Marni Rose McFall is a Newsweek reporter based in London Marni joined Newsweek in 2024 from Frasers Group and had previously written for Cosmopolitan She is a graduate of The University of Edinburgh You can get in touch with Marni by emailing m.mcfall@newsweek.com either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content The final design has been approved for the Messina Strait Bridge which will be the world's longest suspension bridge The bridge will connect Sicily to mainland Italy and is estimated to cost $4.96 billion It will be two miles long and will run across the Strait of Messina and connect Torre Faro with Villa San Giovanni The CEO of the Strait of Messina Pietro Ciucci said that the news of the final design is "an important step forward for the design and construction of the work." He added: "The Commission has done an extraordinary job by examining a complex project such as the bridge over the Strait within the legal deadlines "Now our commitment focuses on the prescriptions expressed which will be evaluated with great attention remembering that the executive design in phases will facilitate their implementation" The project has been reignited by the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and is being led by Transport Minister Matteo Salvini but proposals for a bridge in this area date back to the Roman times The first detailed plan for the bridge was made in the 19990s under then prime minister Romano Prodi In 2009 it was announced that construction on the bridge would go ahead but the project was cancelled in 2013 due to budget constraints the project was revived by Meloni's government The construction company WeBuild have long been attached to the project WeBuild's Pietro Salini said on March 19 that work on the bridge should begin by the end of 2024 In October of 2024 the Strait of Messina Company and CINEA (Climate Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency of the European Commission) signed the Grant Agreement for the European co-financing of the executive design costs of the bridge The $26 million grant covers around 50 percent of design costs for the bridge The bridge promises significant economic impacts including €2.9 billion injected into the economy tall and is designed to withstand 7.5-magnitude earthquakes and 180 mph winds and the structure will feature three vehicle lanes and a rail lane in each direction with a 600-meter navigation channel and 74 meters of clearance for large vessels There have been controversies and criticisms of the bridge with the aerodynamic stability of the bridge a key structural design issue There have also been issued raised over the risk of earthquakes strong currents in the strait and concerns over the disruption of bird migration patterns The construction of and concerns about the Messina Strait Bridge come after the collapse of the Ponte Morandi bridge in 2018 multiple criminal charges up to and including manslaughter were laid against 59 individuals involved many of whom were employees of the company Autostrade per l'Italia the primary operator of Italy's autostrade road network it was reported that the risk had been known for years with the former highway company boss Gianni Mion stating in the aftermath per the BBC: "I didn't do anything and it's my greatest regret." 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Newsletters in your inbox See all The Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE) has authorized Terna’s Bolano-Annunziata the 380 kV alternating current submarine power line The company will invest $142.96 million for the realization of the project which is strategic for the Sicilian grid and the entire national electricity system The infrastructure will not only increase the interconnection capacity between Sicily and the mainland to up to 2,000 MW benefiting the development and integration of renewable energy sources planned in Southern Italy but also improve grid meshing and operational flexibility making the electrical systems of Southern Italy and the Island secure the Island will be connected by three 380 kV power lines to the mainland which will make the integration of the growing renewable energy production in Sicily even more efficient within the national electrical system,” said Giuseppina Di Foggia The project involves laying an approximately 7.5 km submarine power cable to connect the Calabrian coast in the province of Reggio Calabria to the Sicilian coast in the province of Messina Terna will build two underground power lines from the landing points of the submarine cable to the electrical stations of Annunziata in the Municipality of Messina and Bolano in the Municipality of Villa San Giovanni which will be approximately 3 km on the Sicilian side and about 500 meters on the Calabrian side The entire power line will be equipped with a fiber optic connection for data transmission Sicily and Calabria are connected by two 380 kV power lines namely the Sorgente-Rizziconi connection (between Scilla and Villafranca) and the Bolano-Paradiso line Terna is modernizing the land section within the municipality of Messina for this second infrastructure The meeting will be held in Reggio Calabria and Villa San Giovanni on July 16-17 After a first meeting organized via videoconference by the Italian G7 Presidency on February 7 the G7 Trade Ministers’ Meeting will be held in Reggio Calabria and Villa San Giovanni on July 16-17.Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will welcome the G7 Ministers and the Vice- President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Trade as well as the Ministers of invited non-member countries and representatives of the business world (Business 7) and of International Organizations The main objective of the G7 Trade Ministerial is to respond to the tensions and frictions that jeopardize global trade and sustainable and inclusive growth the Italian G7 Presidency has identified four main issues for international trade that need to be addressed: consolidation of the multilateral trading system through the reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO); equal conditions of access to third markets; trade and environmental sustainability; and economic resilience and security The session with non-member countries and business representatives will be devoted to supply chain resilience Special attention will be paid to the crisis in the Red Sea – which affects international trade routes and has serious economic impacts on Mediterranean ports and supply chains – and the stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region key to safeguarding political and international trade order The G7 Ministers and their guests will therefore have the opportunity to discuss these major issues with a view to maintaining trade as a driver of growth and development for both G7 members and the rest of the world The G7 will work to ensure a well-functioning WTO which is also essential for Italy’s economicdevelopment The G7 Ministers will then be called to address the issue of access to third markets which is key to a competitive and open global market for companies the role played by trade in defending the planet from the damage caused by climate change and in fostering the green transition by increasing exchange of environmentally friendly goods and services The meeting will also focus on improving the resilience of economies through the strengthening and diversification of globalvalue chains ensuring increasing de-risking against excessive economic dependencies and promoting economic security against coercive practices The programme of the meeting will also feature the Port of Gioia Tauro with more than 3.5 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit) is Italy’s leading port in terms of cargo traffic and the eighth in Europe The visit to the Port of Gioia Tauro will be an opportunity to present to G7 Ministers the “Food for Gaza” humanitarian initiative launched at the initiative of Deputy Prime Minister Tajani to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population in Gaza the visit will involve a presentation of the team of twelve trainers that will travel to Cyprus to train local staff in the use of the container scanner that the Italian Customs Agency has made available to speed up checks on containers bringinghumanitarian aid to the Strip from Cyprus analytical cookies with technical features and third-party profiling cookies to ensure the best browsing experience and allow you to view some content in line with your preferences To find out more, see our Privacy Policy By closing the banner through the X at the top right or by selecting the "Reject all" button you will continue browsing and receive only the technical cookies for which your consent is not required but the contents of the YouTube channel will not be available directly within this Site If you wish to consent to the use of third-party profiling cookies select the "Accept all" button; remember that you can always change your choice using the Cookie Preferences feature available at the bottom of the page Camille Van Puymbroeck is a Belgian freelance journalist with a big interest in anything lifestyle and ecology-related Nothing makes her more happy than visiting a former Soviet building Her work has previously been published in Metro On 10 July, Estonian slackline athlete Jaan Roose made his way into the history books. While a bridge between Italy and Sicily isn’t a reality just yet the man made his way between the mainland and the island on a slackline spanning the 3.6 kilometres of the Messina Strait The Estonian is a three-time slackline world champion and is also the only athlete to have ever completed a double backflip on a slackline he completed the world’s longest single-building slackline in Qatar while movie fanatics might have spotted him in Assassin’s Creed and Wonder Woman 1984 Roose trained for six months with a team of eight people to help him complete his mission In order to cover the distance between the start and the end of his ‘walk’ The mainland city of Villa San Giovanni acted as the starting point where the only 1.9-centimetre thick line was attached to the Santa Trada At the other end of the line stood Sicily’s Torre Faro tower a helicopter was used to carry a pilot rope to guide the slackline into place “The strait possesses historical and cultural significance going back for thousands of years Combine that with variable weather conditions and strong marine currents and it offered a unique and meaningful opportunity to push the limits of slacklining” Roose commented about his choice for the Messina Strait I walked 3.6 kilometres across the Strait of Messina Roose completed the entire journey in just under 3 hours (2 hours and 57 minutes) and thus practically broke the current Guinness World Record distance of 2,710 metres he withstood wind gusts reaching 38 kilometres per hour and temperatures up to 28 degrees Celsius he won’t be able to actually make the Guinness World Records book as he fell in the last 80 metres In order to validate a new slackline record a complete crossing without a fall has to be carried out Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website Statistics cookies collect information anonymously This information helps us to understand how our visitors use our website a hybrid roll-on/roll-off passenger (RoPax) vessel set to greenify passenger travel between Villa San Giovanni (Reggio Calabria) and Messina The launching ceremony was held at Kanellos Bros shipyard in Perama on July 18 Architectural & Technical Services and built in Greece by Celt under RINA surveillance the vessel is said to represent a ‘significant leap forward’ in sustainable maritime technology Being built for Italian maritime transportation company Bluferries the newbuild features a hybrid propulsion system that integrates traditional diesel engines with advanced electric propulsion significantly reducing carbon emissions and fuel consumption This dual approach not only enhances environmental sustainability by offering zero emissions at port during loading and unloading operations but also reduces fuel consumption during navigation ensuring reliable and efficient service for passengers Similar in size and capability to the Sikania II Hybrid RoRo ferry of the company this vessel measures approximately 105 meters in length and boasts a gross tonnage of 4,100 GT It is designed to transport 22 heavy vehicles or 125 cars and 400 persons offering ample space and advanced amenities for passengers and cargo alike the ‘true innovation’ of this vessel lies in its use of green technologies The ship is equipped with four azimuth thrusters Z-drive each connected directly to one diesel engine of 1000kW and one electrical motor of 350kW The electrical motors are connected to NMC batteries with an energy storage capacity of 1MWh featuring an advanced energy management system the batteries can be charged through the electrical motors acting as shaft generators The stored energy is used for hybrid propulsion combining diesel engines and electric motors to supply power to the azimuth thrusters the vessel operates on fully electric propulsion for zero emissions during all maneuvering solar panels fitted on board provide 25kW of power “The launch of Bluferries’ new green ship represents a fundamental step in the renewal process of our fleet Today we can see the result of our investments with the delivery of this increasingly eco-sustainable vessel Thanks to the hybrid propulsion it will allow a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions and “zero emissions at port” during the arrival and departure phases,” Sabrina De Filippis “In the coming months it will be subjected to testing and it will be definitively put into the water in order to take full service in the first months of 2025 The new ship is the result of an investment of 26 million euros partly financed with funds from the National Plan for Complementary Investments to the PNRR and will be added to the 5 that already operate in the Strait” “This vessel meets high standards of efficiency and reliability paving the way for greener maritime transport Its inaugural voyage is set for early 2025 reinforcing our position in eco-friendly maritime