Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news You are receiving this pop-up because this is the first time you are visiting our site You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker) we are relying on revenues from our banners So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.Thanks "Something innovative is needed in order to not just be the umpteenth fresh-cut business but innovation is impossible without investments and without research," explained Massimo Bragotto general director at Cultiva (Rovigo) when talking about the latest introductions which are doing well on the foreign market as well we are exporting 48% of our total production without forgetting that we also have fields and greenhouses in California and Florida for the US market our products are available mostly in Great Britain The current logistic situation is not easy but we are processing orders swiftly - for example bureaucracy has indeed increased for orders destined to Great Britain but there have been no obstacles so far."  fresh-cut products and evolved packed-unwashed products it presented its new line of own-brand bagged salads we work with private label clients to create their mixes This business will remain strategic and crucial though the time has come to introduce our own brand as well so it is essential for us to have a laboratory where we can test study and import ideas that can turn into products."  The company is focusing its time and resources on two large products it is reaching the objective of avoiding traditional weeding and mulching films using only two 'sheets' of completely-biodegradable paper that avoid the growth of weeds if placed on the soil without the need for pesticides or human intervention as the process is fully automated Federico Boscolo and Massimo Bragotto  will contribute to reaching the zero emission objective within a few years Investments are also being made for varietal innovation in collaboration with seed companies.  OP Cultiva gathers around 20 medium and large business located in leading production areas all over Italy and covering around one thousand hectares of protected crops Organic cultivation techniques are implemented in 20% of them a percentage almost double the Italian average of organic fresh-cut products The new brand includes both evolved packed-unwashed salads and a whole range of fresh-cut products: single-variety bags vegetables for cooking and the entire organic production Cultiva CEO Federico Boscolo reported that "we want to involve consumers in our vision of a responsible future This is what led us to 'placing' all of our values into the salad bags We are not the largest company when it comes to size but we can definitely have our say on agriculture This is where we want to start to be different and stand out."  "This is why we have been working to create a new agriculture that overhauls the stereotype of men in tank tops with dirty hands to introduce a concept made of technology and sensors." For further informationCultiva Società AgricolaVia S. Basilio 129, 45019 Taglio di Po (RO)+39 0426 377 021 [email protected] https://cultiva.global/  FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 FreshPlaza.com We use some essential cookies to make this website work We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK remember your settings and improve government services We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports belonging to the Royal Air Force’s 18 Squadron was crewed by 3 members of the RAF Volunteer Reserve and a 21-year-old from the Royal Australian Air Force their target being a crossing on the River Po at Taglio di Po followed by an armed reconnaissance of the Po Valley the aircraft encountered anti-aircraft fire and was brought down The crew of Boston BZ590 - from left: Sergeant David Raikes Flight Sergeant Alexander Bostock and Warrant Officer John Hunt [Picture: Crown copyright] It is believed that the plane burned for several days and the crater plane and remains of the crew were later covered by either Italian or German forces The story could have ended there and the wreck lost forever but for the work of an Italian group called Archeologi dell’Aria – amateur enthusiasts who have so far found 16 missing aircraft Basing their investigations on local stories about a crashed plane the group unearthed the crash site and the bodies of the airmen were identified in 2011 Members of the Queen's Colour Squadron lower the single coffin into the grave [Picture: Mike Drewett The 3 British flyers were identified as Sergeant David Raikes (pilot) Flight Sergeant David Perkins (navigator) and Flight Sergeant Alexander Bostock (wireless operator and gunner) The other gunner was Australian Warrant Officer John Hunt said a team of 50 volunteers worked tirelessly to recover the remains of the airmen: the work of several months for us volunteers,” he said “To find and identify the remains of 4 flyers is very important reads his uncle's poem 'Let it be Hushed' at the graveside [Picture: Mike Drewett It is a privilege to pay our respects to our colleagues and remember the ultimate sacrifice that the crew made for their country 18 Squadron personnel are currently serving on operations and the connection with our forebears remains strong the half-nephew of Warrant Officer John Hunt plays the last post at the graveside [Picture: Mike Drewett Wing Commander Wes Perrett from the Australian Department of Defence said: Australia has 1,100 crew that are still missing from the Second World War and when we do identify a lost crew member find out what happened to them and where they ended up together with reaching out to the next of kin The ceremony is the opportunity to bury the crew together as one A ring belonging to Flight Sergeant David Perkins which was found during the excavation of the crash site in northern Italy [Picture: Mike Drewett cousin to Flight Sergeant Alexander