Latest news with #UNESCO-protected
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Climate
- Indian Express
Traffic movement at landslide-prone Chakki Mod on Kalka-Shimla highway restored after 2 hours
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Sunday restored vehicular movement near the landslide-prone area Chakki Mod on Kalka-Shimla NH-5, where the traffic was halted for more than one and a half hours due to a landslide earlier in the day. The disruption had caused a 2 km-long traffic jam on both sides of the road, with commuters left waiting for the road to reopen. Anand Dhaiya, project director, NHAI, said, 'The landslide was reported at landslide-prone area Chakki Mod this morning around 7 am. We stopped the traffic movement on one side to remove debris, ensuring the security of commuters. The traffic movement was restored. The traffic is running smoothly from Parwanoo Timber Trail to Shimla on the NH-5 at present. There is no need to panic. Whenever a landslide takes place, we halt the traffic for a period to clear the debris.' Heavy rain triggered a sudden landslide from the hillside at Chakki Mod, completely halting vehicle movement around 7 am. Meanwhile, stone shooting continues in several other locations, including on the UNESCO-protected World Heritage Kalka-Shimla railway line near Koti between Kasauli and Solan. This led to the suspension of train services. The first train scheduled for the morning is stranded at Koti station, while other trains have been halted at the Gumman and Kalka stations. Not only Koti, but several stations up to Shimla have reported fallen trees, rocks, and debris on the tracks. The railway line has not yet been cleared. Trains will be allowed to proceed towards Shimla once the route is restored. The weather department has issued an alert for heavy rainfall in seven districts of Himachal Pradesh for Sunday and Monday. Incessant rains have led to the blockage of the road leading to Chamyana Hospital in Shimla due to a landslide. In Bhattakufer, rocks have fallen on vehicles. Additionally, in the Bathwell area of Sanjauli Ward, a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall caused debris to fall on a house, trapping a mother and daughter inside. The Mayor, local councillor, and the district administration team have reached the spot. Due to pre-monsoon flushing at Larji Dam, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) opened all five spillway gates of Pandoh Dam this morning, increasing the water flow in the Beas River. A senior BBMB officer said, 'Approximately 44,000 cusecs of water are flowing into the Beas River and are being released downstream through the dam. The silt level has risen to 4,000 PPM, prompting the closure of the Baggi tunnel and temporary suspension of power generation at the Dehar powerhouse.'
Local Italy
4 days ago
- Business
- Local Italy
EXPLAINED: How Florence has changed its rules on tourist lets in 2025
New rules clamping down on Airbnb and other short-term tourist rentals came into force in Florence on May 31st after being approved by city authorities earlier that month. The new regulations introduced a highly controversial ban on new tourist rentals in Florence's UNESCO-protected historic centre (centro storico). This is a measure that the city council first attempted to pass two years ago, but was later suspended due to staunch opposition from landlords and a spate of legal challenges. The current ban, which aims to curb the rising number of long-term rentals in central Florence amid a chronic housing crisis, only applies to new lets, thus excluding existing facilities. The May 31st rules also give city authorities powers to extend the ban on new tourist rentals beyond the UNESCO-protected city centre at a later date should they deem it necessary. Five-year rental permits Under the new rules, owners looking to rent out their properties to tourists must also apply for and receive a permit (autorizzazione) before they can start renting – though there is an exception. Owners who legally rented out their properties in 2024 are exempted from permit requirements for three years (until the end of 2027). Permits have a five-year validity period and are tied to the property, meaning they become void in the event of a sale. Properties that aren't rented out to tourists over a 12-month period automatically lose their permits, unless they are rented under longer, non-tourist contracts, for at least 30 days at a time. Minimum property size and safety requirements Florence's new rules on tourist rentals also set out minimum spatial requirements. Properties must be at least 28 square metres in size, with bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens also subject to minimum requirements. You can find further details here (page 4). Besides size-related regulations, tourist lets must also comply with a series of safety provisions, including the installation of carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers (a minimum of one every 200 square metres of floor area). Other requirements for owners Under the new rules, owners of tourist rentals must provide multilingual instructions, bags and bins for waste sorting, as well as a guide on how to behave in the building, on local public transport, and in the city centre. There's also an additional requirement for owners to clearly display useful emergency numbers (police, ambulance, fire service, etc.) within the property. City-wide 'key box ban' and National Identification Code (CIN) These two measures came into force prior to the implementation of the rules approved in May – but still apply. As of February 25th, owners of holiday rentals in Florence are no longer allowed to use 'key boxes' (combination-protected lock boxes containing the keys to a property) to allow guests to check into their accommodation remotely. The city-wide measure aims to protect Florence's 'urban decorum' and its 'historical and architectural heritage' while also responding to 'public safety concerns related to the need to identify guests [...] in person,' according to city authorities. Besides a ban on the use of key boxes, owners of tourist rentals in Florence are also subject to the Italy-wide requirement to hold a National Identification Code (CIN). The CIN – a personal identification code tying a property to its owner – was introduced by Giorgia Meloni's government in September last year in a bid to tackle tax evasion. All owners of holiday rentals in Italy are required to have their own CIN code and must display it on their property's front door or doorbell so as to make it clearly visible from the outside. The code must also be included on any online or social media listing, including on platforms such as Airbnb and Booking. What happens next? The new regulations, which are intended to curb the rapidly expanding number of holiday lets across the city and make more homes available for locals amid a severe housing crisis, have been met with anger by property owners and holiday rental managers in the Tuscan capital. Lorenzo Fagnoni, president of Property Managers Italia and CEO of Apartments Florence, called the crackdown on tourist rentals 'illogical and discriminatory', vowing to oppose it 'with every possible legal instrument." Tuscan regional councillor Marco Stella said that property owners' associations would file an appeal with the Regional Administrative Tribunal (TAR), warning of incoming 'legal chaos'. Though there is currently no available information on when Tuscany's TAR may rule on the matter, a decision backing owners' appeal may lead to the suspension or even repeal of the tourist let regulations. For the time being, however, the rules are set to remain in place, with individuals found to be illegally letting their properties facing fines of between €1,000 and €10,000.
