from afar: travelers were primarily interested in bringing back home the face of the cities they visited
not many artists were interested in the social reality of those places: to understand what was going on in the streets of the cities better to turn to painting such as that of Giacomo Ceruti or Alessandro Magnasco (both
present in the permanent collection of the Lia Museum)
did not ignite the enthusiasm of the grandtourists
who in their minds had a certainly clearer image of Italy
an image of Grand Tour Italy emerges from the La Spezia exhibition similar to the one that must have formed in the hearts and minds of travelers three hundred years ago
suspended somewhere between what the travelers saw and what they dreamed of
a middle ground between landscape photography and evocative imagery à la Piranesi
despite the fact that his engravings had aroused the desire for Italy in so many
even with an entire room devoted to Naples
there is minimal mention of the fascination that the ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii
discovered just before the middle of the 18th century
had exerted on the travelers of Europe who decided to set out partly because they were ignited by the desire to see these cities of which they had only heard
the only social was the experiences and reports of those who had been there in Italy
ShoreLink delivered its Shore Power Cable Management System at the Port of La Spezia
marking the connection of cruise vessels to shore power and significantly reducing emissions while ships are docked
Following a successful Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), ShoreLink's Cruise Cable Management System has recently arrived in La Spezia and is currently in storage
ShoreLink’s solution will enable cleaner port operations and support environmental targets through a more sustainable approach to cruise vessel stays
The ShoreLink Cruise Cable Management System (CMS) is specialized equipment designed to deliver cables from shore to the ship
ensuring safe and efficient power transfer
One of its key features is the ability to connect and disconnect all cables independently
providing enhanced usability and efficiency for operators
The same remote control is also used to reel and unreel the cables
simplifying the entire process of cable handling
The system is designed for easy operation with minimal crew
enhancing flexibility and reducing the need for complex maneuvers
Built to comply with the IEC 80005 standard
the system meets international shore power requirements
Watch now to see how the ShoreLink system works:
Incat Hull 096 – the world’s largest battery-electric ship – has been officially launched in Tasmania
The offshore rig market recovery appears to have taken a pause
with demand tapering off and marketed utilization hitting…
Fast-growing energy demand is driving the need for technical support and guidance in new locations
French energy giant TotalEnergies and OQ Exploration and Production (OQEP)
we excel in creating stunning illuminated yacht names and logos
and cutting-edge LED and fiber optic solutions
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The Contship Group’s Gateway terminal has announced it is all set to receive the 21,000 TEU Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCV) from Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL)
following an upgrade process initiated earlier this year
This ship is as part of the Asia-West Mediterranean service (WM1 MEX2 AEM1 MD2) operated by Ocean Alliance
the OOCL Indonesia belongs to the G-Class and is one of the most modern containerships in the world
will be employed within the service connecting the Far East with West Mediterranean markets
with La Spezia being a key gateway in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea
READ: COSCO SHIPPING’s 20,000 TEU ship to call at La Spezia
“We are proud to welcome the OOCL Indonesia
the first of a series of ultra-large container vessels employed in the WM1 service by the Hong Kong-based carrier within the Ocean Alliance,” commented Matteo Ferrando
“This is another significant step for Contship Italia
once again highlighting our terminal’s capability to handle large vessels
reaffirming our commitment to providing high service standards to our customers and responding more effectively to global market demands.”
READ: La Spezia Container Terminal welcomes MedGulf service
In June 2024, La Spezia Container Terminal (LSCT), part of the Contship Group, announced it is advancing its expansion with the publication of a tender for the construction of the first phase of the new Ravano terminal
DP World is set to implement OneStop Modal and the OneStop Vehicle Booking System (VBS)
The US House of Representatives has voted to overturn the Environmental Protection Agency‘s (EPA) 2023
global schedule reliability surged to 57.5 per cent
Container throughput at the Port of Melbourne totalled 267,000 TEUs in March 2025
Cover image: ©Associated Press The death toll has risen to at least 70
Home » First Clear Images of the Italian Submarines being built for Qatar
Fresh details of Qatar’s new submarines have been revealed at the MSPO International Defence Industry Exhibition in Poland
The two submarines for the Qatari Emiri Navy are being built by M23 SRL in Bergamo
The exhibition included a model of the C-Series design
the first time it has been shown in public
The M23 C-Series submarine has also been observed being tested at La Spezia
the physical and spiritual home of Italian naval special forces
The port has a long and storied tradition of midget submarine construction
both for the nation’s special forces and export.
