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The Star
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Bari's big moment
ANTONIO Maria Vasile began working two years ago to connect the United States directly with Puglia, the heel of Italy's boot where many Italian Americans can trace their heritage. Vasile, the head of Puglia's airports, tried to convince carriers that they should set their sights not on Naples or Sicily but on Bari, arguing that the regional capital offers rich culture, history and cuisine worthy of their time and money. 'We don't want to be relegated to being the south,' he said, referring to deeply ingrained biases in Italy against the more economically disadvantaged regions south of Rome. His efforts paid off late last year, when Italian carrier Neos announced direct flights between Bari and New York's Kennedy Airport beginning the first week of June, the first-ever route linking Puglia to the United States. The seasonal flights will run once a week through October. Vasile sees opportunities for all of Puglia, from farmhouse inns to seaside villages, but also for his city of 330,000 people. Vasile, the head of Puglia's airports, sees opportunities for all of Puglia, from farmhouse inns to seaside villages, but also for his city of about 330,000 people. — Gianni Cipriano/The New York Times The port city on the Adriatic was once little more than a stopover, a gateway to the resplendent beach towns of southern Puglia or Greece via ferry. Bari was too sleepy and sketchy for most tourists, its old town so dangerous that even residents considered it off-limits. Puglia's many charms – a stunning coastline, beautiful architecture, relaxed feel – turned the region into a buzzy destination first. Regulars include Madonna, Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep. Lamborghinis await in the rental car garage. Last year, Italy picked Puglia for the G7 summit, hosting dignitaries in the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia. Now Bari, with its 14.5km seafront promenade and the tomb of the real St Nicholas, is beginning to capitalise on the region's growing appeal, its old days of mob crime mostly behind it. 'This great appeal to tourists has made the people of Bari rediscover a little bit of pride,' mayor Vito Leccese said. 'The more tourists come, the more important we feel, because it means our city is well-liked.' Yet there is also some trepidation among residents that – although Bari is hardly Florence, Rome or Venice – it, too, could be overrun by tourists, or at least profoundly reshaped by them. Does a city that only recently remade its identity now risk losing it? A man riding his bicycle through Piazza Mercantile in Bari. Foreigners – and residents – long avoided Bari's old town, which had been plagued by mob crime and now, with direct flights from the United States starting, residents are excited but wary. — Gianni Cipriano/The New York Times Tourists walking by the Norman-Swabian Castle, built around 1132 by Norman King Roger II, in Bari. — Gianni Cipriano/The New York Times Rents have surged in the city centre as many landlords have turned their properties into short-term rentals. Older people on fixed incomes have had to move farther away. So have students of the city's two universities, who represent the very demographic that local leaders say they want to keep, to help reverse decades of brain drain that have affected all of Italy, especially the south, as young people seek better jobs elsewhere. 'Bari is seen as a destination you pass through and then leave,' Mery Coppolecchia, a 22-year-old political science student, said as she sat in a bustling central plaza on the university's urban campus. 'It's a shame because if graduates and students don't stay here, then who does?' Even if they stay, tourism 'is not something stable', said Gabriele Tedesco, 21, a law student, noting that many hospitality jobs are seasonal or low paying. 'It is not something that can sustain, even in the long term, a city's economy.' For tourism to fuel economic development, local governments would also have to invest in public transportation to benefit residents and businesses, said Maria Grazia Cito, an adjunct professor of applied economics and tourism in Bari. It takes her an hour to drive into the city for work – or three hours on public transit. 'Residents should come first,' she said, or the city could lose its character. (Think Venice, which is charging a fee to day trippers who pack the city's antiquated streets, crowding out residents.) 'It's like Disneyland. It loses all its authenticity,' she said. Officials know they have much to do. 'If you want to rent a Ferrari in the airports of Puglia, it is not a problem,' said Vasile. 'The problem is finding a bus.' Bari has come so far that it is easy to be optimistic about its future, said Gianrico Carofiglio, a novelist and former anti-mafia prosecutor. He recalled how he avoided certain neighbourhoods in his youth because they were so crime-ridden. By the time his own daughter was a teenager, she was safe walking alone most anywhere at night. 'The city was transformed, from all points of view,' he said. More shops and cafes. More culture, including an annual film festival. More writers like him who set much of their work in Bari or Puglia. 