June 6th - June 12th

Lamezia Terme, June 11 (Adnkronos) - ''An institutional agreement strengthened by the common desire to promote the development of an area, considering it homogeneous from the point of view of the concrete growth prospects''. This is the objective upon which are positioned the Regions of Campania, Basilicata, Calabria, the Provinces of Salerno, Potenza, Cosenza, Local Action Groups and the coastal and inland towns of the Gulf strip, in Sangineto in the province of Cosenza to discuss the program framework agreement for the touristic development of Policastro Gulf.

Sassari, June 11- (Adnkronos) - The Stintino town council proposes a rich and varied program of appointments for the summer season to promote the culture and traditions of the area and to agreeably accompany the numerous tourists until the month of September. ''The events- explains Tourism Councillor Antonio Diana - are considered by the Council as opportunities to promote the Stintino tourist season and an opportune way to support the development of tourism and to promote the image of the territory''.

Rome, June 11 - (Adnkronos) - A great artist returns to the capital. Fernando Botero, the most famous living Latin-American painter, lands in Rome with a one-man exhibition that will be hosted at Palazzo Venezia from June 16 to September 25. ''Botero - Gli ultimi quindici anni'' [Botero - The last fifteen years], is the title of the exhibition commissioned and realized by the “Contini” Art Galleries of Venice and the “Benucci” Art Galleries of Rome, with the collaboration of the Special Superintendency for the Roman Museum Pole and the support of the Senate of the Republic, the Lazio Region and the City and Province of Rome. The inauguration will take place next June 16 with a vernissage, organized by Tiziana Rocca, which will take place from 6:30pm in the evocative loggia of Palazzo Venezia.

Bologna, June 11 - (Adnkronos) - The direct Bologna-New York link, that will be carried out by the Eurofly airline, will be inaugurated next Monday June 13. The official ceremony will include the participation of, among others, SAB President Gian Carlo Sangalli, General Manager Umberto Chinni, Eurofly Chief Executive Officer Augusto Angioletti, Emilia Romagna Region Transport Councillor Alfredo Peri, Bologna Province President Beatrice Draghetti and Bologna Mayor Sergio Cofferati.

Rome, June 11 - (Adnkronos) - Holidays start today for one and a half million Italians and to these will be added the five and a half million people departing for just the weekend. These are the figures diffused by the Telefono Blu consumers’ association that adds, furthermore, that the preferred destination will be the sea (where 80% of holidaymakers will go). A lot less tourists will opt for the mountains, art cities and overseas. Holidaymakers outside national borders will instead divide themselves between the countries of the Mediterranean, Switzerland, France and Yugoslavia, but also America and the Caribbean.

Potenza, June 10 - (Adnkronos) - ''The downturn registered in the turnover of the small and medium-sized businesses of the sector, only partly compensated by the performance of the large hotel chains, imposes a decisive gear-change on the part of the regional government and relating to the policies in support of the sector''. This is the comment made by Marco Trotta, head of the Potenza province Ascom (Tourism and Commerce Association), commenting on the figures on the progress of the tourism sector contained in the in-depth analysis of the regional economy, presented this morning by Eurispes.

Rome, June 10 -(Adnkronos) - Botero returns to Rome, after 15 years, to Palazzo Venezia from June 16 to September 23. In fact, the last great Roman exhibition of the Columbian artist dates back to 1991, at the time received with enormous success at “Palazzo delle Esposizioni”. One hundred and seventy works, never previously exhibited by the artist in Rome, will be presented within the exhibition organized by the Roman Museum Pole and Venice’s “Gallerie Contini”.

Venice, June 10 - (Adnkronos) – Next June 12 will see the return, in Veneto, of the ''Treni del Mare'' [Sea Trains] which will run every Sunday and holiday of next summer, up until September 4. The trains will carry holiday ''commuters'' to Chioggia (Ve) station on board air-conditioned trains and with the possibility of subsequently having a bicycle. From here, holidaymakers will be able to reach the beaches of Sottomarina, either by bicycle or even air-conditioned bus, both available at no cost. Holidaymakers will in this way travel in comfort and without stress, by avoiding queues and the heat from the asphalt, at convenient prices and inclusive of a series of additional services and discounts in the seaside resort.

