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A detail of the 15th century Borso D’Este Bible, comprising two illuminated manuscripts, during its unveiling at the Italian Senate as part of the Vatican’s Holy Year celebrations in Rome, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

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The Bible was commissioned by Borso D’Este as part of his celebration of faith and his own prominence, and was kept in the Este family until the last duke, Francesco V of Austria-Este, took it with him when he fled to Vienna in 1859, according to a history of the Bible on the Italian Senate’s website.

Necci said Borso D’Este spent what was then an exorbitant amount of money to create the most expensive book of the time. By demonstrating such opulence, the duke “wanted to celebrate not only the sacred book par excellence but also the elevated idea he had of himself and his dynasty,” she said.

It remained in the possession of the Habsburgs even after the Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolved after World War I. In 1922, after Archduke Charles I died, his widow Zita of Bourbon-Parma decided to sell it to a Parisian antiquarian.

Giovanni Treccani, an Italian entrepreneur and arts patron, learned of the sale and travelled to Paris to buy it in 1923, paying 3,300,000 French francs. Treccani, whose name is famous today as the publisher of top Italian encyclopaedias, then donated it to the Italian state.

The Bible is being kept in a specially regulated display case that employs a conditioning system that maintains constant humidity to protect the parchment pages, which are particularly sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, officials said.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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  • Worker dies after Rome’s medieval Torre dei Conti tower partially collapses during renovation work

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    Rome — Firefighters late Monday finally managed to extract a worker from beneath rubble inside a medieval tower that partially collapsed during renovation work in the heart of Italy’s capital, but the joy of that rescue proved short-lived. 

    The man didn’t withstand the trauma he suffered and died soon thereafter.

    “I express deep sorrow and condolences, on behalf of myself and the government, for the tragic loss of Octay Stroici, the worker who was killed in the collapse of the Torre dei Conti in Rome,” Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni said in a statement after midnight. “We are close to his family and colleagues at this time of unspeakable suffering.”

    Onlookers watch as dust rises following the collapse of parts of the Torre dei Conti, near the Colosseum in central Rome, Italy, Nov. 3, 2025.

    Remo Casilli/REUTERS


    Images broadcast on local television had shown a trio of rescuers loading the man onto a telescopic aerial ladder, then descending and wheeling him on a stretcher into an ambulance. His state wasn’t immediately clear, but Adriano De Acutis, chief commander of Rome’s firefighters, said on state television channel RAI that he was conscious.

    “Since the conditions seem serious, they will now evaluate him and he was immediately taken to the hospital,” Lamberto Giannini, prefect of Rome, told reporters at the time.

    Rescuers had faced a complex task as they tried to use a first-floor window to get near the trapped worker. But they were forced to retreat in a cloud of debris as the structure continued to give way. Another approach on two ladders was also aborted, and a drone sent up in their stead.

    Italy Medieval Tower Collapsed

    This combo of three pictures shows a cloud of debris from a second collapse surrounding firefighters who were trying to rescue a worker after a medieval tower near the Roman Forum partially collapsed during renovation work in Rome, Italy, on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025.

    Domenico Stinellis / AP


    As dusk approached, firefighters lifted on a crane used giant tubes to suck rubble out of the second-floor window. They continued the work late into the night.

    “The operation lasted a long time because every time a part of the body was freed, there was additional rubble that covered it,” Giannini said.

    Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri had told reporters earlier that the worker was speaking to rescuers and using an oxygen mask. He added that rescuers were working with extreme caution in “a very delicate extraction operation” to avoid further collapses.

    Three workers were rescued unharmed after the initial midday incident, said firefighter spokesperson Luca Cari. Another worker, age 64, was hospitalized in critical condition; RAI reported he was conscious and had suffered a broken nose.

    No firefighters were injured in the ensuing operation.

    The Torre dei Conti was built in the 13th century by Pope Innocent III as a residence for his family. The tower was damaged in a 1349 earthquake and suffered subsequent collapses in the 17th century.

    Hundreds of tourists had gathered to watch as firefighters used a mobile ladder to bring a stretcher to the upper level of the Torre dei Conti during the first rescue attempt. Suddenly, another part of the structure crumbled, sending up a cloud of debris and forcing firefighters to quickly descend.

    APTOPIX Italy Medieval Tower Collapsed

    The medieval tower Torre dei Conti near the Roman Forum is engulfed by a cloud of debris from a second collapse after it had partially collapsed during renovation works in Rome, Italy, on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025.

    Domenico Stinellis / AP


    The first collapse struck the central buttress of the structure’s southern side, and caused an underlying sloped base to fall. The second damaged part of the stairwell and roof, cultural heritage officials said in a statement.

    Queen Paglinawan, 27, was attending to a client in a gelato parlor next door when the tower first started coming apart.

    “I was working and then I heard something falling, and then I saw the tower collapse in a diagonal way,″ Paglinawan, 27, told The Associated Press as yet more rubble crashed down.

    The tower, which has been closed since 2007, is undergoing a 6.9 million euro (nearly $8 million) restoration that includes conservation work, the installation of electrical, lighting and water systems and a new museum installation dedicated to the most recent phases of the Roman Imperial Forum, officials said.  

    TOPSHOT-ITALY-ACCIDENT-MONUMENT

    Firefighters work on the site after a part of the medieval tower Torre dei Conti collapsed near the Roman Forum in the historic center of Rome on Nov. 3, 2025.

    TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images


    Before the latest phase was started in June, structural surveys and load tests were carried out “to verify the stability of the structure, which confirmed the safety conditions necessary” to proceed with work, including asbestos removal, officials said. The current work, carried out at a cost of 400,000 euros ($460,000), was just about complete.

    Italian prosecutors arrived at the scene as the rescue operation was underway, and were investigating possible charges for negligent disaster and negligent injuries, Italian media reported. It is common in Italy for investigations to begin while an event is ongoing and before possible suspects are identified.

    German student Viktoria Braeu had just finished a tour at the nearby Colosseum and was passing by the scene during the firefighters’ initial rescue attempt.

    “And then we were like, ‘It’s probably not long until it’s going to go down,’ and then it just started erupting,’” said Braeu, 18.

    Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Meloni had shared her hopes for a successful rescue.

    “My thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to the person currently fighting for his life under the rubble and to his family, for whom I sincerely hope that this tragedy will have a positive outcome,” Meloni said in a statement.

