Italy's spa town Montecatini Terme Photo: AFP Iran and Spain have been inscribed on the World Heritage List The UNESCO World Heritage Committee voted on Tuesday to inscribe the city of As-Salt located in the northwest .. The UN's cultural agency UNESCO on Wednesday added a Welsh slate mining landscape to its list of world .. When a new mindfulness tour offered to show Phoebe Smith around an Italian town AND take her on a journey within The Tuscan town of Montecatini Terme (Phoebe Smith) Guitar music wafted out of an open doorway filling the street with its rhythmic melody Children played on swings underneath the gnarled branches of wizened oak trees From somewhere behind the ochre-coloured houses But I didn’t notice any of this when I first strolled through Montecatini Terme in rural Tuscany running late for a walking tour through the small Italian enclave “The idea is to awaken your inner compass,” said guide Anja as a small group of 10 others and I met her in the town square while the water from one of the many fountains trickled behind us Started by British author and performer David Pearl Street Wisdom offer tours in a growing number of cities around the world They just volunteer – and you won’t pay to take part either I decided to silence my inner cynic and give it a go The rooftops of Montecatini Terme (Shutterstock) ‘what’s the meaning of life?’ But something specific such as ‘should I take this promotion or end this relationship?’ “The more direct the better,” she explained Questions set (I had just been asked to accompany a friend on a challenging expedition Anja explained that over the next 90 minutes she would give us locations to meet her at and a series of ‘prompts’ to follow to get there Showing us on a map the first spot – just three blocks away – she simply said: “Be drawn to what attracts you and meet me there in 10 minutes.” After hesitating – as a fast walker it seemed crazy to take 10 minutes to walk so short a distance – I began to move I heard the guitar music that I’d missed earlier and with time on my side began to follow it It took me to a bench where a man sat playing a guitar next to a statue of the composer Giacomo Puccini who lived and worked in this part of the country I stopped walking and simply listened until the musician had finished his song thinking about the music made here past and present feeling myself getting lost in the tuneful melody It was only as I saw Anja at the meeting point that I realised I’d not thought about my question at all Then came the next prompt: “Slow everything down” Painting inside the Terme Tettuccio Spa (Shutterstock) The hotel I passed had the word ‘holiday’ written on the wall in large letters but with the letter ‘O’ replaced by the icon of the sun I noticed this when I stood on a discarded sweet wrapper with a snowman logo I passed the playground where the kids were playing on a model of a ship I spotted a yellow and black hazard sign warning me of dangers ahead My mind was racing with all these apparent signs I reached the next meeting point and Anja offered another location I spent the next 10 minutes ‘noticing the patterns’ – from flower chains and symmetry in the wrought iron and lack of it in the modern friezes I noticed the changing architecture from the Italian Art Nouveau style of the Terme Tettuccio Spa I took the time to look up rather than just down at my phone following more prompts and more ways to take my time the final task was to explore the town individually By the Guidotti Fountain with the group (Phoebe Smith) but somehow – with someone telling us to do it – we obeyed And so I spent the next 60 minutes not just walking through the city I didn’t use a map but asked locals for suggestions I stopped to read the stickers on the lamppost that depicted a Viking warrior I paused to explore an alleyway festooned with flowers – only to find a little cobbled-stoned courtyard open up before me I was captivated by two cafes whose music blended together to create an odd cacophony of sound mirroring the buildings where old and modern Italy also collide Making my way to the final meeting point – the Guidotti Fountain in the main square – I still hadn’t answered my question an older woman blocked my path and said something to me in Italian my question was answered and I’d never felt so sure of anything before in my life One of ‘too many signs’ Phoebe encountered (Phoebe Smith) As I reconvened with the group it was as though more than just an hour had passed I felt like I now knew this town better than my own I’d explored so many side streets and taken the time to notice everything in my path and spoken to people I met I’d allowed myself the time to consider a single question that really mattered for me I never would have thought that just by slowing down and turning off my phone I not only could explore a place more intimately but also get to know myself a little better There are some who may think they don’t need to be told to concentrate always focusing on work and allowing myself to be distracted by emails and social media demands… being forced to set aside the time to do it by a guide was necessary I realised that it had changed the way I think about visiting a place slow things down and allow myself the freedom to simply explore and notice the little things rather than dash around trying to do it all it whispers and so you have to concentrate really hard if you want to hear it,” said Anja Once more guitar music played in the distance Sign up to our newsletter for free with the Wanderlust Club The World Heritage Centre is at the forefront of the international community’s efforts to protect and preserve World Heritage partnerships for conservation Ensuring that World Heritage sites sustain their outstanding universal value is an increasingly challenging mission in today’s complex world where sites are vulnerable to the effects of uncontrolled urban development Our Partners Donate Take advantage of the search to browse through the World Heritage Centre information This transnational serial property comprises eleven spa towns located in seven European countries: Baden bei Wien (Austria); Spa (Belgium); Františkovy Lázně; Karlovy Vary; Mariánské Lázně (Czechia); Vichy (France); Bad Ems; Baden-Baden; Bad Kissingen (Germany); Montecatini Terme (Italy); and City of Bath (United Kingdom) All of these towns developed around natural mineral water springs They bear witness to the international European spa culture that developed from the early 18th century to the 1930s leading to the emergence of grand international resorts that impacted urban typology around ensembles of spa buildings such as baths kurhaus and kursaal (buildings and rooms dedicated to therapy) colonnades and galleries designed to harness the natural mineral water resources and to allow their practical use for bathing and drinking as well as spa-specific support infrastructure These ensembles are all integrated into an overall urban context that includes a carefully managed recreational and therapeutic environment in a picturesque landscape these sites embody the significant interchange of human values and developments in medicine Ce bien en série transnational comprend onze villes d’eaux situées dans sept pays européens : Bad Ems ; Baden-Baden ; Bad Kissingen (Allemagne) ; Baden bei Wien (Autriche) ; Spa (Belgique) ; Vichy (France) ; Montecatini Terme (Italie) ; Ville de Bath (Royaume-Uni) ; Františkovy Lázně ; Karlovy Vary ; et Mariânské Lâznë (Tchéquie) Toutes ces villes se sont développées autour de sources d’eau minérale naturelles Elles témoignent de la culture thermale européenne internationale qui s’est développée du début du XVIIIe siècle aux années 1930 conduisant à l’émergence de grandes stations internationales qui ont influencé la typologie urbaine autour d’ensembles de bâtiments thermaux tels que des bains des kurhaus et des kursaal (bâtiments et salles dédiés à la cure) conçues pour exploiter les ressources naturelles en eau minérale et les utiliser pour les bains et les cures d’eau thermale ainsi que des infrastructures de soutien spécifiques aux stations thermales Ces ensembles sont tous intégrés dans un contexte urbain global caractérisé par un environnement thérapeutique et récréatif soigneusement géré dans un paysage pittoresque Ces sites témoignent collectivement de l’échange d’idées et d’influences dans le cadre du développement de la médecine Este sitio serial transnacional abarca los célebres balnearios situados en once ciudades de siete países europeos: Baden bei Wien (Austria); Spa (Bélgica); Františkovy Lázně Karlovy Vary y Mariánské Lázně (Chequia); Vichy (Francia); Bad Ems Baden-Baden y Bad Kissingen (Alemania); Montecatini Terme (Italia) y City of Bath (Reino Unido) El desarrollo de todas estas localidades se debió a la existencia de manantiales de aguas minerales en sus territorios Dan testimonio de la cultura termal europea internacional que se desarrolló desde principios del siglo XVIII hasta el tercer decenio del siglo XX Esto condujo a la emergencia de grandes balnearios internacionales que influyeron en su estructura urbana que se organizó en torno a los edificios y estancias (“kurhaus” y “kursaal” en alemán) dedicados a las terapias termales columnatas y galerías concebidas para explotar los recursos naturales de agua mineral y utilizarlos para baños y curas de aguas termales Las ciudades balnearias crearon también numerosos jardines mansiones residenciales e infraestructuras específicamente destinadas a la conducción de las aguas termales Todas esas construcciones se integraron en conjuntos urbanos de gran belleza paisajística celosamente organizados para la administración de terapias y la realización de actividades recreativas El conjunto de estos balnearios es representativo de la importancia del intercambio de ideas e influencias en el marco del desarrollo de la medicina The Great Spas of Europe bear an exceptional testimony to the European spa phenomenon which gained its highest expression from around 1700 to the 1930s This transnational serial property comprises eleven spa towns located in seven countries: Baden bei Wien (Austria); Spa (Belgium); Karlovy Vary Františkovy Lázně and Mariánské Lázně (Czechia); Vichy (France); Bad Ems Baden-Baden and Bad Kissingen (Germany); Montecatini Terme (Italy); and City of Bath (United Kingdom) dynamic and international spa towns among the many hundreds that contributed to the European spa phenomenon all the towns developed around mineral water sources which were the catalyst for a model of spatial organisation dedicated to curative treatment facilities and colonnades designed to harness the water resources and to allow its practical use for bathing and drinking was complemented by exercise and social activities requiring visitor facilities such as assembly rooms villas and related infrastructures (from water piping systems and salts production to railways and funiculars) All are integrated into an overall urban context that includes a carefully managed recreational and therapeutic environment of parks Buildings and spaces connect visually and physically with their surrounding landscapes which are used regularly for exercise as a contribution to the therapy of the cure Criterion (ii): The Great Spas of Europe exhibits an important interchange of innovative ideas that influenced the development of medicine balneology and leisure activities from around 1700 to the 1930s This interchange is tangibly expressed through an urban typology centred on natural mineral springs and devoted to health and leisure Those ideas influenced the popularity and development of spa towns and balneology throughout Europe and in other parts of the world The Great Spas of Europe became centres of experimentation which stayed abreast of their competitors by adapting to the changing tastes sensitivities and requirements of visitors the principal agents of transmission were the architects designers and gardeners who created the built and ‘natural’ environments framing spa life the property displays important examples of spa architecture such as the ‘kurhaus’ and ‘kursaal’ colonnades and galleries designed to harness the natural mineral water resource and to allow its practical use for bathing and drinking Criterion (iii): The Great Spas of Europe bears exceptional testimony to the European spa phenomenon but gained its highest expression from around 1700 to the 1930s either externally (by bathing) or internally (by drinking and inhaling) involved a highly structured and timed daily regime and a combination of medical aspects and leisure including entertainment and social activities (e.g dancing) as well as taking physical exercise within an outdoor therapeutic spa landscape These parameters directly influenced the spatial layout of spa towns and the form and function of spa buildings or ‘spa architecture’ Urban parks and promenades allowed people taking the cure “to see and be seen” by others The eleven component parts that