Latest news with #ItalianAlps
Travel Daily News
22-07-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Jet2.com adds Verona to ski programme from Edinburgh Airport
adds Verona to its ski destinations from Edinburgh for Winter 25/26 and 26/27, expanding access to Italian Alps. Following continued demand from skiers and snowboarders, has expanded its ski programme by adding Verona to its line-up of ski destinations from Edinburgh Airport. The leading leisure airline has put new ski services on sale to Verona for both Winter 25/26 and Winter 26/27, representing an additional 4,000 ski seats on sale. Verona is an exclusive destination to from Edinburgh Airport in winter. New weekly Saturday services will be available from Edinburgh Airport from 7th February 2026 for Winter 25/26, which are perfectly timed for the 2026 Winter Olympics, and for Winter 26/27 from 26th December 2026, meaning customers can slope off to the snow during the Christmas holidays. The flights are scheduled to operate in the morning, offering friendly flight times for snow enthusiasts looking to make the most of their winter escape. has ski flights on sale to six ski destinations from Edinburgh Airport for both Winter 25/26 and Winter 26/27 – Verona, Chambery, Geneva, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Turin. The addition of Verona to ski programme from Edinburgh Airport means customers can access the Italian Alps and the many ski resorts, slopes and views it offers. Skiers and snowboarders can take advantage of several popular ski resorts located close to Verona, including Val di Fassa, nestled in the Trentino region and one of Italy's largest ski areas, Madonna di Campiglio, situated in the Brenta Dolomites of Northern Italy, and Cortina d'Ampezzo, a charming ski resort in the Dolomites offering stunning scenery and world-class ski runs. As a result of this expansion, will operate to Verona from two UK bases in Winter 25/26 and Winter 26/27 – Edinburgh Airport and Manchester Airport, giving customers access to some of the country's top ski and snowboarding resorts located close to the popular winter sports destination. ski programme is on sale from across ten of its UK bases (Belfast International, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle International and London Stansted) and gives snow sports fans plenty of choice and flexibility when it comes to hitting the slopes this winter and next. In addition to this wide choice of destinations, dates and flights, customers booking and travelling on ski flights with get to enjoy VIP customer service which has seen the UK's third largest airline win numerous awards and accolades. Customers can also enjoy a 10kg hand luggage and 22kg baggage and 22kg ski carriage with Steve Heapy, CEO of and Jet2holidays, said: 'We are experiencing continued demand from skiers and snowboarders clamouring to book the best of the action for this winter and next and our ski flights are selling very well. As a result, we are delighted to be expanding our ski programme even further and giving snow sports fans more choice, with the addition of Verona from Edinburgh Airport for Winter 25/26 and Winter 26/27. Verona provides fantastic access to the best ski resorts in the Italian Alps, whether you are a beginner or an expert, with several resorts within easy reach. With perfectly timed flights, we are giving skiers access to the best ski resorts across Europe, and we know our new ski services to Verona from Edinburgh Airport, along with those already on sale, will be a huge hit with snow sports enthusiasts.'
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Ötzi the Iceman and his neighbors had totally different ancestries, ancient DNA study finds
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A new analysis of ancient DNA from 15 people who lived in the Italian Alps around the same time as Ötzi the Iceman shows that Ötzi's ancestry was decidedly different from his neighbors'. "We analysed an additional 15 Copper Age individuals and they have the same genetic structure as the Iceman," Valentina Coia, a researcher at the Institute for Mummy Studies in Bolzano, Italy, told Live Science in an email. But when looking more closely at the DNA to understand lineages, "we were able to compare the results with those of the Iceman and found that it differs from the other Alpine samples in the area." In a study published July 11 in the journal Nature Communications, Coia and colleagues analyzed the genomes of 47 people who lived in the Tyrolean Alps between the Mesolithic and the Middle Bronze Age, around 6400 to 1300 B.C., to learn more about their ancestry. The most famous individual they examined was Ötzi, who lived 5,300 years ago in the Alps before he was murdered in mysterious circumstances. His mummified and frozen corpse was discovered by tourists in 1991. Because a previous study found that Ötzi had "unusually high Anatolian farmer ancestry," the researchers wanted to investigate whether the Iceman's neighbors — who lived in the Alps in the Copper Age, between 3368 and 3108 B.C. — had a similar ancestry or whether they were more closely related to hunter-gatherer groups from the Eurasian Steppe. The researchers' analysis of the ancient genomes revealed that most prehistoric Alpine people had high proportions of Anatolian farmer ancestry (80% to 90%) and low proportions of hunter-gatherer ancestry. Most of these people also displayed a similar genomic structure and ancestry, they wrote in the study. For example, the Y-chromosome data, which helps trace paternal lineage, revealed that nearly all males who were tested shared a similar ancestry that has been found in prehistoric Germany and France. Ötzi, by contrast, had a different paternal lineage that was more widespread, the researchers wrote. Related: Ötzi