    “I would like to thank all the law enforcement officers, firefighters, and rescue workers who are intervening with courage, professionalism, and dedication in this extremely difficult situation.”

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  • Skeletons found in well identified as Roman soldiers killed 1,700 years ago

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    Seven fully preserved skeletons found in an ancient city in Croatia have been identified as Roman soldiers who would have lived 1,700 years ago, scientists said in a new paper.  

    The skeletal remains were found in 2011 during a dig at the Roman city of Mursa, located in modern-day Croatia, in a water well that had been repurposed as a mass grave, said the researchers, who are from a number of European archaeological institutions. The area was conquered by Romans during the first century B.C., and the city was an “important trade and craft center” that bordered an active military zone, according to the paper published this week.

    All seven skeletons were identified as belonging to taller-than-average adult men. Four are younger adults, between 18 and 25, while the other three are middle-aged, between 36 and 50, the researchers found. All were “robust” but showed “indicators of early-life stress” such as wear on the teeth.  

    The skeletons were placed in different positions and at different depths, the researchers said, but all appear to have been buried at the same time. The remains seem to have been “thrown in” shortly after death, the researchers said. The men were likely soldiers who may have participated in a 260 C.E. battle for the city or died in a skirmish afterward, according to the researchers. 

    Skeletons found by archaelogists in Croatia, at the site of the former ancient city Mursa.

    PLOS One


    Several of the skeletons had injuries, including blunt-force injuries on the facial bones of one and puncture wounds on the torsos of two others that were likely caused by weapons such as arrows or spear tips, according to the paper. The wounds and their locations were determined by analysis of the skeletal remains. 

    The researchers were also able to use carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses to learn more about the soldiers’ day-to-day lives. They ate lots of grains, including wheat and millet, and vegetables, but little meat, the study found. Four of the skeletons underwent DNA analysis, which found that none appeared to be local to the area. One was likely from northern or Eastern Europe, while another was likely from the Byzantine Empire. 

    Remains of Mursa have been explored by researchers for decades. Archaeologists have found a number of water wells, small pits and other evidence of civilization. 

    Mursa was affected by a number of conflicts, the researchers said. Many occurred during the Crisis of the Third Century, an era during which Rome nearly collapsed due to civil wars, foreign invasions and economic issues, according to CBS News’ partner network BBC News. The city eventually “ceased to exist as an urban settlement” after attacks in 441 C.E., the researchers said. 

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  • Cindy McCain suffers a mild stroke and will take leave from World Food Program while recovering

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    Cindy McCain, the widow of Sen. John McCain and head of the U.N. World Food Program, suffered a mild stroke this week and is said to be recovering “well,” according to a press release Thursday from the humanitarian organization. The statement said McCain, 71, is expected to make a “full recovery” and will be traveling from Rome, where the WFP is based, to Arizona to focus on her recuperation. She will return to her post after her doctors have cleared her in four to six weeks. “I want to thank the medical staff in Italy for the excellent treatment I received,” said McCain. “My recovery is progressing well thanks to their outstanding care.”McCain was appointed in March 2023 to lead the world’s largest humanitarian organization after serving as U.S. ambassador to the U.N. agencies for food and agriculture under former President Joe Biden. McCain broke with Republicans when she endorsed Biden for president in 2020, making her a key surrogate for the Democrat after now-President Donald Trump spent years criticizing her husband and his military service. She has since become the face of the World Food Program, one of the few U.N. agencies that has received bipartisan support for its efforts to help nearly 150 million people confronting conflicts, disasters, and impacts of climate change this year. McCain and the WFP have been in the spotlight as the agency has sought to respond to the humanitarian crises caused by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and Israel’s offensive inside the Gaza Strip. In late August, after visiting Gaza, McCain told The Associated Press it was “very evident” that there isn’t enough food in the Palestinian territory. She said she had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the urgent need for more aid.Her comments came a week after the world’s leading authority on food crises said the Gaza Strip’s largest city is gripped by famine, and that it was likely to spread across the territory without a ceasefire and an end to restrictions on humanitarian aid.”I personally met mothers and children who were starving in Gaza,” she said. “It is real and it is happening now,”An advocate for children, McCain has served on the board of directors for Operation Smile, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing facial deformities for children around the world, visiting India, Morocco, and Vietnam, the joint announcement said.McCain succeeded David Beasley, a former South Carolina governor who had led WFP through challenging times, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the global food crisis sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Beasley was at the helm when the World Food Program was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, in part for being “a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.”Carl Skau, the deputy executive director of WFP, is expected to oversee the organization’s day-to-day operations until McCain’s return. In the statement Thursday, McCain said she has “full confidence” in her leadership team’s ability” to stay laser-focused on delivering urgently needed food assistance to the more than 100 million people WFP is working to serve across 87 countries.”She added, “The fight against hunger has never been more critical, and I am incredibly proud of the work our teams do every day. I look forward to being back in the field soon — alongside WFP teams — pushing back against famine and supporting communities in need.”

    NEW YORK —

    Cindy McCain, the widow of Sen. John McCain and head of the U.N. World Food Program, suffered a mild stroke this week and is said to be recovering “well,” according to a press release Thursday from the humanitarian organization.

    The statement said McCain, 71, is expected to make a “full recovery” and will be traveling from Rome, where the WFP is based, to Arizona to focus on her recuperation. She will return to her post after her doctors have cleared her in four to six weeks.

    “I want to thank the medical staff in Italy for the excellent treatment I received,” said McCain. “My recovery is progressing well thanks to their outstanding care.”

    McCain was appointed in March 2023 to lead the world’s largest humanitarian organization after serving as U.S. ambassador to the U.N. agencies for food and agriculture under former President Joe Biden. McCain broke with Republicans when she endorsed Biden for president in 2020, making her a key surrogate for the Democrat after now-President Donald Trump spent years criticizing her husband and his military service.

    She has since become the face of the World Food Program, one of the few U.N. agencies that has received bipartisan support for its efforts to help nearly 150 million people confronting conflicts, disasters, and impacts of climate change this year. McCain and the WFP have been in the spotlight as the agency has sought to respond to the humanitarian crises caused by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and Israel’s offensive inside the Gaza Strip.