Naples, June 10 (Adnkronos) – From today, the Arcipelago Campano consortium, made up of more than six hundred tour operators from the islands of Ischia, Capri and Procida and the Sorrento peninsular, decidedly broadens its horizons and even starts to 'speak' Arabic. It is in fact possible to visualize and read, in Arabic, the essential information and services offered by the consortium on the website www.arcipelagocampano.com.

Ancona, June 10 (Adnkronos) – Success at the International Tourism Exchange for the typical Marches products present at the stand set up by the Marches region within 'BITEG', The International Fair of Food and Wine Tourism and the Territory, set up at Riva del Garda from last May 12, to promote the typical food and traditions of some Italian regions.

Ravenna, June 10 - (Adnkronos) - ''The expenditure of funds for the summer exhibitions in the province of Ravenna is occurring in a monopoly system, because the management of the summer exhibitions is always entrusted to the same party, whose offer, furthermore, proves to be of low cultural level and very high cost''. With these words Rodolfo Ridolfi, Forza Italia regional councilor, questioned the council of the Emilia Romagna Region in relation to the resources transferred, for the summer cultural exhibitions, to the province of Ravenna and the towns of the Senio and Lamone valleys.

Venice, June 10 (Adnkronos) – The forth edition of ''Notturni d'Arte a Venezia'' [Art Nights in Venice] that also this year will illuminate the Venetian evenings of June and July, in the atmosphere of both tradition and change, is set to start. The event, again this year, confirms the intention of rediscovering prestigious places of art, thanks also to the presence of protagonists from the world of culture and entertainment, renewing however its collaboration with various institutions. In fact, the event will be organized in collaboration with the Special Superintendency for the Venetian Museum Pole, in addition to Chorus, Venetian Civic Museums and the Venice Foundation, promoters of the previous editions.

Ancona, June 10 - (Adnkronos) – The President of the Marches Regional Council, Gian Mario Spacca, today received Tadeusz Wrone, the Mayor of Czestochowa (Poland), one of the most important religious centers in the Christian world for the pilgrims who have traditions dating back to the 14th century. The Polish Mayor is in the Marches to participate in the year of the celebrations for the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Marches by the 2nd Polish Corps, which will conclude tomorrow in Loreto.

Agnone (Isernia), June 9 (Adnkronos) – The Town of Agnone (Isernia), known for the world-famous ‘Marinelli’ Papal Bell Foundry, has organized a course for tour guides, aimed at all those wanting to dedicate themselves to accompanying tour groups to the little town of Alto Molise and surrounding territory. The course is open to Italian and European Community citizens who have turned 18 years of age and possess a high-school diploma.

Rimini, June 9 (Adnkronos) - 'Turkey: opportunities for the Italian companies of the tourism chain. Entrepreneurs compared'. This is the theme of the workshop held this morning at the Rimini Chamber of Commerce, organized in collaboration with the National Foreign Trade Institute (ICE). The objective of the meeting was to present business opportunities in Turkey to the Rimini companies of the tourism chain. Today’s country presentation is in the ambit of the wider initiative of the Mediterranean tourism forum, scheduled from November 27 to 29.

Bologna, June 9 (Adnkronos) - The presence of tourists on Romagna’s Riviera has decreased by 3.6% with respect to 2003. This was illustrated today by the report carried out by Emilia Romagna’s “Banca d'Italia” relating to the progress of the regional economy in 2004. In particular, the document shows that the number of arrivals has nudged down by 0.4%, against an equivalent increase registered a year ago. According to the figures, the average length of stay was equal to five days. The arrivals and presences of foreign tourists diminished for the third consecutive year in the provinces of the Riviera, while the drop in the overnight stays of Italian visitors intensified.