comprise the serial property represent the most exceptional examples of European spa towns All component parts share a set of determining characteristics formed during the most significant “culture-creating” phase of their history and development the heyday period from around 1700 to the 1930s Each and every one continues to function for the purpose for which it was originally developed The series illustrates the main stages of the development of the spa phenomenon starting with the most influential spa towns in the 18th century to the development of model spa towns in the 19th century to towns that are testimony to the last stages of the phenomenon in the early 20th century Boundaries are determined in relation to the mapping of the attributes that convey Outstanding Universal Value namely: the most important spa structures and buildings used for thermal-related activities; the social facilities and buildings for leisure and pleasure; accommodation facilities; related spa infrastructure; and the surrounding therapeutic and recreational spa landscape Buffer zones are drawn both for the protection of spring catchments and important setting All component parts and their constituent elements are generally in good condition Elements requiring conservation either have works already planned with their current state of conservation maintained Upgrades and redevelopments made to keep pace with standards of services can create tensions with their conservation as historic buildings Challenges in the adaptive reuse and technical upgrading of industrial structures pose similar challenges The property meets the conditions of authenticity in terms of form and design All component parts express the Outstanding Universal Value of the property through a variety of common and highly authentic attributes: mineral springs which maintain their natural physical qualities location and setting; a distinct and highly legible spatial layout and a well-maintained location and setting that combine to retain an enduring spirit and feeling; spa architecture even though some buildings have experienced change of use; the spa therapeutic landscape and continues to be used for the purpose for which it was designed; spa infrastructure much of which is either original or evolved on original principles and remains in use; continuing spa use and function despite the need to meet today’s standards The veracity and credible expression of attributes embodied in structures that date from around 1700 to the 1930s the principal period of contribution to Outstanding Universal Value is further evidenced during substantial and sustained conservation works that are informed by expansive archival collections of plans publications and photographs held at each component part Responsibility for the protection and management of each of the eleven component parts of the property rests with the national/regional government (in the case of Germany and local authorities of that State Party) Each component is protected through legislation and spatial planning regulations applicable in its State Party or individual province as well as by a significant degree of public/charitable ownership of key buildings and landscapes Each component part has a property manager or coordinator and a Local Management Plan in place conforming to the overall Property Management Plan An overall management system for the whole property has been established with a Property Management Plan and Action Plan agreed by all stakeholders made up of national World Heritage Focal Points and/or a representative of the highest monument or heritage protection authority keeps track of matters relating to the property made up of the Mayors of the eleven components is responsible for the operational coordination and overall management of the property in close consultation with the Inter-Governmental Committee The Board sets and manages the budget for the overall management functions and directs other activities for the property as a whole The Site Managers Group includes site managers for each component part The Site Managers Group is essentially an expert group for debate and exchanges of experience and to advise the GSMB on relevant management issues The international structure is supported and serviced by a Secretariat jointly funded by all the component parts An important concern will be to continue to develop cooperation and collaboration between the individual component parts and to ensure that the property as a whole is effectively managed and the overall management system is adequately resourced Development pressures may be an issue since these are living cities which will need to continue to adapt and change to maintain their role as spa towns Managing tourism so that it is truly sustainable may also become a challenge A management approach at the landscape level which considers the relationship between each component part and the broader setting is also needed to maintain views to Paul Cézanne and Arnold Schwarzenegger during its 142-year history has rolled out the red carpet for an unexpected arrival from the world's new capital of bling – Moscow the wife of outgoing Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has hitherto avoided a reputation for rock star living but made a start this month by booking out the entire Hotel La Pace in Montecatini Terme for a week and showing up with her son and a 30-strong entourage arrived while the 140-room hotel was shut for the winter prompting staff to hurriedly throw open the shutters and plump up the pillows as Italian police set up a security operation in the small town As Vladimir Putin retakes the reins in Russia from her husband Medvedeva may have wanted a breather from hectic years of opening art festivals meeting Japanese orphans and visiting crisis centres for underage mothers With rooms going for €600 a night and suites at up to €1,300 – plus the price of saunas and massages – the elegant Liberty-style Hotel La Pace clearly looked the right place to splurge Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn have all checked in to sip the local water over the years and discreet staff have handled smoothly guests with peculiar requests or capricious behaviour including the Polish count who insisted on clearing the restaurant for a game of tennis to a British lord who was ticked off for flicking cherry stones at other guests during dinner Medvedeva's visit followed promotional trips made to Moscow by hotel managers reported Italian daily Corriere Fiorentino will trigger an onslaught of Russian oligarchs and their wives just as Roman Abramovich's visit to the Tuscan resort of Forte dei Marmi turned it from a genteel hideaway for Milan industrialists into Moscow-on-sea and Putin's stay at Silvio Berlusconi's Sardinian villa helped clog the island's Emerald coast with Russian yachts told Corriere Fiorentino the effects of Medvedeva's visit "will be seen in the coming months when Russian tourists who love classic spas will turn up in ever greater numbers" Mixing Russian millionaires and Italian lifestyle has not always proved easy The mayor of Forte dei Marmi has made plans to keep new local housing back for locals after prices spiralled while in Sardinia bottles were reportedly thrown by rich Russians at pop star Zucchero after he objected to a woman texting while he sang The Hotel La Pace has its own experience of high maintenance Russians. In 1908 the Russian ambassador to Italy complained the buzz of crickets was ruining his afternoon nap prompting a resourceful manager to send two guitarists to his room to play "sweetly and without stopping" appeared to welcome the prospect of a Russian invasion promising that from this season signs in the town will be written in Cyrillic as well as English and Italian Not much has been heard about the many initiatives organized for the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Galileo Chini’s birth and it is not difficult to understand the reasons why: these are mainly situations linked to the cities most marked by his art there have been no exhibitions of enormous scope despite the growing attention of critics to him which follows an interest that has matured in the last twentyyears after a long period in which Chini remained on the sidelines (he was considered a minor artist little more than an imitator of the Viennese Secessionists) is not among those capable of moving the masses Yet on this anniversary there is much out there to learn about Chini’s art in the places that were most receptive to his language in Montecatini an association of tour guides has come up with a two-hour walk among the places of Galileo Chini: the Terme Tamerici in the rooms where the “MO.C.A.” (“Montecatini Contemporary Art,” the city’s civic gallery) space has been set up and curator of the Galileo Chini repertory.As the title suggests(Galileo Chini - Works in the Public and Private Collections of Montecatini Terme) it is an exhibition closely linked to the place that hosts it manages to accurately convey the relevance of Galileo Chini in the Italian and international context of his time The Italy of the Belle Époque is reflected in the works of Galileo Chini This is an almost unique case in Europe: probably no other artist succeeded and even in the space of a narrow turn of years A society that was beginning to discover wealth And Chini was the perfect artist for that society: because he was the most versatile (he could alternately wear the clothes of the painter because he was always present at the great international exhibitions and knew how to intercept fashions before anyone else (and was even able to reinterpret them according to his own because every time he exhibited he received acclaim He was the favorite artist of upper-class Italy in the early 20th century for his “incessant search for sources of inspiration (from the ancient to the traditional from contemporary aesthetic research to the cultural and linguistic heritages of other ethnic groups to the most varied handicrafts),” for his “readiness to learn and consequential inventive flair,” for his “naturalness in moving tirelessly from one city to another when travel was not as easy and quick as it is today.” where it was at the center of a section devoted to the contribution that Chini guaranteed to the Venice Biennials: in Montecatini in the central hall of the Palazzo Comunale In the catalog we read that at the 2014 Biennale there were “no eyes other than for the paintings of the Florentine artist who unexpectedly became the protagonists of the entire event.” Perhaps the enthusiasm of the Montecatini exhibition is too high but it is true that there were many positive comments about his panels and the fact that after the exhibition they were sold is further evidence of their success since they were born as ephemeral vestments: the Classical Spring which remained in the possession of the artist’s family was later destined by the latter to the Montecatini Art Academy became the property of the Valdinievole Credit Bank Foundation The second reason is the section devoted to Florence after the destruction of World War II a tragic subject that is often not even touched upon in exhibitions on Chini partly because there are not many works that the artist devoted to this theme: despite Chini’s adherence to Fascism shortly before the enactment of the racial laws he began to develop an ever-growing sense of disillusionment which later erupted into open criticism with a courageous painting known today as The Mad Dictator (as well as The Sad Madman) on the occasion of Adolf Hitler’s visit to Florence The painting (currently at the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Bologna while the preparatory sketch is at the Galleria d’Arte Moderna in Florence: it was purchased by the Uffizi Galleries in 2019) would take shape only the following year when Germany invaded Poland and Chini wanted to denounce with his painting the madness of war but in the meantime the artist had had his professorship at the Academy of Fine Arts revoked and his PNF membership withdrawn precisely because of his dissenting positions: a manifesto against the madness and horrors of war it was exhibited for the first time in 2019 The Montecatini exhibition tells this story and launches the proposal to change the painting’s name since the madman takes the form of a Laocoon already caught in the coils of the fatal serpent who wanders unheeded while behind him we witness a scene of devastation the landscape is devastated: it is one of the most brutal paintings of those years it is nevertheless possible to observe some works that testify to the conditions in Florence after the bombings of 1943 Chini’s family directly suffered the consequences of the war since in 1943 they were forced to evacuate to Montale and the artist’s personal drama is reflected in the paintings and drawings depicting the destruction of Florence’s historic center The artist was able to return to the city after