Bostock travelled with her husband from Forest Row in East Sussex My memory is seeing the heartache that his mother was living through and did live through for the rest of her life Not knowing where her son was and getting the news that her 20-year-old had disappeared while everyone else was euphoric that it was finished it’s a privilege and an honour to be here to bring some peace A lone piper plays a lament at the crash site of Boston BZ590 in northern Italy [Picture: Mike Drewett The commemorative service was conducted by Reverend Flight Lieutenant Paul Collins The first reading was given by David Raikes whose uncle and namesake piloted the bomber which was written shortly before his death and deals with the loss of another crew who crashed into the sea A Boston bomber taking off from a rain-soaked airfield in Italy in March 1944 [Picture: Air Historical Branch One’s waking eyes sought out the empty beds You never knew what privacies your sorting might lay bare I always tried to leave my kit arranged in decent tidiness personnel from 18 Squadron have been involved in all the major conflicts where British forces have deployed A simple wooden cross laid at the crash site of Boston BZ590 by Wing Commander Lee Turner Officer Commanding 18 Squadron [Picture: Mike Drewett Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details Categories Cruises and stress-free way to explore Venice and northern Italy an Italian river cruise is exactly what you need Our Italy river cruise aboard the luxury barge was an incredible journey from Venice to Mantua We sailed from Venice through the Venetian Lagoon (Laguna Veneta) and down along the Po River (Taglio di Po) and Canal Bianco we stopped at fascinating seaside villages and riveting medieval towns each with their own character and history We had a great balance of informative guided tours and free time to explore on our own which help run this site at no extra cost to you Are you new to the idea of luxury barge cruising? My first sailing aboard a barge was a few years ago on the Athos du Midi in the south of France While I embarked on that sailing as a solo traveller I was so excited for Justin to have the barge experience this time around first class hotel that floats down the river La Bella Vita hosts anywhere from 10 to 20 guests There are numerous shared spaces both indoors and outdoors You’ll also have your own private cabin with its own bathroom There’s a fine dining chef on board who prepares delicious meals and there’s an open bar for drinks around the clock there are specially selected Italian red and white wines paired with your meals You can also have an espresso or cappuccino whenever you like you’ll start your trip in either Venice or Mantua Depending on where it starts that week is where you’ll board You’ll spend your mornings or afternoons at a new town or destination and a portion of the day sailing between each place you’ll be able to explore right from the barge and in others the cruise director will transport you to the destination by van It’s really nice to wake up every day in a new place Unpack your luggage once and enjoy a variety of destinations and explore cities and towns by foot at your own pace It’s a comfortable way of exploring Italy and having new experiences that you’ll rarely find in any guidebook Barge holidays in Italy means all-inclusive luxury You don’t have to worry about anything on this six night barge cruise There are only a few things not included in the price of your barge cruise: any travel insurance, air transportation to Venice La Bella Vita is an upscale 20 passenger vessel with a rustic The cozy couches in the living area invite you to kick up your feet and relax The friendly and kind maître d’hotel will always ensure that you are comfortable and have a drink in your hand she makes the best cocktails and the best soy cappuccinos the dining room is tastefully decorated with the menu posted on a chalkboard You’ll savor local Italian specialties and thoughtfully paired wines there is a massive sun deck with sunny and shaded spaces You can admire the scenery as you sail or read a good book There’s a small library of books on board if you didn’t remember to bring one (I brought my Kindle) We sailed in April so it was a little bit chilly There are enough tables and chairs to gather with your group for a chat or you can lay down in one of the comfy loungers There are two upper deck junior suites and eight lower deck staterooms You can control the climate of every room individually (they have air conditioning) and every room has a private Justin and I stayed in the Tintoretto room on the lower deck in the middle of the barge but there’s enough room for all of your belongings There’s a large bed (can be separated into twin beds if you wish) room beneath the bed for your luggage (or it can be stored elsewhere on the barge) a large wardrobe with drawers for your clothes There’s a large window in each cabin where you can catch glimpses of your surroundings You won’t be in your cabin very often so the best views are obviously not from your room There is a small bathroom with a shower that’s pretty tiny so it’s not going to be super spacious including complimentary toiletries and shelves for your belongings The Italian barge sailing on La Bella Vita starts on a Sunday and ends on a Saturday (six nights in total) You’ll board the barge on early Sunday afternoon and leave on Saturday morning The barge is a fantastic way to slowly experience the colourful lagoon islands and historic places between Venice and Mantua This trip encourages you to slow down and fully absorb your surroundings The total drive distance between Venice and Mantua is about an hour and 40 minutes You’ll spend six full days stopping in lots of little towns and attractions on the way we sailed south through the Venetian Lagoon to the island of Pellestrina you’ll experience Chioggia before sailing on