solutions This launch enhances connectivity between Sicily’s key hubs The Calabria-Sicily route will benefit from a faster and more reliable transportation option,” Giuseppe Sciumè added that the project showcases the potential of hybrid technology in reducing the maritime industry’s carbon footprint “This project represents a major step towards decarbonization and exemplifies the synergy needed for a sustainable maritime future It highlights the pioneering efforts and Greece’s pivotal role in advancing sustainable maritime practices more responsible worldwide maritime industry for future generations,” Giosuè Vezzuto Daily news and in-depth stories in your inbox The Pioneers of Offshore Engineering GustoMSC part of NOV’s Marine and Construction business is recognized for providing advanced design & engineering consultancy for mobile offshore units and reliable equipment and technical knowledge into realistic & innovative ideas The performance of new and existing jack-ups  Italy will offer a special rail service this Easter with the return of the Sicilia Express a sleeper train that links the northern city of Turin with the island of Sicily The aim of the direct service - which debuted last Christmas and sold out in a few hours - is to give Sicilians based in the north a low-cost way to travel home for Easter with an alternative to flights which can be very expensive during holiday periods There are more than 1,000 seats available in total: 560 for the Sicilia Express and 472 tickets for the "intermodal" offer the result of a collaboration between the Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV) ferry company and rail provider Italo "We have kept our promise" - the Sicily region president Renato Schifani said - "After the great success of Christmas we have chosen to continue to support all those Sicilian students and workers living outside the island who wish to return home for the holidays." will leave Turin on 17 April and return from Messina after the Easter holidays on 26 April 2025 The train will depart from Turin Porta Nuova at 12.30 on 17 April and will stop at Milan Porta Garibaldi (14.10) Salerno (01.26) and arrive in Messina Villa San Giovanni at 05.33 crossing the Strait of Messina aboard a ship the rail service splits into two directions: one headed to Palermo in the north-west and the other to Siracusa in the south-east The Siracusa route stops at Taormina (09.15) Augusta (11.00) and arrives in Siracusa at 11.23 The ticket costs €29.90 per journey and there are 560 seats available with pets allowed to travel under certain conditions The train has two dining cars offering traditional Sicilian food and wine The train-ship service allows travellers to depart by train from Turin where they will board a GNV ferry to Palermo departing from Turin at 11.30 on board the Italo train 9935 arriving in Naples central station at 17.43 The GNV ship leaves the port of Naples at 20.00 arriving in Palermo at 07.30 the following morning The return voyage is on the evening of 21 April with the ferry leaving the port of Palermo at 07.30 arriving in Naples at 07.00 the next morning with the Italo train 9924 to Turin departing at 09.20 with the cost per journey ranging from €30 to €39 Tickets for the Sicilia Express go sale from 5 April via the Sicilia Express website and through Trenitalia sales channels Tickets for the train-ferry service can be purchased from midday on 8 April via the call centre 060708 with further details available on the Regione Sicilia website i paramenti sacri rivestono un ruolo di primaria importanza  Three members of the criminal organization targeted by the "El Rais" operation carried out by the Catania District Anti-Mafia Prosecutor’s Office Mancano pochi giorni all'inizio del 72° Raduno Nazionale dei Bersaglieri che dall'8 all'11 maggio 2025 trasformerà Marsala in un palcoscenico di storia dedicato a uno dei corpi militari più rappresentativi.. The G7 Trade Ministers’ meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani, was held in Reggio Calabria and Villa San Giovanni on 16-17 July and ended with the adoption of a final statement Photos and videos of the meeting Donate to Living on Earth!Living on Earth is an independent media program and relies entirely on contributions from listeners and institutions supporting public service. Please donate now to preserve an independent environmental voice Sailors For The Sea: Be the change you want to sea Major funding for Living on Earth is provided by the National Science Foundation Creating positive outcomes for future generations Committed to healthy food Innovating to make the world a better, more sustainable place to live. Listen to the race to 9 billion Socially and environmentally sustainable investing. Pax World Explore, enjoy and protect the planet. The Sierra Club Applying a sustainable approach to fixed income investing furthering the values that contribute to a healthy planet The Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment: Committed to protecting and improving the health of the global environment Contribute to Living on Earth and receive, as our gift to you, an archival print of one of Mark Seth Lender's extraordinary wildlife photographs Follow the link to see Mark's current collection of photographs connect the island to the Italian mainland but getting there can still prove a challenge While there are a number of ferries that travel back and forth there has never been a drivable route from the island to the Italian mainland by building a bridge across the Strait of Messina which separates Sicily from the Italian Peninsula 60 percent longer than the world's current longest suspension bridge While some are confident the project would positively transform cross-strait travel others aren't sure the pros of such a structure outweigh the cons Here are some of the arguments on either side of the debate: From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox That figure could also keep rising if construction were to get delayed Even among those in favor, "many think the project will simply be too expensive to justify," Jalopnik writes The last attempt to build the bridge was shut down in 2013 by former Prime Minister Mario Monti who cited rising costs as the main factor in the decision The structure would also make it easier and faster for Sicilians to reach the Villa San Giovanni port on the mainland a key access point for imports and exports A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com And an anti-Mafia study that is currently being updated warns that "parts of the project as well as there being the possibility local mobs could demand protection money," the outlet adds told CNN that the construction phase alone would employ up to 100,000 people and 300 different suppliers Most of these people "would come from the regions of Sicily and Calabria where there the rates of unemployment are high," she added The Messina Strait straddles two environmentally-protected zones vice president of Italy's World Wildlife Fund branch the area is "crucial to the migratory movements of seabirds and sea mammals." But construction could potentially harm the strait's wildlife, the WWF asserted. The Italian environmentalist group Legambiente agreed, having told CNN in a statement that the Messina is "one of the highest concentrations of biodiversity in the world." A bridge could significantly disrupt the migration routes of these animals Justin Klawans, The Week USSocial Links Navigation Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022 He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International Find all the information you need—plus helpful tips—to plan your visit Explore the works in our collection and delve deeper into their stories Join us for a wide range of programs—there's something for visitors of all ages Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here Italy — “On our coasts there is … a massive presence of poachers and illegal fishermen,” a fisher in Calabria He said he decided to speak with this team of journalists because increased fishing of declining stocks meant “we are heading toward a point of no return.” But it was not an easy decision: He asked to remain anonymous due to fears of retaliation from other fishers and the local ‘ndrangheta or Calabrian mafia A dozen other sources would also speak about illegal fishing in the area only off the record they are experienced every day just by spending a little time on our coasts,” he said describing illegal activities happening in plain view such as fishing in the river mouth or near the coast and the use of prohibited fishing gear and unregistered amateur boats More than 48% of these incidents occurred in the four regions with a traditional mafia presence The anonymous reports collected by Mongabay are borne out by police inspections and seizures the latter of which is notably coveted and subject to strict Italian and European legislation a joint operation between the Coast Guard and the city of Reggio Calabria’s traffic police seized 1,500 kilograms (3,307 pounds) of bluefin tuna without the required documentation certifying its provenance in the Calabrian city of Villa San Giovanni The seizures are evidence of a supply chain that’s hard to trace Several investigations by the Reggio Calabria public prosecutor’s office have revealed that ‘ndrangheta families control the sale of fish The investigations also highlight other illicit activities conducted in combination with fishing “[T]here have been cases of individuals who have used fishing boats to recover narcotics from the sea that were purposely abandoned in the water,” Giovanni Bombardieri fishers describe difficulties in simply carrying on with their jobs “I started fishing when I was 16 years old and I have done all the jobs in the sea,” Luciano Gioffrè a fisher from the municipality of Bagnara Calabra “My mother was a bagnarota [a worker in the local fishing sector] We have always worked at different types of fishing fishermen complain about Italian and European laws and the corresponding bureaucracy “It’s fair that there are rules but not in a repressive way There can be no generational change,” Gioffrè said lamenting how local young people have turned away from fishing as a career because of the difficulties promote their products collectively and get help navigating all the bureaucracy many fishermen join cooperative organizations such as La Perla del Tirreno di Bagnara Calabra “The biggest mistake [by the European Commission] was to issue regulations that apply to the whole Mediterranean Sea … without thinking that other non-EU countries … are not subject to these regulations,” the co-op’s director he said European fishers hunt swordfish in the same waters as Tunisian and Moroccan fishers but are subject to much stricter regulations: “So they can continue to fish for swordfish with …  tools that are now forbidden for us.” The Mediterranean Sea is experiencing a decline in fish stocks, ranging from 60-90% depending on the species. Sea Shepherd Italia, an NGO patrolling Calabrian waters on behalf of the government blames illegal fishing for environmental damage fishermen do not use large fishing boats but thousands of small ones practicing artisanal fishing,” said Andrea Morello Morello said technology such as satellite tracking devices and modern supply chain tracking systems could help solve Calabria’s illegal fishing problem “the control effectively disappears because they don’t have the EFEs [satellite vessel tracking devices] they don’t have the obligation to use traceability If we ask a legal fisherman if they are willing to have cameras on board they will agree: they have no problem showing legal work.” Banner image: A wall decoration depicting a bagnarota a traditional worker in the fishing sector of Bagnara Calabra Image by Monica Pelliccia and Alice Pistolesi for Mongabay Illegal bottom trawling widespread inside Mediterranean marine protected areas FEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message to the editor of this post The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa as protected areas become battlegrounds over history and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins and trying to forge a path forward […] A strait is a narrow water body separating two landmasses that acts as a link between two larger water bodies, such as oceans or seas. It is formed by the fracturing of an isthmus (narrow land connecting two water bodies) due to a tectonic shift if the isthmus is fractured through human activity A strait can also form when a water body overflows over land that has subsided or been eroded Although most straits, such as the Bering Strait, separate continents, others separate countries, and still others separate both countries and continents. The Strait of Messina is an example of a strait that runs through a country. It runs between two Italian regions: Sicily and Calabria The Strait of Messina is a narrow strip of water separating mainland Italy and the island of Sicily. It connects the Ionian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the south and north These two seas are within the Central Mediterranean Sea The Ionian Sea is bounded to the west by Southern Italy while the Tyrrhenian Sea is on Italy’s western coast The closest points on either side of the strait are Punta Pezzo (Calabria) and Punta del Faro (Sicily) The Strait of Messina is a 32 km-long strait from the Ionian Sea to the Tyrrhenian Sea from 5.1 km at the town of Messina to its narrowest point located between Villa San Giovanni and Torre Faro The strait is generally narrow and shallow Both sides of the strait are characterized by rugged but green vegetation As a shallow and narrow water body, the Strait of Messina is treacherous and has caused numerous problems to sailors. The strait’s currents are so strong that they can destroy the seaweed on the ocean floor. The currents create a whirlpool in the narrowest portion a smaller current runs from north to south The currents alternate at an interval of six hours The whirlpool may have inspired the famous Greek legend of Charybdis and Scylla two sea monsters responsible for Odysseus and his crew’s misfortune Postcard printed in Russia showing the aftermath of the 1908 earthquakes in Messina Two of Italy’s oldest towns are located on either side of the Strait of Messina Messina (Sicily) and Reggio-Calabria were founded by the Greeks around the 8th century BCE Foreigners have invaded both cities due to their strategic port location Strong earthquakes have also hit the area around the strait including in 1908 when almost the entire Messina City was destroyed Sicily is one of Italy’s 20 regions and the country’s largest island of which about 300,000 live within the Messina City metropolitan area Calabria Region is home to about 2 million people with Reggio-Calabria hosting 186,000 people Messina is connected to mainland Italy at Villa San Giovani by a ferry service the journey between the two towns in Sicily and Calabria takes about 20 minutes only Liberty Lines Fast Ferries operates the ferry services the hydrofoil is also a means of transportation on the strait there has been a discussion on the possibility of building a bridge across the strait specifically between Villa San Giovanni and Torre Faro A detailed plan for its construction emerged in the 1990s Prime Minister Romano Rodi canceled the project altogether due to doubts about its viability Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced the revival of the bridge’s construction but those plans were again thrown into uncertainty and plans were canceled in 2013 photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com 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 There seems to be a great interest in Bergamot oranges from Reggio Calabria (Italy) overseas as well Consumers are interested in their nutritional which have been proven by scientific research 48 hours after giving the go-ahead via e-mail to a troupe from Korean broadcaster Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) journalists and photojournalists arrived to get to known this citrus fruit directly in the Gallina-Armo territory," reports Serena Fortugno owner of Il Bergamotto di Fortugno and the first women to inherit the experience her family gained over one hundred years.  