Latest news with #AdriaticSea
Condé Nast Traveler
6 days ago
- Condé Nast Traveler
17 Most Beautiful Islands in Italy
Floating in the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Puglia, the Tremiti are among Italy's most under-the-radar escapes. This tiny archipelago comprising San Domino, San Nicola, Capraia, Cretaccio, and Pianosa is part of the protected Gargano National Park, with crystal-clear waters and marine life that draw snorkelers and divers from around the country. San Domino is the liveliest, with pine forests, sea caves, and sandy coves like Cala delle Arene, while San Nicola is steeped in history, crowned by a fortified Benedictine abbey that once doubled as a prison. Though small, the islands have long held a legendary allure: even Emperor Augustus is said to have exiled his granddaughter here. —L.W Where to stay: Although there are a few little hotels on the island of San Dominio, there are some Airbnbs like this one that allow you to live at your own leisurely pace. They're simple, just like the islands. For something a little more luxurious, you can venture back into the mainland and stay in one of the best hotels in Puglia. Getting there: In the Gargano area, you can take a ferry from Vieste, Peschici, or Rodi Garganico. The journey can take up to 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Fox News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Emily Ratajkowski flaunts summer body during poolside fashion moment
Emily Ratajkowski spent the weekend soaking up the summer sun. The 34-year-old model gave fans a glimpse into her time by the pool. Ratajkowski posed in a plunging black swimsuit from her own line while vacationing near the Adriatic Sea. Ratajkowski referenced her vacation with her caption, writing: "adriaticcc." She wore her hair down as she gave the camera a pout for the photos. Fans were quick to flood the comment section of her post with fire and heart emojis. "How do I send in my marriage application?" one user asked. Another fan commented, "Wow girl youre awesomely gorgeous and sexy but I guess you already. Know that." "I have to say you're my all-time favorite so beautiful," one fan wrote. Ratajkowski launched her own swimwear line, Inamorata, in 2017. At the time, the model confirmed her project was "self-funded." "I have basically a consultant and an assistant and then it's all me," the former actress told Vogue. "It's been really, really fun. I've been doing different things with different people, but to have complete control is really special and exciting." Ratajkowski took on the endeavor after turning her back on Hollywood. She landed her first big role in 2014 as Ben Affleck's mistress in the psychological thriller film "Gone Girl." Following the role, Ratajkowski set out to prove she was a "serious actress with longevity." "But I didn't feel like, 'Oh, I'm an artist performing and this is my outlet.' I felt like a piece of meat who people were judging, saying, 'Does she have anything else other than her [breasts]?'" Ratajkowski previously told the Los Angeles Times. After starring in films such as "We Are Your Friends," "I Feel Pretty" and "Lying and Stealing," she chose to turn her back on Hollywood. Ratajkowski grew tired of making herself "digestible to powerful men in Hollywood" and fired her agent, manager and commercial rep in early 2020. "I didn't trust them," the model told the outlet. "I was like, 'I can handle receiving phone calls. I'm gonna make these decisions. None of you have my best interest at heart. And you all hate women.'"
CTV News
18-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Witnesses to Felix Baumgartner's fatal paragliding crash heard large boom as it spun to the ground
Felix Baumgartner of Austria gestures prior to speaking with the media after successfully jumping from a space capsule lifted by a helium balloon in Roswell, N.M., Oct. 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File) PORTO SANT'ELIPIDO, Italy — Beachgoers knew something was wrong when they heard a loud boom ring out as a paraglider spun out of control, killing its only occupant, extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner, when it crashed next to a swimming pool near the Adriatic Sea. A 30-year-old mother watched the deadly descent unfold Thursday afternoon from nearby with her two young children, who were entranced by the constant traffic of paragliders above the beach town of Porto Sant'Elipido in central Italy's Marche region. 'Everything was normal, then it started to spin like a top,'' Mirella Ivanov said Friday. 'It went down and we heard a roar. In fact, I turned around because I thought it crashed on the rocks. Then I saw two lifeguards running, people who were running toward' the crash site. When she saw people trying to revive the occupant, she scurried her two children away. The city's mayor confirmed the death of 56-year-old Baumgartner, who was renowned as the first skydiver to fall faster than the speed of sound. The cause of the paragliding accident was under investigation. Police did not return calls asking for comment. 