its liberation in September 1944: a city in rubble opened up before his eyes “felt the need and moral obligation,” the exhibition catalog reads “to travel daily to the places of destruction of his beloved Florence to bear witness with his painting to the horrors of the war and its consequences.” We are left today with about 20 paintings almost all of which were later donated to the City of Florence that preserve memories of how Florence was reduced: the landscape cut the somber and earthy tones of Chini’s paintings the choice to include even small groups of inhabitants wandering among the ruins of the city give us not only a sadly vivid image of the conditions in the center of Florence when the war was over but also allow us to enter thepainter’s soul almost to suffer along with him as we see how the war ended up crashing down with all its violence on his city one of the most beautiful cities in the world This is a Galileo Chini that one does not often get to see in exhibitions dedicated to him the third reason for interest is the room devoted to the last Galileo Chini to the part of his production that tends to be most neglected extraordinary and dramatic conclusion to one of the most original events in Italian art of the early part of the twentieth century burdened by an eye disease that will lead him to blindness an artist who suffers: his works lose their light lose the vital freshness of past years and become gloomy closer to the expressionism of a Lorenzo Viani than to the flourishes of Art Nouveau towards which he had always turned his gaze Then the subjects change: Galileo senses the nearness of the end and death becomes a recurring theme in his production responsible for the production of works that “also signify the impossibility of a generation the decadent one born in the last quarter of the previous century social and cultural upheaval caused by World War II.” Before his farewell Chini makes time to paint a bleak final work which icastically closes the itinerary of the Montecatini exhibition: in this harsh in the arms of death that envelops him with its black mantle and welcomes him against the backdrop of a deserted landscape with only a bare olive tree as its only presence although a glimmer of blue in the sky can be glimpsed in the distance This is the image with which Chini decides to consign himself to history and this is also the image with which the exhibition closes with Joan Miró’s Woman Wrapped in a Bird’s Flight one of the Catalan artist’s most significant works preserved in an Italian public collection since the painting is the property of the Municipality of Montecatini Terme Also deserving of special mention are the small focus on Chini the scenographer with the exhibition of a three-dimensional model for Faust executed between 1917 and 1935 and then never realized and the section devoted to landscape painting a genre to which Galileo Chini devoted himself with great vigor between the 1920s and 1930s when the commissions for the great decorative undertakings that had kept the artist busy at the beginning of the century were disappearing and it was therefore necessary to reinvent himself: the artist thus knew how to continue to be the prolific and talented ceramist he had always been but he also proposed himself as an easel painter who looked to the poetics of the landscape-state of mind to restore on his panels tranquil and soothing views of Tuscany is a painting like Early Morning Hours captures all the calm of a rosy dawn on the Fossa dell’Abate the canal that divides Lido di Camaiore from Viareggio with the pine forests still in shadow and the moon beginning to give way to daylight while Presso Camaiore stands out for its almost Impressionist verve with birch trees that seem truly stirred by the wind and again the Pineta piccola seems almost to refer with its acid colors and its regular and orderly course The stated goal of investigating the relationship between Montecatini and the works of Galileo Chini the artist who more than any other has marked the spa town can therefore be said to have been achieved And operations such as the exhibition in Montecatini Terme should be encouraged and supported: they have low costs (in this case the review was set up entirely with works preserved in the city and its surroundings thus without resorting to loans from outside) they carry out a fundamental cultural action and they offer valuable opportunities for everyone Galileo Chini - Works in the Public and Private Collections of Montecatini Terme is also free admission: a generosity that we hope will be amply repaid with the success of the public that shows you never know what you’ll find in those old family photos and where they might lead you Julie White of Watertown remembers her late grandfather as a somewhat remote man who would encourage her to study hard and practice her clarinet he died in 1988 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery “He was a career Army guy who served with the Fifth Army during World War II,” she said “He started out in the field artillery in North Africa As the war wound down in Italy in 1944-1945 he was put in charge of running several rest camps.” Julie’s grandfather never talked much about the war but he left behind a scrapbook from the war years with three clues: “Montecatini,” “Cernobbio” on Lake Como and “Vimercate.” Her mother has an ashtray that says ‘‘Montecatini Terme,’’ from the Italian spa town and the scrapbook cover has a cloth patch from the American Fifth Army and a sticker from the Villa d’Este In the scrapbook are photos of her grandfather on a lake with a young woman (her grandparents were long divorced at this time) “There is a photo of my grandfather with Clare Boothe Luce,” White says “My mom does remember my grandfather telling her that he had taken her water skiing on Lake Como.” Luce was the first American woman appointed to a major ambassadorial post abroad This past summer, White, her husband and their son were planning a trip to Italy. They included a stop at Lake Como and the Villa d’Este “My hope was to confirm if the hotel had been a rest camp for the American soldiers at the end of World War II,” White said “We had hoped to stay at the hotel until I learned that it is one of the top 100 Conde Nast properties in the world with a five-star rating room rates starting at 750 euros a night – way past our price range we made our way by ferry from Como to Cernobbio and walked the short way to the hotel I asked the concierge if he knew any of the history of the hotel He called the public relations manager to the front Annamaria Duvia confirmed the hotel had been a rest camp for American soldiers at the end of the war “I showed her a menu that I had found among my grandfather’s things She recognized the signatures of the manager of that time as well as one of the board members She explained that during both World War I and World War II even though it was functioning as a hospital during each period (later apparently as a rest camp) The original building was built in 1568 by a cardinal.” Duvia invited the family to tour the grounds treated them to drinks on the terrace and gave White a cookbook “Tales of Risotto,” published by the hotel staff I recognized clearly many of the places that are memorialized in my grandfather’s scrapbook,” White said The experience “helped me get to know my grandfather as a man not just as that distant person who smoked Camels and told me to work hard “I was warmed to be able to confirm that he had been stationed in this amazing place despite my grandfather’s effort to get her there She had heard my grandfather's stories of Italy and now I can tell her what I saw firsthand Reach Sue Scheible at scheible@ledger.com, 617-786-7044, or The Patriot Ledger, Box 699159, Quincy 02269-9159. Read her Good Age blog on our website. Follow her on Twitter @ sues_ledger. READ MOREGood Age columns Faulkner University At Faulkner University, we believe in the importance of a global education. Faulkner offers a quality International Studies Program. The Study Abroad Program cost is $7,000 (does not include tuition or room and board). A $500 non-refundable deposit is required. Pay your deposit as early as possible to reserve your spot. Once all spots are filled applicants are put on a waiting list. For further information contact Jonathan Edwards, Director of Study Abroad This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. a spa in Baden-Baden.Photo: Courtesy of Baden-Baden Kur & TourismusSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links If you’re fatigued by the Instagram-backdrop beach clubs and Mediterranean islands that have come to define swanky summer vacations I have an antidote—and a trip back in time—for you Imagine an era when going on holiday involved restorative days spent taking thermal waters from natural mineral springs trotting down picturesque boulevards in a horse drawn carriage and hopping a funicular ride for an alpine picnic While it might read like an itinerary straight out of the Belle Époque it’s entirely possible for today’s bon vivants These hidden gems have long appealed to the well-heeled in need of serious R&R Italy and the United Kingdom) represent the crème de la crème of the healing spa phenomenon which was at its height in the 18th and 19th centuries—and has perhaps never been more relevant in our current wellness-obsessed era For those craving equal parts good health and the good life This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from nestled in the lush Slavkov Forest less than two hours from Prague alongside the Teplá River Valley where over 80 springs provide roughly 2,000 liters of healing water every minute The idyllic city also features eye candy at every turn a monumental ode to Karlovy Vary’s art nouveau heyday complete with a state of the art spa that encompasses the entire lower level Dine: Experience Grandrestaurant chef Ondřej Koráb’s modern spin on traditional Czech cuisine Grandhotel Pupp’s dining room.Photo: Courtesy of Grandhotel PuppVisit the beautifully reconstructed Secession-style Amadeus with a health-minded menu of vegetable broths and their signature roast in sour cream sauce with Carlsbad dumplings Shop: High-end barware from locally-crafted crystal maison Moser A view of Karlovy Vary.Courtesy of Karlovy Vary Information CentrePro tip: Purchase a spa drinking cup (or lázeňský pohárek) with their attached sipping handles from one of the street vendors Not only does it make for a unique souvenir but this turn of the century-style travel mug will allow you to try the curative warm spring waters from public fountains and fountains still allow visitors to “take the cure” over a weekend (or the traditionally prescribed three-week stay) in original spa buildings with preserved interiors Stay: Recovery and retro luxury join forces at Nové Lázně The regal yellow renaissance revival complex harkens back to the town’s golden age when composers such as Chopin and Wagner Spa: Dip into the old world-style Roman baths, with various temperatures for every worry and woe, at Nové Lázně Health Spa Treatments from its extensive menu also include mud wraps The Roman baths at Nové Lázně.Photo: Courtesy of Ensana Spa HotelsSip: Coffee made with thermal water at the Viennese-style Wiener Cafe Grab a plush booth or sit on the terrace for prime people-watching Dine: The malachite-clad Royal Restaurant might sound rich but its buffet caters to the nutrition-minded with a kitted-out salad bar and selection of open-face tartines This floral steel structure is also the backdrop for concerts and outdoor events during the summer It’s a prime spot for a social soak while recovering from previous festivities Step out of your comfort zone at the all-nude co-ed institution Friedrichsbad this Renaissance-style domed bathhouse has been ushering guests through an extensive series of historical rooms for a thermal bathing ritual which stimulates the immune system and blood circulation where the emphasis is on water relaxation sessions plus treatments such as cupping therapy and acupuncture Facials by Agustinus Bader are a nice touch too Stay: Stay in the center of the action at the smart Maison Messmer hotel A room at Maison Messmer.Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Maison Messmer GmbHSip: Fettquelle Fountain’s spring water at the base of a flight of steps near Römerplatz It’s said to help with ailments ranging from rheumatism and arthritis to respiratory issues and skin problems and chilled lobster with cucumber tagliatelle Finish the meal with a ristretto martini and spin around the roulette table for a slice of Black Forest Cake and adorable boxed sweets to bring back home The monumental Liberty-style architecture of Tuscany’s Montecatini Terme shows just how vital water therapy and its medicinal properties have been to this area since the 1700s While the town is just a stone’s throw from Florence and sleepier than when it famously hosted everyone from Christian Dior and Coco Chanel to Audrey Hepburn and Truman Capote tired travelers craving an authentic Italian experience would be well-advised to stay awhile There’s still much to see and do: Indulge in luxurious spa treatments and decadent meals in this calming oasis of terraced olive groves followed by a lymphatic drainage-style massage to debloat which boasts the city’s largest private garden a welcome reprieve from the crowded Tuscan capital Sip: Start the day at the palatial Terme Tettuccio for the Rinfresco Leopoldine and Regina water drinking therapies best done on an empty stomach to facilitate gentle peristalsis activity which have been the spa snack of choice here since 1936 you can marvel at the paintings of Pietro Annigoni and Joan Mirò Pro tip: Catch a trotting race at the Snai Sesana track it’s also a great spot to watch a nighttime horse race The Danish Home Lighting Trend That Can Improve Your Mental Health In America’s Cities, Saunas Are Becoming the Hottest Social Spot Millie Bobby Brown Shares Her Favorite Paella Recipe—and Details About Her Wedding to Jake Bongiovi A Day-by-Day Guide to Hiking the Legendary Nakasendo Trail in Japan Never miss a Vogue moment and get unlimited digital access for just $2 $1 per month By Kyle Arnold a medical team in hazmat-like medical suits whisked them away from their hotel in Florence in an ambulance are waiting in a cramped hotel room in the mountain city of Montecatini Terme for word from the Italian government or U.S GoogleFacebookBy signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy “It’s like we’re incarcerated; there’s no other way I can describe it,” said Allala “We asked what would happen if we just left and they said they would call the police.” consular offices in Italy have gone unreturned and attempts to clarify their situation with Italian authorities are lost in translation or ignored Tourism-dependent countries such as Italy and hundreds of other global destinations have eagerly been waiting for international travel to return after 21 months of pandemic downturn Airlines and hotels have planned grand reopenings only to pull back amid another surge in COVID-19 cases such as the omicron variant that has swept across the globe this month but COVID-19 is still being handled on a country-by-country basis Early in the pandemic, American tourists abroad faced a similar issue when countries suddenly shut down borders and international flights ceased Now American tourists have to make sure they are healthy to get back on planes coming back into the U.S The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requires Americans and foreign nationals to have a negative test within one day of traveling back into the country “Unfortunately it’s pretty common for someone to get COVID-19 while traveling especially for people that are gone for longer and on trips to see family,” said Sudeep Shah a travel agent and owner of Travel King in Plano “The only thing we can really tell people is to find a hotel and stick it out for 10 or 14 days Try to find a hotel in a big city where you can have food delivered.” Every country has its own rules about quarantining with a COVID-19 infection medical and travel authorities aren’t really tracking the status of travelers tourists have to cover their own hotel costs or are put in specific hotels with other COVID-19 patients they are essentially locked in their rooms Italy, one of the early countries to experience a surge in COVID-19 cases in March of 2021, takes extreme measures when foreign tourists are diagnosed with COVID-19, forcing them into 10 days of government-sponsored quarantine. The U.S. Department of State did not return a request for comment on Allala’s and Mawoad’s situation. The State Department’s website says that “U.S. citizens who choose to travel internationally may encounter mandatory COVID-19 testing requirements, quarantines, travel restrictions, and closed borders. Foreign governments in any country may implement restrictions with little notice.  If you do travel internationally, be sure to make contingency plans as your trip may be severely disrupted and it may be difficult to arrange travel back to the United States.” In fact, the website for the U.S. Embassy in Italy said that the office of the U.S. Consular General in Florence has been closed “for health and safety reasons,” and it didn’t respond to a request for further information. Allala is a dentist who has had her hands in the mouths of hundreds of patients during the duration of the pandemic without contracting the virus. “We must have gotten it in Rome,” Allala said. “It’s the only place I can think of.” Allala said she took an at-home COVID-19 test on Monday after she had a cough and runny nose. It came back positive for both Allala and her boyfriend, Mawoad, a 36-year-old automotive software salesman. They alerted the hotel in Florence of their diagnosis. A few hours later, Italian medical officials escorted Allala and Mawoad out of the hotel and into an ambulance, which took them about an hour away to a small hotel in Montecatini Terme, a city of 20,000 east of Pisa known for its mineral springs and architecture. All they’ve seen of the town is from their hotel-room balcony. “There are other people with COVID here,” Allala said. “I can hear them through the walls.” Although their symptoms have been mild, Allala and Mawoad are still experiencing coughing, congestion, headaches and an upset stomach. They haven’t had access to any medical treatment or even basic items such as cough drops and sports drinks for hydration. Italy’s government is paying for the hotel and food, but the food it provides leaves a lot to be desired. “The food is bad,” she said. “The best I can describe it as is cafeteria food, something that was frozen then heated and stuck under a hot lamp for hours.” The city doesn’t have grocery delivery, but a local Burger King was able to deliver burgers, she said. Allala has been begging restaurants that do deliver to bring five or six large cups of Powerade. Their room is little more than a queen-sized bed and a bathroom, although it does have a balcony. They have begged the hotel to let them pay for a larger room but have been rejected. “We haven’t been able to do laundry,” she said. “They told us to do it in the sink.” Allala said her at-home COVID test, purchased at a local market, is the only verification that the couple has COVID-19. They are still waiting for an official PCR test. Their quarantine is supposed to end 10 days from the day they get that PCR test, followed by a negative test. But Allala is unsure what happens if she isn’t tested by Italian medical authorities. “We haven’t canceled our flight home yet because we haven’t heard anything yet, and we don’t know what’s going on,” she said. “We’re just sitting here waiting.” Thank you for reading. We welcome your thoughts on this topic. Comments are moderated for adherence to our Community Guidelines Please read the guidelines before participating Dutchman wins sprint after being in attack of the stage After muscling his way into an earlier breakaway that was caught inside the final 10km of the race van der Poel had enough left in the tank to sprint for the day's win ahead of runner-up Ethan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers) and Remy Mertz (Bingoal Pauwels) in third place in Montecatini Terme Van der Poel finished third at Milan-San Remo last week in what was an impressive return to racing after working on rehabilitation from a lingering back injury through the early months of 2022.  In another display of strength and early-season form at Coppi e Bartali van der Poel bridged across to an early-race breakaway and then made his own solo attack on the circuit's Vico climb before being caught on the last lap by the peloton led by Israel-Premier Tech Mauro Schmid (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl) and Nicola Conci (Italy) counter-attacked but they too were reeled back in by the bunch and van der Poel proved the strongest rider of the day taking the sprint in Montecatini With no change to the top three in the overall classification Eddie Dunbar (Ineos Grenadiers) leads the GC into the final stage with his teammate Ben Tulett at nine seconds back and Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates) at 24 seconds Stage 4 at Coppi e Bartali offered the peloton 158.7km of hilly circuit racing The route began with three shorter 15km circuits that started and finished at Montecatini with a climb over the Vico (3.1km at 5.4 per cent) on each lap.  The fourth lap was a longer version of the circuit at 40km and featured an ascent of the Goraiolo (15km with an average grade of 4.8 per cent) The race then routed back onto the original short 15km circuits for the final laps five through eight A six-rider breakaway emerged early in the stage that included Luc Wirtgen (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB) Emil Dima (Giotti Victoria-Savini Due) and Paul Wright (MG K Vis-Colors For Peace-VPM) They pushed their lead out to three minutes but Ineos Grenadiers protecting Eddie Dunbar in the overall leader's jersey along with runner-up Ben Tulett brought the gap down to a more manageable 2:30 60km into the stage Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) livened the race even more with an attack 100km into the stage upon reaching the start of the final four shorter circuits.  The Dutchman quickly crossed the gap and joined the six initial breakaway riders adding much needed horsepower to their efforts and pushing the lead out to 3:30 on the chasing field The high pace across the punchy circuits shed Piras Dima and Wright from the breakaway with only van der Poel Although the numbers reduced in the breakaway the quartet managed to maintain a two-minute gap on the field pulled by BikeExchange-Jayco inside 30km Their gap was slashed in half with 20km to go van der Poel launched a solo attack with 11km to go as he was caught inside 10km from the line on the final circuit Stage 1 winner Mauro Schmid (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl) and Nicola Conci (Italy) counter-attacked and quickly gained 10 seconds on the chasing field They held a slim lead in the closing 4km as the main field barrelled toward the finish behind Schmid and Conci desperately pushed on the pedals but the pair were caught as the bunch sprint began with van der Poel still strong and coming down the centre of the road to take another impressive victory Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games. She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023. With the Tuscan spa town of Montecatini Terme being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List 1. Soak in the Nitrodi, one of the oldest thermal baths in EuropeItaly has an abundance of natural hot springs that can be traced back before the rise of Rome — steaming pools heated by geothermic forces deep within the Earth. One of the earliest examples are thought to be in Nitrodi on the island of Ischia The ancient Greeks were the first to identify these waters’ curative properties especially for skin ailments; 3,000 years on the thermal springs remain a favourite wellness hub There are dozens of other places to soak across the island where hot water gushes directly into the sea natural rocky pools of various sizes and temperatures Elsewhere, Saturnia in southern Tuscany is another spring that’s been flowing for millennia it’s an otherworldly sight where milky blue waters cascade down travertine stone pools bathers would swim in the pool that fills the main Renaissance-era piazza which remains unique and unchanged to this day Photograph by AlamyThe view of Val D'Orcia from Bagno Vignoni with the town of Castiglione d'Orcia in the distance.Photograph by Alamy2 Discover Roman-time wellness at Bagno VignoniNo discussion about spa culture in the country is complete without mentioning the Romans who expanded the use of thermal baths as a communal activity some large enough to welcome several thousand bathers they were neglected and gradually fell into disrepair; not a single one is in use today But travellers can still luxuriate in a bygone era by visiting archeological ruins The best preserved are the Baths of Caracalla located just outside Rome’s city centre: in their heyday these were a sumptuous affair of sprawling hot and cold pools do as the Romans did by heading a couple of hours north to the hot springs in Bagno Vignoni one of the oldest and most popular pilgrim itineraries to Rome this tiny hamlet became a charming stop-off for weary travellers — as well as a resort for moneyed Italians including Pope Pius II and Lorenzo the Magnificent They would swim in the pool that fills the main Renaissance-era piazza but the warm waters can be enjoyed at nearby Parco Dei Mulini (Park of the Mills) treatments are based on hydroponic therapy (water drinking) Visitors can taste the four famous waters of Montecatini all said to do wonders for the liver and digestive system.Photographs by Getty ImagesThe combination of spas art and architecture earned the resort of Montecatini Terme a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021 as one of the Great Spa Towns of Europe.Photograph by Getty Images3 Marvel at one of Europe’s great spa towns at Montecatini TermeIn the late 1700s The town leading the revival was Montecatini Terme in the heart of northern Tuscany: thanks to the vision and patronage of Grand Duke Leopold it built a number of spas around its thermal springs The largest and most beautiful was Terme Tettuccio which is still in use today and where treatments are based on hydroponic therapy (water drinking) all said to do wonders for the liver and digestive system Guided tours are also offered of the grounds where marble pavilions sit among manicured gardens walls are adorned with splendid murals by Galileo Chini art and architecture that earned Montecatini a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021 as one of the Great Spa Towns of Europe both of which focus on more modern thermal health and beauty treatments such as mud wraps rain-style massages and inhalation therapy For more information, visit italia.it Follow National Geographic Traveller (UK) on social media The Montecatini Thermal Baths in Tuscany could be the next Italian site to become part of the World Heritage List: it will all depend on what is decided during the 44th session of the Intergovernmental World Heritage Committee to be held in Fuzhou Montecatini Spa is part of an international heritage site which includes eleven European spas from seven different nations: Baden bei Wien (Austria); Spa (Belgium); the “Bohemian Triangle” consisting of Karlovy Vary Františkovy LáznÄ› and Mariánské LáznÄ› (Czech Republic); Vichy (France); Bad Ems Baden-Baden and Bad Kissingen (Germany); Montecatini Terme (Italy); and Bath (United Kingdom).