Latest news with #Puglia
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
The best holidays to book for July 2025, from Suffolk staycations to Indian rail adventures
School holidays don't start till quite late in July this year, leaving time to explore parts of Europe before prices shoot up and the crowds descend. Check out one of the most attractive resorts along Turkey 's Izmir coast and plunge into the clear waters of the Aegean Sea. Southern Italy also beckons, with the hilltop towns and long sandy beaches of Puglia. If you're looking for a grand adventure, let an escorted rail tour of India take you into its summertime hill stations and astounding mountain scenery. Once the school holidays kick in, take the family to one of Atlantic France's most appealing coastal villages. Stay closer to home in a cosy cottage in Suffolk, or indulge in a foodie break on the Scottish island of Islay. Whichever holiday you're thinking about taking in July, have a look at these ideas. Soak up the sunshine and sophisticated vibe of Mark Warner Phokaia Beach Resort near Foça in Izmir, where you can be as active or as lazy as you like. Take advantage of the huge range of activities – tennis, pickleball, watersports and fitness, among many others – plus four pools and a fabulous stretch of beach right in front of the hotel. Travel on 1 July when prices start at £1,199pp, including flights, transfers, five days' full-board and two days' half-board accommodation. India If Race Across the World has inspired you to travel to India, do it in comfort and style with this Royal Indian Odyssey escorted journey with Mercury Holidays. Over 15 days, you'll travel by rail and coach between Delhi and Mumbai to see such classic sights as Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Mehrangarh Fort and lake-filled Udaipur. Prices for a 16 July departure start at £2,099pp, saving £200, and include flights, transfers, entrance fees, 13 excursions and 39 meals. Italy Bask in views of one of Puglia's most delightful hilltop towns from your own hilly perch at Hotel Monte Sarago. Its outdoor pool overlooking Ostuni's old town is the place for laid-back afternoons after you've spent the day exploring Puglia's beaches, historic towns, cute white trulli buildings and tranquil coastal nature reserves. Citalia has five nights at Hotel Monte Sarago from 4 July from £950pp, including flights, transfers and breakfast. Hole up in the pretty Suffolk village of Yoxford when you stay at Coach House Cottage, whose extensive gardens roll down towards the River Yox. This characterful two-bedroom cottage has plenty of places to relax and dine indoors and out, and also includes a barbecue. There's a pub within staggering distance, and the nearest beach is six miles away. Booked through Suffolk Secrets, it's available from 6 July for £607 for five nights' self-catering. France 'Camping in France ' is the usual failsafe idea that pops up during the school holidays when you want to take the children away and not spend a fortune. But at Siblu's Les Viviers, you'll be in one of France's loveliest places to stay, Cap Ferret, on its wild Atlantic coast. Stay in a two-bedroom mobile home from 29 July for seven nights from £1,033 for a family of four, and you'll have a week of swimming in the site's lake and private beach and more activities than the kids will have time for. And you can visit the oyster villages running along the peninsula, take a boat to Arcachon and even pop down to the massive Dune du Pilat, Europe's highest sand dune. Scotland Get away from it all on a weekend break at Another Place The Machrie on Islay, one of the most enchanting islands in Scotland – not to mention among the booziest thanks to its nine whisky distilleries. Book a room at The Machrie and enjoy long walks along the seven-mile sandy beach, or play a round of golf. Prices for a three-night break from Friday to Monday or Saturday to Tuesday cost from £928 per room, including breakfast, one dinner and one Sunday lunch, plus discounts on golf and spa treatments.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Influencer hits back at trolls after bikini body-shaming comments
A Melbourne influencer has clapped back at body-shaming trolls who made derogatory comments about her after she posted a photo in a bikini. Rozalian Russian, 37, boasts 268k followers on Instagram and took to her stories on Wednesday night to share an important message with them – that women are so much more than what they look like. She posted a screenshot of someone's comment on her post, which showed her lounging on a towel in a brown crochet bikini on a sun-soaked beach in Puglia, Italy. 'What happened to your stomach?' the cruel follower asked her via direct messages, accompanied by two crying emojis. Russian kept her response classy and direct: 'Kids'. Not stopping there, she shared a few more stories to drive her point home. Over photos of her two children, Willow, 11, and Kingston, eight, she wrote: 'My stomach created this and this'. Thankfully, many other fans flooded the mum-of-two's photo with praise. 'You look amazing!' said one, while another called her 'stunning'. 