'It was as if something had been uncorked and the city became an interesting place, full of life and opportunities – obviously with many problems still,' said Carofiglio, who now lives in Rome, crediting several capable administrations, and police officers and prosecutors like himself, for helping to turn around Bari. 'But it is a place where people come and are amazed.' Nunzia Capito making home-made ear-shaped orecchiette pasta which she sells along Arco Basso in Bari. — Gianni Cipriano/The New York Times The nightlife has grown so much that it has become a point of contention. When hundreds of young revellers stayed out dancing and singing in the streets near the city centre during the festival of St Nicholas recently, some residents threw buckets of water from their balconies to shoo them away. Most radically changed is Bari Vecchia, or Old Bari, the historic centre, once ruled by criminal clans. Now, walking tours take visitors to two grand churches: the cathedral and the Basilica of St Nicholas. Residents and tourists line up outside a hole-in-the-wall bakery for Bari-style focaccia. And foreigners join the throng of visitors to Arco Basso street, where women sell ear-shaped orecchiette pasta despite accusations that some sell store-bought goods and the periodic crackdowns on local restaurants that buy untraceable pasta. For now, Vasile understands that most of Bari's tourism will be centred on the warmest months – unlike Rome and Venice, which have plenty of visitors all year. Tourism slows so much in Bari's winter that many of its souvenir shops were still shut down in this season's waning days. Standing near the airport tarmac with a view of the Adriatic during that visitor lull, Vasile allowed himself to imagine a future in which Bari becomes a year-round destination. The flights from New York, he hopes, could just be the start. 'We have become aware of new possibilities,' he said. — ©2025 The New York Times Company This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Scottish Sun
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Iconic nightclub which hosted Rod Stewart & Stormzy to shut for good in days – as new owners reveal plans for venue
The venue has been a popular nightlife hotspot for more than 20 years FINAL DANCE Iconic nightclub which hosted Rod Stewart & Stormzy to shut for good in days – as new owners reveal plans for venue AN ICONIC nightclub which has hosted stars such as Rod Stewart and Stormzy is set to shut for good in just days. It marks the end of an era after the popular student hotspot and concert venue will close its doors for the last time after more than 20 years. Advertisement 1 PRYZM Kingston will officially shut up shop this month Credit: Alamy Pryzm Kingston, which has hosted Stormzy, Rod Stewart and Billie Eilish will officially close this month. The club on Clarence Street closed its disco room at 3.30am on June 28 but will welcome partygoers for one final night in the main room on July 12. A spokesperson for the club said earlier this week: "Pryzm is closing its doors for the final time on Saturday July 12 at 3.30am. Advertisement "We want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has stepped through our doors over the years. "Whether you came for a dance, poured a few drinks or had a spin on the decks, we've loved every minute of creating memories with you." The venue has been a popular nightlife hotspot for more than 20 years but the party isn't over just yet. The nightclub's owners, Neos Hospitality, has other plans for the space, submitting plans to convert the Grade II listed building into two new venues. Advertisement There will be a "party bar" on the ground floor, known as Bonnie Rogues, in addition to a new nightclub on the first and second floors called Circuit. Neos also want the spaces to continue Pryzm's live music legacy. The origins of the venue stretch back to 1939 when it was first built and known as the Granada Theatre. Following a building renovation it became a nightclub called Oceana in 2003 before it was rebranded as Pryzm in 2014. Advertisement Russell Quelch, the CEO of Neos, said they want the site to continue being a night out favourite for Londoners. He added: "Thousands of people have made memories that will last them a lifetime, from over 20 years of amazing nights out at PRYZM and Oceana before it." "The closure is the end of a long running chapter for the Kingston club scene, but it's time to look to the future and reimagine what this site could hold, in a fresh new look at nightlife for next generation of UK party lovers." Neos bought club from previous owners Rekom UK after they went bust in 2024. Advertisement At the time, Rekom had announced they were closing more than a dozen venues with immediate effect after plunging into administration. The company cited cost of living pressures and rising business rates and operational costs for the closures. But 11 of their sites were sold and remained open under new owners which included Kingston's PRYZM. The UK nightclub industry was hit hard by the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, with many other venues closing in recent years. Advertisement High energy costs have crippled businesses and soaring inflation has seen punters cutting back on nights out. According to the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), there has been a 32.7 per cent decline in activity since 2020.