the Iceman used surprisingly modern technique for his tattoos 5,300 years ago, study suggests While the paternal lineages of the prehistoric Alpine men were broadly similar, their maternal lineages were diverse, suggesting that women may have been marrying into a close-knit group of men. But Ötzi's maternal lineage has never been identified in other ancient or modern individuals, the researchers wrote, and it was not found in any of the other Alpine people analyzed in the study. "As the maternal line has never yet been found, this might suggest its extinction," Coia said. But she cautioned that the data are somewhat difficult to interpret. "Perhaps the Iceman, compared to other individuals of the same period, comes from a different group of farmers, but this can only be discovered if we have more data on Neolithic individuals from Anatolia and northern Italy," she said. Because a previous study had revealed Ötzi had dark hair and dark eyes, the researchers also looked for these traits in six individuals whose genomes were complete enough to predict hair and eye color. "These [people] likely had brown eyes associated with dark brown to black hair colour (similarly to the Iceman)," they wrote. And their genomes also revealed that all of the prehistoric Alpine people were lactose intolerant, as was Ötzi. RELATED STORIES —Ötzi the Iceman's mummified corpse was found in an Alpine gully — but he didn't die there, new study finds —Ötzi the Iceman may have scaled ice-free Alps —7 famous mummies and secrets they've revealed about the ancient world Prior to this study, only two genomes of Copper Age people from the eastern Italian Alps had been analyzed. The additional 15 new genomes from Ötzi's "neighbors" are improving the researchers' understanding of the lives of people who lived in this cold, high-altitude region. "We have no information on the cultural group to which the Iceman may have belonged," the researchers wrote, so "our findings leave open some questions about the genetic origin and cultural affiliation of this enigmatic individual."
Telegraph
17-07-2025
- Telegraph
British hiker found dead after going missing in Italian Alps
A British hiker has been found dead in the Italian Alps a week after he went missing on a solo trip. Matthew Hall, 33, from Hull, disappeared on July 9 after sending a text message to a friend saying he had taken a wrong turn and had decided to rest. Italian police told Mr Hall's family that he was missing later the same day. A search operation was launched, involving three helicopters, mountain rescue teams and a drone. On Wednesday evening, his body was discovered in a steep gully near the Cross of Daloo, a mountaintop viewpoint above the town of Chiavenna, where he had been staying since July 5. A helicopter was sent to assist with the recovery. Some of Mr Hall's friends and colleagues at a broadband company travelled to Italy to help look for him, and said they were devastated by the loss. 'We all absolutely loved him. At least we are bringing him home, back to where he should be,' said Sam Jackson, who was part of the search. Speaking to the BBC, Mr Jackson said the group had been optimistic they would find Mr Hall, and thanked police, rescue workers and the local community for giving them help and support. 'They have found our pal,' he said. Mr Jackson said Mr Hall loved snowboarding, skateboarding, and watching his local rugby league team, Hull KR. Mr Hall's mother arrived in Italy on Wednesday and his father is expected to join her on Friday. He was known to be a confident hiker with knowledge of mountains and rough terrain. It is thought that he was planning an eight-hour trek on the day of his disappearance. A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Italy and are in contact with the local authorities.'
BBC News
17-07-2025
- BBC News
Body found in search for British hiker Matthew Hall in Italy
Rescue teams searching for missing British man Matthew Hall in the Italian Alps have found a discovery was made on Wednesday evening, close to the Cross of Daloo, a mountain viewpoint high above the town of Chiavenna, where the 33-year-old, from Hull, had been Hall sent a photograph of the cross to friends on the day he went missing, leading to a search of trails in the police told the BBC the body was found at 19:00 local time and members of Mr Hall's family had been informed. Mr Hall was staying at the B&B Ploncher hotel when he disappeared on 9 July. He was thought to have been planning an eight-hour trek and had told a friend in a text message he had taken a wrong turn and was having a travelled to the town to help with the search and raise awareness that he was Hall began his solo hiking trip on 5 July and was due to have flown back from Milan to Manchester on 12 July. He was known to be a confident walker with knowledge of mountains and rugged family and friends have praised the Italian police, rescue workers and the community in Chiavenna for their help. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
The Guardian
15-07-2025
- The Guardian
The valleys of the Dolomites: exploring Italy's new network of wild trails