'It is a destiny that is very hard to comprehend for a man who has broke all kinds of records, who has been an icon of flight, and who traveled through space,' Mayor Massimiliano Ciarpella told The Associated Press. Ciarpella said that Baumgartner had been in the area on vacation, and that investigators believed he may have fallen ill during the fatal flight. Baumgartner's social media feed features videos of him in recent days flying on a motorized paraglider —known as paramotoring — above seaside towns, and taking off from a nearby airfield surrounded by cornfields. The Clube de Sole Le Mimose beachside resort where the crash occurred said in a statement that an employee who was 'slightly injured' in the accident was in good condition. No guests were injured, and the pool has been reopened. In 2012, Baumgartner, known as 'Fearless Felix,' became the first human to break the sound barrier with only his body. He wore a pressurized suit and jumped from a capsule hoisted more than 24 miles (39 kilometres) above Earth by a giant helium balloon over New Mexico. The Austrian, who was part of the Red Bull Stratos team, topped out at 843.6 mph — the equivalent of 1.25 times the speed of sound — during a nine-minute descent. At one point, he went into a potentially dangerous flat spin while still supersonic, spinning for 13 seconds, his crew later said. Baumgartner's altitude record stood for two years until Google executive Alan Eustace set new marks for the highest free-fall jump and greatest free-fall distance. In 2012, millions watched YouTube's livestream as Baumgartner coolly flashed a thumbs-up when he came out of the capsule high above Earth and then activated his parachute as he neared the ground, lifting his arms in victory after he landed. Baumgartner, a former Austrian military parachutist, made thousands of jumps from planes, bridges, skyscrapers and famed landmarks, including the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil. In 2003, he flew across the English Channel in a carbon fiber wing after being dropped from a plane. In recent years, he performed with The Flying Bulls, an aviation team owned and operated by Red Bull, as a helicopter stunt pilot in shows across Europe. Red Bull paid Baumgartner tribute in a post Friday, calling him 'precise, demanding and critical. With others, but above all toward yourself.' The statement underlined the research and courage with which Baumgartner confronted 'the greatest challenges.' 'No detail was too small, no risk too great, because you were capable of calculating it,'' Red Bull said. Andrea Rosa, The Associated Press
The Sun
11-07-2025
- The Sun
I visited the tiny European island loved by Beyonce and Cristiano Ronaldo that has 300 days of sunshine a year
'JEFF Bezos was in this restaurant yesterday,' the waitress tells me. I'd spotted the Amazon owner's unmissable $500million yacht just off the coast, here on the Croatian island of Hvar, earlier that day. 5 5 Having just tucked into the fresh catch of the day, straight from the Adriatic Sea, I can see why Bezos chose to dine here. The family-run Kod Barba Luke, in the quaint harbour town of Stari Grad, has been dishing up traditional Croatian grub since 1970, all of which is cooked in home-produced olive oil and washed down with local wine from UNESCO-listed vineyards. Good choice, Jeff. He's not the only A-lister to have been spotted in these parts, either. This island — well over 500 times smaller than Britain — is actually something of a celebrity hotspot. Beyonce revealed her baby bump here and Tom Cruise is a fan. Cristiano Ronaldo even had a street shut down so he could visit his favourite jewellery shop, away from fans. Many of the island's 10,000-odd residents would prefer their homeland wasn't such a star attraction, though. So much so, the local government recently launched a crackdown on the party tourism that the island has become famous for. They well know that this haven has so much more to offer than late-night discos and affordable booze. And I completely agree with them. It's a jaw-droppingly beautiful cultural crossroads; a rich Mediterranean melting pot of Neolithic, Greek, Venetian and Renaissance history. And the sun has its hat on for more than 300 days of the year, making it one of the sunniest places in Europe. Holiday island just a 2.5hour flight from London is 'as good as Ibiza' Local tour guide Ivana takes me away from the glamour of Hvar town's bustling harbour at the foot of a picturesque hilltop medieval fortress, to uncover something more peaceful and utterly beguiling. I meander through labyrinthine stone streets to find charming boutiques, cafes and restaurants behind fairytale-like limestone facades. Ivana reveals that Hvar has no less than six assets assigned Unesco World Heritage status, including the vast Stari Grad Plain. A short drive into its heart, past vineyards flanked by dry-stone walls, takes me to the Lacman Family Winery. I dine on local dishes including rooster, and taste all-natural white, rose, red and even orange wines. Beyonce revealed her baby bump here and Tom Cruise is a fan. Cristiano Ronaldo even had a street shut down so he could visit his favourite jewellery shop, away from fans All are blended with Bogdanusa — the indigenous grape variety which translates as 'God-given' and grows nowhere else in the world. The view from the winery's clifftop pergola reveals exactly why Jeff arrived by yacht. I gaze across rolling hills of pine trees, olive groves and lavender fields towards the midday sun reflecting on the azure horizon. Your budget may not stretch to a superyacht, but a day on the Adriatic — at a minimum — is a must. Just minutes from Hvar town port are the famous Pakleni islands — and day excursions can