    In late August, after visiting Gaza, McCain told The Associated Press it was “very evident” that there isn’t enough food in the Palestinian territory. She said she had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the urgent need for more aid.

    Her comments came a week after the world’s leading authority on food crises said the Gaza Strip’s largest city is gripped by famine, and that it was likely to spread across the territory without a ceasefire and an end to restrictions on humanitarian aid.

    “I personally met mothers and children who were starving in Gaza,” she said. “It is real and it is happening now,”

    An advocate for children, McCain has served on the board of directors for Operation Smile, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing facial deformities for children around the world, visiting India, Morocco, and Vietnam, the joint announcement said.

    McCain succeeded David Beasley, a former South Carolina governor who had led WFP through challenging times, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the global food crisis sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Beasley was at the helm when the World Food Program was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, in part for being “a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.”

    Carl Skau, the deputy executive director of WFP, is expected to oversee the organization’s day-to-day operations until McCain’s return.

    In the statement Thursday, McCain said she has “full confidence” in her leadership team’s ability” to stay laser-focused on delivering urgently needed food assistance to the more than 100 million people WFP is working to serve across 87 countries.”

    She added, “The fight against hunger has never been more critical, and I am incredibly proud of the work our teams do every day. I look forward to being back in the field soon — alongside WFP teams — pushing back against famine and supporting communities in need.”

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  • The Car Show of All Car Shows: Anantara Concorso Roma Returns in 2026

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    The past April, I was in Rome ready to witness the debut of what promised to be the city’s first great celebration of automotive elegance: the inaugural Anantara Concorso Roma. Collectors had gathered from across the globe, Piazza della Repubblica shimmered with anticipation, and the marble halls of the Anantara Palazzo Naiadi were abuzz with conversations of Ferrari, Lancia, and Fiat.

    But Rome, as it often does, reminded us that tradition is bigger than any one event. News of the Pope’s passing swept through the Eternal City, and with it came the respectful postponement of the concours. The city’s collective heart turned toward reflection.

    And yet, standing there, I couldn’t help but feel that this pause was only a prelude. Rome doesn’t do things halfway. When she makes you wait, it’s because something grander is coming.

    With new dates set, April 16–19, 2026, the Anantara Concorso Roma is returning, not diminished but magnified, promising a weekend where la dolce vita comes to life fulfilling the dreams of petrol-heads and collectors alike.

    Living History at Palazzo Naiadi

    The official host hotel, Anantara Palazzo Naiadi, is not just a place to stay, it’s part of Rome’s soul. Rising above the ancient ruins of the Diocletian Thermal Baths, the 19th-century marble palace curves around Piazza della Repubblica like an amphitheater. Its neoclassical portico greets you in pretty much the grandest way possible, welcoming each guest as if you are royalty.

    When I walked through its marble corridors this Spring, I felt the layers of Roman history whisper—emperors once bathed here, centuries before collectors would gather to toast vintage Alfa Romeos on the rooftop terrace. This is a hotel worth checking out whether you will be attending the concorso or not.

    Anantara Concorso Roma

    The lineup for 2026 reads like a dream for any automotive enthusiast, a gallery of Italian artistry and engineering. The 1902 FIAT Type 12/16hp, one of the earliest survivors of Italy’s automotive dawn. A 1951 Cisitalia 202 SC Gran Sport Cabriolet, a rolling sculpture that helped shape post-war design. And perhaps most evocative of all, the 1963 Ferrari 275P, a car that embodies the golden age of Italian racing.

    To see them not in a museum, but rather displayed in Villa Borghese’s Piazza Bucarest or rolling through Rome’s cobblestone streets, is to see Italian craftsmanship where it belongs, under the Italian sun, surrounded by centuries of architecture.

    A Weekend of La Dolce Vita

    Anantara Concorso Roma Returns in 2026

    This is no ordinary concours. It’s as much about the lifestyle as it is about the cars.

    • Wednesday begins with private tours and curated shopping for early arrivals because in Rome, a tailor or a jeweler’s atelier can be just as iconic as a Ferrari’s silhouette.

    • Thursday night brings a rooftop welcome reception at Palazzo Naiadi, where prosecco is sure to flow.

    • Friday delivers pure theatre: the Giro d’Anantara, where owners take to the streets, engines echoing against ancient walls, before gathering for dinner at Casina Valadier in the gardens of Villa Borghese.

    • Saturday is Judging Day, punctuated by a Champagne reception, elegant lunches, and a black-tie dinner at Palazzo Brancaccio.

    • Sunday closes with awards, culminating in the announcement of Best of Show.

    For those who want to immerse themselves, VVIP packages offer accommodations at Palazzo Naiadi, gourmet dining, and premier access to every gathering. Weekend passes with and without accommodations are available, while day passes start at just $110 USD, making it accessible for anyone eager to witness this new Roman tradition.

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  • The Palace Company Acquires Historic Property in Central Rome

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    The property will be transformed into a new-generation five-star luxury hotel featuring 131 rooms, which will be added to the company’s portfolio, and form a key element in the prestigious Baglioni Hotels & Resorts collection.


    MILAN, April 23, 2025 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The Palace Company, a leading global organization in high-end hospitality, today announced that it has acquired full participation of the Comet fund, becoming the owner of a prestigious property on Via delle Vergini in Rome’s historic center. The Comet fund is managed by Kryalos Società di Gestione del Risparmio, S.p.A. The property will be transformed into a new-generation five-star luxury hotel featuring 131 rooms, which will be added to the company’s portfolio, and form a key element in the prestigious Baglioni Hotels & Resorts collection.

    The property is located just steps from the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and the Pantheon, as well as the most famous shopping street in Rome, Via dei Condotti. It sits in one of the city’s most evocative and dynamic areas where historical architecture, culture, fashion, and lifestyle harmoniously coexist.

    “This acquisition represents a significant milestone in our European expansion strategy,” affirmed Gibran Chapur, CEO of The Palace Company. “The property on Via delle Vergini offers exceptional potential for development into a landmark luxury hotel that will combine the building’s rich heritage with our renowned international standards of excellence. We look forward to creating an extraordinary hospitality experience that will honor the cultural significance of this location while delivering the unparalleled luxury our guests expect.”

    The building stands on the site of a former 17th-century Augustinian Monastery, with the Baroque Church of Santa Rita da Cascia remaining today at the corner of Via delle Vergini and Via dell’Umiltà. Featuring an L-shaped plan across multiple levels, the structure represents a rare example of conversion with strong symbolic and architectural value.