The interview focused on the cultivation of Bergamot oranges in the PDO area which stretches from Villa San Giovanni to Gioiosa Jonica in Calabria The Fortugno family has been dealing with the cultivation and processing of fresh Bergamot oranges for four generations flavored extra-virgin olive oil as well as the essence which is extracted between October and March which has small grades and a thin peel and is used mainly for cooking; castagnaro which has larger grades and is therefore suitable for the extraction of the prestigious essential oil; and fantastico very similar to femminello but with a broader use "We grow natural fruits that are not subject to treatments the small spots on the fruit are proof of it Journalists from the Korean broadcaster (MBC) were enchanted by the beauty of the scenery and of the cultivated area with the lush vegetation surrounded by the Strait The Asian markets are interested in this fruit also because Bergamot oranges are an ally when it comes to losing weight as the polyphenols they contain have proven useful in modulating lipid metabolism facilitating weight loss when combined with sports," explains sales manager Carmelo Gulli “We process approximately 600 tons of Bergamot oranges obtained from our groves and those of our partners Part of the production not suitable for the fresh produce market is turned into juice available in 200 and 700 ml bottles and sold to big retail chains and the ice-cream and restaurant sector Essential oil from the peel is instead used by the perfume industry A small part of the turnover deriving from exports comes from Germany and Belgium where the products are distributed in small supermarket chains." "We aim at building a structured chain to safeguard our PDO and our Bergamot oranges which often have to deal with the unfair competition of productions from outside the province and even outside the region Our future projects include expanding the cultivated areas and renewing processing lines with state-of-the-art technology Our priority remains defending an eco-friendly and sustainable chain with a low environmental impact."  For further information:Il Bergamotto di FortugnoVia Trappeto, 3089131 Gallina (RC)+39 328 6384762+39 0965 682794[email protected]www.bergamottodifortugno.it FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 FreshPlaza.com The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News Japan unit of credit card giant Visa suspected of unfair practice TOKYO - Japan's antitrust watchdog has probed the Japanese unit of global credit card giant Visa Inc sources familiar with the matter said Wednesday The Visa unit is suspected of charging higher fees to credit card companies that did not use its network to check credit information forcing them to stop using its rivals' networks or switch to using its network Japan arranging to shoulder $3.3 billion in G7 loans for Ukraine Italy/BRUSSELS - Japan is arranging to shoulder $3.3 billion in loans to Ukraine as part of support to be provided by Group of Seven members utilizing interest from Russian sovereign assets frozen as part of their sanctions over Moscow's invasion of its neighbor The G7 members have been coordinating how to disburse the aid after their leaders agreed during their summit in Italy in June to provide $50 billion in total to support Ukraine which has been under invasion by Russia since February 2022 Japan PM apologizes to victims of forced sterilizations TOKYO - Prime Minister Fumio Kishida apologized Wednesday to victims of forced sterilization surgery under a now-defunct eugenics protection law as Japan's top court ruled it was unconstitutional and the government must pay damages to plaintiffs During their meeting at the prime minister's office Kishida expressed his government's readiness to settle cases currently pending in courts and even compensate those who have not filed lawsuits Japanese media say AI search infringes copyright, urge legal reform TOKYO - Artificial intelligence-powered search engines provided by U.S tech giants like Google LLC and Microsoft Corp an association run by Japanese mass media said Wednesday The Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association called for companies operating such services to obtain consent from news organizations as search responses often resemble articles that are sourced without permission Japan's top currency official warns of intervention, sees no limits TOKYO - Japan does not rule out market intervention if yen moves are excessive the nation's top currency diplomat said Wednesday adding that there are no limits to its market forays the vice finance minister for international affairs made the remark in an interview with Kyodo News Market speculation about official yen-buying to strengthen the Japanese currency against the U.S ADB raises 2024 growth forecast for developing Asian economies to 5% MANILA - The Asian Development Bank slightly upgraded its growth forecast for developing economies in Asia and the Pacific this year to 5.0 percent from its April projection of 4.9 percent citing improved exports that complement strong domestic demand Exports from several Asian economies are being pumped up by "strong global demand for electronics particularly semiconductors used for high-technology and artificial intelligence applications," the ADB said in a statement about its latest outlook Japanese footballer Kaishu Sano arrested for alleged sex assault has been arrested with two other men on suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman at a Tokyo hotel who won his first cap for Japan last November and two men in their 20s are suspected of colluding in a sexual assault in the capital's Bunkyo Ward sometime between 2 a.m Tokyo police have not said how the three responded to the allegations Baseball: Shohei Ohtani hits 1st All-Star homer in National League loss Texas - Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run homer for the National League in its 5-3 loss to the American League in Major League Baseball's All-Star Game on Tuesday The Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way star, starting as the NL's designated hitter for the first time after three seasons as the AL's starting DH, put his team up 3-0 in the top of the third inning at Globe Life Field with a 400-foot blast on a 2-0 pitch from the Boston Red Sox's Tanner Houck. Video: Ceremony marks launch of Japan's Paralympic delegation To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible For travel to the United States on a temporary basis For foreign citizens who want to live permanently in the United States The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of participating countries* to travel to the United States without a visa for stays of 90 days or less Learn more about quality higher-education opportunities in the U.S that you will not find anywhere else in the world Find the closest American Space in Italy where you can connect with the U.S Government’s involvement in the 2024 G7 Summit and Ministerial meetings in Italy and will be periodically updated with articles met with His Holiness Pope Francis today on the margins of the G7 Leaders’ Summit… Biden met today with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy in Apulia Last year at the NATO summit in Lithuania,… 2024 The U.S.-Ukraine Bilateral Security Agreement that Presidents Biden and Zelenskyy signed on the margins… 2024 The White House Via Teleconference 3:16 P.M Thanks so much for joining this on-the-record gaggle to preview… will attend the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Apulia SECRETARY OF STATE POLLIO MEDIA CENTER THEATRE CAPRI MEDIA NOTE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON APRIL 19 2024 The text of the following statement was released by the G7 foreign ministers of Canada READOUT OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON APRIL 17 2024 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J SECRETARY OF STATE GRAND HOTEL QUISISANA CAPRI 2024 SECRETARY BLINKEN: Let me just say I think – to… Blinken and Italy’s Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of… The United States established diplomatic relations with Italy in 1861 following the unification of most of the peninsula into one state and re-established relations in… Blinken will attend the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Capri President Biden, ci vediamo in Italia! ??❤️?? #G7 #BideninItalia pic.twitter.com/PdrzCrqlFE We use cookies to make our website work better and improve your experience discover five lesser-known alternatives for the perfect road trip This article was adapted from National Geographic Traveller (UK).Roads chiselled into cliffs some of Europe’s most lusted-over hotels and the Tyrrhenian Sea twinkling away safe in the knowledge that nothing created by humans can ever outshine it No wonder everyone loves the Amalfi Coast.This year that love will be even fiercer as attentions turn to the Bay of Naples the tiny island of Procida has been named Italian Capital of Culture What’s already a well-trodden corner of the country will be packed to the gills.But if you’re keen to feel that unhurried dolce vita vibe that’s long drawn people to Amalfi then there are plenty of worthy alternatives in a country with nearly 5,000 miles of coastline so too are their coastlines — so whether you’re looking for full-on luxury or a wilder you’ll find a coastline that’s every bit as dramatic as Amalfi with an even more evocative name.Photograph by Alamy1 named after the livid colour it turns during dramatic sunsets runs north from Reggio Calabria — the very end of the Italian mainland — up to the Capo Vaticano peninsula But what a ‘bunion’ it is — this is an area of dramatic cliffs shearing down to dreamboat sandy beaches where the narrow streets slalom past ancient palazzi before finishing abruptly at the cliff edge home of Italy’s double-layered ice cream dessert Where to stay: Villa Paola is an elegant grande dame in Tropea meticulously crafted from a 16th-century convent and with a spectacular pool with sea views With sweeping corniches over the Tyrrhenian Sea Monte Argentario has all the Amalfi essentials and adds another precious ingredient: sand A high promontory anchored to Tuscany’s southern coast by two thick sandbars Monte Argentario could almost pass an island — indeed Sunloungers line up along the shore at dune-rippled Feniglia beach street food stalls at elegant Porto Santo Stefano dole out cones of delicately fried fish and the only exercise anyone seems to do is the walk down the cliffside to one of the perfect coves etched round the perimeter (you’ll hit gold on the stretch between Porto Santo Stefano and Cala Moresca) Monte Argentario has long been a low-key weekend retreat for wealthy Romans and is also beloved by equally low-key celebrities whose previous claim to fame was being the malarial swamp where Caravaggio died a place of old-school wealth where yachts huddle in the marina there’s not a whole lot else to do on Monte Argentario — and that’s exactly the point Where to stay: Follow the stars to Hotel Il Pellicano near Porto Ercole where shady sunloungers among the rocks guarantee privacy Wondering what the Amalfi Coast felt like several decades ago Look no further than the eastern coastline of Puglia’s Salento peninsula — the stiletto tip of Italy’s heel with the Adriatic washing at the bottoms of cliffs there’s a much simpler feel — one of the main attractions on the most spectacular stretch from Otranto south to Leuca is the Grotta Zinzulusa stalagmites and a whole lot of guano from the resident bats That’s not to say it isn’t glam — Otranto itself is a chic beach town where restaurants serve fish caught just hours earlier and the Pugliese take their daily passeggiata (evening stroll) around the 15th-century Aragonese Castle Heading south is the turn-of-century spa town where you can still take the waters and enjoy spa treatments on the rocks or go for a dip in the lido scored from the cliffside this is a storied land where prehistoric dolmens sit amid olive groves and fortified masseria farmhouses have been transformed into upmarket accommodation But