The submarines were contracted in January 2020 under a deal associated with Italy’s main defence shipbuilder, Fincantieri. The agreement described “the supply of cutting-edge naval vessels and submarines.” Now it is becoming clearer what those submarines will be
The submarines have been constructed at Ciserano
They will have been transported by 250 km (150 miles) road to the coast
The physical confines of the factory in Ciserano
together with the need to transport the submarine by road
Santi began building submarines in the 1970s and gained a reputation for high quality and innovation
He pioneered air-independent power (AIP) in the 1980s and developed all-new submarine construction techniques
More recently he built an experimental dry combat submersible (DCS) for the U.S
The submarine has an overall length of 23 meters (75 feet) and a width of 5 meters (16 feet)
It can dive to 200 meters (650 feet) and reach speeds of 12 knots
The crew of 6 can be accompanied by a further 6 passengers
These can lock out of the submarine through a special hatch to conduct covert operations
its fatter beam gives it an overall size comparable to a typical 30 meter (100 foot) submarine
include the Iranian Ghadir Class (actually the North Korean Yono design) and the Italian built Cos.Mo.S MG-110.
The M23 design is comparatively heavily armed
with two torpedo tubes housed under the casing
These can house standard 553mm (21 inch) heavyweight torpedoes. The submarine can also carry Murena smart sea mines and launch loitering munitions.
Naval News brings you news coverage of the latest naval defense shows & events
We are also reporting on naval technology from all over the world
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an international group founded by Paul Francis
has acquired the entire share capital of Spezia Calcio
In conjunction with the Club's acquisition
the new ownership has expressed its sincere gratitude to the outgoing board members for their contributions and has appointed the following Board of Directors:
On behalf of its supporters and the city of La Spezia
the Club extends its gratitude to the Platek family
particularly outgoing President Philip Platek
for their dedication and unwavering support
it welcomes the new ownership and management
now entrusted with the responsibility of preserving and enhancing the sporting
and social heritage that Spezia Calcio represents for the entire community of La Spezia
You might have heard Cinque Terre described as the lesser-known alternative to Italy’s Amalfi Coast
Both comprise a group of towns made up of pastel-hued buildings clinging to the side of the cliff-face
But where the Amalfi Coast is refined and luxurious
and better suited to hikers than it is posers
PortovenereFor those that prefer the comfort of civilisation and prefer to avoid the gamble on a boutique hotel or guesthouse
then the nearest five-star base would be The Grand Hotel Portovenere
The prized spot sits in the town of Portovenere
from which you catch ferries and private boats to reach Cinque Terre
it has been lovingly renovated and modernised
with brightly coloured bedrooms and a fabulous rooftop restaurant specialising in local dishes
Address: Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 5, 19025 Portovenere SP, Italy
PortofinoWhile not strictly within the Cinque Terre area itself
the Belmond Hotel Splendido is without doubt the most glamorous place from which to base yourself for a trip to the region
One of Italy’s most famous Grand Dame hotels
it’s undeniably somewhere to see and be seen
with a visitor’s book listing the likes of Grace Kelly
Frank Sinatra and Ringo Starr – though thankfully there is no hint of snobbishness
A retro-glam throwback to the Dolce Vita of the 1950s
you can expect French windows in the bedrooms
uniformed waiters at the restaurant and a pool set within lush gardens
Address: Via Roma, 2, 16034 Portofino GE, Italy
ManarolaOne of the more upmarket options within Cinque Terre
La Torretta Lodge is located within an ancient tower
high up on the picturesque cliff-face that makes up the town
and therefore has incredible views out to sea
With its prime location comes the issue of accessibility
but it is possible to book a transfer for your luggage
from the local garage by the train station
with roll top bathtubs in some and hot tubs on the terraces of others
while the restaurant makes the most of local produce