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
I took a micro-cruise in Croatia to see a half-dozen UNESCO World Heritage sites, and the country's quieter corners, too
Passing through the gates of Dubrovnik's Old Town, I'm instantly swept up in a throng of tourists. They are all jostling around the iconic Onofrio fountain and angling for the same photo along the 298-metre-long Placa, the pedestrianized main thoroughfare. I can't be bothered to pull out my iPhone and start snapping pictures: I'm too hot and desperate for shade and personal space. Thank goodness our guide, Nika Dobric, who was born and raised within the city's UNESCO-protected fortified walls, is already moving on. 'Now that we've seen Dubrovnik 's most famous street,' she says, 'I want to spend our time together discovering some of the city's quieter, lesser-known corners.' For the next hour, our group weaves through cobbled side streets and shady alleyways as Dobric brings the layered history into vivid focus. She punctuates tales of Dubrovnik's maritime dominance — this it owed to its powerful merchant fleet and strategic position on the Adriatic — with personal anecdotes that make me feel like I'm hanging out with a friend. We pass the apartment where her parents still live, and swing by her stately-looking high school, dramatically located atop the Jesuit Stairs (which served as the setting for Cersei's Walk of Shame in 'Game of Thrones'). Then we pause in front of the Franciscan Monastery, where she lets us in on a local beauty secret: a 700-year-old pharmacy, one of Europe's oldest, is hidden within its Romanesque-Gothic walls. 'Most people miss it,' she says. 'But if you buy anything while you're in town, make it the pharmacy's rose facial cream, made with ingredients from the monastery's garden.' It's the first day of our weeklong cruise along the Dalmatian Coast, and we're already off to a memorable start. While cruising is not my usual travel style — I prefer taking charge of my own itinerary — I'm beginning to see the virtues of letting someone else steer the way, especially when it means gaining this level of insider intel. Our itinerary will take us from Dubrovnik to Split aboard the M.S. My Wish, a yacht-like vessel operated by Cruise Croatia that can accommodate up to 36 guests. Owned by a Croatian family and constructed on the Dalmatian islands, the boat is crewed entirely by Croatian sailors, as are all the ships in the company's fleet. The M.S. My Wish is a yacht-like vessel operated by Cruise Croatia. My fellow passengers include a multi-generational American family, a honeymooning couple from England and an Australian celebrating his 50th birthday. Over communal meals and offshore excursions, we agree that the real luxury of the trip has little to do with our ship, and everything to do with the ease of exploring Croatia's rugged coastline. Most travellers to Croatia attempt to cobble together an itinerary of their own, hopping between ferries, chartering private boats, and white-knuckling behind the wheel of a rental car along mountainous coastal roads, in pursuit of the country's 10 UNESCO-listed sites. But on our weeklong voyage, we visit a half-dozen of these heritage sites, without having to manage any logistics. That leaves plenty of time for scenic sailing and invigorating swims in hidden coves. And while yacht-style travel may sound extravagant, 2026 departures on this itinerary start at $2,595 U.S. per person — within the range of typical pricing for Mediterranean cruises. In the city of Split , we dock a 10-minute walk from the famed Palace of Diocletian, built as a sprawling seaside retirement complex for its namesake Roman emperor. Our local guide, Hrvoje Sarun, who works weekdays as a teacher, leads us through the gates of the fortified compound, highlighting its pastiche of architectural styles — a 3,000-year-old Egyptian sphinx here, 4th-century Roman mosaics there — while sharing historical tidbits that would captivate even hard-to-impress high-schoolers. 'Diocletian was a ruthless leader and widely unpopular,' he explains animatedly, and we all draw near. 