that coastline — fragrant with the herbs and bushes of the macchia mediterranea shrubland — is so breathtaking Where to stay: Soak up the peace at Masseria Montelauro a 19th-century farmhouse fringed by citrus and olive trees you’re best skipping the most famous stretch that runs north of Cernobbio start inching up that inner peninsula from Como town to Bellagio (pictured) for a road that hugs the cliff edge and plunges over mini ravines including the waterfall-laced Orrido di Nesso.Photograph by Getty Images4 LombardyIt might not flank the sparkling Mediterranean but if you’re looking for the old-school glamour and superstar glitz of Amalfi then look no further than Europe’s longest either on ferries or those famous vintage Riva boats you’ll realise Lake Como is also perfect for road-tripping a cooperative that’s been feeding the locals for more than a century stop off for lakeside walks around Musso and Gravedona Where to stay: You’ll be cantilevered over the lake from the balconies at Al Molo 5 a delightful restaurant-with-rooms in sleepy Vassena Sardinia’s underrated west coast has it all: cliff-etched roads gorgeous coastal villages and beaches that are accessible to all.Photograph by Getty Images5 Western SardiniaThe east coast of Italy’s second-largest island has long been known for its GPS-defying cliff drives and spectacular coves calling from the bottom of precipices for those who dare has the ritzy beaches of the Costa Smeralda but Sardinia’s underrated west coast has it all: cliff-etched roads Its industrial history — this was a mining region — means it missed the tourism boom Sardinia’s wild west is an astonishingly varied place. Start in Carbonia in the south — a mining town of blocky, rationalist buildings with the fascinating Museo del Carbone based in the former Serbariu mine where visitors are led through underground tunnels head west up the not-for-the-faint-hearted coastal road which lurches round the cliffs to Portixeddu the road ripples through Amalfi-style villages unfurling down the rockface you’ll find the chocolate-box seaside town of Alghero and the coastal wilderness of Porto Conte Regional Natural Park Where to stay: Villa Asfodeli is a beautiful albergo diffuso (‘scattered hotel’) centred around an art nouveau mansion in teeny Tresnuraghes Set against a backdrop of the Knoydart Peninsula, the distillery overlooks the picturesque Knock Bay. Dining VinePair described its 2022 selections as having something for “old-school collectors as well as the scene’s up and coming ‘cool kids,’” Kennedy’s prize wines are a combination of both: the Component Petit Verdot 2019 at No as well as Gagnon-Kennedy Vineyards ‘Revolver’ Zinfandel 2020 at No Louis Dining In and Dining Out newsletters to stay up-to-date on the local restaurant and culinary scene The winemakers are hosting two local events this week: Kennedy met his business partner, famed winemaker Marc Gagnon, during a visit to Napa Valley in 2015. “I was scouting out special relationships with special producers and met the new winemaker at Bryant Family,” Kennedy recalls. “He was fresh from his role as assistant winemaker for Screaming Eagle and I was blown away by his knowledge and passion.” Kennedy says they hit it off immediately and that a blind tasting of Marc’s Petit Verdot was one of the ‘a-ha moments’ that led to the creation of Component Wine Company (The nod to “component” is that Petit Verdot can be seen as the underdog grape in the classic Bordeaux blend alongside celebrated varieties Cabernet Sauvignon the grape variety itself sees very few 100 percent bottlings. That said “Kennedy is taking some of the finest varietal wines and saving them from a life of obscurity in a blend,” Forbes noted in its 2017 feature.) “We have some incredible collaborations coming up for Component Wine Company,” Kennedy says single variety stunning Rosé from Saint-Tropez in Provence.” With the success of their initial offerings under Component they expanded to other single Bordeaux varietal bottlings Additional offerings include Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon for white as it’s rare to see Semillon at 100 percent bottlings.) In 2016, they launched SOM Wines in the Pacific Northwest a region where wines are like a perfect harmony of the warmer climate “fruit bombs” and the elegant and it’s a collaboration between an expansive team of sommeliers With a site-specific mission in mind, they soon launched Gagnon-Kennedy Vineyards The tale of how they sourced their vineyards through past connections and colleagues is truly serendipitous and has set the stage for world-class wine offerings from iconic vineyards Gagnon and Kennedy eventually expanded to four wineries “with a common thread of small-production and France,” according to its website Last year, another Midwest native, Dan Bell, became director of hospitality at Vin Fraiche’s The Cheese Shed in Coombsville in Napa Valley Bell met Kennedy through a mutual friend and remained in contact for years before taking on his current role in the company. A native of Vandalia Bell exudes all things hospitality and wine having several harvest seasons under his belt while alternating hemispheres for wine production internships Visitors to The Cheese Shed will experience personalized, white-glove service. On our visit, we heard about storied comparison tastings; the interwoven tale of how Kennedy, Bell, and Gagnon came together; their strong ties to the St. Louis community; and their relationship with their Coombsville winery partner, Caldwell Vineyard Kennedy and Gagnon recently partnered with Dean Macfarlan of La Caccia di San Giovanni an organic estate at Villa San Giovanni in the Terre di Casole Tuscany. “We are currently under contract on a new property in Tuscany in addition to our current Villa San Giovanni and plan to create even more incredible and personal experiences around site-driven wines as we can,” says Kennedy. “The property currently is 132 acres in Tuscany and the new property will include a 17th-century villa Tasting-room reservations to both The Cheese Shed and La Caccia di San Giovanni can be booked through Tock here.  Closer to home, the Vin Fraîche offices in St Louis are located in a 119-year-old building Second on Laclede’s Landing The office has a tasting lounge where guests can arrange to meet the team that runs operations for all wineries in the group Denise Mueller is a St. Louis–based certified sommelier and certified specialist of wine. She owns the Mid-American School of Wine and the wine course PreSomm, with wine books and wine courses available at PreSomm.com. Listen Here Listen Here Listen Here Listen Here DINING NEWSLETTERS Subscribe to the St. Louis Dining In and Dining Out newsletters to stay up-to-date on the local restaurant and culinary scene. Start your mornings with a fresh take on the day’s top local news from Sarah Fenske and Ryan Krull. No spam, you can unsubscribe anytime you want. Our award-winning content brings readers revealing profiles Start your mornings with a fresh take on the day’s top local news It was late afternoon and I was making the short journey by ferry between Villa San Giovanni at the toe of Italy The lowering sun afforded both towns a brilliant luminosity but my focus was on the very special cargo on board: the Trenitalia IC 723 a train used to link southern Italy with the beautiful island at its tip "},"children":[]}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"As a travel writer who specialises in rail journeys I’d long known about this — the only train-on-a-ferry service still operating in Europe Now here I was crossing the Strait"},"children":[]},{"name":"paywall","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":" of Messina on a gloriously balmy autumn afternoon looking down at the train parked on the lower deck that was soon to carry me to the final station of my voyage: Palermo Travel moments don’t get much better than that."},"children":[]}]}]},{"name":"paywall","children":[{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"When it comes to great rail journeys Scotland to Sicily may not be the most obvious route Previous such milestones had been marked with trips to Machu Picchu riding the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and a lazy weekend in Paris "}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Fortunately ambitious itineraries; she was thrilled at the prospect of travelling from the shores of the North Sea to a Mediterranean island within touching distance of Tunis "}}]},{"name":"ad","children":[]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"She also shares my love (which develops with the years) for beautiful places to stay So rather than doing the journey in frenetic student interrailer fashion we gave ourselves the luxury of time (16 days) and lovely hotels along the way We did travel with Interrail passes on public trains Out went the backpacker hostels; in came the sophistication of the Rocco Forte group’s hotels — a favourite and one that specialises in properties rich in history decorated with contemporary flair and in cities we wanted to visit we found a tour operator that would package them all up in one trip too."}}]},{"name":"image","attributes":{"id":"6a8f5557-9959-472f-b2e3-e36c5188064f","display":"fullwidth","caption":"Left: Adrian and his wife in Florence in 1990 Rome and Palermo."}}]},{"name":"interactive","attributes":{"id":"efa2663c-5e30-4a48-aea8-1429fd143a4d","display":"primary","url":"https://components.timesdev.tools/lib2/responsive-graphics-1.0.0/responsive-graphics.html","element":{"value":"responsive-graphics","attributes":{"date-to":"2023-12-21","deck-id":"64260","date-from":"2023-12-21"}}},"children":[]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"We had personal ties to many: I was born in London our children in Berlin and we honeymooned in Florence We wanted at least one travel-free day in each — to revisit old favourites and discover something new often following tips from the hotel concierges It was to be an epic journey; a Grand Tour of our lives that also chimed with the growing interest in travel by train."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Starting in Edinburgh we drank in sun-tinged views from Calton Hill across to the castle and the seven hills surrounding the city wandered Georgian streets and enjoyed the first of many toasts in the tile-adorned Cafe Royal pub a magnificent late-Victorian edifice with turrets and clock tower and one of the world’s truly great railway hotels: incredibly handy for Edinburgh Waverley the Holy Island of Lindisfarne then the twin glories of Newcastle upon Tyne and Durham A signalling problem meant we were held in York and the four and a half hour journey became one of seven — the only significant delay of the entire trip We missed afternoon tea at the venerable Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair but did make it to the hotel’s Donovan bar for pre-dinner cocktails and the buzz of one of the best bars in London "}}]},{"name":"inlineAd1","children":[]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"With its tunnels the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels Midi is hardly scenic But in less than two hours you are plunged into the world of Tintin and Magritte In the time it takes to drink a coffee and read the news you are on the Continent — and as a short stroll through the gilded Grand-Place confirms in one of its greatest cities."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"As with all Rocco Fortes the Hotel Amigo in Brussels provides a keen sense of place sumptuous 18th-century Flemish tapestries — all blended seamlessly with the contemporary feel and style that is the hallmark of the group’s doyenne of design an Italian flavour — notably in the Bocconi restaurant where we dined on calamari and zucchini and succulent cuts of lamb (mains from £21) which we found shrouded in mist at its atmospheric Cold War-like best We cheered the fleets of “Trabbi safari tours” and revisited old haunts — including the Hotel de Rome a fabulous conversion of what used to be the grand headquarters of the Dresdner Bank (the underground spa is in the former jewellery vault) near the Unter den Linden and Museum Island where we paid our respects to the legendary Egyptian beauty Nefertiti whose bust takes pride of place in the Neues Museum (entry £12; smb.museum)."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Berlin was cold travelling through Brandenburg forests and Bavarian hills where we spent our first holiday together and where I was introduced to the joys of weisswurst a white sausage containing minced veal and bacon served with sweet mustard and pretzels."}}]},{"name":"inlineAd2","children":[]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Of course weisswurst were on offer for breakfast at the Charles Hotel The hotel pays tribute to its location in other ways too — through stylised representations of the fairytale castle supremo King Ludwig II and the cousin with whom he had an endearing friendship Arguably the most scenic leg of the journey it brought us close to the Alpine peaks surrounding Innsbruck through the Brenner Pass and then down on to the plains of northern Italy through the joyful landscapes of the Alto Adige (South Tyrol) "}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"The city where we honeymooned beckoned Inevitably we made our way up to Piazzale Michelangelo against the classic backdrop of the Duomo and the medieval streets of Florence beneath us we posed for a recreation of the photograph that encapsulated those halcyon days at the start of married life "}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Stormy weather meant we spent more time in the Savoy than expected But it’s a destination in its own right and with its fusion of Renaissance-era artworks and contemporary Italian flair rooms with a view (on to Piazza della Repubblica) and a bar serving generous glasses of Franciacorta — a richer more complex variation of Italian sparkling wine We welcomed the downtime."