Address: Vico Volto, 20, 19010 Manarola SP, Italy
MonterossoThis charming five bedroom guest house is a short walk from the centre of Monterosso
and offers a more peaceful place to call home for a few nights
the bedrooms all open out onto a shared private garden
olives and other fruit and is the perfect place to wile away a few hours with a book
A breakfast of local produce – including ingredients grown in the garden – is included in the rate
Address: Via Milite Ignoto, 42, 19016 Monterosso al Mare SP, Italy
La SpeziaFor a urban boutique stay in La Spezia
with its penchant for stylish decor and modern artworks
Everything here is geared towards convenience
with sparsely decorated yet comfortable rooms
24-hour reception and a communal area for working or socialising
which is good news for those taking a four-legged friend on their hike across Cinque Terre
Address: Via Roma, 139, 19122 La Spezia SP, Italy
MonterossoStay in one of the region’s popular agrotourism options at this five-bedroom farmhouse set in the mountains behind Monterosso
Each room has recently been refurbished in its own unique style
with original stone walls and wooden beams throughout
Within the grounds you’ll find lemon and olive groves
while there’s also a glorious swimming pool with sea views – perfect for soaking tired feet after a busy day’s trekking
Address: Loc Missanega, 19016 Monterosso al Mare SP, Italy
MonterossoWell-heeled travellers will love Hotel Porto Roca
with its glamorous terrace restaurant and swimming pool with views out across the sea
Each of the 43 bedrooms have their own balcony to make the most of its scenic location
and nestled amongst the lush vegetation of the local vineyards
You could book a trip here just to enjoy the hotel facilities
but it would be remiss to not take the opportunity to visit the other towns – hire a boat via reception to get the best vantage point
Address: Via Corone, 1, 19016 Monterosso al Mare SP, Italy
although an industry spokesman has said investment still needs a big boost
Leonardo and civil energy company Saipem are forming groups to give joint responses to four Navy tenders seeking cutting edge undersea technology
a Fincantieri spokesperson told Defense News
and the responses to all four tenders will be made by clusters of companies,” the spokesperson said
launch and recovery of drones and target location
the tenders are the first concrete sign that work is getting underway at a new sub-sea centre in La Spezia
which was launched last year to pool efforts made in the sector made by industry,the Italian navy and academia
State shipyard Fincantieri and Italian defense giant Leonardo signed their own deal last year to work on sub-sea technology as interest grows in using drones to protect internet cables and energy pipelines on the sea bed
worth €3.4 million ($3.7 million) over two years
covers launch and recovery systems to be based on land
which can house drones up to six meters long and weighing 1,000kg
and can relay the data the drones download
€2.9 million tender covers algorithms required for target acquisition and data fusion by the drones
€3.4 million tender deals with communications
including the need to let swarms of drones speak to each other
€2.65 million tender covers energy sources for drones
including the ability to produce energy from sea currents
Fincantieri has been boosting its under-sea activity with partnerships and acquisitions. This year the firm signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation with Saipem, which markets a drone able to remain underwater for 12 months using docking stations linked to the surface for recharging and relaying data.
Last year Fincantieri purchased Italian firm Remazel which offers launch and recovery systems for sub-sea mining robots.
The new tenders mean money is now available to breathe life into the La Spezia research center where winning industry teams could work on the technology the Navy seeks.
But Carlo Festucci, the general secretary of Italian defense industry association AIAD said the cash on offer was not enough.
“We need €50 million a year to make the center work,” he said, adding that other Italian ministries, apart from the defense ministry, needed to chip in.
“This technology will help the sourcing of rare earths from the sea bed as well as protecting critical infrastructure,” he said, adding that Italy’s Foreign and Industry ministries should be adding funds.