Salerno, June 9 - (Adnkronos) – A weekend dedicated to natural products will be the one that from June 10 to 12 will commence the eighth edition of 'Medisalus', the biological fair scheduled in Salerno and promoted by the Campania Region, Salerno Province Agriculture Department, City Council and Chamber of Commerce, and Ersac. More than 150 companies of the sector, originating from all over Italy, will exhibit their products in the picturesque setting of the Trieste waterfront.

Rome, June 9 (Adnkronos) – The ''Capolavori da scoprire'' [Masterpieces to Discover] event continues. A truly special occasion to admire the masterpieces of three great masters, Vanvitelli, Fra Filippo Lippi and Botticelli, within as many historical Roman residences, open specially to the public with free entrance: the Colonna, Doria Pamphilj and Pallavicini Rospigliosi palaces. From tomorrow until June 12, it will be the turn of Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, where Fra Filippo Lippi’s famous “Annunciation” will be presented in the “Salone Verde”, following the extraordinary opening last weekend of Palazzo Colonna, where forty-three canvases by Vanvitelli were exhibited and admired by around six thousand visitors.

Rome, June 9 (Adnkronos) – The “Altoviti” room of the National Museum of Palazzo Venezia hosts, until September 11, the exhibition ''Gusto ed eleganza nelle corti rinascimentali. Il ritratto dei bambini Orsini'' [Taste and Elegance in the Renaissance Courts. The Portrait of the Orsini Children]. The exhibition, that will be open from 8:30am to 7pm from Tuesday to Sunday, offers a reinterpretation of the original slant on one of the most interesting paintings of the historical collections of the Museum, ''The portrait of the Orsini children'', 1597 work attributed to Tuscan painter Tiberio Titi. Donna Clarice Orsini later donated the painting to the Palazzo Venezia museum in 1926, in memory of her son Angelo.

Rome, June 8 - (Adnkronos) - ''Abruzzo tourism must find new momentum to return to markets more competitive and to recreate the team effect between Region, public and private corporations. Abruzzo, a region that wants to live off tourism.'' The new Tourism Councilor and also Vice President of the Abruzzo Region, Enrico Paolini, stated this during the course of a press conference. Some figures were announced in support of such an argument: on December 31, 2004, a good 6 million presences just with accommodation and in the complementary classification; 6,408 active enterprises, including 820 hotel structures, placed in an occupational bracket of between 0 and 19 employees; 35,000 workers, equal to around 7.5% of the employed; a turnover of EUR 1.6 million equivalent to 8% of the regional GDP, that reaches 15% if allied industries are also considered.

Bologna, June 8 (Adnkronos) - Group trekking at sunset to spot herons and roe deer, visits to the Po Delta oases, medieval castle tours, horse-riding excursions and tastings. These are some of the initiatives of the 'Giornata verde' [Green Day] program, the festival of the mountain and reserves of Emilia Romagna that will take place on Sunday in 33 localities of the region. The event was born from an idea of the 80 members of the “Unione appennino e verde” association of Emilia Romagna. The objective is to make the public discover the wealth of nature, but also the wealth of history and culture preserved in the Apennines.

Rome, June 8 (Adnkronos) - A meeting to discuss tourism in a Region that wants to live off tourism: this could be the motivation that brought Abruzzo Region Tourism Councillor Enrico Paolini, the Regional Presidents of Assoturismo and Federturismo, Angelo Acconciamessa and Ernesto Paolo Alba, and Ecotur President Enzo Giammarino to Rome this morning. They all met at the Roman seat of the Abruzzo Region to fine-tune scenarios and common strategies for the relaunch of local tourism on international markets.

Venice, June 8 - (Adnkronos) - ''The 'Italy product' is splendid and must be promoted with an image coordinated on a national level”. This is one of the proposals formulated by the Veneto Regional Council Vice President with proxy to tourism, Luca Zaia, in his debut today in Rome at the coordination assembly of the tourism councillors of the Italian regions.

Verona, June 7 - (Adnkronos) – A double tribute to Verona through a photographic exhibition and a book, created by the Vicenzi company on occasion of the centenary of its foundation: these are the initiatives that will be presented on July 2 at the Piazza Bra gardens, where the exhibition will be open until September 1.