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Railway stations always bring you back down to earth so if being cocooned in luxury the whole time is what you want from a trip grittiness and sense of urgency in big stations "}}]},{"name":"inlineAd3","children":[]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"The concourse of Firenze Santa Maria Novella was filled with excitable chatter all eyes turned to a board signalling departures to Napoli "}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"From our reserved first-class seats (offering space we watched Tuscan hills whizz by and the clouds lift until in Rome — 90 minutes away — we at last felt we were in the south."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Another city; another Rocco Forte hotel We were now familiar with the characteristics: statement lobbies with bold floral designs and artworks speaking to the locality; bars and restaurants styled with brio and serving beef carpaccio to die for; decor and furnishings elegantly fusing contemporary with classic (we loved the subtle trace of tartan in the curtains at the Balmoral); beauty at every turn; exquisite attention to detail We became fond of the Irene Forte gels and body lotions in the expansive bathrooms; likewise the padded slippers and books to spark curiosity."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Hotel de Russie in Rome (named after distinguished Russian visitors including members of the Romanov family and Igor Stravinsky) had a spectacular secret terraced garden full of palm trees and white climbing roses at the rear the Caravaggio-filled San Luigi dei Francesi and the site of the mausoleum to Augustus and his wife much in our minds having recently watched the re-screening of "}},{"name":"italic","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"I Claudius"}}]},{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":" "}}]},{"name":"inlineAd4","children":[]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Rome was warmer its ancient glories side by side with a modern metropolis full of fun and frenetic energy We watched smartly dressed women jumping on to scooters and enjoyed another magical realisation: that in the Eternal City La Dolce Vita is an eternal verity."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"The final most ambitious ride was the ten-hour run from Rome to Palermo with a change of train in Sapri and that train-on-a-ferry crossing to Sicily."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"We saw nothing much of Naples or Pompeii but there was a lovely run after Sapri when the track hugged the coastline and we glimpsed rocky promontories and waves breaking against the shore."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Then came the drama of the crossing from Villa San Giovanni to Messina and a sublime stretch to Palermo affording views of the sea on one side and the contours of Mount Etna on the other We looked forward to our final stay — in the Sicilian capital’s celebrated Villa Igiea replete with art nouveau splendour and a lingering sense of fin de siècle frivolity "}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"By now we felt pretty light-headed ourselves first-class rail travel from Edinburgh to Palermo transfer and return flight from Palermo"}}]}]},{"name":"heading2","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Eight must-see attractions along the route"}}]},{"name":"heading3","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"1 Even more fun is that it’s combined with an open-top bus tour from Edinburgh to South Queensferry runs from April to October (£30pp; edinburghtour.com) "}}]},{"name":"heading3","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"2 Tour the “secret” galleries of London’s Mayfair "}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"While the Royal Academy tends to be packed the streets behind the capital’s famous arts venue are home to a host of exciting gallery spaces that few Londoners realise are open to the public Let the art critic and broadcaster Maeve Doyle be your guide on a walking tour to Sprüth Magers Thaddaeus Ropac and more (£80pp; maevedoyle.art)."}}]},{"name":"heading3","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"3 Chocolaterie Mary in Brussels "}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Of course there’s great art and architecture in Brussels but the really tricky choice is which chocolatier to plump for “You can’t go wrong with Mary’s,” says Marc Neuville A box of eight pralines is a particularly tempting treat (£17; mary.be)."}}]},{"name":"heading3","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"4 Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport"}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Berlin’s original airport celebrated its centenary this year and offers tours and exhibitions documenting the site’s evolution monumental Nazi-era building and the Berlin Airlift which made it the symbol of the free world the grounds have become a hugely popular outdoor playground (tours from £15; thf-berlin.de)."}}]},{"name":"heading3","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"5 has left his spray paint marks all over the city — initially illegally and then with the full support of the local authorities Let him guide you through colourful underpasses carpark zones and the creativity hub of the formerly industrial Werksviertel-Mitte district (from £145pp; roccofortehotels.com)."}}]},{"name":"heading3","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"6 Florence’s Mercato Centrale"}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"In addition to stalls proffering mouthwatering ranges of prosciutto set in a late-19th-century cast-iron building has an upper level that is home to a number of places to eat offering fresh prawns creamy ravioli and lasagne just like nonna used to make (mercatocentrale.com) "}}]},{"name":"heading3","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"7 statuary and tapestries — but boy it gets crowded There are slots before and after opening hours offering privileged access with a guide and almost no one else Stand in the Sistine Chapel in contemplative stillness and marvel (from £2,500 for ten; roccofortehotels.com) "}}]},{"name":"heading3","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"8 Craft shopping in Palermo"}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Opened this autumn Manima World is a funky atelier space showcasing the ancient Sicilian craft of embroidery cast in a dynamic new way From ottoman footstools to colourful cushions and finely worked linens the products are the work of female artisans using traditional methods fitted to a digital age (free; manimaworld.com) the best place to start must be the refurbished Booking Office 1869 at St Pancras The 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memories I have of my epic train trip from Scotland to Sicily came while I was on a boat As a travel writer who specialises in rail journeys Now here I was crossing the Strait of Messina on a gloriously balmy autumn afternoon Travel moments don’t get much better than that but it does have a Phileas Fogg ring to it Adrian spent seven days travelling by trainALAMYThe occasion was a special birthday for my wife She also shares my love (which develops with the years) for beautiful places to stay we found a tour operator that would package them all up in one trip too Left: Adrian and his wife in Florence in 1990 Right: recreating the photo in 2023The adventure was split into seven train days (with journeys from 90 minutes to 10 hours) with stays in eight of Europe’s greatest cities — Edinburgh We had personal ties to many: I was born in London It was to be an epic journey; a Grand Tour of our lives that also chimed with the growing interest in travel by train the departure point for leg one: the LNER service to London A bedroom at The BalmoralWe sat spellbound for the stretch along the Northumberland coastline Hotel Amigo in BrusselsOne of the many joys of a multi-stop train journey is the opportunity to process what has been experienced in each place — and to mentally prepare for the next Which was just as well for Berlin (reached via Cologne) whose bust takes pride of place in the Neues Museum (entry £12; smb.museum) The Charles HotelNext we took the Deutsche Bahn service to Bologna for a connection with the Trenitalia train to Florence Stormy weather meant we spent more time in the Savoy than expected Railway stations always bring you back down to earth The concourse of Firenze Santa Maria Novella was filled with excitable chatter From our reserved first-class seats (offering space we watched Tuscan hills whizz by and the clouds lift until in Rome — 90 minutes away — we at last felt we were in the south We became fond of the Irene Forte gels and body lotions in the expansive bathrooms; likewise the padded slippers and books to spark curiosity Hotel de Russie in Rome (named after distinguished Russian visitors a delightful backdrop come aperitivo hour in the courtyard bar Hotel de RussieIn Rome we were happy to soak up the atmosphere while wandering to the Pantheon much in our minds having recently watched the re-screening of I with a change of train in Sapri and that train-on-a-ferry crossing to Sicily but there was a lovely run after Sapri when the track hugged the coastline and we glimpsed rocky promontories and waves breaking against the shore Then came the drama of the crossing from Villa San Giovanni to Messina The Forth BridgeALAMYHop on a boat at Hawes Pier for a 90-minute adventure on the Firth of Forth that takes in the Forth Bridge and the two more recently built crossings: Queensbury and the Forth Road Bridge While the Royal Academy tends to be packed Thaddaeus Ropac and more (£80pp; maevedoyle.art) Of course there’s great art and architecture in Brussels A box of eight pralines is a particularly tempting treat (£17; mary.be) Berlin’s original airport celebrated its centenary this year the grounds have become a hugely popular outdoor playground (tours from £15; thf-berlin.de) One of Mathias Köhler’s pieces in MunichALAMYGermany’s street art first started in Munich carpark zones and the creativity hub of the formerly industrial Werksviertel-Mitte district (from £145pp; roccofortehotels.com) In addition to stalls proffering mouthwatering ranges of prosciutto The Sistine ChapelALAMYThe Vatican is home to some of the world’s greatest works of art Stand in the Sistine Chapel in contemplative stillness and marvel (from £2,500 for ten; roccofortehotels.com) Sign up for our Times Travel newsletter and follow us on Instagram and X global trade union and professional organisation and welfare support to necessitous seafarers their dependants and other maritime professionals national governments and international agencies to create change which improves the lives of maritime professionals Keep up to date with everything happening at Nautilus and read our views on maritime issues we are the specialist trade union and professional organisation for you Login to your member area to update your details Hundreds of seafarers employed by the Sicily-based ferry operator Liberty Lines have received job assurances in a new joint agreement with captains’ and officers’ unions headed by USCLAC and the three main seafarers’ unions Filt CGIL The agreement follows a decision last October by the national transport and infrastructure ministry to end the public service operator’s lifeline concession across the Strait of Messina at Italy’s south western tip Private operator Bluferries was given the concession Sicily with Reggio Calabria and Villa San Giovanni with 15 trips each way to each mainland destination The unions welcome Liberty Lines’ 'courageous decision' to reorganise its work schedules and stabilise employment arrangements without further job losses despite the government’s withdrawal of the Sicily-mainland services and will be negotiating with management on other important aspects of the agreement Liberty Lines serves 14 Italian islands with 32 hydrofoils Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents Why what you’ve read about the trade deficit hurting growth is wrong A martini doesn’t just steady the nerves after a rollercoaster week Fund managers smell an opportunity to get even bigger A truce is still possible, but no one wants to be first to pick up the phone If you have any questions or need help you can email us The problem with Italy’s transport isn’t its bridges trains and green infrastructure – or rather lack of Silvia Marchetti I recently drove from Rome all the way to Sicily for a beach break and the journey gave me time to contemplate Italy’s dysfunctional infrastructure The rightist government is reviving plans to build a bridge connecting Sicily to the mainland as it links the Sicilian city of Messina to the Calabrian where cars and trucks currently take a ferry across the choppy waters it was believed those straits were inhabited by two ugly sea monsters that whipped up currents and strong winds in order to wreck ships politicians are planning a futuristic bridge to span the treacherous strip of sea The problem is not the bridge – if and when it is ever built The problem is that the roads are terrible – not only the ones that link Sicily to the Italian mainland but also the ones connecting the isolated Sicilian interior with the island’s largest cities The main highway running along Italy’s backbone all the way to Calabria is nicknamed the Autostrada del Sole (the Sun Motorway) and it has recently been finished after decades of delay It is the only piece of high-speed infrastructure connecting the north to the south The scorching sun was almost melting my car tyres as I stopped for an espresso Some parts of the motorway are still works in progress or are being given yet another makeover to patch up holes and cracks I thought about a movie called Benvenuti al Sud (Welcome to the South) would stop their cars and organise impromptu street picnics they’d move their car just a few inches further down towards Sicily waiting to take the ferry across the Messina Strait I talked to a few angry Sicilians who were going home told me that his life as a commuter was a nightmare drive my car for four hours to Catania airport to jump on a plane to Milan It’s impossible to find a fast bus or train within Sicily to get to the airport I’ll be an