'Those legs!' another woman gushed. Fellow influencer Steph Claire Smith commented with the love-heart eyes emoji, while content creator Brooke Warne replied, saying she was 'Obsessed' with the photo, and Bec Judd left a love heart. Others remarked that she looked 'angelic' and was 'glowing'. The influencer, who is married to 'nightclub king of Australia', Nick Russian, has previously discussed how she deals with trolls. 'To be honest, if someone doesn't like what I am wearing or how I have styled my hair, well that's their opinion and they are entitled to it,' she told Husskie. 'Once you go through some hardship in your life, it sounds cliche, but strangers typing nasty comments from behind their computer screens doesn't really rate.' 'You don't really come across happy successful people who spend time writing nasty comments,' she added. Russian has developed a cult following over the years for her style savvy and impeccable fashion-forward taste. However, she also dabbles in health and wellness content and has opened up in the past about being an ex-ballerina and her relationship with fad diets. 'I have tried different fitness programs, diets, juice cleanses and fads but this often left me feeling miserable and I couldn't sustain them long term,' Russian told Body + Soul. 'I would go from being extremely healthy to bingeing on fast food; there was no in-between!' Now, she advocates for a more balanced approach to health and wellness. 'I try to cook homemade dinners Monday through Thursday,' she explains. 'I'll have a salad or soup for lunch and then make a healthy pasta or meat and vegetables for dinner'. By the end of the week, her family often heads out to dinner or orders takeaway because: 'If you can't enjoy yourself on the weekend, then when can you?' However, she faced a setback with her health recently when her arthritis in her hands began to flare up in January. She took to her account to candidly share her journey with her followers. 'It's been so swollen and painful for the last couple of months,' she said. 'It was so crippling, I couldn't even hold a hairbrush. It was really disheartening'. She said she is currently managing her arthritis through diet and lifestyle under the guidance of a doctor.
CBC
3 days ago
- Automotive
- CBC
Stellantis has a new CEO. What are his main challenges?
Antonio Filosa was appointed chief executive of automaker Stellantis on Wednesday, following the departure of Carlos Tavares in December. Filosa has headed Stellantis operations in North America since last October, with the task of reviving sales at the group's powerhouse. In a sign of his growing influence, the interim executive committee led by Chairman John Elkann gave him the additional role of global chief for quality in February. In turn, Filosa handed over the role of head of the Jeep brand, which he had held since 2023, to a colleague. Filosa joined Fiat Group in 1999 as a trainee. He covered several roles within the group, predominantly in Latin America. He became Fiat Chrysler chief in the region in 2018 and then served as Stellantis COO for South America. An Italian national, Filosa was born in the southern city of Naples, spent his youth in the region of Puglia in the south, and graduated in engineering from Milan's Polytechnic. He will turn 52 next month. Here are some the main challenges he faces. Regain market share The first task will be to revive sales at Stellantis, the world's No. 4 automaker by sales, which has lost market share in the U.S. and Europe. Dealers on both sides of the Atlantic complained that rising prices at its mass-market brands under Tavares put vehicles beyond the reach of many customers. Delays in model launches, disappointing EV demand and increased competition from Asian rivals also led to bloated inventories of unsold vehicles that weakened the group's results. Electric vehicle transition Automakers face regulatory uncertainty after U.S. President Donald Trump turned against EVs, and many expect Europe could also slow the shift towards electrification in the industry. Stellantis, whose brands include Fiat, Peugeot and Jeep, has a target for all of its European passenger car sales to be electric by 2030, and for half of its cars and light-duty truck sales in the U.S. to be electric by the same date. However, after EV sales growth slowed in many markets, Stellantis has increased its focus on hybrid models as a compromise between the need to reduce carbon emissions and meet customer demand for cheaper vehicles. At the same time, automakers such as Stellantis must seek to keep pace with innovation in the EV sector, which is dominated by Tesla and Chinese competitors. U.S. tariffs In April, Stellantis suspended its guidance for a moderate recovery this year, after a profit drop in 2024, due to the uncertain impact of Trump's tariffs. The Jeep and Chrysler maker last year imported over 40 per cent of the 1.2 million vehicles it sold in the United States, mostly from Mexico and Canada. CFO Doug Ostermann said the company was talking to suppliers about increasing U.S.