Fresh News from The Residence by Cenizaro:

The new The Residence Dhigurah by Cenizaro will open in June 2019, located on one of the most beautiful atolls of the Maldivian Archipelago – of Gaafu Alifu- adjacent to the first The Residence Falhumaafushi property opened in 2012. These two Resorts will be connected by a long wooden bridge going to create one of the most extensive resorts in the Maldives. The Gaafu Alifu atoll is located in the southern part and can be reached by seaplane or domestic flights in about 50 minutes from the international airport of Male. 173 spacious Beach and Water Villas overlook the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, all with private pools. The rooms are designed to accommodate natural light and built with the best local materials, combining the beauty of traditional Maldivian architecture with contemporary elegance. Ideal for families, Dhigurah has introduced 12 Beach and Water Villas with more land space options, perfect for younger children. The meals formulas include “the all-day dining” at The Dining Room, the seafront restaurant and Li Bai, a characteristic Cantonese restaurant twinned with Singapore’s renowned Li Bai, which offers refined classic Chinese dishes. Among other proposals, guests can choose the evocative oceanfront Long Island to enjoy dishes, light tastings, champagne cocktails and admire breathtaking sunsets. For tapas or light snacks, the Cafe del Sol, at The Beach Club, is available to guests for poolside lunches and sunset cocktails. Alternatively, for a more intimate experience, guests can choose from a series of “private dining experiences” that include a dinner served under a starry sky on a private island, up to the beach barbecue for families and friends. The Dhigurah Spa by Clarins is located on 10 pavilions covered by thatched roofs, each of which is located within lush tropical gardens overlooking the ocean. The Spa is a true oasis of holistic tranquility to heal body, mind and soul and also includes a barber, beauty salon, a garden terrace with wonderful ocean view where you can practice yoga. Additional highlights of the Resort include an “infinity pool” of 42 meters, Dive & Watersports Center, reading and relaxation room, equipped gym, free use of bicycles per room and a wide range of water sports and experiences on land. The Turtle Kids Club (open from 9am to 7pm) dedicated to guests from 3 to 12 years, allows the freedom to explore and discover the magic of the island under the eyes of a properly trained team. The Kids Club’s vast playground extends throughout the island and invites little guests to explore and discover the local fauna and flora. Other activities include yoga for children, snorkeling, kayaking, Dhivehi language learning, arts and crafts, beach games, cooking, treasure hunts and more. Babysitting service is also available. Surrounded by a beautiful coral reef and located on one of the deepest and pristine atolls, with more than 250 species of corals and 1200 marine species, including manta rays, dolphins and turtles, Dhigurah is a must to visit for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts. The opening of The Residence Maldives in Dhigurah will bring the portfolio of The Residence by Cenizaro to six hotels – Tunis, Zanzibar, Mauritius, Bintan and Maldives. A further expansion is expected in the next two years with three hotels in Tunisia – Douz, the Medina of Tunis and the island of Djerba. Gary Xie, Director for Cenizaro Hotels & Resorts said: “With The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah we are creating a new offering for our guests. The hotel will – as always – be an authentic expression of The Residence philosophy; with its own story to tell and a combination of both Maldivian and global influences to give it a unique sense of place. With The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah, we want to create a hotel that is both the perfect place to relax and an ideal spot for families to let loose and have fun.” He adds, “This is a really exciting time for The Residence by Cenizaro as we look to expand the portfolio and we are absolutely thrilled with this new opening.”

For more information, please visit: www.cenizaro.com/theresidence

The Residence Zanzibar, among the best resorts in Tanzania

by Alessandro Furlotti Zanzibar

Zanzibar is an ideal destination for many reasons, such as the warm welcome, hypnotist mysticism and its rich history.

The Residence Zanzibar has a special bond with the land and strives to give guests the opportunity to venture into the authentic style of Zanzibar life.

The fact that search engine users have voted for the Resort among the best hotels in Tanzania is explained.

Since The Residence Zanzibar is in first position in the Top 10 of the best hotels in Tanzania; It ranks second in the Top of the 10 best luxury hotels in the region, as well as third place in the Top of the 10 best hotels with more customer focus.