    “The location’s remarkable heritage and premium positioning will make this property the perfect complement to our Baglioni Hotels & Resorts’ collection, allowing us to offer our discerning guests the most prestigious locations in Italy, while preserving the authentic charm and cultural heritage that defines this brand,” saidMassimo Baldo, VP for The Palace Company in Europe.

    About The Palace Company

    The Palace Company is synonymous with luxury and unparalleled hospitality. The distinguished conglomerate currently comprises four distinct brands: Baglioni Hotels & Resorts, a luxurious collection of European plan hotels and resorts in Italy, and an all-inclusive natural island resort in the Maldives; the luxury, all-inclusive Palace Resorts in Cancun, Playa del Carmen & Cozumel; the family-friendly all-inclusive Moon Palace Resorts in Cancun & Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and the 5-diamond, adults-only Le Blanc Spa Resorts in Cancun & Los Cabos.

    Contact Information

    Vladimir Ortiz
    Vice President of Leisure Sales and Communication
    vlortiz@thepalacecompany.com

    Source: The Palace Company

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  • How The Hell Is Emily Going To Rome?

    How The Hell Is Emily Going To Rome?

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    It’s been enough time since Part 2 of Emily in Paris Season 4 has graced our televisions and screens…so if you’re reading this, you should be caught up by now. If not, there are spoilers ahead. And you probably already caught on from the title. Sorry.

    Four seasons in, and it’s Christmas in Paris, finally…a harrowing reminder that this arduous production starring Lily Collins has stretched out every possible moment and only covered
    four months in Emily-time.

    But actually, this was
    Emily in Paris Season 4, Part 2 jumping forward in time…so we’ve only technically covered like two months so far. From fall to Christmas, everyone’s lives seem to change drastically. And since there are a million different plots going on all at once, it seems like no one has it together.

    Unfortunately, I tuned into
    Netflix again. I know you all must hate this by now, I’m like a broken record. But, like any tragic accident, you can’t look away.

    Emily in Paris Season 4 Part 2 Recap

    If you recall from Part 1, Emily ends her relationship with chef (and client) Gabriel on a mountaintop because she’ll never come first over Camille. Camille has a secret of her own of course, because she’s
    not pregnant with Gabriel’s baby.

    So, as we head into the second part of the season, I’m already tense. Emily is now (A) single and (B) not going to do well at her job for a multitude of reasons…
    again. Meanwhile, her boss Sylvie and boytoy, Laurent, have shacked up in Sylvie’s lavish apartment and all seems to be going well…

    That is, until Laurent’s daughter, Geneviève , is arriving from the States to pursue a career in fashion…and Sylvie offers to get her a job with her competitor (who says no), so Sylvie ultimately decides to have her intern at her own company alongside painfully American Emily.

    By working together, Sylvie learns that Laurent
    may be seeing other people (cough-cough, his ex wife). So, in total French fashion, she starts seeing someone else on the side, too. But this isn’t Sylvie in Paris, back to Emily Dearest.

    We see Emily struggle to get over Gabriel. One of their clients even proposes a baby rattle perfume bottle, which she gives to Camille as a peace offering. However, Camille then dishes
    finally that she’s not actually knocked up and she thought she loved the idea of the life she and Gabriel could have had.

    So, obviously Emily feels dumb, and what would be the correct thing to do here? Go to Rome. Exactly.

    Meanwhile, Laurent’s daughter Geneviève starts doing everything that Emily is unable to: get through to Gabriel, be there for him in general, and yes, she even pulls a few moves on him. He gets his Michelin star, Laurent’s daughter tries to plant a smooch on him, and he realizes he misses Emily.

    But Emily’s in Rome!! Yapping it up with a new rich guy and making someone else fall in love with her somehow. After returning from a whirlwind romance with some guy whose name is currently escaping me, and honestly, does it even matter?…the team sits down for a meeting.

    Sylvie reveals that they will have to spearhead a permanent Rome office…and she wants it to be
    Emily who goes.

    Yes,
    EMILY the American who actually is the least qualified of them all. Is going to lead their Rome team. And now she gets this hot new rich guy, too.

    How Can Emily Go To Rome?

    @elisabettaab Did you catch this Emily in Paris Season 4 finale moment? Thanks to Lily Collins. #emilyinparis #netflix #lilycollins #paris #rome #tv #fyp ♬ original sound – Elisabetta B

    As we’ve noted, it’s only been four short months in Paris for Emily the Midwesterner. Now, after barely learning the language and culture,
    somehow she’s relocating to a totally different European country. My suspension of disbelief is utterly broken.

    The clear take away from most of Part 2 is that Emily is not prepared to lead anyone. If I made this many rash decisions that crazily, whackily,
    luckily work out, I’d be fired. Not only does Emily quickly think she runs the place, but now…she actually does.

    And, of course, this leaves Gabriel in the dust. Which honestly doesn’t bother me whatsoever. I feel absolutely nothing towards him. It’s all about Alfie for me.

    Anywho, Emily will indeed trek to Rome for the next season of
    Emily in Paris…which has indeed already been confirmed. To my delight (or horror?) we get to see yet another man fall in love with Emily in a foreign country known for its art, culture, cuisine, and fashion. Awesome.

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  • A wish at Rome’s Trevi Fountain could soon cost more than the coin you toss

    A wish at Rome’s Trevi Fountain could soon cost more than the coin you toss

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    ROME (AP) — Seemingly every tourist in Rome knows the key to returning to the Eternal City is to toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain and make a wish. The result: Hoards of visitors packing the Baroque monument any given day, taking selfies and betting on a return trip.

    Officials are now considering a plan to manage tourism to one of Rome’s most-visited sites: A 2-euro ($2.25) ticket to access an open-air fountain that has always been free of charge.

    The proposal by city’s top tourism official, Alessandro Onorato, comes after the Italian lagoon city of Venice tested a controversial 5-euro daytripper access fee to the city this summer. It must be deliberated by the City Council before it takes effect, but the city’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, has already voiced support.

    “Two euros is more or less the same amount that people toss into the fountain to make a wish,’’ Onorato told The Associated Press Friday.