-made content in its vehicles to reduce the impact of tariffs. The company operates assembly plants in Mexico that make Ram pick-ups and vans, as well as the Jeep Compass mid-sized SUV. The group owns two assembly plants in Canada. In one, it makes Chrysler models, and another is scheduled to resume output of a new Jeep model this year. Brand portfolio The new CEO faces tough decisions on the company's 14 brands, a legacy of its creation through the merger in 2021 of Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA. Tavares said last July he might be prepared to axe underperforming brands. Brands seen by analysts as vulnerable include the premium Alfa Romeo, DS and Lancia. They expect Dodge and Chrysler to survive, despite a less than stellar performance, as they have U.S. driver recognition and appeal to specific market segments. Suppliers The new CEO will also need to pursue an effort, initiated by Chairman John Elkann, to rebuild relations with suppliers, after Tavares' focus on cost-cutting. Many long-standing Stellantis suppliers have come under pressure from lower demand and margins and the group's attempts to move its operations to low-cost countries to increase efficiency. Capacity overhang In common with other legacy automakers, Stellantis has excess production capacity, especially in Europe. Analysts estimate Stellantis' capacity utilisation in Europe and North America is between 50 per cent and 60 per cent. Competitors, such as Volkswagen and Ford have tackled this problem, including through plant closures and job cuts. Any measures by Stellantis to adapt to the stagnating auto market by adjusting capacity to try to boost profitability would inevitably have an impact on the group's relations with governments and unions. China challenge Stellantis has no significant presence in China, but Chinese automakers have taken an increased share of the European market, especially with their competitively priced EVs. It responded by teaming up with China's Leapmotor in what is sometimes referred to as the group's 15th brand. Stellantis holds a 51 per cent stake in their Leapmotor International joint venture and has exclusive rights to build, export and sell Leapmotor products outside China in the first such arrangement for a legacy Western automaker.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
From trainee to CEO: Antonio Filosa, the new boss of Jeep maker Stellantis
MILAN, May 28 (Reuters) - Carmaker Stellantis ( opens new tab has appointed Antonio Filosa, the Italian head of its North American operations, as its chief executive, effective from June 23, it said on Wednesday. Following are some facts about the new head of the group whose brands include Fiat, Peugeot and Jeep: * Filosa has headed Stellantis operations in North America since last October, with the task of reviving sales at the group's powerhouse. * In a sign of his growing influence, the interim executive committee led by Chairman John Elkann gave him the additional role of global chief for quality in February. In turn, Filosa handed over the role of head of the Jeep brand, which he had held since 2023, to a colleague. * Filosa joined Fiat Group in 1999 as a trainee. He covered several roles within the group, predominantly in Latin America. He became Fiat Chrysler chief in the region in 2018 and then served as Stellantis COO for South America. * An Italian national, Filosa was born in the southern city of Naples, spent his youth in the region of Puglia in the south, and graduated in engineering from Milan's Polytechnic. He will turn 52 next month. * Married to a Brazilian architect, he is the father of two sons and has a passion for water polo.
Times
5 days ago
- Times
10 of the best villas in Italy with a pool
Whether you're dreaming of golden vineyard views from a Tuscan terrace, your own briny beach house on a far-flung Sicilian island, or a cool modernist monolith on the shores of Lake Como, the one thing most of us can probably agree on when it comes to a summertime villa is that it's better with a pool. We've picked some of the best, from a curvaceous cave house with a palm-fringed infinity pool on the sands of Panarea to an architect's crisp Le Corbusier-style getaway north of Siracusa that brings the water in — plus a noble villa in the north that not only comes with three swimming spots, but a driver to transport you between them. Enjoy. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue £££ | Sleeps 8 No slapdash modern builders here: the Romans made the pool at Zu Nillu, and it has been a fixture ever since, in this labyrinthine stone quarry in the Egadi Islands off Sicily's western flank. The theatrical tufa house descends from ground level into the void, furnished with tasteful antiques and surrounded by a vibrant Mediterranean garden. Roof spaces afford jaw-dropping views over the bay of Cala Rossa, with a barbecue for long, lazy lunches. There's an alfresco bathroom out among the carob trees, and a gate from the garden to a private path that takes you down to the sea. • Read our full guide to Sicily ££ | Sleeps 8 At the heart of a sprawling olive grove in Puglia, Tenuta Fonte reminds you that the deep roots of the south are as Greek as they are Roman. Yet the interiors of this neat white cube are all Italian in style, with mid-century classic furnishings and bold colours the backdrop to your stay. The saltwater pool is just one highlight in the secluded grounds: there's also an outdoor kitchen, pick-your-own vegetable garden