Tom Kington is the Italy correspondent for Defense News.
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The five villages of the Cinque Terre are determined to ensure the once sleepy area is not overwhelmed by mass tourism
Grappling with suitcases and rucksacks, the bewildered-looking crowd that piled off the train and onto the platform at Manarola, the second smallest of the five picturesque villages that make up Italy’s the Cinque Terre
But still the jovial Italian steward ushering them into a single file and towards the station’s narrow exit was telling them to hurry up
“Quick … Manarola needs more tourists!” she said in English
the visitors picked up the pace of their shuffle before dispersing towards the tiny marina to capture an Instagram-perfect photo on the rugged riviera coastline
There was a time when Manarola’s year-round population
which has dwindled over the years to about 350
“Older people like me were used to having a sleep at around four o’clock,” said Giancarlo Cielano
as he nostalgically recalled his siestas of a bygone area
There were these constant voices and suitcases being rolled along the streets…we could no longer hear the sound of the sea.”
From Venice and Dubrovnik to Bali and Alaska, managing mass tourism is a dilemma facing many popular global destinations
with foreigners making up the vast majority of visitors for the first time since before the coronavirus pandemic
not so good for the coveted hotspots struggling to strike a balance between the economic rewards and managing the huge flows
View image in fullscreenTourists in the town of Riomaggiore. Photograph: Roberto Salomone/The ObserverVenice became the first major city in the world to impose an entrance fee in April
partly an emergency response by authorities there to avoid the Unesco-heritage site being blacklisted
Authorities in Cinque Terre – also a Unesco site whose breathtaking fishing villages are wedged between the Ligurian coast and steep mountains and connected only by a network of hiking trails
by train or by sea – are now urgently working to ensure it doesn’t reach a similar tipping point
The measures put to the test so far this year included making the national park’s most congested trail
the Sentiero Azzurro that runs between Monterosso al Mare and Vernazza
“It worked very well and was appreciated by our guests, especially foreigners,” said Donatella Bianchi, president of the Cinque Terre national park, adding that the plan is to extend the initiative
Plans have also been approved to limit access by sea to electric boats in order to protect marine life
But the Cinque Terre’s biggest challenge is managing the crowds that swamp its tiny villages
The record 4 million who visited last year were concentrated in a 1km area – just 3% of the entire national park
but thousands of passengers a day are dropped off by ferries having been transported from cruise ships docked at nearby La Spezia
View image in fullscreenThe town of Manarola
Photograph: Roberto Salomone/The Observer“Our problem isn’t overtourism but overcrowding
and during certain periods of the year,” said Fabrizia Pecunia
the mayor of both Manarola and Riomaggiore
where she imposed limits on the number of kayaks in its small bay to ease the number of vessels crowding the sea
“The main challenge is how to distribute tourism across the area
and we need to do it quickly without giving the impression that we are anti-tourist
there have been tensions between local officials and the Ligurian regional authorities over the much-anticipated reopening in July of Via dell’Amore
a well-known lower coastal walkway linking Manarola with Riomaggiore that has been shut since a landslide in 2012
Visitors will need to pay to access the 12km path
although the price is yet to be established
and there will be time-slotted guided tours with limited group sizes
Pecunia fears a publicity campaign by the regional council
which plays on the path’s romantic connotations
will trigger an even bigger surge in the kind of tourist only there to curate their social media profiles
after someone scrawled a message on a wall saying “nude people meet here”
“It was created in around 1930 to unite two communities and has nothing to do with love,” she said
“The region had this idea to do ‘the longest kiss’ competition to mark the reopening – over my dead body.”