“Each of these eleven spa towns,” explains the committee that proposed the nomination "developed between 1700 and 1930 around natural mineral springs which acted as catalysts for an innovative model of spatial organization dedicated to therapeutic and social functions recreation and socialization gave rise to architectural prototypes and urban typologies that have not been matched in previous eras These spa towns represent the pioneers of the then nascent modern tourism The act of ’Taking the Cure,’ both externally and internally was complemented by the introduction of visitor-facing facilities and by specific infrastructure to support spa activities all integrated into a larger urban context that includes carefully managed recreational and therapeutic spaces set in a picturesque spa landscape The Great Spas of Europe marks the greatest developments in the traditional medical uses of springs by Enlightenment physicians throughout Europe including those at the forefront of Western diagnostic medicine As a set of elite places at the level of scientific The Great Spas of Europe contributed to the transformation of European society by narrowing the gap between the elite and the emerging middle classes Spa towns have been the scene of important political events and their special creative atmosphere has inspired works of exceptional universal significance in the fields of music Among the ranks of the Ministry of Culture “After the positive opinion on Italy’s proposed Unesco candidacy of the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua,” Undersecretary Lucia Borgonzoni commented today “we collect another yes.” The reference is to the assessment ofICOMOS an advisory body to the World Heritage Committee which gave a positive opinion on the candidacy ICOMOS confirmed that the great European spas represent an outstanding testimony to the phenomenon of European thermalism highlights the importance and ’exceptional universal value of spa culture and its architecture as a phenomenon of our continent and was in fact commonly prepared by 7 states part of the European Union “The ambitious candidacy of Montecatini together with other cities,” Borgonzoni further comments “underlines the exceptional universal value of Italian spa architecture and culture The proposal is the result of a challenging path made by the Ministry of Culture together with the Municipality of Montecatini Terme “As mayor of Montecatini Terme,” says first citizen Luca Baroncini “I am happy and honored by the positive assessment expressed by ICOMOS also for my city which clearly shows the potential of the Great Spas of Europe to become a World Heritage Site The fact that Montecatini Terme is among the 11 European cities is really important and comes to complete a journey that began more than 10 years ago with an important collaboration between the municipal offices and the Ministry of Culture.” Italy is home to some of the world’s most iconic landmarks but beyond the well-trodden paths lies a treasure trove of lesser-known gems From ancient mosaics to medieval towns and tranquil thermal springs these hidden UNESCO-listed destinations offer a glimpse into Italy’s rich history the city in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region is an earthly paradise with glorious mosaics offering a breathtaking glimpse into a time when art and spirituality were inseparable Spread over several churches and baptisteries around town the tiny tiles form one of the world's most dazzling collections of early Christian mosaic artwork enshrined since 1996 on UNESCO’s World Heritage list no fewer than eight early Christian monuments grace the UNESCO ranks Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo and Sant’Apollinare in Classe Neonian Baptistery and Chapel of Sant’Andrea Don’t forget to look up in the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia to be awed by its starry vault ceiling Montecatini Terme captivates with its grand fountains Nestled among the rolling hills of Tuscany the area was officially named one of the great spa towns of Europe after being recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021 Located less than an hour from Florence and Pisa the town’s rich thermal springs have been enjoyed since Roman times with tired travellers across the ages easing their aching limbs in the natural hot waters of Terme Tettuccio culture seekers can head to the medieval village of Alto which can be reached aboard the Gigio and Gigia two beautifully restored trains that tackle the 290-metre elevation with timeless grace Montecatini Terme Contemporary Art museum to see more than 350 works Just under two hours from the springs lies the medieval city of Siena brimming with historical and cultural charm The Gothic spires soar above the Tuscan hills offering a striking silhouette that has earned Siena a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage list since 1995 the city’s monuments have retained both their ancient ramparts and their outstanding art collections Head to the central square of the Piazza del Campo and work your way around the surrounding landmarks Often eclipsed by its neighbours Naples and the Amalfi Coast Cilento is a vast and varied region in the south of Campania the area more than makes up for in both natural and man-made wonders A UNESCO World Heritage Site in its entirety kilometres of coastline and ancient temples sprawl between the Gulf of Salerno and the Gulf of Policastro Designated as a cultural landscape of extraordinary value the region bears witness to settlements dating back 250,000 years plus a National Park boasting its own UNESCO Mab Biosphere Reserve status due to its stunning network of karstic caves The most popular attraction here is the ancient Greek town of Paestum the only surviving example of a Magna-Grecian town the open-air archaeological park is an atmospheric (and less crowded) alternative to Pompeii Almost entirely rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1693 the UNESCO World Heritage Site was one of eight centres redesigned in the late Baroque style creating a stunning urban landscape that must be seen to be believed Situated less than 40km southwest of Syracuse Noto has one of Sicily's most beautiful and well-preserved historic hubs where every street and building tells a story of resilience and artistry The pièce de résistance is Corso Vittorio Emanuele an exquisite pedestrian walkway flanked by spectacular florid palazzi and churches Keep an eye out for the Basilica Cattedrale di San Nicolò a spectacularly domed cathedral that dominates Noto’s skyline While it is perhaps one of Italy’s more recognisable UNESCO World Heritage destinations life moves slowly in the Puglia town of Alberobello Famed for its miniature trulli houses with distinctive conical roofs the majority of the 1,500 drystone buildings are fully functional homes still occupied by locals and largely unchanged since being erected in the 14th century Featured on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1996 the fairytale town is nestled in the Itria Valley between the Apulian provinces of Bari providing a Mediterranean haven untouched by the passage of time but the Museo del Territorio offers a unique journey through Alberobello's architectural evolution while the trullo church of St Anthony of Padua is a feat of architecture but is busiest from April to October when the weather is best The best time to visit for the fewest crowds is in the shoulder season in either April and May or September and October Tuscany has great weather all throughout the year with warm and sunny summers and just mild rain and slightly colder temperatures in the fall and winter with consistently sunny days that are never too hot August is usually the hottest month in Tuscany with average high temperatures hovering between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit (27 and 32 degrees Celsius) Silvio Berlusconi began serving his sentence for tax fraud Novelist Philip Hensher imagines one resident’s story They are the plants from the terrace at home At home my mother waters them every night and every morning She comes out and says something about the heat of the day The kind people who work here have brought the lavender and the jasmine from the terrace at home in Naples to make me feel at home Nothing is too much trouble for the kind people This spa is not like the spa my father took us to last year and the year before We always go to Montecatini Terme in Tuscany There you drink the waters and talk in the streets to the same people you see every year Sometimes in Montecatini Terme you or your parents are talking to a friend in the street and then suddenly the friend is not there any more He has gone to the lavatory to answer a call of nature In Montecatini Terme it is not necessary to say “goodbye” or apologise for leaving Everyone knows you just turn away and absent yourself And one day you realise that your three weeks’ stay is over and tomorrow you too must leave In Naples we have lavender and jasmine on the terrace and my mother waters it every day The kind people who work here have brought the lavender and jasmine from our terrace and put it outside where I can see it Some time I will have to leave the spa and go back home But the kind people have made me comfortable There is risotto to eat sometimes and sometimes soup The vegetable soup is my favourite to eat and I look forward to it Last year I went with my parents and the year before that There is plenty of time left before I have to go back home I see him sometimes at the other end of the room where the television set hangs on the yellow wall and found myself about to speak to an old man by mistake Berlusconi is a very good friend of my husband who is away at Montecatini Terme with my parents and sat and told us about what he wants to do I do not tell the strict ladies and gentlemen about this In the mornings they ask us what Silvio Berlusconi does for this country and in the afternoon Silvio Berlusconi comes to the spa and he visits us 30 or 40 years younger than the rest of them The old man who sits in the chair next to me he dribbles in his risotto at table and we pretend not to notice They ask all of us one by one who the Pope is and who the prime minister is he gets the answer right about the Pope but then he says that the prime minister is Craxi She goes on to the next old person who knows like everyone else that the prime minister’s name is Silvio Berlusconi I want to ask the old man how he can say something so stupid In the afternoon the prime minister sometimes comes to visit us Bettino Craxi has never been to visit us and he never will Berlusconi does not clean up after accidents but he sometimes brings us our risotto or our vegetable soup He sets it down and asks me if I’m good to go the lavender and jasmine come from the terrace in Naples I like to smell it when the windows are open and it makes me feel homesick and it stops me feeling homesick The kind people brought the lavender and the jasmine here He was my favourite star