    Cities across the globe are grappling with how to manage the ever-growing number of tourists, who fuel the economy but can create inconveniences to residents by converging on the same top sites.

    “We have to avoid, especially in a fragile art city like Rome, that too many tourists damage the tourist experience, and damage the city,’’ Onorato said. “We need to safeguard two things, that tourists don’t experience chaos and that citizens can continue to live in the center.”

    Onorato said he hopes to test the entrance fee, which would be managed through a reservation system and a QR code, in time for the 2025 Jubilee Holy Year, and have the system operational by spring.

    Passersby in the piazza overlooking the fountain will not have to pay. The fee would be charged only to those entering the nine stone steps leading up to the fountain’s edge. It would be free to Romans.

    Onorato said the system would also help discourage people from eating on the steps overlooking the fountain and feeding pigeons or, worse, from reenacting Anita Ekberg’s plunge into the fountain in Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita,” a frequently repeated offense that carries a fine.

    “It would happen less, or maybe it wouldn’t happen at all, because whoever would enter, we would know their names and where they live. It becomes more complicated,’’ he said.

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  • SFO-to-Rome flight diverted for 2nd day in a row

    SFO-to-Rome flight diverted for 2nd day in a row

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    SFO-to-Rome flight diverted for 2nd day in a row – CBS San Francisco


    Watch CBS News



    For the second day in a row, a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Rome was diverted, this time to Canada because of a medical issue aboard the plane.

    Be the first to know

    Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.


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  • Ruins of ancient garden likely owned by Emperor Caligula uncovered near Vatican during excavations

    Ruins of ancient garden likely owned by Emperor Caligula uncovered near Vatican during excavations

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    ROME (AP) — Archaeological excavations near the Vatican uncovered the remains of an ancient garden overlooking the right bank of the Tiber River that was likely owned by Roman Emperor Caligula, Italy’s culture ministry said Thursday.

    The discovery was made during construction work to create a pedestrian piazza linking Castel Sant’Angelo to St. Peter’s Basilica and its Via della Conciliazione boulevard, some of Rome’s most visited tourist sites.

    In ancient times the area housed prestigious imperial residences overlooking the Tiber with spectacular porticos, promenades and gardens. What remains underground are a travertine wall, the foundations of a colonnaded portico and a garden, the ministry said.

    The excavations also uncovered a lead water pipe stamped with the name of the owner of the water supply and likely of the garden.

    The details point to Caligula, son of Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder, and emperor of Rome from 37 to 41, the ministry said, adding that there are literary references that seem to confirm the connection of the site to Caligula.

    The excavation also revealed an important series of figurative terracottas used to decorate roofs, with unusual mythological scenes, reused as covers for the sewers, but originally probably made for the covering of some structure in the garden, the ministry said.

    The construction project is part of the Vatican’s 2025 Jubilee, a holy year that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome. The runup to the Jubilee has involved launching dozens of long-delayed construction projects, including the 79.5 million euro piazza, with a tunnel below it redirecting traffic underground.

    The project, located at Piazza Pia, is expected to be completed by December.

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  • Pope Francis visits Venice in first trip outside of Rome in seven months

    Pope Francis visits Venice in first trip outside of Rome in seven months

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    Pope Francis made his first trip out of Rome in seven months on Sunday with a visit to Venice that included an art exhibition, a stop at a prison and a Mass.

    Venice has always been a place of contrasts, of breathtaking beauty and devastating fragility, where history, religion, art and nature have collided over the centuries to produce an otherworldly gem of a city. But even for a place that prides itself on its culture of unusual encounters, Francis’ visit on Sunday stood out.

    Francis traveled to the lagoon city to visit the Holy See’s pavilion at the Biennale contemporary art show and meet with the people who created it. But because the Vatican decided to mount its exhibit in Venice’s women’s prison, and invited inmates to collaborate with the artists, the whole project assumed a far more complex meaning, touching on Francis’ belief in the power of art to uplift and unite, and of the need to give hope and solidarity to society’s most marginalized.

    Italy Pope
    Pope Francis prays inside St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy, Sunday, April 28, 2024. The Pontiff arrived for his first-ever visit to the lagoon town including the Vatican pavilion at the 60th Biennal of Arts.

    Alessandra Tarantino / AP


    His trip began at the courtyard of the Giudecca prison, where he met with women inmates one by one.

    “Paradoxically, a stay in prison can mark the beginning of something new, through the rediscovery of the unsuspected beauty in us and in others, as symbolized by the artistic event you are hosting and the project to which you actively contribute,” Francis told them.

    The 87-year-old pontiff then met with Biennale artists in the prison chapel, decorated with an installation by Brazilian visual artist Sonia Gomes of objects dangling from the ceiling, meant to draw the viewer’s gaze upward.

    The Vatican exhibit has turned the Giudecca prison, a former convent for reformed prostitutes, into one of the must-see attractions of this year’s Biennale, even though to see it visitors must reserve in advance and go through a security check. It has become an unusual art world darling that greets visitors at the entrance with Maurizio Cattelan’s wall mural of two giant filthy feet, a work that recalls Caravaggio’s dirty feet or the feet that Francis washes each year in a Holy Thursday ritual that he routinely performs on prisoners.

    The exhibit also includes a short film starring the inmates and Zoe Saldana, and prints in the prison coffee shop by onetime Catholic nun and American social activist Corita Kent.

    APTOPIX Italy Pope
    Pope Francis is greeted by Gondoliers upon his arrival in Venice, Italy, Sunday, April 28, 2024. The Pontiff arrived for his first-ever visit to the lagoon town including the Vatican pavilion at the 60th Biennal of Arts.

    Alessandra Tarantino / AP


    Francis’ dizzying morning visit, which ended with Mass in St. Mark’s Square, represented an increasingly rare outing for the 87-year-old pontiff, who has been hobbled by health and mobility problems that have ruled out any foreign trips so far this year.

    “Venice, which has always been a place of encounter and cultural exchange, is called to be a sign of beauty available to all,” Francis said. “Starting with the least, a sign of fraternity and care for our common home.”

    Italy Pope
    Pope Francis delivers his message as he meets with young people in front of the Church of the Salute in Venice, Italy, Sunday, April 28, 2024. The Pontiff arrived for his first-ever visit to the lagoon town including the Vatican pavilion at the 60th Biennal of Arts.