Capri, June 7 (Adnkronos) – Existing changes to the commercial network and economic and tourist structure of the island could change Capri’s nightlife. In fact, following the unsuccessful renewal of the lease, Number Two, an historical Capri nightclub and landmark in Via Camerelle for young Capri inhabitants and regulars for more than 50 years, now risks eviction. The unconfirmed report, that has persistently circulated for several weeks, has prompted numerous young islanders and regular holidaymakers to initiate a collection of signatures to send to the mayor and administration, with which state intervention will be requested in order to avoid the transformation of public establishments into commercial ones.

Riccione, June 7 -(Adnkronos) – Free train travel to the eco-hotels of Riccione: this is the initiative born from the collaboration between Trenitalia and the Hoteliers’ Association of Riccione and valid throughout the national territory until May 31, 2006. The initiative predicts the entire refund of the train fare by hoteliers for those carrying out a stay of at least a week, half board, in one of the Riccione eco-hotels. These hotels are based on the principle of respecting and protecting the environment, with attention to bio-architecture, water-saving practices and the freedom of movement with alternative means of transport from cars.

Bologna, June 7 (Adnkronos) - Emilia Romagna tourism focuses on the Polish and Ukraine markets. In fact, last May, the MD of the APT Regional Services Giuseppe Chicchi, presented the entire range of the Emilia Romagna tourist offer to 35 local tour operators in Warsaw: tours of the art cities, spa stays, in the Apennines and at the sea. Also a proposal created specially for Poland (that counts at least 40 million possible users) based on the 5 plus 2 model, that is 5 nights in Emilia Romagna and 2 in Rome with guided visits to the Roman basilicas, Pope Wojtyla’s tomb and the Vatican Museums at particularly favorable prices.

Rome, June 7 (Adnkronos) – If it is true that Futurism died in 1944, with the death of creator Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, it is also true that the artistic and cultural movement that revolutionized not just the figurative arts, continued through the work of followers, including Antonio Fiore. ''Antonio Fiore is fully entitled to be considered a 'futurist' of our times- declared Claudio Strinati commenting on the work of the artist- and his story speaks clearly in that sense''. Dedicated to the incessant work of the present-day futurist, however, is the exhibition ''Antonio Fiore. Ufagra'. Works 1978 - 2005'' that brings together around 70 works including acrylics and mixed techniques on canvas, shaped wood and hardboard, pastels and felt-tip on paper, polystyrene, bronze and wood sculptures. The exhibition will be open everyday from 10am to 7pm and will be hosted in the Vittoriano Complex from June 7 to 22.

Perugia, June 7 - (Adnkronos) - ''Everyday around 10 thousand Internet surfers visit the website www.ciboviaggiando.it, the online version of the tourist guide produced by the ''Edizioni Si'' s.r.l. publishing group, that proposes a veritable guide of touristic and enogastronomical journeys through Umbria and Tuscany''. This was announced by the same Umbrian publishing house that, that following the presentation of the second paper edition of ''Ciboviaggiando'', in the Italian and English versions, has declared that ''the enogastronomical tourists of central Italy are always more numerous, accessing news and information on itineraries, stays and elaborations on the specialties and delicacies of Umbria and Tuscany through the ''Pagine Si'' portal''.

Florence, June 7 - (Adnkronos) – An equipped area ''for universal use'', open to whoever wants to enjoy the beach and sea without barriers, is being created on the Follonica coast. The project is called ''Tangram'' and will be illustrated at 11:30am on Wednesday June 8, in the ''M.G.Cutuli'' press-room of Palazzo Bastogi, number 18 Via Cavour in Florence. A preview model of the equipped beach will also be presented.

Milan, June 7 -(Adnkronos)- The T-Mobile cell phone company, through the number 1555, will offer tourist information, weather forecasts, flight, bus and ferry information and information on the various accommodation possibilities in Croatia, from June 1 until August 31, 2005. Tourists using the T Mobile Croatia network will be able, in addition, to go in to win an unforgettable cruise on the Adriatic Sea. Whoever sends the greatest number of messages will be able to prepare to set sail in summer 2006.