Time Out
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
One of London's most iconic student nightclubs is officially closing for good
Downing bright blue bottles of VK and screaming along to ABBA remixes while moving around a sticky-floored nightclub is a rite of passage for uni students up and down the British Isles. And London's Pryzm Kingston, which sits in the Grade II-listed former Granada Cinema, has long been the epitome of that experience. But after more than 20 years of gloriously messy night outs and appearances from the likes of Stormzy, Billie Eilish, Rod Stewart and Billie Eilish, Pryzm Kingston (previously called Oceana) has finally reached the end of an era. The club on Clarence Street will close its disco room for the last time at 3.30am on Saturday, June 28 and will host it's final party in the main room on July 13. When its previous owners, Rekom UK, went bust, the Kingston club was one of the few Pryzm venues to remain open after being sold to Neos Hospitality. Now, Neom has other plans for the space. Earlier this year, Neos announced that had submitted plans to convert the building into two new venues, with a 'party bar' on the ground floor, known as Bonnie Rogues, and a new nightclub on the first and second floors, called Circuit. Neos also wants the new spaces to continue Pryzm's live music legacy. Russell Quelch, the CEO of Neos, said: 'Thousands of people have made memories that will last them a lifetime, from over 20yrs of amazing nights out at PRYZM and Oceana before it. 'The closure is the end of a long running chapter for the Kingston club scene, but it's time to look to the future and reimagine what this site could hold, in a fresh new look at nightlife for next generation of UK party lovers.'
New York Post
12-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Fresh flights send New Yorkers running for Italy's high heel
This month, Italian startup carrier Neos launched the first ever nonstop direct flights from America to the country's buzziest region, Puglia. The JFK to Bari route will operate once weekly through Oct. 15, with prices starting from $1,000 for standard economy seating and an upgraded Premium Relax cabin for around $400 more. The outbound flight is on Tuesday, with the return from Bari every Wednesday over that window. 5 Fly direct from JFK with Neos. Michela Celi Even better, there's a stylish and roomy new lounge at Bari airport so you can wait for that return in style. The region's been on the rise for a decade or more, but local experts say the Dolce & Gabbana show, which took place on a makeshift runway winding through the fairytale-like cottages, known as trulli, in Alberobello two years ago turbocharged curiosity. 'We saw a 120% increase in booking from US clients from the region for 2024, after that,' said Ben Julius, who runs Tourist Italy. 'And we already see a 50% increase on that for 2025.' Still, you won't have to worry about over-tourism issues as you might in Venice peak season or, certainly, in Rome during this Jubilee Year. Puglia's at its Goldilocks stage, right now, per Stellavision Travel's Zoe Shapiro, it's just right. 