and plenty of shady spaces to eat and lounge. The sandy beach at Torre Canne is ten minutes away by car. • Discover our full guide to Italy £££ | Sleeps 12 Nowhere in Italy is a rental more likely to break the bank than Capri, but if you're in the market for an off-season oasis with views out across the Tyrrhenian Sea from its smart little pool, Villa Platani is 'The One'. Glued dramatically onto the cliffside, this modernist 12-bedder is an exercise in restrained luxe — all white linen, bleached wood and basketweave within, bougainvillea, roses and jasmine on the terraces without. A private funicular connects you to La Piazzetta, Capri's main square, for the ritziest passeggiata you'll ever see, and a chef is available on request to add to the sense of occasion. • More of the best luxury villas in Italy ££ | Sleeps 20 Halfway between Florence and Siena, in the sleepy Val di Pesa, Villa Chiantisol offers the classic Tuscan dream: a vast honey-stone farmhouse at the end of a sloping drive, with lush green hills and low vineyard terraces as far as the eye can see. Interiors are a cool mix of traditional terracotta, oak and linen — the decorator got funky with the bedroom finishes — but it's the outside spaces that thrill. A knockout sunken pool and Jacuzzi promise lazy afternoons in the sun, while a series of smart loggias offer far-reaching views and some welcome afternoon shade. • Best vineyard hotels in Tuscany £££ | Sleeps 10 A brand-new lakefront build on Como's western shore, Villa Audace is a stunner. This modern five-bedroom masterpiece has all the design boxes ticked: wraparound windows, timber cladding, poured-concrete floors, stainless-steel kitchen and classic furnishings from the school of Poltrona Frau. From the waterside infinity pool you get views out to pretty Isola Comacina, while a hot tub and sauna offer alternative lounging possibilities. Extras include cookery lessons, yoga classes and spa treatments; you can order up a private chef; and a skippered boat is available to get you over to Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni on the nights you don't want to cook. • Best hotels in Lake Como ££ | Sleeps 10 Antika has an illustrious pedigree: this curvaceous seafront villa was designed and built by architect Paolo Tilche, who created the starry Hotel Raya on this smallest of the seven Aeolian Islands back in the 1950s. In addition to three white-cube guesthouses — Cactus, Wisteria and Bougainvillea — dotted about the volcanic gardens, Antika sleeps ten, with guests sharing a series of panoramic terraces and a meandering split-level living space. The decor is typically Aeolian: lofty cane ceilings, creamy plasterwork and weathered woods embrace built-in seats and recessed beds for an atmosphere of calm and cool. The palm-fringed infinity pool gives directly onto the sea. £££ | Sleeps 20 Less fly-and-flop, more stand-to-attention smart, Villa Sigurta, in the Veneto, boasts a liveried staff and three on-site pools — with a dedicated driver to transport you and your beach bag between them. This Palladian house — with three guest lodges — has hosted Napoleon III and our own King Charles in lavish splendour, yet the decor has a sense of fun, with trompe l'oeil frescoes and fantastical sculptures dotted about the place. Neighbouring Borghetto sul Mincio is a member of the Borghi piu Belli d'Italia — a club of Italy's most beautiful villages. It more than lives up to the billing. £ | Sleeps 4 Six miles south of the ancient Greek city of Siracusa, Villa Gadir could not look more modernist. It's hard to see where this Le Corbusier-style build ends and the saltwater pool begins, so skilfully do the two intertwine. The open-plan living and dining areas, and two bedrooms, all open onto the water, giving this bright white box a floating Tardis feel. The villa stands 50 metres from the sea, the Plemmirio marine reserve is a five-minute drive away and Sicily's baroque highlights of Ragusa, Noto and Modica are all within easy reach. ££ | Sleeps 6 Part of the Borgo Smeraldo resort, Villa Fichi d'India is one of seven new rentals, each with its own private pool, in the grounds of a boutique hotel between the Sardinian hotspots of Porto Cervo and Porto Rotondo. Suite-based accommodation is split between two low stone houses supported by chestnut beams — in the style of the local stazzi farmsteads — with a shared kitchen and living space styled in shades of green and grey. Guests can access the spectacular three-tier hilltop pool attached to the hotel, with views of the turquoise waters and silver sands of the Costa Smeralda nearby. • Discover our full guide to Sardinia £££ | Sleeps 10 This delightfully chic retreat on the Monte Argentario coast — described as 'the new Amalfi' — is owned by the decorator to Italy's coolest crowd. Sandwiched between the workaday fishing town of Porto Santo Stefano on one side, and the absurdly glamorous Hotel Pellicano and Porto Ercole on the other, Cacciarella is a villa for those in the know. Interiors are mid-century chic, finishes of the highest quality, and the garden pool and gym provide ample workout — and relaxation — opportunities. • Lake Como v Lake Garda: which one should you visit?• Best villas on the Amalfi Coast