old man before I ever catch one.” Giuseppe doesn’t believe the Messina bridge will make things better – if anything excited to drive along the sleek new bridge “Italian politicians seem to love odysseys Their idealism is more than just the opposite of realism and the Messina bridge is the epitome,” says Giovanni Last year it took me five hours just to drive a few kilometres across Sicily dusty country roads because the main routes were shut If you have any questions or need help you can email us. In recent years, Paris has experienced a cycling boom, but this has brought with it its own set of challenges An influx of digital nomads in Spain has caused a rent spiral, pricing locals out of their own area 2015Photo: Courtesy of Dolce & GabbanaSave this storySaveSave this storySaveA weekend-long celebration of all things Dolce & Gabbana in Portofino furry God who dwells in a realm of pure indulgent luxury outside any of the prosaic restraints that bind designers to budgets and deadlines Continuing their sterling work for the Italian Tourist Board D&G chose Portofino as the location to launch their new alta moda on the world but alta sartoria and alta gioellia: womenswear really—on the outcrop of rock that distinguishes Portofino from its sister enclaves on the rest of the Ligurian coast my house is a backstage for the models,” said Dolce before Friday night’s mind-numbingly spectacular parade of womenswear And ownership of that outcrop meant that the designers could indulge their most extreme fashion fantasies: Dante Shakespeare coming together in their own version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream But Lewis Carroll also played a part in a hallucinatory mise en scène that transformed Dolce’s garden into a hybrid paradise: grapes on a palm tree you won’t know,” Gabbana teased before the show “It’s the fashion system’s fault that no one tells a story today,” he continued It’s maybe closer to the truth that no one tells a story like Dolce & Gabbana Worker bees had been buzzing around Dolce’s property—auspiciously named Villa San Giovanni like his mother’s house in Sicily—for a year to make it ready for Friday night It was the designers’ biggest production to date—94 models 80 performers—and the substantial uphill hike to the property (thoughtfully eased by hydrating way stations) was sufficiently disorienting enough that the audience was prepped for something extraordinary with a sequence of looks that jammed a movie’s worth of sensory overload into almost every outfit Let’s set aside the simplest—the doubled tux jacket the gray pinstripe suit with the Dietrich pants even the white T-shirt (ermine) with the little black skirt (hyper-embroidered)—to focus on the gigantic skirts sprays of silk printed with pumpkins or owls or parrots but the duo now have their own printing facility This wasn’t so much a midsummer night’s dream as it was an entire world re-created by Prospero and yellow ostrich feathers—a bird of paradise redux paired with a parrot needlepoint skirt and a black lace camisole The outfits were purest alta moda one-offs there were pieces made from vintage fabrics like a black lace caftan cut from a single bolt of cloth Domenico and Stefano did it all again on Saturday night “Our desire for vanity and beauty doesn’t change,” he said ”We’ve just lost the way to deliver them.” Consider D&G’s alta sartoria a remedy for that state of affairs this wasn’t intended as a seasonal proposition Dolce claimed that fashion lay in the way the wearer himself would approach the duo’s alta sartoria the onus therefore being on the customer to not surrender to fashion victimhood when the men’s collection was such a provocative blend of hard and soft: silk linen pajamas under an officer’s coat in baby cashmere Dolce was insistent that these clothes would be a purely private pleasure for the men who ordered them one of the first clients Dolce & Gabbana’s alta sartoria ever had: He wanted the jacket with the hand-painted Canaletto When Dolce pointed out that it had already been ordered (one-offs calme et volupté of a world where men can have their own Canalettos reproduced on the jacket of their choice it would seem that extremity could scarcely grab a hold But Dolce & Gabbana have a canny grasp of the mechanics of desire Friday night’s event ended with a post-dinner handbag grab for the ladies a time-and-place souvenir that proved irresistible to just about every woman on Dolce’s mini mountaintop It was followed by an orgy of cheesy Italian pop that had the crowd vibrating with glee men got cigars (not quite as fabulash as a handbag for the nonsmokers) and a swing combo from Palermo called the Bar Room Kings who were a little less cheesy but still had a noisy The weekend climaxed with a club night dedicated to oro the most antique symbol of human cupidity recast in a disco inferno And that’s the odd magic of this brand: heights of craftsmanship Wanted in RomeMagazine More than 10,000 demonstrators from Calabria and Sicily took part in protests held in Messina on 22 January against the building of a bridge across the Straits of Messina which divides the Italian mainland from Sicily The demonstrators claim that the bridge will have a severe impact on the environment the traffic using the bridge will be less than predicted and it will cost almost twice the current estimate of 4.4 billion to build The single span of the bridge will be 3.3 km; at present the longest single span of any bridge in the world is 1.9 km The mayors of the cities at either end of the bridge took part in the demonstration as they feel that the building of the bridge is not a priority The demonstrators in Messina were joined by 400 demonstrators from the Val di Susa in the north of Italy who are protesting against the building of a high speed train link between Turin and Lyon in France Wanted in Rome ™ is member of the Wanted World Wide Ltd network.Click here to find out more about our Network or Follow us on social networks © 2025 / 2026 Wanted World Wide LTD Network Bluferries, the company of the FS Italiane Group’s Polo Logistica operating in maritime transportation in the Strait of Messina Architectural & Technical Services Ltd. announce the launch of a state-of-the-art hybrid Ro-Ro passenger ship This innovative vessel is set to revolutionize passenger travel between Villa San Giovanni (Reggio Calabria) and Messina Perdikaris and built in Greece by Celt under RINA surveillance this vessel represents a significant leap forward in sustainable maritime technology At the heart of this new vessel lies its cutting-edge hybrid propulsion system a testament to Bluferries’ commitment to environmental stewardship and operational efficiency The hybrid system seamlessly integrates traditional diesel engines with advanced electric propulsion the new ferry features a sleek and modern design that enhances both performance and passenger comfort Similar in size and capability to the “Sikania II Hybrid” Ro-Ro ferry of the company The true innovation of this vessel lies in its use of green technologies “the launch of Bluferries’ new green ship represents a fundamental step in the renewal process of our fleet Thanks to the hybrid propulsion it will allow a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions and “zero emissions at port” during the arrival and departure phases In the coming months it will be subjected to testing and “Bluferries remains at the forefront of maritime innovation with our new hybrid Ro-Ro vessel This vessel meets high standards of efficiency and reliability Theano Perdikaris, CEO of C.T.E. Perdikaris said “We have brought our extensive expertise to this project ensuring the vessel meets stringent environmental standards while maintaining operational excellence This project showcases the potential of hybrid technology in reducing the maritime industry’s carbon footprint,” said “We are proud to partner with Bluferries in setting a new benchmark for sustainable marine transport a pioneer in ship design and innovative solutions in Greece has designed a ship that meets the challenge from Bluferries Srl to deliver an avant-garde vessel with lower emissions footprint than her two sister vessels Trinacria and Sikania cutting-edge in terms of environmental technology Crucial to the success of this endeavor was the involvement of RINA which proved its commitment to the maritime green transition.” Marine Executive Vice President at RINA concluded “We are proud of the collaboration with Bluferries and CTE Perdikaris on this state-of-the-art hybrid vessel This project represents a major step towards decarbonization and exemplifies the synergy needed for a sustainable maritime future more responsible worldwide maritime industry for future generations.” Yachts and Cruises,Yachts and Cruises newsletter visiting 67 destinations in 19 countries with five overnight stays and… Top News,Events CSN is excited to announce the launch of a new high-level event that will be happening yearly ‘The 1st CSN Greece Shipping Debate’ Top News,Cyprus C.M.C.L Cyprus Marine Club Limited (CMC) hosted Members Get Together with a presentation from Mr Top News,Greece In the face of unpredictable provisioning costs and longer lead times MCTC has reinforced its commitment to supporting vessel… World,Word newsletter The British International Freight Association has launched a cargo community advisory body which will undertake a lot of the activity previously… Design & Development by P.KAN.DESIGNER Design & Development by P.KAN.DESIGNER The objective is to automate and speed up the toll payment and boarding processes on the ferries of the Villa San Giovanni – Messina section, optimizing the resources and operational management costs of Caronte & Tourist The leading company in maritime connections to and from Central Italy which in the summer of 2019 completed and delivered the first terminal (Villa Agip) planned in a large digital reorganization project of the port terminal activities of Villa San Giovanni for maritime transport to Sicily carried out by the Green Mobility business line of the TerniEnergia Group’s digital company were completed in line with the operational schedule envisaged in the contract signed in January 2018 and which will be completed in 2020 with the activation of the Villa Mare terminal The construction of the plant which represents the state of the art of digitization and automation of classification services provided for the supply of ticketing solutions (ticketing) toll payment (smart payment) and access control Softeco has completed and delivered the first of the two separate terminals that make up the Caronte terminal provides for the channeling of vehicular traffic on lanes prepared for the recognition of the vehicle class and the payment of the toll by means of automatic tellers or Telepass lanes towards the operational terminal of loading of Villa Mare in Villa San Giovanni to proceed to the actual boarding Travel ticket sales and toll payment systems (vehicle lanes) were activated the routing of vehicles to the boarding terminal according to predefined scenario logics that can be activated according to the operational needs of the customer All the systems supplied by Softeco and purchased from Third Parties (control barriers vehicle presence detection coils) have been integrated into a single automation and remote control platform based on the proprietary Rtu-GO product line based on a customization of the Adverto proprietary solution Softeco has provided the turnkey system inclusive of design system integration and activation and tests The Villa Agip terminal has been operating throughout the high traffic summer season The digital company of the TerniEnergia Group continues to support Caronte managing the operational maintenance of the system This year will mark the beginning of the construction of the world’s longest suspension bridge It will be an unparalleled challenge that the Italian state is determined to undertake at all costs The bridge that will connect the island of Sicily to mainland Italy will span the Strait of Messina over a distance of 3,300 meters the construction must face the intense tectonic activity in this area Italy's leadership is determined to fulfill this dream of connecting Sicily to Europe at any cost And it will be an extremely expensive dream The cabinet of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has revived the concept with Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini being the driving force behind the project of the bridge over the Strait of Messina The bridge's design will spare no expense - it will be a structure for both trains and vehicles to travel over the 3.2 kilometers between the towns of Torre Faro in Sicily and Villa San Giovanni on the mainland Recent estimates project a cost of approximately 13.5 billion euros A small portion of this sum will be funded by the European Union Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti stated that the necessary funds will be phased over several years with the first three installments paid by 2026 According to data from the government in Rome, just the construction phase could contribute 2.9 billion euros to the national GDP, create employment for 100,000 people and involve 300 suppliers, with the majority of these workers coming from the Sicily and Calabria regions, where unemployment rates are high, according to CNN the bridge over the Strait of Messina in southern Italy will become the world's longest suspension bridge the Strait of Messina Bridge would be as long as the two longest suspension bridges in China combined - Yangsigang Yangtze and Nansha Top longest suspension bridges in the world: The bridge in southern Italy would stand at a height of around 74 meters above sea level and would allow for a navigation channel of 600 meters enabling the passage of cargo vessels and even the tallest cruise ships it is designed to withstand an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 The biggest challenge for the Strait of Messina Bridge is its location Sicily and the surrounding region of Italy are prone to seismic activities that could disrupt the construction process and the final structure a professor of structural engineering at Princeton University told