when I was young and it is so nice that he comes very often to visit us He comes so often because he is one of the kind people He is a big star but he does not mind cleaning up when one of the old people has an accident But the most regular one who comes is the prime minister He comes because he wants to hear what ordinary people think and what ordinary people like us are saying He does not clean up after accidents but he sometimes brings us our risotto or our vegetable soup Silvio Berlusconi sets it down and he asks me if I’m good to go Sometimes I am not sure what Silvio Berlusconi means Sometimes Silvio Berlusconi says that I am his favourite old dear Silvio Berlusconi is an old friend of my husband My husband is in Montecatini Terme with my parents I will tell him all about the things that Silvio Berlusconi has said to me and how nice it was that I and Silvio Berlusconi were at the same spa and Silvio Berlusconi was a kind person giving me some soup to eat And not just stars but the prime minister too He gives me risotto to eat if it is a risotto day and vegetable soup if it is a vegetable soup day He takes off his washing-up gloves and comes over to say goodbye for the day because behind him I can see the kind lady from Russia just taking off her coat and I do not want to be left alone with the kind lady from Russia they come from my father’s terrace in Naples They smell here just as they smell in Naples I am very surprised that he should remember that we had a lemon tree on the terrace at home They have brought the lavender and the jasmine from home but they have not brought the lemon tree My father will be very disappointed at that Then Silvio Berlusconi puts on his own coat and the big blue car that sits outside the spa sometimes takes him away Some time soon it will be time to return home Read more from our stranger than fiction series online curated by Luca Cerizza with Elena Magini the Centro per l'arte contemporanea Luigi Pecci in Prato dedicates a major exhibition to Massimo Bartolini (Cecina 1962) running from September 16th 2022 to May 7th 2023 The exhibition will be a new chapter of the monographic exhibitions series that the Centro annually host to show audiences artworks by Italian artists realized in partnership with Intesa Sanpaolo will be showcasing a new installation - the largest the artist has ever created - specifically designed for the museum spaces a sort of new ‘backbone’ guiding onlookers around the works created at different moments in his career Avoiding the familiar retrospective layout based around a chronological/thematic display of works the exhibition is like an unexpected sequence of surprising and revealing encounters Hagoromo is the title of a well-known Japanese Noh theatre play which tells the story of a fisherman who one day finds the hagoromo a female celestial spirit of supernatural beauty that is part of Japanese mythology When the spirit asks for her cloak back without which she cannot return to heaven the fisherman replies that he will only give her back her cloak after seeing her dance Hagoromo (1989) is also the title of what Bartolini considers to be his first mature work: inside his old studio on a well-illuminated stage moving inside a parallelepiped on wheels that looks like a tiny home.  This performance already anticipates some of the themes and distinctive traits still characterising his current experimental work: a story based around tributes artworks and biographies; the relationship with architecture and space; the relationship with theatre and performance art partly through the use of sound and music; the way the work brings together seemingly irreconcilable opposites The exhibition is accompanied by Hagoromo: Massimo Bartolini the most complete publication ever dedicated to this Tuscan artist Edited by Luca Cerizza and Cristiana Perrella and published by NERO the book is a project supported by the Italian Council (10th edition program to promote Italian contemporary art on the world by the Directorate-General for Contemporary Creativity of the Italian Ministry of Culture the book presents a rich iconographic overview in chronological order of the artist’s entire career together with detailed bio-bibliographical notes and references; the publication includes contributions by the likes of Fiona Bradley Vista in "Myslivska" presso Galleria Gentili Giornata promossa da AMACI (Associazione Musei Arte Contemporanea Italiani) Massimo Bartolini in dialogo con Elena Antoniolli e Cloe Piccoli Il programma d attività e laboratori per tutte le età L'arte della narrazione in Massimo Bartolini L'orizzonte e il dettaglio in Gerald Murnane t. +39 0574 5317 info@centropecci.it analytics and third-party cookies.By continuing to browse ‘Padua’s fourteenth century fresco cycles’ Montecatini Terme and the Porticoes of Bologna: new inscriptions approved by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee gathered virtually from 16 to 31 July in its 44th session has decided to inscribe on the World Heritage List three new Italian sites: ‘Padua’s fourteenth century fresco cycles’ Montecatini Terme and the Porticoes of Bologna ‘Padua’s fourteenth century fresco cycles’ is a serial property including the precious pictorial cycles depicted in eight buildings and monumental complexes of the town: the Scrovegni Chapel the Basilica and Monastery of saint Anthony the Oratory of saint George and the Oratory of saint Michael where Giotto painted his masterpiece in the early years of 14th century The pictorial decoration of the Chapel fully recovers the ancient technique of fresco painting and shows a truly innovative artistic language rendering with astonishing realism human feelings and emotions depicted through an empiric use of perspective sensed by Giotto before the development of linear perspective in the Renaissance age The artistic season opened by Giotto in Padua continues throughout the entire 14th century: other noteworthy cycles were painted by some of the most important artists of that time As highlighted by the UNESCO’s official decision these cycles show the lively exchange of ideas which took place between artists writers and scientists in Padua in the 14th century and provide an important model for the fresco painting of the Renaissance age and of the following centuries historic thermal town in the province of Pistoia has been included in the World Heritage List as a component of the transnational site ‘Great Spas of Europe’ The site includes eleven spa towns placed in seven countries: Baden bei Wien (Austria); Spa (Belgium); Karlovy Vary Františkovy Lázne and Mariánské Lázne (Czech Republic); Vichy (France); Male Ems Baden-Baden and Bad Kissingen (Germany); Montecatini Terme (Italy); Bath (United Kingdom) The Committee’s decision highlights that the Great Spas of Europe are an outstanding testimony of the thermal culture which reached its height in the 18th and in the 19th centuries Through the enhancement of natural springs and the development of towns centres and infrastructures for health and leisure the ‘Great Spas of Europe’ have allowed relevant progress and exchange of innovative ideas in the fields of medicine influencing the popularity of thermal towns even in other parts of the world The Porticoes of Bologna have been inscribed in the List as an outstanding testimony of a type of architectural ensemble which illustrates significant stages in human history built from the 12th century to the present and selected as the most representative among city’s porticoes the porticoes have offered through the centuries sheltered walkways and spaces for crafts and merchant activities Defined as ‘private property for public use’ the porticoes have become an expression of Bologna’s urban identity the number of Italian sites registered in the World Heritage List rises to 58 and now Italy has the highest number of World Heritage Sites the Committee has approved the extension of two other sites already registered in the List: the National Parks of Aspromonte and Pollino have been included in the transnational site ‘Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe’; the Abbey of San Miniato al Monte the Garden of Iris and the Garden of Roses have been added to the site ‘Historic Centre of Florence’ Italy has also welcomed with great satisfaction the Committee’s decision about ‘Venice and its Lagoon’: the proposal to inscribe the site on the List of the World Heritage in Danger advanced by the Advisory Body International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) The Committee has appreciated the efforts made by the Italian government in order to protect the “outstanding universal value” of the Lagoon and particularly the recent decree banning large cruise ships from entering the San Marco basin and the Giudecca channel These important results confirm and reward the constant commitment of our country to protecting and enhancing our extraordinary cultural and natural heritage The 'Italia in Mostra' competition for ideas organized in collaboration with RO.ME - Museum Exhibition The competition for ideas was conceived within the framework of the second edition of RO.ME - Museum Exhibition The Rovereto International Festival of Archaeological Film was founded in 1990 with the aim of reaching and raising awareness among.. Italy boasts two new elements registered on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage: 'The.. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is pleased to announce the installation What Italian cultural heritage is there in your city The Sunday TimesThe secret to a perfect thermal bath is to edge up to where the eggy-smelling As I joined the brave bathers grouped near the spout gushing 50C spring water into the open-air pool near Viterbo my fingers and toes tingled and knotted muscles in my back melted — and it was easy to understand why legions of Italians jumped at the chance this week to have a free thermal soak on the government Officials were surprised when their plan to lift the economy by offering 260,000 steam-bath vouchers attracted a million applications with a government website crashing as the offer was snapped up in just four hours The great spa towns of Europe shaped politics the arts and wellbeing in the 18th and 19th centuries They are still a magical experience today… UNESCO inscribed the Great Spa Towns of Europe onto its World Heritage list recognising the impact these institutions had on shaping Europe Eleven famous historic spa towns across seven countries were recognised Each one was developed around natural mineral springs and features grand buildings and beautifully manicured gardens Every one of them played an integral role in developing culture politics and medicine – and creating the ideals that still shape Europe They are equally fabulous today and remain havens of beauty and tranquillity for the frazzled traveller Baden bei Wien was known as the ‘Spa of Emperors’ and was a popular escape for the Habsburgs who popped down from nearby Vienna to take a break from ruling their empire Ludwig van Beethoven and Johann Strauß were regulars too especially when they had a new symphony to finish off Today visitors can wander the narrow streets surrounding the spa and admire the 19th-century Biedermeier architecture or lose themselves in leafy Kurpark Modern spas offer 21st-century versions of original therapies Or you could follow the trails leading to Kalvarienberg and into the Vienna Woods The centre of Spa in Winter (Shutterstock) Tucked away in a beautiful valley in the Ardennes Spa is the original Spa Town and the one that gave the world the name More than 300 cold mineral springs surround the town and the health-giving properties of their water has been sought after ever since Pliny the Elder wrote in 68 AD that they ‘purge the body cure fevers and dispel calculous affections’ Spa was also known as the ‘Café of Europe’ and introduced the concept of gaming to resorts The Casino of Spa was built in 1763 and remains of the most striking buildings in the town (and is still open for a flutter) Musée de la Ville d’Eaux chronicles the history of the town as a spa And a new state-of-the-art health centre sits on a hill overlooking the town offer all the latest therapeutic treatments you can always pop over to the nearby Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Historical buildings in Františkovy Lázně (Shutterstock) Františkovy Lázně is regarded as a ‘new spa town.’ It was built at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries and followed the symmetrical architectural fashion of the time It is characterised by an inner and outer spa where eye-catching Baroque buildings are surrounded by a triple belt of parks with pavilions and springs interlinked by grand promenades Twenty-three of the town’s twenty-four springs are still in use today and a new local mud treatment has become increasingly popular Visitors can wander the extensive parks and gardens and admire the neoclassical and Belle Epoque buildings a neo-Renaissance hall still used for balls today Or you could catch a performance at the Art Deco theatre of Božena Němcová Dedicated to leisure, pleasure and high-fashion the City of Bath is regarded as one of the earliest and most profoundly influential ‘Great Spas’ it was transformed during Georgian times when the city became the place to be seen in by Royalty and the high aristocracy crescents and squares from this era remains a simple joy And a visit to the baths themselves is a must – they have been operating for over 2,000 years after all But that is just scratching the surface of this fascinating city There’s the Jane Austin Centre for the ‘Pride and Prejudice’ crowd the Royal Crescent and the Palladian Bridge at Prior Park for architecture nuts If you want to actually bath in the mineral-rich waters though Tightly contained in a deep valley cut by a tributary of the Rhine, Bad Ems is perhaps the most compact of the Great Spas. Despite its size, it is regarded as one of the most important spas in Germany ­– the scene of world-changing political events and decisions as well as innovations in gaming and music The thermal springs are clustered by the river The principal spa quarter has continually occupied the same site throughout history It reflects a cavalcade of architectural heritage from the medieval ‘Wildbad’ through courtly life in the Baroque to the sophisticated international resort of the 19th century there is a network of challenging therapeutic trails leading to high rocky overlooks Remember to reward yourself with one of the town’s famous pastilles dusted with salt made from the local mineral waters Partaking of Karlovy Vary’s famous ‘Drinking Cure’ from one of the local fountains (Shutterstock) Known as ‘the largest open-air salon of Europe’ aristocrats and famous writers and artists across its 200-year history It is famous for a geyser-like spring that shoots 12 metres into the air and remains the largest spa in Europe nestled in the beautiful Teplá River Valley Visitors will want to explore the historic spa quarter not just for the health-giving springs but for the glorious buildings from the towns Golden Era at the end of the 19th century As you wander amongst the colonnades you might notice people sipping from distinctive porcelain cups fill it up from one of the public drinking fountains and let the rejuvenation begin make sure you visit Svatošské Rocks on the edge of town This granite outcrop offers far-reaching views of the Ohře River and is a riot of fall colours when the leaves of the surrounding forests turn A pavilion in Mariánské Lázně (Shutterstock) Another ‘new’ spa town in the ‘West Bohemian Spa Triangle’ Mariánské Lázně was known as the ‘spa in a park’ Like most spas it was popular with royal families and the aristocracy but in the 1870s it gained an international reputation as a venue for important global political negotiations scientific gatherings and as a place of inspiration for high-art visitors will be impressed by the spa’s harmony with nature You’ll find most of the springs in the immaculate Central Park as well as a diverse collection of neoclassical spa buildings including pavilions and an iconic colonnade the wooded hills surrounding the town offer a multitude of recreational trails The old thermal pump-room in Vichy (Shutterstock) Vichy sits beside the River Allier in Central France It was known as the ‘Queen of Spas’ and greatly contributed to the creation of 19th-century European spa culture took the general concept of a spa and imbued it with undeniable gallic flair Napoleon III wanted the spa to be a ‘Little Paris’ combining the sophistication of the capital with the therapeutic benefits of a spa town The result is a mix of grand bath complexes connected by covered promenades as well as a casino and theatre Soak up the history (the town was the headquarters of the Vichy government during World War II.) And maybe pick up a skin care product made from the local ingredients by the world-famous Vichy Laboratories Autumn landscape in Baden-Baden (Shutterstock) The local mineral waters in Baden-Baden have been used for healing since antiquity but it was in the 19th century that this spa town on the edge of the Black Forest came into its own Patronised by the ruling and cultural elite it became the most fashionable spa in the world and the ‘Summer Capital of Europe’ The opulence and beauty that fuelled that reputation is still on show today The grand buildings of the 19th century still dazzle And a new spa quarter across the River Oos continues to offer the therapeutic treatments that first made the town popular It remains a place of inspiration for locals It is also a great base for some of the most spectacular hikes in Germany The nearby Panorama Trail Baden-Baden is dotted with places of cultural natural and historical interest and was nominated as Germany’s most beautiful hiking trail in 2020 The modernistic Salon Fontana in Bad Kissingen (Shutterstock) Bad Kissingen is the Bavarian largest spa town and is famous for transforming the concept of spa towns from 19th-century neoclassicism to 20th-century modernity Architect Max Littmann rebuilt almost the entire spa using innovative forms and materials The innovative Wandelhalle pump room remains the largest structure of its kind in the world The spa sits outside the medieval walled town You’ll follow a cluster of springs along the Saale River and onto a formal spa garden From here it is a seamless transition into parks and wooded hills Otto von Bismarck was a regular visitor – you can visit his old living quarters on the Upper Saline And there is an animal park with wild cats the most famous spa in Montecatini Terme (Shutterstock) It is little wonder that the likes of Verdi Puccini and Leoncavallo found it hard to leave The spa continues to offer treatments within its eclectic buildings But for visitors the real joy lies in strolling along Viale Verdi or riding the rickety funicular railway to the top of Montecatini Alto and wandering back down through the fragrant forest of pine trees and terraced olive groves Enter the official Derthona Basket website Important appointment for the Juventus Under 14 Elite team coached by Massimo Bisin technical manager of the Bertram Derthona youth sector who will be on stage at the Montecatini Terme tournament scheduled from tomorrow The Lions have been included in Group B of the tournament together with the teams of: KK Ras Belgrade A and SKK Zvezdara Belgrade and Marostica which will be the first opponent in the match scheduled for tomorrow at 16.00 pm at the PalaVinci in Montecatini Terme The inaugural ceremony of the tournament is scheduled for tomorrow evening Below is the complete calendar of the first phase of the Juventus team's tournament: The direct elimination matches will be played on Sunday 21st and Monday 22nd April: the playing times of these matches will be communicated to the teams during the tournament ©Derthona Basket SSRL Privacy Policy Cookies Policy credits dpsonline* Italian sprinter responds to Manxman's tweet saying he is looking forward to beating the Manxman again in 2013 while riding for Lampre-Merida team on the UCI WorldTour circuit Cavendish left unimpressed by Ferrari move Ferrari sprints to Giro stage 11 win in Montecatini Terme Lampre-ISD confirm Roberto Ferrari signing Cavendish has never forgiven Ferrari for sparking the high-speed crash during stage three of the Giro d'Italia in Denmark The Italian cut across the road in the final kilometre race leader Taylor Phinney and several other riders Cavendish called for Ferrari to be disqualified from the Giro d'Italia but race officials let him stay and he went on to win stage 11 in Montecatini Terme Ferrari's apparent lack of genuine contrition has always irked Cavendish Last week Cavendish tweet: "When I thought I could put this year's festival of sprint crashes behind me I see Roberto Ferrari has signed for a WorldTour team next year." Ferrari was asked about the tweet during an interview with Italian radio programme Ultimo Kilometro on Radio Manà Manà Sport I thought everything had been forgotten after the Giro d'Italia At this point I can only hope to beat him again next year," Ferrari is quoted as saying by the Itasportpress.it website "I apologised to Cavendish back then and I thought it was all over with I don't know if he as just being ironic or if he's serious But you'd hope a rider has other things to think about during the off season rather than comment on another rider changing teams." Ferrari rode for Androni Giocattoli this year but has signed with Lampre-Merida in 2013 and so will compete on the WorldTour circuit, alongside Alessandro Petacchi He does not see the veteran Italian as a rival in the 2013 sprints and is happy to finally compete at the highest level of the sport "I'm not as good a sprinter as Alessandro [Petacchi] but if I have a good position I'm happy to lead out [Petacchi] in the sprints because I'm a team player I don’t think they'll be problems between us because we raced for a year together (at LPR Brakes-Ballan) and so we know each other," Ferrari said "I hope to payback the Lampre team for the faith they've shown in me I've finally managed to show what I can do after not racing very much and an important team made me a good offer The team's first get together is in December and that's when we'll get to known each other and agree our race programmes."  Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time A luxury Tuscan spa hotel which has hosted the likes of Giuseppe Verdi Paul Cezanne and Arnold Schwarzenegger has rolled out the red carpet for an unexpected arrival from the world's new capital of bling - Moscow the wife of Russian president Dmitry Medvedev but made a start this month by booking out the entire hotel La Pace in Montecatini Terme for one week and showing up with her son and a 30-strong entourage In a move worthy of an oil sheikh's wife prompting staff to throw open the shutters and plump up the pillows as Italian police set up security in the small town meeting Japanese orphans and visiting crisis centres With rooms going for 600 euro ($745) a night and suites at up to 1300 euro the hotel clearly looked the right place to splurge Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn have all checked in over the years and discreet staff have smoothly handled guests with peculiar requests or capricious behaviour including the Polish count who insisted on clearing the restaurant for a game of tennis to a British lord who was ticked off for flicking cherry stones at other guests during dinner Medvedeva's visit followed promotional trips made to Moscow by hotel managers according to the Italian daily Corriere Fiorentino just as Roman Abramovich's visit to Tuscan resort Forte dei Marmi turned it from a genteel hideaway for Milan industrialists into Moscow-on-sea and Putin's stay at Silvio Berlusconi's Sardinian villa helped clog the island's Emerald coast with Russian yachts Svetlana Medvedeva meets Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.Credit: Getty Images told Corriere Fiorentino the effects of Medvedeva's visit "will be seen in the coming months when Russian tourists who love classic spas will turn up in ever greater numbers" Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his wife first lady Svetlana Medvedeva.Credit: Getty Images Paul Cezanne and Arnold Schwarzenegger has rolled out the red carpet for an unexpected arrival from the world's new capital of bling - Moscow just as Roman Abramovich's visit to Tuscan resort Forte dei Marmi turned it from a genteel hideaway for Milan industrialists into Moscow-on-sea told Corriere Fiorentino the effects of Medvedeva's visit \\\"will be seen in the coming months when Russian tourists who love classic spas will turn up in ever greater numbers\\\" Abitare.it e Style.corriere.it rifiutando tutti i cookie di profilazione ad eccezione di quelli tecnici necessari Naviga il sito di Abitare.it con pubblicità profilata e senza abbonarti By subscribing you will reject all but technical cookies on Iodonna.it By clicking "accept" you will allow to process your personal data by us and third parties and be able to browse Abitare.it website without a subscription Awarded UNESCO world heritage status in 1997 and today one of the most important and popular Italian cultural sites the Royal Palace of Caserta suffered two collapses in 2012 that affected the end of the cornice on the principal façade highlighting the state of decay of the architectural decorations The vast conservation restoration project lasted two-and-a-half years and was carried out by specialised Italian firms under the direction of the Superintendency for Archaeology Fine arts and Landscape for the province of Caserta and Benevento All the façades of the monumental complex were checked and repaired for a total surface area of 74,000 square metres and a full cost of €15 million that was paid for with