Aperture

🏡 Sir Rocco Forte announces the reopening of Verdura Resort, a Sicilian hospitality icon, revealing a comprehensive renovation in 2025. The resort introduces a new mixology bar, Scirocco, and three restaurants: L’Osteria, Zagara, and Buongiorno. A 16th-century Saracen tower area now features the Japanese-Sicilian fusion restaurant Nagori, a shopping area, and the refreshed Liolà restaurant. The main entrance, redesigned by Olga Polizzi, Director of Design at Rocco Forte Hotels, welcomes guests into a sanctuary bathed in golden light. The resort, set in 230 hectares of Sicilian nature, aims to elevate the luxury hospitality and privacy experience for guests in the 2025 season.

🏖 In Marina di Modica, the Terradamari Resort & Spa, part of Hilton's Tapestry Collection, opened on February 14 with a 65% booking rate for 2025, leading with British, American, German, and French guests. The resort features 42 rooms, a spa, and an outdoor pool. It represents a €16 million investment by Gruppo Minardo, creating 40 jobs and revitalizing the local economy with Sicilian craftsmanship and tourism-focused youth opportunities. Average stays range from two nights before June to four during summer.

🍻 Andrea Pirola and Simone Di Gioia initiated their entrepreneurial journey in 2019 by acquiring Bar Cuore in Milan and transforming it into Raboucer. They endured the Covid phase successfully, expanded in 2022 with historic venue Tasca, and further with “La Gastronomia,” creating a culinary district. "La Gastronomia" caters to Raboucer and Tasca, offering quality Mediterranean cuisine, takeaway, and delivery services with a weekly changing menu. Raboucer is known for its signature cocktails, recently themed "Cocktails & Cinema," and apart from a new drink list, they've added a private event-friendly internal room and enhanced food offerings with double-fermented focaccias and attractive deals like €10 Sunday aperitivo.

🍕 The luxurious 7Pines Resort Sardinia, located on the northeastern coast of Sardinia, continues its collaboration with master pizza maker Franco Pepe for "Spazio by Franco Pepe" as the resort reopens on April 16, 2025. The restaurant is part of the resort's Hub Gastronomico, which offers a sensory dining experience celebrating sustainability, local excellence, and culinary creativity. The Michelin Guide-mentioned restaurant Capogiro, led by Executive Chef Pasquale D’Ambrosio, and the exclusive beach club Cone Club, are also part of the resort's dining offerings. For the 2025 season, the menu features returning favorites and a new creation highlighting Sardinian biodiversity. 7Pines Resort Sardinia, part of Destination by Hyatt, offers 75 rooms, 8 junior suites, 21 suites, two pools, three restaurants, three bars, a spa, a kids club, and sports facilities on a 15-hectare Mediterranean promontory.

🎭 Renowned chef Jean Imbert unveiled "La Forêt Secrète par Jean Imbert" at Disneyland Hotel in Disneyland Paris. Inspired by childhood memories and Disney animation, the restaurant offers two menus, including a children’s menu—a first in Imbert's career. The menu takes guests on a journey through Disney worlds, emphasizing seasonal produce and French culinary artistry. Wine and Champagne selections from regions like Bourgogne and Bordeaux enhance the experience, while Murano glass chandeliers and hand-painted frescoes create an immersive dining atmosphere.

🏠 B-Luxe Gironda, located in the heart of Ravenna, features sophisticated atmosphere and combines classical elegance with contemporary comfort. It relies on dormakaba's advanced technological solutions, including Pixel locks that blend design and functionality with a minimalist and modern finish, complemented by Olivari knobs. The installation also includes SR readers in common areas for secure, badge-based access, and the Ambiance software for real-time access management. This integration enhances guest security and experience, while easing management and maintaining aesthetic appeal.

🍴 Biif Varese, a new gourmet braceria, opens on March 13 at 7 pm, replacing Bella Napoli, closed for over two years. Owned by Athena Consulting Srl, the free opening event features an open bar, buffet happy hour, live music, and a DJ set, in partnership with Pepsi, Heineken, and Redbull. Biif, part of Gruppo Caprizza Srl, offers grilled meats, gourmet pizzas, salads, and pastas, with a sophisticated mixology bar. Operating daily, lunch from 12-3 pm and dinner from 7 pm to midnight, it aims to be a culinary and entertainment hotspot.

🌿 Il Borro Relais & Châteaux, a family-owned (Ferragamo since 1993) organic estate in Valdarno Superiore, Tuscany, reopened on March 1, initiating the new season with various offerings including a Family Suite in the medieval village, cooking classes, horseback riding, and artisanal workshops. They welcome pets with exclusive amenities and allow access to all areas. The sustainable estate features organic viticulture, olive oil, cheeses, honey, flour, and a "Farm to Table" philosophy embraced by Executive Chef Andrea Campani. Wine enthusiasts can tour the vineyards and historic barrel room, and enjoy tastings at the Cantina. Spa La Corte provides tranquility and wellness treatments, while the location is ideal for ceremonies and corporate events. The estate extends over 1,100 hectares and includes 85 hectares of vineyards producing organic wines, 33 hectares of olive groves, an organic vegetable garden, free-range chicken, and sheep breeding, and over 100 beehives for various honeys. Hospitality is a key activity, with accommodations including 38 suites in the restored medieval village, three villas, 20 suites at Le Aie del Borro, and "I Borrigiani" farmhouses. The estate has four restaurants led by Chef Campani, a spa, a bar, a concept store, and an art and wine gallery, offering a unique experience.

🏦 Sina Hotels, led by Bernabò Bocca, won the bid to create a new luxury hotel in Milan's municipal building, Galleria Ciro Fontana, featuring over 2,000 sqm and 10 floors. The auction, starting at €1.15 million annually, saw Sina Hotels and Aries Group compete. Decided by a June 2024 council resolution, Sina Hotels will pay the city over €43 million for a 36-year concession, equaling more than €1.2 million per year. The expansion includes about 30 new rooms and suites.

🏖️ Atmosphere Core, an Asian company with nine resorts in the Maldives and luxury hotels in the pipeline in Sri Lanka and India, is set to open Borgo Monchiero Heritage by Atmosphere in Italy's Cuneo province as its first European destination in 2026. The 18th-century monastery, built in 1773, offers 19 timeless design suites and rooms, regional cuisine, a private chapel for weddings, an elevated chapter room for events, a lounge bar, a wellness area with sauna, infrared therapy, and a restored stone cistern jacuzzi, plus an outdoor garden pool. Owners Franco Giampetruzzi and Gian Maria Debenedetti chose Atmosphere Core for its international expansion aligned with their vision of authenticity.