Thick white cloud hangs outside the windows of Rifugio Segantini, a mountain hut 2,373 metres up in the Italian Alps. But it is shifting, revealing glimpses of the majestic Brenta Dolomites before us: a patch of snow here, a craggy peak there. The view is tantalising, and a couple of times I have run outside in a kind of peekaboo farce to see the full display, only for it to pass behind clouds again. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. The refuge – cosy, wooden-clad and packed with hikers – is named after the Italian landscape painter Giovanni Segantini, who was inspired by these mountains. His portrait hangs on the walls and his name is embroidered on the lace curtains. A simple stone building with blue and white shutters in Val d'Amola, the refuge is dwarfed by its rugged surrounds, with Trentino's highest peak, the snow-capped 3,556-metre Presanella, as a backdrop. The entries in the guestbook are entirely by locals. For most British hikers, the eastern parts of the Dolomites, like the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Lago di Braies, towards Cortina, are better known. Few come to Trentino, and fewer still come to this part of the Adamello Brenta nature park. This, I am told, is the wild part of these mountains: less explored, with fewer tourists, and rousing 'bigger emotion', according to my mountain guide Nicola Binelli. (He climbed Presanella for the first time when he was six.) I'm here to sample the new Via delle Valli (the Trail of the Valleys), a network of 50 hiking routes covering 50 of Trentino's mountain valleys, which launches this month. It runs from ski capital Madonna di Campiglio down to Lake Idro, taking in both the Brenta Dolomites and the Adamello glacier, Italy's largest. Some are gentle family-friendly strolls; others are remote challenging climbs for which a mountain guide is recommended. Trails can be walked in a day, or strung together in a multi-day trek, making use of the area's mountain huts (open from June to September) and bivouac shelters. But exploring the whole route is a long-term project, intended to be walked over weeks, months or even years. These trails existed before, but they have been unified under the Via delle Valli. Their signage is being updated, maps and GPX files have been made available online, and a 'Valley Passport' has been introduced, which hikers can stamp at each valley as an encouragement to return. Each valley has a local ambassador, intended to pass their love and knowledge of the area on to others. The initiative, which has been three years in the making, is the brainchild of local tourist board manager Loredana Bonazza, who was inspired by Spain's famous Camino de Santiago. The idea, she explains, is to tempt mountain-lovers away from the area's hotspots, like Madonna di Campiglio and Val Genova, and towards adventures on lesser-charted trails. 'Every valley is different,' she says. 'We forget everything [in the mountains]: our stress, our jobs, our family problems. You really feel connected with the mountain. The result is: per scoprire; per scoprirsi. To discover; to discover yourself.' My focus is on two contrasting valleys – the rocky, rough Val D'Amola and neighbouring verdant Val Nambrone, where we begin by exploring one of its jewels: the breathtaking (literally) Lago Vedretta, at 2,600 metres. We climb from another hut, Rifugio Cornisello (newly renovated and all timber and glass), through green alpine pastures, up over a rocky lip, where the lake appears in all its glory. The landscape remains frozen, even in late June, with sheets of ice thawing into pale blue water. You'd be forgiven for thinking it was Patagonia, rather than Italy. There are around 100 bears in Trentino, as well as wolves, foxes, chamois, falcons and eagles. But on the way back to the refuge, where we are spending the night, we take a detour up above the turquoise Lago di Cornisello Superiore to spot fluffier mountain residents: marmots. There are plenty of them up here, promises Debora Rambaldini, ambassador for Val Nambrone and the first woman in the area to become a forest guard. We follow her up a lush green spur dotted with wildflowers, and stand in silence, listening to the sounds of rushing water. Rambaldini puts a finger to her lips. There, a flush of reddish fur, a marmot darting between rocks, bushy tailed. And better still, another sunbathing on a rock below, eyeing us with suspicion. The following day, we head to Val D'Amola. The route takes us around the inky Lago Nero and up over the Bocchetta de l'Om pass, backpacks fully loaded. Val D'Amola is only a few kilometres away, but it is a different world. It is more peat and bog, more Lord of the Rings. The water – grey here, not blue – thunders rather than babbles. But after lunch it's our ascent up to Quattro Cantoni, a steep ledge and the gateway to the next valley, that reveals more of these mountains' wild side. The cloud hangs low and thick, and apparently a storm is coming – soon. The sky rumbles above. Scrambling over rocks, tiptoeing on ledges and gingerly crossing patches of snow, the route is humbling: a reminder to improve my mountaineering skills. But safely back at Segantini, I feel elated. And the storm never comes. At Segantini, just as we sit down for our hearty mountain dinner of polenta, the clouds finally part. Seen from Cornisello, these jagged, teeth-like Dolomites appeared pastel pink in the sunset; now, they are slate-grey, foreboding, capped with snow. They fill the whole horizon. As the sky darkens, we can see the twinkling lights of another hut, the vast Tuckett which sleeps 120 people, slowly appear on their black flanks. I head to bed happy, and feel my heart racing with the altitude. It's a small, six-bed dorm room, with a window that looks back towards the way we came. Occasionally, distant flashes of lightning illuminate the room, disrupting the dark and quiet. Sleeping – and waking – above 2,000 metres, though, is special. Ordinary life, below the clouds, feels a long way down. Time slows, you can only focus on the present, the company, the view. Afterwards, a little part of me will stay up here at Segantini, waiting to come back and explore more of these wild mountains and the secrets of the Via delle Valli. The trip was provided by Trentino Marketing and the local tourist board. Dorm rooms at at Rifugio Cornisello €65 B&B or €90-€100 half-board, and €85 half-board at Rifugio Segantini. For more information about the Via delle Valli, visit