'The region is definitely in that incredible moment where there are wonderful hospitality options to be had but it's not over-explored yet.' 5 Puglia's OG boutique retreat, Masseria Trapana, is newly refreshed. Handout Thankfully, there's already a raft of superb hotels on tap. Pick of them is the chic makeover of the nine-room Masseria Trapana, run by expat Aussie Rob Potter-Saunders, who was a visionary when he opened a decade ago. La Fiermontina in central Lecce is a cluster of three properties, owned by a pair of wealthy Moroccan-Italian siblings. Book one of the four rooms they've installed in the museum they operate in tribute to their grandmother, a famous artists' muse born nearby. 5 Park at palace perches like La Fiermontina Palazzo Bozzi Corso in Lecce. La Fiermontina New this year: the buyout-only 10-bedroom mansion house Casina Cinquepozzi, in the tiny village of Putignano, best known in Italy for its carnival celebrations. Nigerian jewelry designer Thelma West and her Neopolitan husband, Stefano Liotta, bought it to turn it into a stylish retreat for creatives. Otherwise, check out Trulli e Puglia, said Embark Beyond's Jack Ezon. 'Mimmo Patrizio Palmisano is the mayor of Alberobello, and a great guy who will invite you to his home,' he raved. 5 Enjoy a swish stay at Casina Cinquepozzi, Handout Don't miss the chance for a candelit meal in Grotta Palazzese on the waterfront in Polignano a Mare — not for the food, but for the setting, in dramatic grottos carved out from the cliffs there. The menu's more impressive at the Michelin-nodded Meraviglioso nearby — try some of the assorted pesce crudo. Wine lovers should make sure not to miss the 20-seater My Wine in Monopoli, where host-owner Gianni de Bellis offers advice and an encyclopedic selection. Olive groves abound here, too, of course and to see a farm dating back to the Roman era, complete with forests of hundred-plus-year old trees at Antica Masseria Brancati. Most of the action in Puglia, especially noteworthy hotels, is centered on the Adriatic stretch between the cities of Brindisi and Bari, but if you want to lounge on a top tier beach, you'll need to head over to the other, Ionian Coast, where the sandy spits are far more appealing. Campomarino is a standout, or head over to Tarento for boat trips to spot the Ionian dolphin in the northern reaches of the namesake sea, year-round. 5 The coveted Mathraki Beach on the Ionian coast. Dionisio Iemma – Several companies offer a quirky way to roam the back roads: classic cars. Puglia Auto Classica will rent you the likes of a Lancia Flaminia complete with the original red seats, while the aptly named 500 Journeys just launched a fleet of meticulously restored Fiat 500s. Antonello Losito, who runs Puglia-based Southern Visions has two must-see spots he suggests on any country adventure. Go to the Giardini Pistoia, a country estate that only recently opened to the public — there are concerts there during summertime, and a superb organic shop which sells the manse's own wines. Likewise, he recommends a detour to the Le Constantine Foundation which preserves and champions the skills — long synonymous with Puglia. 'The art of weaving is kept alive here,' he said, noting that the artisans' onsite shop sells everything from handwovens tablecloths or towels to wall hangings, scarves and shawls. Ezon adds another insider spot for handcrafted souvenirs: Barbara Sperti, a custom shirtmaker based in Putignano: 'It's worth a half-day detour with dinner in one of the great restaurants there,' he said. 'And her shirts are a bargain — totally made to measure at [approximately] $170.'
