Flybe / March 2019

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112 / Flight Time / MARCH 2019
Destinations
TOULOUSE
The pink city of Toulouse is blessed
with not one but two UNESCO
heritage sites. The first, built of brick
and stone, is the 11th-century basilica
of Saint-Sernin with its huge vaulted
nave, as well as a crypt that contains
numerous relics, including those of Saint
Sernin himself. The second is the Canal
du Midi, which links the city with the
Mediterranean Sea. Constructed under
the reign of Louis XIV by Pierre-Paul Riquet,
this beautiful canal lined with plane trees
was completed in the 19th century and
can be explored on foot or bike, as well
as by boat.
VEN I CE
Quadri, the 18th-century café, bistro and fine-dining restaurant in St Mark’s Square which
has been owned by the Alajmo family since 2010, has reopened after a major restoration.
A transformation revealing the original magic of the place in a romantic and slightly-surreal
atmosphere has been created by French designer Philippe Starck and crafted by Venetian
artisans. Brothers Massimiliano and Raffaele Alajmo approached Starck to “bring back the
original splendour of the space in a contemporary context”. A key challenge of the project
was how to prepare the restaurant’s interiors for acqua alta, a natural phenomena where high
tides in the Adriatic Sea cause the temporary flooding of several areas of Venice. Rather than
finding a way to conceal potential water damage, Starck instead decided to craft all table
legs and other floor fixtures from unvarnished brass, intended to naturally oxidise and change
colour over time. For the pastel-hued café and bistro on the ground floor, Starck called on the
help of local art restorers to strip back any existing paint and expose the 19th-century stucco
underneath. Upstairs, he upholstered the formerly crimson-red walls of the formal restaurant
with a rich, brown fabric based on a pattern from the 1550s, updated with space-themed
imagery like satellites and astronauts. Decoration is provided by a restored 1930s chandelier
made from Murano glass, large oval-shaped mirrors that have been lined with vintage
photographs and taxidermied animals.
F L I G H T D E TA I L S
Flybe has flights to Venice from Cardiff (from 2nd April).
F L I G H T D E TA I L S
Flybe has flights to Toulouse from
Manchester.
VERONA
Given UNESCO World Heritage status
in 2000, Verona has historical sights
aplenty – but if your time in the city
is short, here are three not to miss. The
famous Roman amphitheatre, which is
still in regular use today as an open-air
opera house, is a must. Next, make your
way to Juliet’s house, Casa di Giulietta, on
Via Capello, with its famous balcony and
bronze of Juliet. From the Piazza delle Erbe
(once a Roman forum), head for the Torre
dei Lamberti. This 84m-high watchtower
took over 300 years to build, and was
finally finished in 1463. From the top, you’ll
enjoy amazing views of Verona.
WI CK , JOHN O’GROATS
If you fancy getting acquainted with
whisky, a visit to Pulteney Distillery
in Wick is a must. It continues to
make malt whisky using traditional
methods nearly two centuries after its
opening. The spirit matures in oak casks,
slowly capturing the unique character
of this stunning landscape with its
long seafaring history. Take a tour to
see behind the scenes and discover
the time-honoured process that goes
into crafting Old Pulteney single malt
whiskies, known as the ‘Maritime Malt’,
distilled and matured by the sea.
F L I G H T D E TA I L S
Flybe has flights to Verona from Cardiff
(from 3rd April) and Southampton (from
11th May).
F L I G H T D E TA I L S
Flybe’s franchise partner Eastern
Airways has flights to Wick, John
O’Groats from Aberdeen.
F L I G H T D E TA I L S
Flybe’s franchise partner Blue Islands
has flights to Zurich from Jersey (from
11th May).
ZUR I CH
Want a relaxing day? Then head
to the Hürlimann Areal and its
Thermalbad & Spa. The view over
the city from its rooftop pool is amazing,
and there’s more. You can relax in the
huge, wooden, water-filled tubs of the
old Hürlimann brewery in the basement
and enjoy the Irish-Roman spa with its
steam baths and shallow pools. The
spa’s thermal water is drawn from the
legendary Aqui springs, deep beneath
the city. This water is rich in valuable
minerals and its soothing warmth
promotes wellness and relaxation.