View image in fullscreenTourists wait for a boat in the town of Riomaggiore
Photograph: Roberto Salomone/The ObserverBut with the path poised to attract even more visitors
the general consensus is that the key solution to managing the crowds is to disperse them upwards and into the mountains where they can get to know the real Cinque Terre and the farming community that grows vines
olives and fruit trees on strips of land carved into amphitheatre-like terraced cliffs
A project is underway to reclaim abandoned land for farming and to reconstruct the park’s characteristic dry-stone walls
“Cinque Terre is more than just a picture postcard,” said Marina Mangano
a tourism association which has set up information centre in Riomaggiore’s castle intended to make people aware of the Cinque Terre’s culture and natural environment
“Its beauty is down to those working hard to maintain it
as without conservation there would be no Cinque Terre.”
Cielano is helping to teach dry-stone walling as part of the project
he moved up the mountain in search of quiet
“You do need a little patience with the tourists
but we also need them to be more aware of what the Cinque Terre really is
so that they can have a better experience too.”
This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025
The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media
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Credit: Ferretti GroupFerretti Group opens newly refurbished Riva shipyard in La Spezia 17 May 2024 • by Gabrielle Lazaridis Ferretti Group has officially opened the doors of its Riva shipyard in La Spezia following a comprehensive refurbishment
The Group's chairman Tax Xuguang and CEO Alberto Galassi were both in attendance at the yard's opening ceremony
along with local authorities and a delegation from Weichai
Ferretti Group's longstanding shareholder
Upgrades were made to the yard's production and administrative facilities
which covers a total surface area of 64,000 square metres with 33 berths
four industrial sheds and another two dedicated painting sheds
Work was also performed on the existing lounge area
the yard's 750-member workforce is focused on the production of seven Riva models ranging from 23-40 metres
the Riva shipyard will be capable of launching more than 30 boats per year of up to 40 metres in length
"The La Spezia production site now plays a crucial industrial role and employs over 750 workers on a daily basis
representing a strategic centre for Ferretti Group in the area of the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas," Ferretti Group said of the announcement
According to BOATPro, Riva has a total of 18 projects in development, including two units of the brand's flagship Riva 54 Metri series.
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The renovation and modernization of the Picco stadium in La Spezia took place over several years
saw the demolition and renovation of the Curva Piscina; in 2023
there was an extensive modernization and renovation of the grandstand area
The final stage of the stadium renovation project in 2024 and 2025 with the renovation of the roofing of the Curva Ferrovia
The renovation and modernization project of the Alberto Picco stadium in La Spezia
stems from the need to adapt it to the standards and requirements of the Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A
but with the aim of providing the facility with the comforts and services required at national and international level
in order to return the city and its fans with a modern and safe
The intervention was divided into different steps
saw the demolition and subsequent renovation of the Curva Piscina
which was then completed in 2022 with an extension that increased capacity to 3176 seats
the Club undertook a thorough modernization and renovation of the grandstand area
including the renovation and extension of the changing rooms
a new building dedicated to media workspaces and the hospitality area
new skybox seats and a new grandstand roof
A complex operation was the installation of the Curva Ferrovia roofing
which constitutes the last step of the redevelopment project
The new structure that makes up the coverage of the curve of La Spezia Picco stadium is made of metal carpentry
it is independent and consists of a main reticular beam with an arcuate shape
that crosses the entire curve and connects to two tubular support structures at the shoulders
STEP 1 curva piscina: maggio-settembre 2021
STEP 2 ampliamento curva piscina: novembre-dicembre 2022
STEP 3 tribuna principale e distinti: giugno 2023-luglio 2024
STEP 4 Copertura Curva Ferrovia e Bar dei tifosi: giugno 2024-gennaio 2025
Principali imprese esecutrici: Clarin Italiatribune Srl