    Alessandra Tarantino / AP


    During an encounter with young people at the iconic Santa Maria della Salute basilica, Francis acknowledged the miracle that is Venice, admiring its “enchanting beauty” and tradition as a place of East-West encounter, but warning that it is increasingly vulnerable to climate change and depopulation.

    “Venice is at one with the waters upon which it sits,” Francis said. “Without the care and safeguarding of this natural environment, it might even cease to exist.”

    in the exhibit as tour guides and as protagonists in some of the artworks.

    Ahead of his trip, Francis sat down with “CBS Evening News” anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell during an hourlong interview at the guest house where he lives in Rome. 

    During the interview, Francis pleaded for peace worldwide amid the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

    “Please. Countries at war, all of them, stop the war. Look to negotiate. Look for peace,” said the pope, speaking through a translator.

    Pope Francis with CBS News anchor Norah O'Donnell
    Pope Francis speaks with “CBS Evening News” anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell, April 24, 2024.

    CBS News


    He also had a message for those who do not see a place for themselves in the Catholic Church anymore. 

    “I would say that there is always a place, always. If in this parish the priest doesn’t seem welcoming, I understand, but go and look elsewhere, there is always a place,” he said. “Do not run away from the Church. The Church is very big. It’s more than a temple … you shouldn’t run away from her.”

    The pope’s Venice trip was the first of four planned inside Italy in the next three months, Reuters reported. He is scheduled to visit Verona in May and Trieste in July, and is expected to attend the June summit of Group of Seven (G7) leaders in Bari.

    In September, he is also set to embark on the longest foreign trip of his papacy, traveling to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore.

    _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    An extended version of O’Donnell’s interview with Pope Francis will air on “60 Minutes” on Sunday, May 19 at 7 p.m. ET. On Monday, May 20, CBS will broadcast an hourlong primetime special dedicated to the papal interview at 10 p.m. ET on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+. Additionally, CBS News and Stations will carry O’Donnell’s interview across platforms. 

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  • Most Visited Ancient Sites List Was Published by Popular Travel App Visited

    Most Visited Ancient Sites List Was Published by Popular Travel App Visited

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    Press Release
    •

    Apr 10, 2024 09:00 EDT

    List of Top 25 Ancient Sites was released by Visited, to showcase the most visited places in the world. The travel app allows users to map their travel, create a custom travel bucket list and discover new destinations.


    TORONTO, April 10, 2024 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Visited App, the popular travel app, which has over 2 million users, has published a list of Top 25 Most Visited Ancient Sites. Visited is the ultimate travel bucket list and personalized map app, which is owned by Arriving In High Heels Corporation. The Ancient Sites list is part of the travel list feature, which has over 150 lists based on different travel categories, experiences and types of travel users like to do. Examples of popular lists include: 

    • Culinary Experiences
    • World Wonders
    • Cruise Ports
    • Family Destinations 
    • Art Museums and more… 

    In the app, users select where they have been or wish to travel to. The results are displayed on a personalized travel map, with travel stats, and as part of individual travelers’ bucket list.  

    The ultimate Ancient Sites list is found inside the Visited app, available to download on iOS and Android for free. The most visited Ancient Sites list includes: 

    1. Colosseum, Rome, Italy
    2. Acropolis, Athens, Greece
    3. Pompeii, Italy
    4. Pantheon, Rome, Italy
    5. Roman Forum, Rome, Italy 

    For a full list of Ancient Sites and other travel lists, download Visited on iOS or Android. 

    About Visited Travel App

    Visited is a travel app, which allows users to map their journeys, print a personalized travel map, see personalized stats, plan their next trip and check off famous places and experiences from travel lists. The app’s goal is to help international travelers remember their travel journeys and discover new places. The map feature maps all countries, regions/states, cities and places of interest that they have been to or wish to go to in the future. The travel lists help users discover new places by categories and popularity, check off places off their bucket list and add new ones to their travel itinerary. For those who are data-driven, the app showcases travel stats that are unique to each user. 

    The travel app is available in 30 languages and is available on iOS or Android, and is free to download.

    To learn more about the Visited app and its latest feature update, please visit https://visitedapp.com/.

    About Arriving In High Heels Corporation
    Arriving In High Heels Corporation is a mobile app company with apps including Pay Off Debt, X-Walk and Visited, their most popular app. 

    Visited app has travel stats that are unique to the travel industry with a sample of travel stats reported on their annual travel report.  

    Source: Arriving In High Heels Corporation

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  • Colonie students home from Italy after plane ignites

    Colonie students home from Italy after plane ignites

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    COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -On the way back from a school trip to Italy, Colonie High students saw flames coming from the engine of a United Airlines plane. NEWS10’s Anthony Krolikowski met with six of the passengers at The Crossings Park of Colonie after returning home the night before.

    Flying United Airlines, students and teachers landed in Milan at the end of March for a non-school sponsored trip. “I love the idea of traveling the world and experiencing new things. So, as soon as I heard there was an Italy trip, and I’ve never gotten the opportunity to leave the country, fly, or really even leave the state much, I really just wanted to have the experience,” said Miranda Winchell.

    On their way back to Washington D.C., some passengers were waking up from naps and reading books when they noticed something was wrong with the plane.

    “We took off and then like five minutes later, all the sudden, the plane started shaking and it wasn’t like, I thought it was turbulence. But for turbulence, the plane shakes side-to-side. This felt like an up-and-down shake,” explained Winchell.

    “When it happened, you can see like halos of lights coming out from the cracks in the window and we could hear pops. The plane was shaking,” described Seamus McWatters.

    The students describe the next minutes as terrifying. They texted loved ones and held onto each other while sobbing and unsure if they would get home safely.

    “Maybe like five minutes before the pilot finally went on the intercom,” said Mari Zhao. “The pilot said that the left engine had lost airflow and that we were going to make a landing,” added McWatters.”

    According to the airlines, the pilots noticed a technical issue with one of the engines and declared an emergency. The plane safely landed back in Rome nearly 30 minutes after takeoff. Both students and teachers still had two more flights to go before they returned home to Colonie.

    “I was just thinking it better not happen again. That’s really all that went through my head,” stated Elizabeth Tran.

    The students safely returned to their final destination at Albany International Airport late Friday night. They said United Airlines gave out food and drink vouchers along with an online delay feedback form for possible compensation.