Newsweek that the design of a suspension bridge can overcome any tectonic issues as this type of bridge is the most flexible "Note that these bridges are quite flexible and can accommodate ground movement and tower displacements better than many buildings," Nordenson said The engineer drew comparisons to the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan which is also located in an active geological area "The Japanese Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is a kind of cousin to Messina The great Hanshin earthquake of January 17 1995 (with a magnitude of 7.3 and the epicenter 20 km west of Kobe) moved the towers the only structures that had been erected at that time "The Strait of Messina Bridge is a huge technological challenge 3 kilometers of bridge will be suspended over the strait (...) It is also Italy's challenge to the rest of the world," he said The project has sparked controversy in Italy but the Italian government remains committed to starting the work by the end of this year builder Webuild announced that work would commence by the end of 2025 "I hope to be there and succeed in crossing it together with the entire team by the end of 2032," said Webuild CEO Pietro Salini Nordenson believes it is difficult to anticipate a definitive date for the start or completion of the work He likened this project to the MOSE barrier designed to protect Venice from floods: "It's quite difficult to predict the completion date The MOSE barrier in Venice was also a priority of the Berlusconi government and took several decades." "In addition to the quality of engineering and design the cost is tied to the work schedule and the level of transparency or corruption that may occur It requires a rare combination of design excellence and respect for craftsmanship and the work involved," the expert detailed A Maltese man has been arrested in Italy after he was caught trying to smuggle 1,000 protected songbirds to Malta Police sources confirmed that they had been in contact with their Italian counterparts after a routine drugs inspection of vehicles near a Calabrian train station uncovered hundreds of protected finches and other song birds hidden in concealed compartments The Guardia di Finanza announced that it had made the discovery near Calabria’s Villa San Giovanni train station on Sunday The arrest is believed to have taken place in January.   driven by a Maltese national was pulled over on its way to Sicily.  The Maltese national, identified as Albert Satariano, 68 is understood to still be in custody in Calabria.  officers discovered a false bottom in which 34 cages had been hidden The Italian police released a video of the inspection on Sunday afternoon Most of the birds were released into the wild after they were certified in good health by a vet.  The practice of trapping finches has been banned in Malta since an EU court judgment in 2018.  However, last year the government alloed finch trapping saying trappers would be helping to collect scientific data on bird migration as part of a study.  Back in 2018, Times of Malta had reported on the illegal songbird smuggling trade in which specimens are sold to be used as live decoys for trappers There is no legal songbird trapping season in Malta but trappers normally take to the fields next month Sources said the birds discovered in Italy would have likely be destined from the small cages in trapping sites across the Maltese countryside February 1: An earlier version of this report stated that Satariano had been arrested on Sunday.  please register for free or log in to your account You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience Executive Vice President of the European Commission centered on enhancing India-EU trade and economic collaborations read the press release.They explored opportunities to bolster cooperation in various areas of mutual interest.In his meeting with New Zealand's Trade Minister Goyal discussed ways to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties for mutual growth aiming to further enhance the robust trade relationship between India and New Zealand.Minister Goyal congratulated Jonathan Reynolds UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade on his appointment and discussed deepening bilateral economic relations They also addressed advancing discussions on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the UK read the press release.In a conversation with Dr Robert Habeck Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Affairs & Climate Action Goyal discussed elevating the growing Indo-German trade and economic partnership focusing on upcoming Inter-Governmental Consultations and the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Businesses in Delhi and Climate Change - on global value chains stressing the need for robust partnerships and cooperation.He also introduced the concept of the "3 Fs" - fragmented and fraught with uncertainties - characterizing the current global context and energy policies to fortify global supply chains.Minister Goyal underscored the necessity for resilient supply chains that can endure beyond the current generation What earlier governments couldn't deliver in decades Amplus Solar Rebrands to Gentari - a Unified Step Forward to Drive Next Phase of Clean Energy Growth gold soars in Trump 2.0's first 100 days Tianneng makes an appearance at the AsiaBike Exhibition Sonalika Ushers In FY'26 With 11,962 Overall Tractor Sales In April'25 Serenity Hostel most trusted Premium Hostel and PG in Bangalore founded by Sridhar Srinivasan alumni of IIMN SOTC Announces Limited-Time Early Bird Offers on Europe Tour Packages 2025 copyrights © aninews.in | All rights Reserved What was supposed to be an impromptu search for drugs near Villa San Giovanni – the main port for trips from Reggio Calabria to Sicily – turned into an altogether different one when the van of a 68-year-old Maltese man on his way to Malta was searched by Guardia di Finanza officials and yielded about 34 boxes containing a thousand protected birds of prey found hidden in a false partition The birds which were found in good health were released back into the wild with the help of an animal association while those in poor condition were taken in for treatment Italian authorities have arrested the Maltese man who is expected to face charges of cruelty to animals as well as possession and trafficking of protected birds Officials also seized the van in which the birds were found and about two thousand euros in cash Satariano is not a new name in the trafficking of birds from Italy so much so that in 2016 it was mentioned in conversations recorded by law enforcement officers a Court in the Calabria region found eight people guilty of bird trafficking and sentenced them to a total of 20 years imprisonment Satariano had denied being involved in the ring and had never been brought to court. https://www.tvm.com.mt/mt/news/l-aghar-sena-ghall-kacca-illegali-birdlife-malta/ Ilu jaħdem bħala ġurnalist sa mill-2015 f'diversi kmamar tal-aħbarijiet u ingħaqad mal-istazzjon nazzjonali fl-2019 u għandu l-aktar għal qalbu stejjer marbuta mat-temi politiċi flimkien mal-kronaka u dak kollu li jseħħ fl-awli tal-Qorti Ħadem u rrapporta minn diversi pajjiżi barra minn Malta fosthom minn kampijiet tar-refuġjati Sirjani fil-Greċja u diversi laqgħat u summits fi Brussell u Strasburgu Be the first to receive information from Eat Out Create and manage a listing for your restaurant Our reviews are based on anonymous visits that are paid for in full Pizza or pasta done right can seem heaven-sent and These are some of Pretoria’s best Italian restaurants serving up antipasti (Make sure to order enough for a doggy bag so you won’t fall into the trap of thinking wistfully of last night’s fantastic dinner.) Alfie’s is known for its incredible Italian food as chef patron Alfredo is constantly experimenting in the kitchen The menu kicks off with a selection of antipasti such as the onion flan topped with a warm pecorino sauce The gnocchi gorgonzola e noci is unforgettable with pillowy golden-brown gnocchi tossed in sharp but creamy gorgonzola Possibly the most-loved dish is the 300g oven-roasted garlic-and-rosemary rib-eye steak ? Available for online bookings on the Eat Out app A post shared by Alfie’s Italian Cafe (@alfies_italian_cafe) on Oct 12 Bravo Pizzeria is known for its great pizzas in a very relaxed and chilled atmosphere The restaurant is known for its Bravo sauce The pizzas have a crispy base and are packed with flavour Crowd favourites include the ‘Talented Mr Ribley’ – deboned ribs This restaurant is known for its family-friendly setting try the light and crisp oven-baked focaccia topped with slivers of beef carpaccio and garlic oil A hit with meat-free diners is the melanzane alla parmigiana and the marinated black mushrooms it comes topped with Parma ham and mozzarella before being finished off with a dash of white wine There’s an extensive list of seafood dishes and a firm favourite is the grilled salmon piled with lightly caramelised red onions and fresh cherry tomatoes End things off with berry-infused pavlova or silky smooth lemon mousse Eat in Italian is an exquisite Italian restaurant suited for the whole family The most difficult thing about eating here is choosing what to order There’s everything from a range of breakfast items and salads to antipasti bruschetta and stuzzichini (Italian nibbles) Then of course there’s also a selection of pizzas A post shared by Eat In Italian – VSG Sinoville (@eatinitalian) on Oct 12 try the salmon roulade which consists of carpaccio filled with lemon zest cream cheese and basil leaves topped with a citrus vinaigrette and served on a bed of fresh greens and fried capers This generous T-bone is marinated with olive oil garlic and rosemary before being roasted in the pizza oven butternut and spinach rounds this dish off nicely Indulge your senses with the tronco di bosco The blend of delicious Mediterranean flavours offer smooth flavourful beef steak cutlets that just melt in your mouth is a joy: strips of tender beef are pan-fried with button mushrooms thickened with cream then wrapped with four cheeses in a golden brown phyllo pastry You can’t go wrong with the rich and delicious chocolate terrine to end things off This tiny typical neighbourhood Italian restaurant is known for the best pizzas around The extensive menu features everything from pasta to veal dishes There’s also a selection of crispy thin-based pizzas with a wood-smoked flavour and generous toppings Try the Pizza Piccola topped with mozzarella the menu offers a Cabin Crew burger and 727 Jumbo burger while pasta dishes include mari e monti with onions The low-carb options include a pizza with a pumpkin base and a zucchini pasta dish with chilli and prawns The dessert section of the menu includes an entire page dedicated to ice creams and you could also try the calzone monte bianco with custard and website in this browser for the next time I comment Please log in to publish reviews and manage your content Download the app to enjoy the power of South Africa’s biggest restaurant directory in your hand South Africa’s capital sure knows how to show visitors a good time – here are 12 stunning sundowner sessions not to miss La Cantina lies literally in the shadows of the hill on which the Union Buildings sits The owners have a long history as Pretoria restaurateurs having relocated the original La Cantina from the Pretoria CBD The menu offers super great pizzas and other easy Italian fare but there are also a few more serious main course items Essentially you are looking at a place that offers the public what they want – a good steak with chips and possibly some butternut and creamed spinach But if a good wood-fired pizza and some of the best outdoor sunset relaxation is what you are after there are few places that beat their outdoor tables wide umbrellas and small wooden play structure for kids If you stick around long enough post-dinner do not miss out on one of the best Dom Pedros in town ask for a triple shot of whiskey – keep the Uber ready on speed-dial after that one Pellie Grobler marches on in the kitchen of Tin Roof Café wooing diners with his fine sense of flavour and cooking abilities It is somewhat of a trek to get out to them but that is even more reason to get there early and experience some real South African country sunsets with a dash of a Southern French feel; sit out on the stoep amongst the large thorn trees and immediately know that you are in Africa or pear and grilled haloumi salad with red-wine poached pears seasonal greens and a sultana and citrus vinaigrette enjoy it with a glass of fine wine and imagine yourself being transported to a place that is a mix between Avignon and Lephalale A post shared by Tin Roof Cafe (@tin_roof_cafe) colourful cocktails seem to be de rigueur these days nothing beats a flute (or even a coupe) of chilled bubbly for something supremely elegant and refreshing How lovely then if a restaurant has a whole selection of sparkling wines from all over the world Capito stocks Italian Frizzanti such as Lambrusco an array of interesting South African bubbles and a Catalonian Macabeo Codorniu Clasico Cava The restaurant sits on the corner of a small centre that features a collection of restaurants and has a lovely open area outside in front of the restaurant but the surrounding architecture and public art are well worth a stroll around Afterwards tuck into some great Italian fare A post shared by Capito (@capitohazelwood) Summit Grill and Sky Bar is housed in one of the few venues situated in a high-rise building in Pretoria Although other cities may offer sea or mountain views if you stand on the Summit’s deck and peer northwards over the rolling hills you can see Limpopo and onwards to Zimbabwe in the real distance it means that there are staff on duty all the time and one could essentially have a cocktail and some snacks at any time of the day Grab a Watermelon Daiquiri or their signature cocktail a plate of fresh oysters with smoked salmon and imagine yourself part of the real Africa stretching beyond the borders of suburbia Restaurants on golf courses often benefit from the aesthetic thought that went into creating the location