Naples, June 6 - (Adnkronos)- ''The new direct Naples-New York link contributes in strengthening our strategic development project, with the aim of serving important Italian economic centres''. This was stated by the Commercial Manager of Eurofly, Armando Brunini, on occasion of the presentation of the Naples-New York flight, starting from next June 14. ''Our idea- he added- is to serve the Italian provinces and to increase summer arrivals to southern Italy''.

Naples, June 6 - (Adnkronos) - Private airline Eurofly and Naples airport management company Gesac, have today presented, during the course of a press conference, the first direct link between Naples and New York. The inaugural flight is scheduled for June 14 on board an Airbus 330, configured with 26 business and 256 economy class seats.

Perugia, June 6 - (Adnkronos) – To promote in an integrated way the rural tradition and culture of Umbria: this is the proposition of ''Per Borghi e Fattorie, assaggi e paesaggi delle campagne umbre'' [Through Small Villages and Farms, tastings and landscapes of the Umbrian countryside], the event that organizes trips through holiday farms, with the tasting of traditional dishes and the sale and exhibition of handmade products.

Naples, June 6 - (Adnkronos) – To initiate a common line to enable the divulging of events that will soon take place on Ischia island. With this aim, the culture delegates of the city councils and the Presidents of the Hoteliers’ Association, Antonio Longobardi, and Industrialists’ Union, Mario Leonessa, invited by Councillor Michele Calice, met this morning at the Forio town hall.

Milan, June 6 - (Adnkronos) – The Milanese hotel sector has worsened in the 2005 first quarter. This is what has emerged from the figures collected by the Observatory of the “Gruppo Terziario Turistico” of Assolombarda, presented today in Milan. ''These initial negative indications –states Giorgio Barattieri, President of the “Gruppo Terziario Turistico” of Assolombarda- follow an already particularly difficult year for our sector ''.

Rome, June 6 - (Adnkronos) – This summer Trenitalia makes available, for all those choosing trains for their holidays, one thousand trains and one million additional seats, with 32 extraordinary stops in areas of high tourist interest, new trains on tourist routes, and most of all the possibility, for those booking early, to make use of absolutely competitive offers. With EUR 15, explains Trenitalia in a statement, it will be possible to travel on the new Intercity trains with unlimited mileage, and with just one additional Euro it will be possible to reserve a seat on the Intercity and Espressi, by booking when purchasing the ticket.

Palermo, June 6 - (Adnkronos) – From now on Belgium and Romania are closer and reaching them will be easier. In fact, new flights from Palermo to these two countries will be activated in the next few days. There will also be a direct link with Genoa and another flight to reach Verona. The new flights were presented this morning during the course of a press conference, at Villa Niscemi, by Palermo Mayor Diego Cammarata, Palermo Province Tourism Councillor and President of AAPIT (Independent Provincial Agency for Tourism Expansion) Salvatore Sammartano, Club Air President Bruno Tercatin, and GESAP Managing Director Giacomo Terranova.

Trieste, June 6 (Adnkronos) – More than 15 thousand visitors turned out for 'Aziende aperte' [Open Farms], the event that yesterday saw the involvement, in Friuli Venezia Giulia, of 90 farms from the vast Friulian plain. The initiative included the participation of all the types of farms present in the 13 towns involved: fruit and vegetable producers, floriculturists, wine growers, breeders, cheese factories and dairies.

Campobasso, June 6 - (Adnkronos) - 'Tourism and environment: a possible development', this is the theme of the conference that will take place at 3:30pm on Wednesday 8 at Hotel Garim in Termoli (Campobasso). Organized by the Regional Secretary of the CGIL, the meeting will include the participation, in addition to the Regional Secretary of the union, Michele Petraroia, and National Secretary Lucia Merlo, also of Campobasso Province President Augusto Massa (DS), and Termoli Mayor and UDC parliamentary member Remo Di Giandomenico.