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the main exhibition of the year in the city: it is L’Arte di Viaggiare: L’Italia e il Grand Tour
curated by Andrea Marmori with contributions from Barbara Viale and layout by Emanuele Martera
will open its doors to the public tomorrow afternoon
promising to be one of the most important museum events of the year for the city.The Gulf of La Spezia
though a late destination compared to other Italian cities
claimed that no other place was “destined for watercolor” as this one
The exhibition thus represents another opportunity to enhance the Lia collection
which dialogues with extraordinary works on loan from all over Italy
including those from the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica at Palazzo Barberini in Rome
the Museum of Rome and the Fondazione Cariplo Art Collection
transforming themselves into grandtourists of the 19th century
can discover the four main stages of the Grand Tour: Rome
The exhibition begins with a portrait of the grandtourist
depicted in Pompeo Batoni’s large canvas from the Galleria Nazionale di Palazzo Barberini
and illustrates the reasons why young aristocrats embarked on this journey
The exhibition includes some 50 works including paintings
It starts with a core of works directly or indirectly related to the Grand Tour
The section of eighteenth-century paintings presents important figurative episodes illustrating two of the indispensable stages of the eighteenth century: Rome and Venice
highlighting archaeology in Rome and water and light in Venice
as well as unlikely panoramas concentrating distant monuments for the delight of patrons
Florence and Naples were must-see destinations for travelers of the time
The monuments observed in these cities became eloquent witnesses to the experiences they had spent
gave additional luster to the Bay of Naples
the documentation of the rediscovered decorative apparatus was entrusted to draftsmen in the service of the Directorate of Excavations
Vincenzo Loria (1849-1939) produced a conspicuous group of watercolors with a Pompeian theme
now the property of the Musei Civici della Spezia
Florence was another usual destination for the grandtourist
An obligatory transit for those who wanted to reach Rome
Florence offered an incomparable Renaissance sampler
and its great museum collections were dutiful stops
Next to the main section of the exhibition is an itinerary illustrating the discovery of and tourist interest in the Gulf of La Spezia and the Riviera
depicting a stretch of the La Spezia Riviera
introduces this section by dialoguing with works from other civic collections
the collection of paintings by Agostino Fossati
exhibited in the adjoining Palazzina delle Arti
offers another chapter to illustrate the territory and the city
Italy and the Grand Tour is a fine exhibition that confirms our A
Lia Museum among the Italian facilities capable of hosting world-class exhibitions," says La Spezia Mayor Pierluigi Peracchini
“The exhibition boasts exceptional masterpieces and prestigious loans
destined to fascinate and attract a wide audience
The exhibition will take us in the footsteps of travelers between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries
discovering Italy through cities such as Venice
our Gulf of the Poets: a wonderful opportunity to admire unique works live
to deepen our knowledge of our collections and to walk in the footsteps of the young scions of the European aristocracy
conquered by the beauty of unique places in the world.”
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m
Closed every Monday (except Easter Monday)
reduced 7.50 euros (groups from 7 to 25 people
university students who do not have free admission
school groups outside the province of La Spezia
free for university students enrolled in the faculties of Architecture
Academy of Fine Arts or enrolled in postgraduate or doctoral schools in the same subject areas
residents of the Municipality of La Spezia on the first Sunday of each even-numbered month
those with a birthday on the day of the museum visit
sun and so many tourists… there’s a reason Italy’s Cinque Terre is so popular
Liguria’s six-mile stretch of coastline between La Spezia and Levanto has it all: five picture-perfect
cliff-swaddled villages; a coastline that makes you alternately gasp and sigh in delight; 80 miles of walking trails to see said coastline from all angles and altitudes; and a national park keeping it all pristine
The words “hiking” and “romantic” rarely inhabit the same sentence
those 80 miles got a little longer in 2024 with the reopening of the Via dell’Amore
The 980m-long footpath — which had been closed since a landslide in 2012 — curls round the cliffside
connecting the villages of Riomaggiore and Manarola
It’s a breathtaking scene: gently rollercoastering up