This little restaurant is located in the Kimiad Golf Course in Moreleta Park and offers a child-friendly environment where one could invite a few friends and their children along for afternoon drinks and snacks prior to heading home for supper The Rosewood Platter would be ideal for just this being so well priced that one could certainly get the kids their own platter They close at 8 in the evening during summertime which means one can sit outside and watch the sun set slowly under gigantic Jacaranda trees A post shared by Rosewood Terrace (@rosewood_terrace) this spot has magnificent views across the greens over the Groenkloof Nature Reserve and west towards the setting sun They offer a five- or six-course tasting menu with paired beverages often starting off with a glass of Spier Secret sparkling rosé Proceed with a glass of chilled sherry from Spain and hang out on their extensive balcony to peer into the setting sun A post shared by De Kloof Restaurant (@dekloof_restaurant) this small independent hotel-cum-restaurant is the place to visit for sundowners cardamom and vodka cocktail oozing North African glamour and style which one can sip out on their rooftop terrace and imagine it being Casablanca or Fez of which a number are still due to take place before the end of 2021 They offer traditional Moroccan platter tables which they serve in their La Riad Food Theatre rosewater and rose Turkish delights and cheesecakes all served with tiny glasses of Moroccan tea Although this is one of the few remaining independent restaurants in Pretoria that offers old-fashioned there is nothing old-fashioned about the food or ambience Apart from the fact that it is housed in an architect-designed mid-century building flowers and food are all very much 21st century Restaurant manager Siniša Nikolic is a committed wine fundi and will gladly assist with all beverage requests Tuck into pork bonbons with maple bourbon reduction and artichoke purée and head to their roof for some of the best sundowner views the Capital City has to offer A post shared by Brasserie de Paris (@brasseriedparis) Forti TOO is a relatively new restaurant in the stable of restaurateur Fortunato Mazzone BICCCS Bistro (Forti Bistro) and the very newly launched Vee & Forti a classy produce and booze shop also located in the Lynnwood Bridge Mall that stocks an impressive array of deli items This is a smart restaurant that was designed to impress but also features many personal touches such as the corner with memorabilia commemorating the memory of Forti’s father There is an array of food items on the menu – share a plate of fresh mussels or simply sit back and tuck into one of their shared platters such as the Izimbambu platter that serves four to six people and features a whopping 2kg of traditional salted Lynnwood Bridge boasts a central court with bespoke artwork and water features and one can find few places better to sip on a drink and do some people watching Many of us only dream of lifting off into the sunset from an aircraft carrier à la Tom Cruise settle for having drinks and cocktails on the verandah of Villa San Giovanni which literally takes up the space that separates the tarmac from the restaurant Few things are as exciting as sitting out among the smell and roar of airplane engines This is a fully functional restaurant that has various sections from formal to very casual with lots of areas dedicated to children They offer some house-brand VSG wines by the glass to perfectly compliment any of their sundowner food items including some inventive potato dippers with bacon and a vast array of burgers with scene-appropriate names such as Cabin Crew and the 747 Jumbo A post shared by Villa San Giovanni Wonderboom (@vsgwonderboom) This remains one of Pretoria’s best-kept secrets which is exactly the reason one should try it out if you are into quirky and honest experiences which is the best place to sit on a late summer evening offers a view out to the west into the oncoming one-way stream of taxis and other commercial vehicles the odd thundering motorcycle or souped up thunderbird that would make celebrated fine art landscape artist MJ Louwrens reach for a canvas so they offer nothing alcoholic to drink for fear of breaching the regulations All of this comes with some of the simplest but best wood-fired pizzas that are served with a fabulous little chilli sauce on the side offers a standalone building purposely built as a restaurant with large rooms and large sash windows that allows beautiful light in is the completely decadent garden with large shady trees and immaculate lawns that one overlooks or can even enjoy sitting in even though they are practically always filled to the brim Initially only a daytime restaurant that was often frequented by those not keeping office hours they have expanded into various other offerings such as their spaza shop Their evening restaurant is also slowly gaining momentum so hanging around for the sunset hour is totally possible and they offer a whole page filled with tapas grilled fresh asparagus served with salsa verde beetroot with goat’s cheese and toasted pumpkin seeds Grab a glass of Org de Rac Organic Die Waghuis Rooi head out to the stoep and revel in the cool calming hour that descends on these beautiful gardens A post shared by Afro-Boer (@afroboer) The comprehensive course will provide hospitality professionals with.. Award-winning sommelier George Young has joined the.. Join us as we recap the delicious drinks movements that quenched our.. feeding frenzies and keeping older kids entertained eating out with your little bundle of joy is not always an easy task These restaurants are all equipped with changing table facilities that won’t have you using the backseat of your car – or a cramped bathroom stall ditch the plastic cutlery and cheap tomato sauce put the little one in the pram and venture out to these eateries for your next scrumptious dinner or lazy lunch Bambanani (Melville) Parents looking for a little breather will love this delightful eatery that caters for the whole family With trained child minders and activities to keep the little ones occupied the grown-ups can relax and enjoy dishes like coriander lamb cutlets with baby potatoes and French green beans with a wholesome offering of fresh fruit-and-veg purées The restaurant offers high chairs as well as baby-changing facilities Gia’s on Montrose (Sandton) this café provides a perfect escape from the busy city where you can unwind with the family Find a seat beneath the leafy trees with the children and enjoy simple country-style dishes such as comforting pot pies The tots can even enjoy a frothy babychino This family-friendly spot is equipped with a changing table Happily Ever Laughter (Bedfordview) This boutique restaurant is an ideal spot to meet up with friends where you know the kiddies will be happy too The venue is built for family-friendly occasions from birthday celebrations to stork parties They will also soon host playgroups where toddlers can enjoy a day of learning and playing There is a baby-changing station located in the restroom Junipa’s (Bryanston) Grab a pastry and your morning coffee at this baby-friendly spot enjoy your sushi or gourmet sandwiches while the brood make their own pizzas Baby-changing amenities cater for the youngest ones too Munch (Bryanston, Kramerville, Parktown North) This trendy family eatery offers an exciting menu with options for adults and children, and the comfortable baby-changing facilities make things easier. With live music on selected Sundays, WiFi and irresistible baked treats, you may never want to leave The Barn Restaurant at Irene Dairy Farm (Irene) In a beautiful outdoor setting under the oak trees this farm restaurant is a charming place for a sunny weekend lunch They serve a Sunday breakfast and lunch buffet that also caters for children There are also high chairs and changing facilities available for the toddlers Blos Café (Faerie Glen) An outing with the baby doesn’t need to be a stressful one especially when there is carrot cake involved Sit back and enjoy breakfast while watching kids run amok on the rolling lawns It’s also baby-ready with changing facilities on site Spiced Coffee Restaurant (Haakdoornlaagte) Set amongst a beautiful garden of roses is this enchanting family coffee shop that’s ideal for a Sunday tea with the grandparents picnics and baby-changing facilities available Taste Life Café (Faerie Glen) This coffee shop is the ultimate kiddie-friendly venue equipped with a baby and toddler play area as well as a space with a jungle gym for the older and more energetic children to enjoy This is a great party venue with high chairs and a changing table available Villa San Giovanni (Wonderboom Airport) For your next Italian feast, enjoy this eatery’s family-friendly atmosphere. Prop the youngsters in their high chairs while tucking into your carbonara Baby-changing facilities are also available California Dreaming (Dairy Beach) Take the youngster for a promenade stroll in the pram and stop off at this spacious beachfront restaurant Parents can sit back and relax with their smoothies and enjoy the view of the Indian Ocean while kids enjoy their ice creams in the play zone With a baby-changing facility also available there is no need to hunt for the closest restroom The Food Story Deli at The Book Boutique (Amanzimtoti) This one-of-a-kind deli and bookstore in Amanzimtoti invites book-lovers to appreciate a cappuccino while nose-deep in their favourite read The little ones can sit down for story time which is either held outside on the lawn if the sun is shining or inside the deli amongst the bookshelves Olive and Oil (Glenwood A Mediterranean favourite amongst the Durban locals Diners can tuck into their pizzas while the kids snuggle up in the children’s playroom and watch a DVD The tiny ones are also looked after with high chairs and changing tables in the family-friendly bathroom (Playrooms and baby-changing facilities are available in all Olive and Oil branches.) Piggly Wiggly (Midlands) Make a pit stop at this buzzing farm stall The older kids are sorted with a host of fun activities plus there are high chairs and a small kiddies’ menu This is a wonderful spot to stop if you are travelling with a baby or toddler with its convenient facilities available for those emergency nappy changes Sage Café (Salt Rock) Find a seat in the picturesque garden or the open-plan café and enjoy the warm Salt Rock weather. The older tots can take advantage of the play areas while the littler ones perch in high chairs and nibble on gemsquash filled with bolognaise mince and topped with melted cheddar There are baby-changing facilities available in the bathrooms Café Paradiso (Gardens) Madame’s Zingara’s Kloof Street restaurant is just as welcoming to the little ones as it is to the adults Parents will be relieved to know that there are changing facilities at this bustling eatery where children between the ages of two and 12 can make their own pizzas or decorate a cupcake with trained child minders Café Roux (Noordhoek) The Noordhoek Farm Village also has a cordoned-off area for the smaller ones There’s an indoor playroom to keep them busy in colder weather New parents can rest easy knowing that the restaurant also offers a changing table and high chairs Deer Park Café (Vredehoek) The grassy slopes at this Vredehoek favourite make for a perfect playground for the older children and toddlers while you enjoy a hard-earned coffee or glass of wine in the restaurant or picnic-style on the lawns Dunes Restaurant (Hout Bay) This seaside destination has ample activities to keep youngsters busy Babies are looked after with clip-on high chairs and a changing table situated in the ladies’ bathroom Tables at Nitida (Durbanville) This farm-style bistro has a lovely big open lawn with a jungle gym on the grass that provides hours of entertainment for the little ones A kiddies’ breakfast and lunch menu is available as well as two baby chairs and baby-changing facilities in a separate bathroom Treat Patisserie (Durbanville) This pastel-coloured Durbanville patisserie is great for a coffee and pastry date with friends and the little ones. Savour a slice of their famous red-velvet cake or try a pulled pork wrap while the toddlers tuck into one of the delicious cake cups. They also have a changing table in the bathroom Bertus Basson at Spice Route (Paarl) Here the cherubs are treated to an exciting kiddies’ menu (including a fun colouring-in sheet on the back) which allows them to creatively build their own meal The youngsters will also get a giant cookie with their meal to decorate for dessert High chairs and a changing table are available Café Blanc de Noir (Stellenbosch) Offering gourmet pizza and a large jungle gym this eatery is a haven for foodies with kids Parents of tinier tots will find life easier with a newly installed baby-changing station clever baby-harness chairs and colouring-in sheets and crayons Dornier Bodega Restaurant (Stellenbosch) Relax with a glass of wine on the terrace of this comfy and casual bistro and tuck into a creamy mussel pot while the toddlers sit in their high chairs to enjoy beefy macaroni and cheese There is also a baby changing station available in the bathroom Millhouse at Lourensford (Somerset West) This gorgeous setting is home to a trendy yet child-friendly restaurant Enjoy the rustic Italian cuisine and wine while the older kids climb the jungle gyms and the toddlers sit comfortably in their high chairs The changing room comes conveniently equipped with a toilet Stables at Vergelegen (Somerset West) stroll down to this stylish and modern bistro to make use of its high chairs for the babes and a changing station in the bathrooms in the nearby tasting room There is also a little VIP menu from which the kids can choose delicious breakfasts Have we missed your favourite baby-friendly spot Mont Marie in Stellenbosch also great food kids menu & changing table in bathrooms Pappa Grappa ‘s in Simondium has a wonderful play area for children with a lovely kiddies menu And awesome food and drinks for mommy and daddy too What about the Franschhoek establishment eg La Motte or Leopards Leap that are also child friendly with play areas