On the other hand, the resort occupies the fourth place among the top 25 best hotels in Africa and seventh place in the top 25 best luxury hotels in the area.

A milestone that highlights the exquisite service and hospitality with which the resort welcomes all guests, the attention to detail and how The Residence Zanzibar is fully integrated into this beautiful Indian Ocean region.

For more info: https://www.cenizaro.com/theresidence/zanzibar

The agenda of international Itinerary of Pope Francesco in 2019 is enriched by a new stage: Morocco

by Alessandro Furlotti Marocco

On 30 and 31 March, Pope Francesco visited the city of Rabat, where the Apostolic Nunciature has been located since 1976. This is the second time of a Pontiff in Morocco, after 33 years of John Paul II’s journey in August 1985, at the invitation of the then King Hassan II, with whom he had held in December two years earlier (1983) an exchange of letters on the legal situation of the Catholic Church in Morocco. It is also the second time for a visit by Jorge Mario Bergoglio to a predominantly North African country, after the one in Egypt in April 2017, the result of the “thaw” between the Vatican and the prestigious Sunni Al-Azhar university. the March 2019 trip – not linked, therefore, to a specific event – therefore represents a new opportunity to strengthen the dialogue between the Catholic Church and Islam and to encourage the small Catholic community: just over 27 thousand faithful, according to statistics, on a population of 34 million inhabitants (about 0.08%). The only stop in Rabat is the royal residence of King Mohammed VI. With the occasion, we want to deepen the peculiarity of Rabat, the amber capital, as a stage of the countless tours that our valid TRANSATOUR correspondent includes in every fascinating tour proposal.

Capital of Morocco,Rabat is considered the symbol of the Country’s immortality. Embraced by miles of amber-colored walls scented with pink and orange hibiscus, the city – elegant and refined – mixes history and modernity. The genesis of the name is linked to the construction in 1150 by the sultan Abd al-Mumin of the fortress on the top of the cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, a mosque and residence which in Arabic is called Ribat. Home to the Royal Palace of His Majesty Mohammed VI, which houses the Government of Morocco, Rabat also has the largest university in the country and is full of shops, cinemas, theaters and bookstores. Try to be in Rabat on Thursday and enter the Rue des Consuls where the characteristic and folkloristic carpet auction is held and where you can buy splendid local handicrafts. Then book a visit to the Caffè Maure, a delicious local inside a kashba, to sip between the benches and the blue tables overlooking the sea the typical mint tea and the typical Moroccan sweets made with honey and almonds.

Click to see a nice video on YouTube about the trip of Pope Francesco https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AxZefaecx8.

Ladakh, Indian Tibet celebrating Padmasambhava

by Alessandro Furlotti India Ladakh

The concept of experiential tourism is becoming more and more common: it is a unique and original way of traveling, as it stimulates the heart, mind and soul simply by savoring the destination in an authentic way, taking part in moments of everyday life for you with the locals. All this is a dream when the chosen destination is India, a land of a thousand colors, scents and knowledge that captivates the visitor by involving him in a profound spiritual journey.The beautiful season invites you to discover the wonders of the upper Indus Valley, surrounded by the Buddhist spirituality of its countless monasteries and the colors of the Hemis Festival.

This Festival is celebrated every year on the tenth day of Tsechu, the lunar month of the Tibetan calendar.This colorful show commemorates the birth of Guru Padmasambhava, the founder of Tantric Buddhism in Tibet. It is held in Hemis Gompa, an incredible Buddhist monastery founded in 1672 AD by King Senge Nampar Gyalva. The ceremonies begin with a morning ritual on top of the Gompa where, to the rhythm of the drums and the clamorous clash of cymbals together with the spiritual lament of pipe, the portrait of “Dadmokarpo” or “Rygyalsras Rinpoche” is ceremonially put on display for everyone admire and adore. Dressed in brightly colored tunics, adorned with colorful masks the monks perform a religious dance on melodies exploded by large horns, which makes the Hemis Festival an incredible extravagance, a feast for the eyes and the joy of everyone.The historical correspondent Cox and Kings for this extraordinary occasion recommends a trip of 6 days and 5 nights with departures on 11 July for a complete immersion in this magical, unforgettable festival.