the Taglio di Po towards Canal Bianco I’ll go into those in more detail a little later in the article you’ll start your day with a breakfast buffet in the dining room you’ll embark on your first adventure of the day or a morning sailing to the next destination You’ll return to the ship (or stay on board) for lunch before your afternoon activities There’s usually a cocktail or apertivo before dinner you’ll enjoy dinner on La Bella Vita before retiring to your room for the night we participated in exciting day trips that provided insights into local culture and history Ilaria took us on a tour and sometimes we were joined by a local guide In addition to these daily excursions and outings there were also a few surprises on the way The crew added some really fun surprises to the trip that really elevated the experience I won’t write about them as I don’t want to spoil the surprise You’ll have to travel on La Bella Vita to see for yourself Once we boarded La Bella Vita on Sunday afternoon the crew warmly welcomed us on board with a glass of Prosecco and some small bites to eat We were docked in Castello in the southeast region of Venice we walked to Piazza San Marco for a guided tour of the Doge’s Palace We had plenty of time to marvel at the dazzling rooms of the palace before returning to the barge for dinner we took a private water taxi to Murano for a glass making demonstration by one of the masters We had the opportunity to purchase some glass pieces if we wished before going on a short wander around Murano Justin and I went for a walk to the nearby gardens and around the Castello district Our fellow passengers decided to visit the nearby Naval Museum Later that same day, La Bella Vita set out on a late afternoon cruise towards Pellestrina. The island of Pellestrina separates the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea La Bella Vita drifted down the Canal of the Orphans We sat on the top deck of the barge and admired the numerous little islands dotted with ancient structures We docked in Pellestrina alongside a collection of bright and colourful homes you can either walk or go bike riding on the island Justin and I hopped on the bikes as we love cycling when we travel Whether you’re bike riding or walking we all met at a small gelato shop in Pellestrina for a treat (they had two vegan gelato choices Our small group continued the bike ride along one edge of the island that had a lengthy paved path on the waterfront We looped back around and arrived back at the barge just in time for dinner (and an incredible sunset!) From Pellestrina, we ventured off La Bella Vita and onto a little red boat (traditionally and locally built) to sail to Chioggia. Chioggia is known as “Little Venice” and looks very similar to Venice except for the fact that it’s smaller and far less touristy as well as rows of colourful buildings on the water We had some free time to discover Chioggia before rejoining La Bella Vita for lunch The barge was now docked on the Taglio di Po (Po River) Villa Ca’Zen is a 17th century estate not too far from where La Bella Vita was docked the owners of Tenuta Ca’Zen invite the passengers of La Bella Vita for a tour of the property We met with the owners for apertivo and wine at the estate and received a small tour of the property and its chapel The home itself plays a prominent role in history Lord Byron courted the Countess Giuccioli there and he also wrote some of his best poetry at the estate a lovely family owns this romantic Venetian villa Elaine Westropp Bennet and Maria Adelaide Avanzo and she told us so many amazing stories (and was quite the character We ventured indoors for a three course meal While we adored Chef Andrea’s cooking on the barge I enjoyed a three course meal of the most delicious risotto with wild asparagus we returned back to our Italy river cruise barge for a restful night’s sleep From the Po River, this Italian river cruise joins the Canal Bianco for a cruise to Adria, an ancient Etruscan town You can visit the town’s Archaeological Museum or go for a self-guided exploration so you don’t need much longer than that After lunch back on La Bella Vita, Ilaria drove us to Dominio di Bagnoli (Bagnoli Estate) Justin and I toured the Renaissance gardens and wine cellars of the 17th century Villa Widmann-Borletti After our tour of the property (that was once a monastery) we sampled a wide array of their renowned estate-grown vintages This wine has supplied Venetian society for centuries In the morning, we went for a guided tour of Ferrara a fascinating Renaissance Italian city with so much history Our informative guide showed us a variety of old architecture and we even stopped for an espresso at a local cafe at the end of our tour we spent a relaxing and restful afternoon aboard the barge I actually spent the afternoon practicing the piano There’s a piano on the boat and I hadn’t played in a long while It was great fun – hopefully the rest of the crew and passengers didn’t mind the few wrong notes I hit The final stop of our Italy river cruise was Mantua There are magnificent examples of neo-classical and baroque architecture in Mantua we were treated to a guided tour of the 14th century Ducal Palace in Mantua We also visited some other important churches and learned about the local specialties Captain Diego and Ilaria joined us for the Captain’s Farewell dinner on board It started with some cocktails and appetizers before we moved over to the dining room for a feast It was a lovely way to end a memorable week aboard La Bella Vita Chef Andrea masterfully creates Italian dishes using local ingredients even local specialties of the places where we’re docked that day It’s really no problem if you follow a special diet or have allergies and another passenger had a few food allergies there’s a buffet of dishes where I enjoyed lots of vegan options or request an espresso beverage like a cappuccino You can