EU funding introduced in the Royal Palace beginning in the 1980s had thus far only been used on the principal façade thanks to the detailed measurements that can be made using modern technologies like laser scanners and georadar it was determined that the falling of the larger stone blocks (which come from the Campanian quarries of Bellona and Cusano Mutri) was caused by a series of fractures the occurred in large part due to the rusting of the metallic anchoring grips This process in turn was caused by water seeping in from the roof gutters which due to poor maintenance over the years had been clogged with weeds that were left free to grow One of the decorative stone elements before being cleaned The elimination of these parasites (mosses lichens and microorganisms) and of the so-called “black crusts” caused by pollution allows visitors to see the original colours of the monument once again inasmuch as the operation to clean and reinforce was conservationist in nature without any cosmetic interventions being carried out on the small fragmentations and cracks that have appeared over time which was preceded by a preliminary mapping of the disconnections of the stone material that was carried out by a team of geologists coordinated by Maurizio De Gennaro and website in this browser for the next time I comment Recently restored and reopened to the public You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience and security leader mondiale nel campo dell’integrazione e cosmetica biologica è sponsor della giornata di corse all’ippodromo Sesana di sabato 17 settembre Tutte le corse in programma sono denominate ispirandosi ai principi Nahrin Swisscare inoltre a partire dalle ore 17.00 si terrà un incontro dimostrativo con le signore che hanno ricevuto l’invito in occasione del Gran Premio Città di Montecatini dedicato al trattamento del viso luminoso con cellule staminali La dimostrazione sarà condotta da Patrizia Rocchi “It’s great to start the season like this,” said Dusan Rajovic at the end of the race. “The team did an exceptional job. I’m really happy to have opened the year so well with this success.” In the third stage, an individual time trial, the Serbian champion took third place, demonstrating once again his talent and consolidating his position as leader of the special points classification. Finally, in the race against the clock, Alexandre Balmer also performed well, taking ninth place.   VCURVY|Curvy News|Miss Italia Curvy Elena Mirò’s Italian curves have reached Miss Italia and have immediately created a stir – including with a sensational disqualification Curvy girls make their debut at the most prestigious Italian beauty pageant and there was an unfortunate surprise in store involving the internet There are novelties aplenty for Miss Italia 2011, starting with the presenter – Fabrizio Frizzi is making his comeback – and the new location, Montecatini Terme. Above all though there’s the new category, Miss Curvy Italia Elena Mirò which is open to US size 10s – but there’s also been the second elimination from the competition Miss Curvy Italia Elena Mirò Lazio 2011 and one of the competition’s curvy semi-finalists didn’t pass the internet checks and has been disqualified: she has paid the price for appearing in nude or otherwise comprising photos on the web has been very clear about the spirit of this year’s competition She has been hoping for a return to authentic beauty: so no piercings The models to follow are sophisticated women like Gina Lollobrigida, Lucia Bosè, Silvana Mangano and Sophia Loren The pre-finals are currently being held at Montecatini Terme From the 233 girls selected from the whole of Italy which are due to be broadcast on Italian TV (Rai 1) in mid-September.The names of the finalists will only be revealed tonight Good luck to all the contestants – and especially to those aiming to be Miss Curvy Italia Vittoria Mentasti's Dead Sea takes us to a place where the sky and the sea are one A chat with Kristin Prim, the founder of The Provocateur, the site that publishes letters written expressely by leading women addressing the whole female world. Vogue.it presents you an exclusive preview of the letter written by Dresden Dolls' Amanda Palmer During the Yeezy Season 3 fashion show, Kanye West presented his new album, The Life of Pablo. Here's everything you need to know (and let's get ready to the fight with Taylor Swift) The most exclusive parties at the New York Fashion Week All the best street style spotted at New York Fashion Week From New York Fashion Week Fall Winter 2016/17 Menswear and womenswear collections will walk together and will be on sale right after the show. These are the news from Burberry but the evolution is generalized: runway shows are changing The documentary that celebrates 3.1 Phillip Lim's tenth anniversary The latest social media initiatives dedicated to the Fashion world The (Perfumes) Factory the curvy philosophy will be part of Italy’s most famous beauty contest Los Angeles celebrates the Italian actress - P.zza Castello 27 - 20121 Milano cap.soc 00834980153 società con socio unico by Massimo Lissa Despite being a season with theoretically unfavorable weather conditions the sun was an important element for the success of the “In giro in 500 alle Terme” rally which took place on the weekend of 15-16 October The meeting point was at Punto Amico in the early afternoon on Saturday Hotel Regina; the spirit of the rally participants was high a little coquettish and always eager to amaze and conquer their admirers After the ritual registration of the crews departure for a tour along the streets of Valdinievole to arrive in Piazza Mazzini in PesciaHere the mayor Oreste Giurlani who welcomed us and immediately after we went to the historic center to visit the renovated Civic Museum and the Palace which houses the precious plaster cast gallery dedicated to Libero Andreotti Afterwards we tasted a good aperitif with courtesy bubbles in front of the Banca di Pescia and Cascina Credito Cooperativo SC The return to Montecatini Terme was very pleasant after having crossed the romantic village of Montecatini Alto Sunday meeting at the Terme Tettuccio (UNESCO Heritage) with the participation of members from all over Tuscany and some crews from outside the region (Caserta and Genoa) The Councilor for Tourism Alessandra Bartolozzi and trustees of Florence After breakfast at the Caffè Storico held inside the Tettuccio Spa the delivery of the rich welcome bag (all thanks to our sponsor friends) Arrival and stop along Borgo Giacomo Matteotti visit to the 54th Frugiate Festival organized by the Circolo Arci with a tasting of delicious chestnuts roasted in a large pan on the fire and a glass of good wine There was also a visit to the festival market the miner and quarryman museum and the exhibition dedicated to insects with a display of particular and rare live specimens we went to the restaurant “Il Discepolo” in Montecatini Terme and during lunch we gave all the participants a gadget and a work dedicated to the gathering created by the kids of the Fondazione MAIC of Pistoia a leading company in the sector in the province of Pistoia it was possible to honor the participants with many gadgets and during lunch there was a rich lottery whose proceeds will be donated to the various associations of the territory Thanks to all the participants in the Montecatini Terme rally thanks to all the members and friends for their great commitment to the excellent success of the event {gallery}coord_pistoia/montecatini22{/gallery} Privacy PolicyExtended informationFiat 500 Club Italia Logos – Registered TrademarksCookie PolicyLegal notices Fiat 500 Club Italia, Via Roma, 90 – 17033 Garlenda (SV) – PI 01079820096 | Copyright © 2025 | All rights reserved. | Website created by CT Solution Your membership card plus gadgets will be sent to you through mail while you may download the 6 issues of the magazine 4PiccoleRuote from the website Your membership card plus gadgets and the 6 issues of the 4PiccoleRuote magazine will be sent to you through mail A 76-year-old man was struck by illness while carrying out his work in a hotel A tragic event has shaken the community of Montecatini Terme where a 76-year-old man lost his life while he was engaged in his work of transporting linen The accident occurred in a hotel in the center an employee of a transport company specialized in the industrial laundry sector was unloading clean laundry when he felt ill Despite the timely intervention of paramedics alerted by a worker from a nearby construction site every attempt at resuscitation was in vain with colleagues and passers-by helplessly watching the situation officers from the Montecatini Terme police station also intervened on site to carry out the necessary checks The authorities are now investigating the circumstances that led to this tragic event trying to understand if there were external factors that contributed to the worker's illness This incident raises questions about workplace safety especially in the transportation and industrial laundry sectors where employees are often exposed to physical and mental stress It is essential that companies take preventive measures to ensure the health and safety of their workers implementing emergency protocols and providing adequate training to manage critical situations The community of Montecatini Terme is mourning the loss of a man who dedicated his life to work The hope is that similar events can be avoided in the future through greater attention to the safety and well-being of workers Notizie.it is a newspaper registered with the Court of Milan n.68 on 01/03/2018 Impara come descrivere lo scopo dell'immagine (si apre in una nuova scheda) Lascia vuoto se l'immagine è puramente decorativa As a former Italian ballplayer who used to play with a young Kobe his encounter with the basketball legend is unique I'm the guy in the white jersey in this picture and it took me two days to process what has happened To me you will forever be that nice kid at the Piattelli Trophy in Montecatini Terme in 1989: a scrawny kid with the longest legs with lively eyes and a smile that would have charmed not only basketball but the world as a whole did something unique and unrepeatable: step on the court alongside your father "Billy Joe" with the "grown-ups" during the Finals of a summer tournament with his jersey down to his knees and the shamelessness of Champions like you would have done later and for the rest of your career probably one of the most important tournaments at the time played in Montecatini during the best years of basketball in Tuscany; on the court there were only adult players but feelings and emotions that you would have brought was the thought of the 1,000 people on the stands the thought of the man that had to guard you a mediocre player from the lower Tuscan divisions my coach that didn't want to lose (nobody did) calls a timeout and demands me to defend And shout "don't let him shoot!" "F- me" I think "what should I do now?" I get closer to the kid and with my eyes I try to tell him "don't do it he's got only sheer determination in his eyes (was the mamba mentality already there?) I raise my arms without even looking at the kid I block the shot: what's his mother going to think about me my mates keep on playing like nothing ever happened.. I start laughing facing this tragicomical situation and tell the coach "either you bench me now or you're coming here and guard this kid!" that in a few years would have given to basketball so many emotions that nobody could ever imagine Now you'll make angels fall in love with basketball: every basket a divine "plan" Maybe one day we'll play again 1 on 1 you'll give me back that ridiculous block while your daughter will watch us and laugh Before Kobe became the global icon the world would later see him as he was just a kid with a whole lot of heart Although Federico and the rest of the players that day may not have realized just who was out there balling with them they got to experience a different side of Kobe -- an underdog it is only now that people realize what we've all lost More challenging than having to guard an 11-year-old kid in a serious basketball tournament Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support. By Nico Martinez is a seasoned staff writer at Fadeaway World specializing in basketball journalism since 2016 Nico graduated with a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University grounding his reporting in an understanding of sports media and management positions him as a trusted voice in sports journalism Nico's work has not only enhanced Fadeaway World’s content but has also been recognized in major outlets like Sports Illustrated "use strict";var loc=window.location.href;document.querySelectorAll("div[data-spotim-module='conversation']").forEach(function(el){el.setAttribute("data-post-url",loc)});NewsletterStay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news