Sri Lanka Where The Extreme Sport Wins

by Alessandro Furlotti Sri Lanka

Not only relaxation: there are those who, on vacation, are looking for strong emotions.

Until a few years ago, extreme sports were not practiced by many people, there were only a few daredevils who, to repeatedly experience the excitement of risk, danger and the adrenaline rush that is felt at the time of the action, challenged the fear and courageously threw himself out of a 40-meter bridge or climbed a vertical wall with bare hands. In recent years, however, extreme sport has become a real discipline, followed by many enthusiasts. The equipment has improved, the preparation of the athlete, the research and the areas have multiplied, the areas where to go to try again to feel that adrenaline rush that has not changed over time, strong was and remained strong.

So for those who want to discover this wonderful country from a different angle, our correspondent Jetwing Italia, proposes Ella, a small village in Hill Country, one of the most scenic places in all of Sri Lanka. The landscape that is in this place is totally different from the idea of this island. Here, nature is predominant, green fills the eyes of travelers who get lost among mountain peaks, tea plantations and waterfalls where for those in search of new emotions, a viable option is the Zip Line. The two-wire Zip line extends for over half a kilometer and offers a bird’s eye view of the beautiful hills of the island. https://www.flyingravana.com/

A world without dolphins and whales is nothing but a world “- said Ric O ‘Barry. Those who share the same thought as the man who spoke to dolphins in Mirissa, off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, can devote themselves to this evocative and exciting practice. – Observation of whales in Sri Lanka is an incredible activity to consider, and it is even more breathtaking if carried out by an aircraft flying over the unforgettable spectacle of the passage of cetaceans, since it does not disturb their natural habitat. Observing the majestic nature of the largest mammal in the world, the Blue Whale, from an aerial point of view, leaves passengers with an incomparable experience and an understanding of the true greatness of beauty and grace of the species. https://f-air.lk/whale-watching/

Abu Dhabi, is not just sea and endless luxury: the capital of the Emirates, in fact, aims to establish itself as a destination to be preferred when it is intended to give a cultural turn to the holiday. And, given its rich heritage, it is not difficult to find interesting ideas

by Alessandro Furlotti Abu Dhabi

From fortress to center of culture: the evolution for those who want to immerse themselves in the history of Abu Dhabi, recently opening the doors to the public was the Qasr Al Hosn, a true icon of local culture. We are talking about a structure originally built in 1760 as a watchtower and first transformed into a fortress and then into a splendid palace, becoming the home of the Al Nahyan family who once governed the city.

Today, at the behest of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan (founding father of the United Arab Emirates), this monument, from the residence of the rulers, has been transformed into a center of culture and education of great depth.

Today it hosts a permanent and free exhibition that illustrates the rich heritage of the region and the history of the capital of the United Arab Emirates. There are also galleries, museums, countless intellectual activities, artistic and cultural events ready to tell the other side of the emirate demonstrating on the one hand a strong identity and, on the other, a great opening to the international scene.

Madagascar with a thousand facets, discovering the Panganales canal

by Alessandro Furlotti Madagascar

As in many stretches of the Indian Ocean, just behind the beach, where the accumulation of sand has made it rich and full-bodied, almost a line of dunes has formed that becomes a barrier to protect the territory behind, as if to divide two kingdoms, that of the ocean without borders and a system of pools of water, of canals and inlets, those that elsewhere are called backwaters, fed in turn by the watercourses that come from the inside, which constitute an ecosystem to itself, calm and quiet, marked by expanses of mangroves, swamps and muddy stretches, delimited by a whole series of embankments and passages that the work of man has done to shape for its use.

This was followed by a complex design hand that over time created a sort of artificial canal that runs just inside the sea line, even for more than 600 kilometers. One of these channels was built at the beginning of the colonial era by the French governor in Madagascar, used as an efficient system for the movement of vehicles, goods and people in a very difficult area without other means of communication. The Panganales canal has thus become a place of great interest. Now visitors can enjoy a boat cruise along this canal from Toamasina to the village of Ankanin’y Nofy. Along the way, you can discover the lifestyle of the villagers, the fishermen and once in Ankanin’ny Nofy visit the Palmarium reserve to admire various species of lemurs. And of course do not miss the chance to see the Aye-aye, a kind of nocturnal lemur, known for its long fingernails and fluffy hairs on its head.