'In the end, even his wife and children left him, trading their life of luxury for this,' he adds, gesturing dramatically toward the streets. The cruise itinerary included visits to Split's Palace of Diocletian, left, and the Cathedral of St. James in Sibenik. Thanks to our ship's small size, we are able to reach places most travellers skip altogether, like the postcard-perfect island of Korcula and the sleepy village of Mali Ston on the Peljesac Peninsula, where we visit a family-owned farm, Bota Sare, cultivating award-winning European flat oysters. Even in Hvar , one of Dalmatia's busiest ports, we veer away from the crowds, devoting the morning to the island's northwestern side. We drive past the UNESCO-listed Stari Grad Plain, where vineyards and olive groves have been cultivated since the 4th century B.C. It's considered one of the best-preserved examples of ancient Greek agricultural planning in the Mediterranean, with its dry-stone walls and chora (field layout) still intact. Afterwards, we visit the island's family-owned Tomic Winery to sample the fruits of that terroir. Learning about the island's agricultural legacy makes our dinner back in Hvar town that night all the more satisfying. The next day, as we approach the port of Pucisca on the island of Brac, our cruise director invites us to gather on the top deck. We're passing one of Brac's seven main quarries, which have produced a luminous, marble-like limestone for over 2,000 years. This same stone was used to build many landmarks we'd seen on the trip, including the Palace of Diocletian and the UNESCO-listed Cathedral of St. James in Sibenik. The port of Pucisca on the island of Brac, left, and the Klesarska Skola stonemasonry school. After docking, we walk along the waterfront to the island's Klesarska Skola stonemasonry school, where 17-year-old student Leon Gogic welcomes us into his classroom. Showing us how to use traditional tools like chisels and mallets, he shares his ambition of becoming a professional mason. The school isn't on UNESCO's list, and it certainly wouldn't have been on my self-guided itinerary. But standing in that bright, dusty classroom, watching Gogic bring milky slabs of Brac stone to life with centuries-old hand tools, I'm reminded of something Dobric suggested at the start of our time in Croatia: Most people miss the best parts. I'm glad I haven't. Siobhan Reid travelled as a guest of Cruise Croatia, which did not review or approve this article.
The Independent
5 days ago
- The Independent
Diver makes remarkable discovery near Dubrovnik's stone walls
An 18th-century boat was discovered by chance near the medieval city of Dubrovnik, Croatia. Ivan Bukelic, a diver and undersea builder, found the wooden structure buried in the seabed while working on a water pipeline in Dubrovnik 's old port in April. Radiocarbon analysis confirmed that the vessel dates back to the late 18th century, though its specific type and dimensions are yet to be determined. The remains of the boat have been protected for further examination, with marine archaeologist Irena Radić Rossi stating the aim is to continue research and protect it for the future. Dubrovnik, a UNESCO-protected heritage site and former key trade port, is known for its historical significance and as a popular tourist destination after being featured in HBO 's Game of Thrones series.
Local Italy
5 days ago
- Business
- Local Italy
EasyJet to launch new UK-Sicily summer route on Thursday
EasyJet said it will offer twice-weekly direct flights between Bristol International Airport and Palermo Falcone Borsellino from Thursday, June 26th to Sunday, October 12th. Flights to and from the Sicilian capital were set to run every Thursday and Sunday, with passengers travelling on 186-seater A320neo airliners offering a single economy class, according to an EasyJet press release. The new Bristol-Palermo link will follow the launch of two new seasonal routes to the Sicilian city earlier this month. EasyJet began operating twice-weekly flights between Palermo and Lisbon, Portugal, on Tuesday, June 3rd. This was followed by twice-weekly services between Sicily's capital and Palma de Mallorca, Spain, starting on Monday, June 23rd. Lorenzo Lagorio, manager of EasyJet's Italian unit, said the new routes were intended to make Sicily 'even more accessible and connected to Europe, meeting the needs of an increasingly international clientele". Salvatore Burrafato, head of Gesap, which runs Palermo's airport, expressed satisfaction over the three new international connections, saying that they would lead to 'an increase in tourism' in the Palermo area, including 'positive effects on the entire economic chain linked to the tourism sector". Located on Sicily's northern coast, Palermo is one of Italy's most popular summer holiday destinations among European travellers. The city is famous for landmarks including the Palermo Cathedral, the Norman Palace and the UNESCO-protected Church of San Cataldo. It's also renowned for its vibrant street markets and culinary traditions, which include popular dishes such as arancini (deep-fried rice balls stuffed with meat sauce, cheese, and peas) and panelle (chickpea flour fritters usually served in a bread roll). You can find a full list of new flights to Italy this summer HERE.