also request eggs to be prepared as you like them and there was always a chalkboard with a preview of the dishes There’s always an appetizer or salad Chef Andrea found vegan cheese similar to what was being served or even made his own vegan cheese from scratch I also love how Chef Andrea created the vegan / allergy-friendly dishes to closely resemble what was being served to everyone else You didn’t feel like you weren’t getting the full experience Francesca introduced us to the white and red wines that we’d be served She often showed us where the wines were produced on a map of Italy the grapes weren’t grown too far from where we were docked As the cruise is all-inclusive with an open bar you’re welcome to drink as much wine as you like There is a wall of various kinds of alcohol and liqueur behind the bar and Francesca can make you anything you like She can also brew any kind of coffee beverages with the espresso machine or steep some tea for you The crew on our Italy river cruise was sensational I can’t say enough good things about them They offer incredible hospitality and service That’s a whopping nine members of staff for five passengers there are up to 20 passengers on La Bella Vita with a crew of 6-10 That’s one member of staff for every two passengers (or in our case You receive personal and a highly attentive level of care While we didn’t necessarily make too many demands the staff of La Bella Vita were eager to make our trip an amazing one You dine with your fellow passengers and take tours together you’ll have enough free time on your own as well so Justin and I had some time to ourselves It’s such a wonderful way to make new friends as you usually have a common interest in travel and food Our fellow passengers were fantastic travel mates as they were really interesting we exchanged email addresses and vowed to stay in touch It’s really easy to book your Italy river cruise with European Waterways. Head over to the booking page for La Bella Vita checking out their special offer discounts for certain dates There are even special themed cruise itineraries for specific dates and family cruises (ideal for those travelling with children) It’s also possible to book the entire La Bella Vita barge as a private charter if you’re sailing with a large group There’s also a solo cruise itinerary for those who typically travel by themselves An Italian barge cruise is a fantastic way to meet new people and make new friends (even not on a solo cruise we made friends with our fellow passengers!) We travelled from Toronto to Venice on a direct flight (here are available flights to Venice from your home airport) As it’s generally always an overnight flight from Canada to European destinations we arrived a day early to get over some of the jet lag Hotel Abbazia has wonderful service (the man who works the front desk is nice and helpful!) and clean rooms While the rooms don’t have many frills they are comfortable and offer lovely views of Venetian homes We also really loved the inner courtyard garden that’s available for all guests to enjoy It’s such a peaceful place right in the middle of Venice once you walk down the narrow street to the hotel you’d never know that you were around anyone at all BOOK YOUR STAY | READ MORE REVIEWS you typically meet the staff of La Bella Vita at a designated spot in Piazzale Roma you will stay in Venice or drive to Mantua (depending on where the barge is located) in an air-conditioned van There were only five of us sailing on board La Bella Vita and the barge was docked in Venice the staff of the barge ordered a private water taxi to pick us up at our hotel We sailed over to the other hotel where our fellow passengers stayed it was a lot of fun to ride down the Grand Canal in a private water taxi During your trip, the staff will pick you up from Piazzale Roma and cruise to the docking point at Castello (or drive to Mantua, if the cruise starts in Mantua). You’ll also get to ride around in a private water taxi from La Bella Vita to Murano. As we had only ever used public transportation on our previous trip to Venice If you’re intrigued by the idea of slow travel and want to experience Venice and Italy in a new way a luxury barge cruise aboard La Bella Vita is exactly what you need It’s an interesting way to explore new destinations you might not have heard of before There are lots of fascinating stops on this Italy river cruise of the Venetian lagoon and the Po River Italian barge holidays are wonderful for people of all ages (you can request a private charter for your friends and family) European barge cruises are the trip of a lifetime and I’m certain that you’ll love it We visited Chioggia on a luxury barge cruise with European Waterways aboard La Bella Vita Here are more blog posts from this cruise if you’d like to follow along: Lauren is the full-time travel blogger and content creator behind Justin Plus Lauren She started Justin Plus Lauren in 2013 and has travelled to 50+ countries around the world Lauren is an expert on vegan travel as one of the very first vegan travel bloggers She also focuses on outdoor adventure travel and creating amazing travel itineraries for cities and small towns Vegan Recipes Around the World: Best International Vegan Dishes One Day in Innsbruck Itinerary: The Ultimate Guide I'm a part-time traveler and full time travel blogger and content creator I love writing about outdoor adventures and nature Justin Plus Lauren is one of the first vegan travel blogs I've been vegan since 2009 and vegetarian all my life I love sharing the best vegan food from around the world in my guides I'm also very passionate about sustainable travel and responsible wildlife tourism You'll only find ethical travel experiences on this website You can learn more about me here. I also own a second blog called Ontario Hiking Contact Lauren at justinpluslauren@gmail.com © 2025 Justin Plus Lauren | Privacy Policy