down and around the cliff face as cicadas hum
the sea glows jade 30m below and the coast unfurls ahead
Picture rainbow hamlets sprinkled like Renaissance Lego over headlands and slopes; dips in deep cool coves; and dinners on dizzyingly high terraces with wines from vertiginous local vineyards
With pastel-coloured houses and pint-sized harbours spilling down the sides of cracks in the cliffs
Riomaggiore and Manarola are the southernmost villages
The coast then continues north to Corniglia
They all manage to be both simple and beautiful
Cinque Terre certainly suffers from overtourism — four million tourists visited last year
the villages — and the trains running between them — are unbearably chocka
Hike a trail that isn’t the famous Sentiero Azzurro (the main network of footpaths connecting the villages)
Take a bus to the clifftop hamlets of Volastra or San Bernardino for truly breathtaking views
Or escape for a wine tasting — the locals have
been growing vines on the near-sheer cliffs for a thosuand years
and offer cliffside tastings of the sea-salted Cinque Terre DOC blend
Day-tripping round the villages can be underwhelming because of the crowds
and the further you go from the train station
the more you will understand just how special this place is
Because despite the busyness, it is worth it. Liguria is a beauty — one great rocky carpet of lusciousness, spooling down Italy’s northwestern coast
And yet nowhere is quite so chocolate boxy
so pretty and so magnificent as Cinque Terre
If you want to swerve the high-season crowds
consider May or late September into October
and stay at one of the lovely spots in our pick of the best hotels in Cinque Terre
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Three generations of the Spora family have rented rooms in quiet Corniglia and this
there are three modern rooms (including a family room)
and a sunlounger-sprinkled rooftop terrace with spectacular sea views
They also have studios and apartments in the village
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Two worlds collide at the family-run Hotel Marina
you’re in the heart of Cinque Terre and can enjoy it before the crowds arrive; but you’re also in a dinky seaside resort
complete with a rare (for Liguria) sandy beach
with walls frescoed in pastel colours; some have exposed stone features
Some have pretty terraces — you can’t reserve them specifically
so request one when booking and cross your fingers
Perched on a hill above La Spezia’s port and striking postwar cathedral is this hexagonal tower block
comfy rooms with panoramic views of the city and — if you’re facing the right way — of the Gulf of La Spezia (aka the Golfo dei Poeti)
The friendly staff are a high point; don’t miss a sunset drink on the rooftop overseen by the indomitable Alessandra
In the higher part of Riomaggiore (though not too far from the public lift)
in different buildings stacked down the cliff
is far from the chaos further down the hill
but the best thing of all is that all the rooms have terraces to soak up the Ligurian sun
There are two handy entrances at the top and bottom
So you don’t want to cart your luggage up and down Cinque Terre’s caruggi
but you’d prefer the tranquillity of a village to La Spezia or Levanto
Here’s your solution: this gracious little hotel in Le Grazie
a quiet bay between La Spezia and Porto Venere
Rooms are simple and a little retro (in a cute way)
the lobby’s stuffed with art by the collector-owner
Stroll around the marina to the tiny beach
and you can take a ferry to Porto Venere and then to Cinque Terre
but what makes the CDH stand out is its lift
sandwiched between the restaurants of the city centre and the 14th-century Castello di San Giorgio
has nifty entrances at the top and bottom of its six floors
It’s an easy 15-minute stroll to the station
Whether you’re staying for a while in Monterosso or looking for a pretty lunch spot
pitched high over the sea.) Seafood is the star
summarised by the signature spaghetti Porto Roca
The 43 rooms and suites vary from chintzy to design-hotel funky
and most have balconies — ask for a sea view
Pretty Vernazza is relatively flatter than the other villages — at least it is in the centre
where Trattoria Gianni Franzi swaggers over the harbourside
also has 22 rooms that are scattered across three clifftop buildings near the village’s famous Castello Doria
It’s a bit of a hike — about 100 steps through the caruggi (alleys) — but the views make up for it
Most rooms overlook the sea; those that don’t can take in the views from the garden connecting the buildings
It’s a bit of a steep climb — that’s the village of Manarola for you — but La Torretta Lodge is such a bijou beauty you’ll forget the thigh burn on checking in
that would do a Manhattan boutique hotel proud (expect clawfoot tubs