be booked via Valamar's Experience Concierge (a four-hour sunset tour costs from €80 and a six-hour day tour costs from €100, see I board a small sailing boat to swim in lost lagoons and find concealed coves full of crystal-clear sea. After seeing this, it's no surprise to me that Croatia officially has the cleanest swimming water in Europe. My hotel is Places Hvar by Valamar, which sits towards the western side of the island, right on the coast. Holiday like Jeff After a two-and-a-half-hour flight from the UK, you will need to pick up a short transfer to a ferry, for a two-hour crossing, or a catamaran for a one-hour crossing, and then a brief taxi ride on Hvar — but the hotel can help organise all of that. It is a modern, vibrant and small, but perfectly formed, beachside resort in Stari Grad. Stroll through the sun-dappled pine grove lining the waterfront and you will find a little spa, outdoor gym area and hot tubs, plus another cocktail bar on the beach I'm staying on a half-board basis in a beach-chic room for two, which is funky and fresh, with a TV, ensuite bathroom and balcony. Although there are luxurious detached villas with private pools for bigger groups or those with children. If you do have kids, you may prefer the adjacent four-star Valamar Amicor Resort, with its outstanding children's facilities and waterpark. Places, on the other hand, has a more grown-up vibe, with a beautifully free-flowing layout, a main restaurant and bar that opens on to two sun-drenched pools and an outdoor cocktail bar, where a DJ drops some gentle beats during the day. Stroll through the sun-dappled pine grove lining the waterfront and you will find a little spa, outdoor gym area and hot tubs, plus another cocktail bar on the beach. A relaxing evening drink delivers a chaser in the sky made up of vivid orange, purple and pink as the sun sinks beyond the sea. You can charge the exquisite range of creative cocktails, made with local herbs, to your room with a waterproof wristband, which is also your door key. 5 5 Brilliantly, it comes pre-loaded with a complimentary €25 euros for each day of your stay. The evenings are chilled — a band plays acoustic music while couples enjoy board games and cards. With cheap flights and double rooms from just £123, my getaway was proof that you don't need to be an internet billionaire to holiday like one.
The Independent
10-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
A new pest threatens Italy's risotto dish: the flamingo
Farmers in northeastern Italy are grappling with an unexpected and colourful adversary: flamingos. The recent arrivals are wreaking havoc on rice fields in Ferrara province, a key area for risotto rice production. They do not consume the seedlings, but use their webbed feet to churn up the soil, dislodging mollusks, algae, and insects from the shallow waters. The rice crop is collateral damage. Local growers patrol the fields day and night, blaring truck horns, banging barrels, and deploying small gas cannons that emit thunderous booms. But these desperate efforts largely prove futile, merely sending the flocks to another nearby paddy to continue their destructive foraging. Enrico Fabbri, a local grower, has reported production losses of as much as 90 per cent in some of his planted areas. 'These are new things that have never happened before. You invest so much time and care into preparing everything," Mr Fabbri, 63, said beside one of his paddies on the outskirts of Jolanda di Savoia. "Then, just as the crop begins to grow, it's like having a newborn child taken away. That's what it feels like." The flamingos appear to have come from their prior nesting grounds in the nearby Comacchio Valleys within a reserve on the coast, just south of where the Po River – Italy's longest – flows into the Adriatic Sea. The birds have been there since 2000, after drought in southern Spain sent them searching for nesting grounds further east, said Roberto Tinarelli, an ornithologist and president of the Emilia-Romagna Ornithologists Association. Previously, they had been confined to lakes in North Africa, parts of Spain and a bit of France's Camargue region, Mr Tinarelli said. There have not yet been any studies to determine why these flamingos started seeking food further inland, where farmers flood their fields from late spring to early summer as a means of germinating newly planted rice seeds. Until the paddies are drained after a few weeks, the flamingos are a threat. 'Obviously, we are looking for answers from those who have to deal with the problem. From an environmental point of view, all this is beautiful, but we must keep in mind that rice cultivation is among the most expensive, extensive crops," said Massimo Piva, a 57-year-old rice grower and vice-president of the local farmers' confederation. 'They are beautiful animals, it's their way of moving and behaving, but the problem is trying to limit their presence as much as possible." Mr Tinarelli suggested several solutions to fend off flamingos that are more humane and effective than the horns and gas cannons. He said paddies could be surrounded with tall trees or hedges, and water levels of freshly planted paddies could be reduced to between 2 and 4 inches (5 and 10 centimetres), instead of 12 inches (30 centimetres). 'This is sufficient for the rice to grow, but decidedly less attractive to flamingos, which must splash around in the water,' he said.