And right in Toamasina, the largest port of Madagascar and second city in the country after Antananarivo, inaugurates The Streamliner Hotel Apartment, an elegant complex that redefines the concept of luxury offering guests 36 fully equipped apartments with a living area, kitchenette and balcony , to feel at home at ease.

Meknès in the top 10 cities in the world to visit in 2019 according to Lonely Planet

by Alessandro Furlotti Lonely Planet Marocco Meknes

The famous tourist guide Lonely Planet has just published the ranking of the ten cities to visit in 2019, and the imperial city of Meknès is in 10th place.

The warrior sultan who in 1672 moved the capital of Morocco to Meknès would turn in his grave if he knew that today the city receives few visitors compared to Fès and Marrakech. Moulay Ismail sacked the palaces of Marrakech and the Roman ruins of Volubilis to obtain the stone and the marble with which to build the massive fortifications that still enclose the city, the underground warehouses for food supplies and a magnificent bab (door) to even eclipse the Blue Door of Fès. In the heart of the city, the elaborate mausoleum of Ismail is a national treasure, released in 2018 by a two-year restoration, which offers travelers one more reason to visit this underrated city.

Christmas in Hanoi, the most evocative and enchanting city in Vietnam, illuminated by colorful lanterns.

by Alessandro Furlotti Hanoi Vietnam

Christmas, in Vietnam, is an imported festive day, a bit like Halloween with us, as the majority of the population is Buddhist. Despite this, Christmas attracts more and more curiosity and appreciation from the new generations, enchanted and enchanted by the atmosphere full of joy that accompanies it.

The site does not have the white snow and the reindeer, but Santa Claus does not miss to visit the lively tourist town and the inhabitants celebrate with fervor. In all streets and shops you can admire the traditional Christmas trees decorated with lights and colors, Christmas packages with the most extravagant shapes, handcrafted products made of wood, ceramic or glass, figurines for the nativity scene.

At this time of year, it is common to see people dressed as Santa and reindeer antlers. The sound of merry Christmas carols is everywhere and Vietnamese residents exchange greetings and presents. In short, everything makes this unmissable stop even more beautiful and characteristic during the Christmas period

To describe the beauty of Sri Lanka, the Telegraph reports a phrase from a reader who voted the country as the most beautiful place in the world: “Everyone knows how beautiful Sri Lanka is, but few know how wonderful its inhabitants are”

by Alessandro Furlotti Sri Lanka

The correspondent Jetwing Italia carries on and for the period from May to October 2019 proposes an extraordinary program of 6 nights “Speedy Sri Lanka” that touches the most suggestive cities of this destination rich in spirituality, with overwhelming nature.

The tour touches the famous fortress of Sigiriya which dates back to the 5th century and which represents the “Fortress in the sky” one of the fantastic wonders of the island. Also known as the fortress of the lion due to the presence of an enormous stone statue, depicting the feline, positioned at the entrance.

A must-see destination, Polonnaruwa, another site declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. In the past it was the capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th to the 13th century and houses some splendid and spectacular statues. Temples, stupas, statues, sacred icons, bas-reliefs are just some of the things that can be admired in this vast complex.

The rest of the program also includes exciting stops like the Dambulla rock temple, the spice garden, the Temple of the Tooth, a show of traditional dances to continue for Matale.

It does not ignore Kandy, also “World Heritage of Humanity and stronghold of Sinhalese sovereigns during the domination of the Portuguese, Dutch and English, surrendering to the latter in 1815 following an agreement between the parties. Kandy has a special value and is considered the most sacred place of Buddhists because of the “Dalada Maligawa” the temple that houses the sacred relic of the tooth of Buddha. Today Kandy is the center of Buddhism, the arts, crafts, dances, music and culture. Visitors can attend dance and music shows that take place daily in different parts of the city.

Finally, the trip ends with a visit to Nuwara Eliya– the ‘little England’ of Sri Lanka, in a picturesque mountain area between valleys, waterfalls and tea plantations.

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