Discreet outdoor nooks overlook the sea and scrumptious breakfasts will sate the hungriest late riser
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BOOKING.COM££ | SPA| POOL | Best for striking sea views
the resort of Levanto is perfect for outings to the adjacent Cinque Terre
is the ideal place from which to base yourself
Out with blocky hotel uniformity — as the subtly mismatched buildings with their huddled rooftops suggest
this four-star was designed specifically to evoke a a Ligurian village rather than a resort and returnees love its unfussy yet smart rooms
as well as its subtly Asian-in-feel spa with its standing lanterns
Alfresco dinner on the restaurant’s deck is a delicious affair; expect incredible seafood risottos and dishes such as swordfish tagliata
Streets buzz with boutiques and places to eat (a takeaway from Tutti Fritti hits the spot — try the crispy fried calamari
This unassuming hotel is handy for the trains and close to moody Castello di Riomaggiore
Simple nautical blue-and-white rooms and apartments include some with intimate balconies viewing the briny far below
Otherwise be on the breezy communal terrace for dusk — and up sharpish for the generous breakfast
BOOKING.COM££ | Best for a range of activities
Monterosso village also does unique-boutique
the team go all out to sort boat adventures to little-known coves
tastings at nearby vineyards and cooking sessions with Ligurian ingredients and recipes
are banquets of multicoloured cakes and kaleidoscopic fruit plates
although rooms conspire to keep you in bed
They’re delightful cocoons of marble showers and pale
with terraces that provide front-row seats onto village life: boats coming and going on the sea
cats yawning on window sills and the chatter of diners at rooftop restaurants
is for many the beauty of Cinque Terre: a vertical dollop of dolly-mixture dwellings above rock-edged shallows
There are bars little bigger than lanterns with to-sigh-for views
and lodgings as cheap as the terrain is steep
ranging in size from “compact” to “apartment”
There’s no restaurant — you’ll be dining out — but the in-room breakfast is a feast of cheese
The village of Vernazza is often deemed the fairest of them all
It’s the halfway point on the Blue Trail (the most effortless — and popular — of the routes)
delivers molten-peach terrace sunsets as well as a smattering of charmingly cool white bedrooms (oak floors
black marble showers) overlooking glittering waters
The room rate includes breakfast — vital calories and caffeine for hiking legs — in a local café
overlooking Levanto’s main square Piazza Cavour
is a big plus at this balustraded grande dame painted plum and custard
Of the 11 rooms — standards and superiors as well as lofty junior suites (including a duplex) — some flaunt frescoed ceilings straight out of a duchessa’s palazzo
While the lack of lifts may pose a challenge to some
the staff are a real standout here and always happy to offer recommendations for lively city-centre restaurants
Its proximity to Cinque Terre plus the peace of being just beyond
The Cinque Terre villages total five but south there’s an honorary sixth: Porto Venere
its pastel masonry so beguiling that it’s Unesco World Heritage-recognised
and all is calm on your return to the five-star Grand Hotel Portovenere
upbeat suites revealing mesmerising views of the village and its aquatic horizons
Make a date with Restaurant Palmaria — twirling pasta on its veranda is as energetic as you’ll want to be post-hike
You’ll have to trek far to beat this hip six-room hideaway
It’s owned and managed by the impeccably mannered Massimiliano
in the undervisited Cinque Terre village of Corniglia — for lack of a port
accessible by train on the Genoa-La Spezia-Pisa line
with a final shuttle bus up from the station
and you should come to experience real local charm — shopping at the grocer’s
practising a little Italian with locals over prosecco
saluting the dry-stone vernacular; furnishings go for polished-wood and grand
Rooms are named for local wines from Roman times: there’s Sesagra
linked to a garden over the sea; Piccabon has loungers on a private blue-view terrace
but industrious port La Spezia — the second-largest Ligurian city after Genoa
15 minutes by train from Monterosso — presents a huge amount of accommodation to choose from and this hotel is one of the central
being a hop-skip from the central station and the ferry terminal
The 66 rooms are corporate-smart and decoratively undemanding
Wake in time to attack the widescreen buffet breakfast of burnished pastries
returning for evening negronis in the Terminus Café
which oozes all the smart designer curves and contours of a luxury airline lounge
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