    The six say they can now laugh about the serious situation and will be flying again. “Definitely not on United,” said McWatters. “Yeah, I agree. Not again,” added Tran. “I would take a plane again but not on United,” laughed Zhao.

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  • Vatican Fast Facts | CNN

    Vatican Fast Facts | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    Here’s a look at the Vatican, also known as the Holy See, the spiritual and governing center of the Roman Catholic Church.

    The full name of the country is State of Vatican City.

    It stands on Vatican Hill in northwestern Rome, Italy west of the Tiber River. It is comprised of roughly 100 acres.

    Tall stone walls surround most of Vatican City.

    Historical documentation says that St. Peter was crucified at or near the Neronian Gardens on Vatican hill and buried at the foot of the hill directly under where the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica now stands. Excavations at the basilica between 1940 and 1957 located the tomb believed to be St. Peter’s.

    Vatican City has its own pharmacy, post office, telephone system and media outlets. The population is 1,000 (2022 est.)

    The Vatican is an absolute monarchy. Full legislative, judicial and executive authority resides with the pope.

    The world’s second-largest Christian church after the Yamoussoukro Basilica in Cote d’Ivoire. St. Peter’s is not a cathedral, which is a bishop’s principal church. The pope is the bishop of Rome, and his cathedral church is in Rome.

    Built on the foundation of the first St. Peter’s, the new basilica took 120 years to complete. Masonry, sculpture, painting and mosaic work continued for nearly 200 years.

    The dome of the basilica was designed by Michelangelo.

    The church is shaped like a cross and is almost 650 feet long.

    In the grottoes, beneath the basilica, is a papal burial chamber.

    The Vatican Palaces consist of several connected buildings with over 1,000 rooms. Within the palaces there are apartments, chapels, museums, meeting rooms and government offices.

    The Palace of Sixtus V is the pope’s residence.

    The Vatican museums, archive, library, gardens and other offices make up the remainder of the palaces.

    A separate structure from the basilica, designed for the papal court, was commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere.

    It is the site of the papal conclave and where elections for the new pope are held.

    It is one of the world’s most famous galleries of biblical art with the ceiling by Michelangelo, tapestries by Raphael and Rosselli’s Last Supper.

    320s – Construction begins on the first St. Peter’s, by order of Constantine the Great.

    1473-1481 – The Sistine Chapel is constructed.

    April 18, 1506 – Pope Nicholas V begins rebuilding and expanding St. Peter’s Basilica.

    1508-1512 – Michelangelo paints the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

    February 11, 1929 – The signing of the Lateran Pacts between the Holy See and Italy establishes Vatican City State, the smallest independent nation in the world, covering only 109 acres.

    June 7, 1929 – The Treaty of the Lateran is ratified. Pope Pius XI gives up all claims to the Papal States, and Italy agrees to the establishment of the independent State of Vatican City.

    October 11, 1962-November 21, 1964 – The 21st Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church, known as Vatican II, is held under orders of Pope John XXIII. The council included 2,700 clergymen from all walks of Christiandom looking to improve relations with the Catholic Church. By the end of the council there is a new pope, Paul VI, a new constitution for the Church and new reforms.

    June 2011 – Pope Benedict XVI sends the first Vatican tweet announcing the opening of a news site, “Dear Friends, I just launched News.va Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ! With my prayers and blessings, Benedictus XVI.”

    October 6, 2012 – The pope’s former butler Paolo Gabriele is convicted of aggravated theft for leaking confidential papal documents and sentenced to 18 months in prison. In December 2012, Gabriele is pardoned by the pope and released to his family.

    November 10, 2012 – Claudio Sciarpelletti, a computer technician, receives a two-month suspended sentence for leaking Vatican secrets to the media.

    May 2013 – Missio, a smartphone app, is launched by Pope Francis. The app provides Catholic news from the Vatican and around the world.

    November 24, 2013 – The Vatican exhibits the bones of a man long believed to be St. Peter, one of the founding fathers of the Christian church, for the first time.

    January 10, 2019 – The Holy See launches its official athletics team after receiving the blessing of the Italian Olympic Committee. Among the first members of the Vatican Athletics track team are nuns, priests, Swiss Guards, museum workers, carpenters and maintenance workers.

    March 2, 2020 – The Vatican opens its secret archives containing World War II-era documents from the controversial papacy of Pope Pius XII.

    December 24, 2020 – Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the pope holds a sparsely attended Christmas Eve mass with only 200 people in attendance, including 30 cardinals. The Christmas Eve mass, which usually attracts up to 10,000 people, is a landmark event in Vatican City.

    July 3, 2021 – The Vatican releases a statement saying that it has indicted 10 people, including an Italian cardinal, for several alleged financial crimes including extortion, corruption, fraud, forgery, embezzlement and abuse of power. The investigation, which started in July 2019, was carried out by the Vatican in cooperation with Italian authorities and revealed “a vast network of ties between financial market operators who generated substantial losses for the Vatican finances.” In December 2023, Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu is sentenced to five and a half years in prison for his role in financial crimes. Others indicted are convicted on some counts and acquitted on others. One, Monsignor Mauro Carlino, former secretary to Becciu, is acquitted on all counts.

    June 22, 2023 – The Vatican announces it will hand over evidence in the disappearance of a 15-year-old daughter of one of its employees 40 years ago to the Rome city prosecutor. Emanuela Orlandi, who was the daughter of a prominent Vatican employee and lived within the walls of the holy city, disappeared in the summer of 1983 while on her way home from a music lesson in central Rome. The Vatican – which has come under scrutiny over the years for its handling of the case – announced in January that it had opened a fresh investigation.

    November 16, 2023 – The Vatican announces that, as part of a move to reduce its carbon emissions, it will gradually electrify its fleet of vehicles. The Holy See also pledges to build a charging network within Vatican City and in other areas it controls. The city state plans to ensure that electricity for its charging network comes from renewable sources.

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  • 2024 is the ‘year of globetrotting,’ travel expert says. Here are some of the hot spots

    2024 is the ‘year of globetrotting,’ travel expert says. Here are some of the hot spots

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    Tokyo, Japan.

    Matteo Colombo | DigitalVision | Getty Images

    When it comes to travel abroad, popular destinations like London, Paris and Rome always seem to top the wish list for Americans.