Local Italy
12-06-2025
- Local Italy
LISTED: The big changes for travel in Italy this summer
New direct flights Several international airlines have launched new direct flights to Italy in recent weeks in response to growing demand for non-stop travel options. Italian private airline Neos became the first-ever carrier to offer a non-stop connection between the US and Puglia on June 3rd, while American Airlines launched daily direct flights linking Miami to Rome Fiumicino and Dallas-Fort Worth to Venice Marco Polo on June 5th. British budget airline EasyJet is also set to strengthen its presence in Italy this summer by operating twice-weekly flights between Bristol and Palermo, Sicily, starting on June 26th. You can find a comprehensive list of all new flight routes to and from Italy this summer in this article. Jubilee celebrations in Rome Large tourist crowds are far from a rare sight in Rome over the summer months, as the Eternal City is the most visited Italian city, with over 30 million visitors a year on average. But the number of people travelling to the Italian capital is expected to increase sharply this summer due to special events related to the Vatican's Jubilee Year – a special Holy Year for the Catholic Church which focuses on forgiveness and the remission of sins. Though there are no up-to-date estimates of how many people will visit Rome this summer, planned Jubilee events are expected to draw millions of faithful to the city in the coming months. According to a recent estimate from Italian research centre Certa, around one million pilgrims will travel to the Eternal City in late July to attend the Youth Jubilee (July 28th-August 3rd). Besides an additional influx of tourists, the Jubilee is also expected to result in price hikes in a number of areas – from the hospitality industry (especially short-term holiday lets and hotel stays) to transport services and cultural sites. Higher US alert level for travel in Italy The US State Department raised its travel advisory warning level for Italy from one to two in late May, urging American citizens to "exercise increased caution' on upcoming trips. US authorities said the update was related to the 'risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Italy' without providing further details about specific terror threats. Though there have been no recent terrorism-related incidents in Italy, the State Department advised American visitors to 'stay alert', 'check local media for breaking news" and 'prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations'. New Marseille-Rome night train After a popular train line linking Paris with the Italian cities of Turin and Milan reopened in early April following a 19-month closure, train travel between Italy and France is set to expand further this summer with the launch of a new overnight train linking Marseille to Rome. Operated by Italy's Trenitalia, the Espresso Riviera service will run every weekend from July 4th to August 30th, with a travel time of just over 15 hours. Besides the new Marseille-Rome link, Trenitalia also plans to resume a popular night train service connecting Rome to Munich, Germany, on July 15th. American transport giant Uber is set to launch new helicopter services on Italy's famous Amalfi Coast this summer, providing well-heeled visitors with speedy connections between the seaside town of Sorrento and the island of Capri. Uber Copter will operate every weekend from July 26th to August 23rd, with round trips coming at €250 per passenger, the transport company said. Besides new helicopter rides, Uber will also offer free boat services between July 26th and August 24th, taking passengers from Sorrento's port to the picturesque cliffside town of Positano aboard stylish Gozzo 35 motorboats. here. Venice entry fee A contested ticketing system requiring day-trippers to pay an entry fee to access Venice's city centre was reintroduced on April 18th after undergoing a 29-day trial last year. The entry charge, which is part of wider plans to regulate tourist crowds and reduce the impact of mass tourism on Venice's infrastructure and artistic heritage, will be in place on a total of 54 dates this year. For a full list of dates and details on how the system works, see our guide. No 'key box ban' for holiday rentals (with some exceptions) People planning to stay in an Italian holiday rental property this summer will be able to check into their accommodation remotely - though there are some exceptions. A contested nationwide ban on remote check-ins was overturned by Lazio's Regional Administrative Court (TAR) in late May, with the court citing the lack of sufficient legal grounds and disproportionate burdens on property owners as the main reasons behind its ruling. The ban had been introduced by Italy's interior ministry in November, ending popular remote check-in practices for guests and leading to a spate of police operations aimed at removing key boxes (lock boxes containing the keys to a property) in cities around the country. Though the court's ruling overturned the national ban, local ordinances outlawing the use of key boxes by holiday rental owners were not affected by the decision. This means that cities that enforce key box bans under municipal laws (for instance, Florence) will continue to do so this summer. Transport strikes Transport strikes are frequent in Italy and this summer will be no exception as Italian trade unions have already announced multiple walkouts affecting air, rail and local public transport services. Quite conveniently though, strikes are generally planned and called well in advance in Italy, and the Italian transport ministry lists them on an online calendar (in Italian). This usually gives travellers some time to arrange alternative means of transportation or, when possible, reschedule their journeys. If you're planning to travel to, from or across Italy this June, you'll find a list of the major planned walkouts in this article. What doesn't change this summer? New EU visa and passport systems Originally scheduled to come into force in 2022, the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) and European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) have been repeatedly delayed due to incomplete border infrastructure. According to the latest available information, the EES passport check system could begin in October, with the ETIAS visa waiver scheme expected to be rolled out six months later. There is, however, no guarantee that the two planned changes won't be delayed again. For a full explanation of the EES and ETIAS schemes and what they mean for non-EU citizens travelling in and out of the EU, see our guide.