    But many travelers are looking beyond those mainstay cities for trips in 2024. Interest in major Asian hubs, off-the-beaten-path locales in Europe and other areas has surged, experts said.

    “It’s clear that 2024 is shaping up to be the year of globetrotting,” Airbnb wrote last month.

    More from Personal Finance:
    U.S. passport delays have eased — but aren’t yet back to normal
    New Europe travel requirement delayed again, to 2025
    A controversial hack to save on plane tickets carries a ‘super big risk’

    Broadly, overseas travel is hot: Searches for international flights are up 13% year-over-year, even though prices are about 10% higher, according to Steve Hafner, CEO of Kayak, a travel website.

    “Americans are looking to go abroad,” Hafner said. “They’ve done the domestic stuff the last couple years.”

    Here are the trending destinations for Americans in 2024.  

    1. Asia takes the crown again

    Hong Kong

    Kanchisa Thitisukthanapong | Moment | Getty Images

    Americans flocked to the Asia-Pacific region in 2023 — and that love affair is poised to continue in the new year.

    Tokyo and Seoul, South Korea, respectively rank as the No. 1 and 2 trending international hot spots next year among U.S.-based travelers, according to travel app Hopper.

    Kayak data shows a similar trend. Its top five hot spots are in Asia: Hong Kong; Shanghai; Taipei City, the capital of Taiwan; Tokyo; and Osaka, Japan, respectively.

    For example, searches for Hong Kong and Shanghai are up 355% and 216%, respectively, year-over-year, according to Kayak. (The travel site analyzed search traffic among Americans from March 16 to Sept. 15 this year, for travel planned in 2024, and compared it to the same period last year.)

    Kyoto, Japan

    Sw Photography | Stone | Getty Images

    Japan also ranks highly among non-U.S. travelers: Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo are among the top 24 worldwide destinations next year, according to Airbnb data.

    Asian nations were among the slowest to ease border closures related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Now that they’re open again, tourists are unleashing a pent-up wanderlust, experts said.

    “People couldn’t travel there, and now they are making it up,” said Sofia Markovich, a travel advisor and founder of Sofia’s Travel.

    China reopened its borders in January 2023, “one of the last places” to do so, Hafner said.

    Japan reopened to tourists starting in June 2022. There are other factors driving increased interest to that nation, like a historically strong U.S. dollar relative to the Japanese yen (and other currencies), which gives Americans additional buying power, and more flights from budget airlines, Hafner said.

    Search traffic for Japan has more than tripled for trips during the first nine months of 2024 relative to the same period in 2023 — a larger increase than any other nation, Airbnb said.

    Americans are looking to go abroad. They’ve done the domestic stuff the last couple years.

    Historically, Tokyo has “hands down” been the most popular city for Americans to visit in Asia, said Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper. Now, demand is “even greater” than usual, she said.

    Tourists may also pay a hefty premium to fly to Asia next year: “Good deal” prices for airfare to the continent is $1,204 for 2024, on average — 45% more than 2019, a much larger increase relative to other continents, according to Hopper.

    2. Going off the beaten path in Europe

    Stockholm, Sweden.

    Leonardo Patrizi | E+ | Getty Images

    Overcrowding in the traditional European hubs is driving an influx of tourists to generally less-frequented areas, experts said.  

    For example, Stockholm, Sweden; Budapest, Hungary; Helsinki, Finland; and Prague, Czech Republic, respectively rank seventh to 10th on Kayak’s list of trending destinations abroad.

    Copenhagen, Denmark, is No. 4 on Hopper’s 2024 hot spot ranking. Prague and Edinburgh, Scotland, are No. 7 and No. 8, respectively.

    “People are really discovering the off-the-beaten path places,” Markovich said. “Because your Paris and your Rome and London and Barcelona are just too crowded. And experienced travelers want to get away from that.”

    She recommends “a lot” of Scandinavian travel since it’s “so unspoiled by overtourism.”

    The Salisbury Crags in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, Scotland.

    Andrew Merry | Moment | Getty Images

    Additionally, Finland became a member of the NATO military alliance in 2023, driving more awareness of the nation among Americans, Kayak’s Hafner said.

    Cities like Budapest and Prague have always been popular but not to the extent of some European tourist magnets, Markovich said.

    One of those typical magnets — Paris — is poised for an additional burst this year: The City of Light is hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics.

    The business behind budget airlines like Ryanair and Spirit

    Demand for flights to Paris — and for nearby cities — during the Olympics has more than doubled versus this time last year, according to Hopper data.

    Lower relative prices for some lesser-known spots in Europe are also likely attracting people, Berg said, especially since average flights to Europe overall are 5% more expensive in 2024 versus 2023, at $717, Hopper data shows.

    3. The Atlantic tropics over the Caribbean

    Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands.

    Faba-photograhpy | Moment | Getty Images

    Although places like Cancun, Mexico, remain popular as warm-weather beach destinations, Americans are increasingly turning to Atlantic tropical vacations over the Caribbean, said Hopper’s Berg.

    “This is something new this year that we started seeing emerge” and the trend “will definitely continue” in 2024, she said.

    For example, Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, and Funchal, the capital of Portugal’s Madeira archipelago, ranked No. 9 and 10, respectively, on Hopper’s international trend list. Both are located off the West African coast.

    People are really discovering the off-the-beaten path places.

    Sofia Markovich

    travel advisor

    Though not on the Atlantic, Málaga, a Mediterranean port city on the Costa del Sol in southern Spain, ranked sixth on Kayak’s list. The Andalusian city gets about 300 days of sunshine a year, on average, and, according to one recent report, is the No. 1 city in the world for expats.

    Search interest there is up 60% year-over-year, Kayak data shows. And that’s following a year in which Málaga was already “overrun,” Hafner said.

    “I think that word has gotten out,” he said.

    4. Canada’s ski mountains are having a ‘renaissance’

    A ski slope at Grouse Mountain in Vancouver, Canada.

    Daisuke Kishi | Moment Open | Getty Images

    Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal in Canada ranked third, fifth and sixth, respectively, on Hopper’s international trend list for 2024.

    Winter tourism likely plays a big role, Berg said.

    “We’ve seen a real renaissance of Canadian ski destinations,” she said. “They’re rivaling a lot of European ski destinations.”

    Plus, air travel to Canada is generally about a third of the price of a trip to Europe, Berg added.

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