italian castle:South African couple Max and Joy Ulfane stumbled upon Castello di Fighine, a fortress ruin in Tuscany almost 30 years ago and quickly fell in love with it.
Castle owners:In 1995, Max and Joy Ulfane bought the neglected old fortress Castello di Fighine, to which the settlement adjoins.
Huge design:For four years, the couple renovated the neglected castle into luxurious residences.
Full Makeover:“We put a lot of work and love into it, faced challenges and overcame them. And a lot of money to bring this place back to life, says Joy Ulfane to CNN.
holiday home: The restoration process was not easy, but the Ulfans are happy with their beautifully restored fortress and enjoy spending time in Fighine.
Satisfied isolation:"We come here once a month from London to relax, we love the peace, quiet and total privacy of our castle," says Joy.
The couple who bought and restored Castello di Fighine in Tuscany (photos)
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In travel news this week, a restaurant on the edge of space is now taking reservations, a hypersonic start-up promises to get people from Europe to Australia in less than five hours, and couples are transforming stunning properties in Italy and Japan.
Inspiring projects
The small English island that inspired the legendary crime writer Agatha Christiefor sale, and has its own art deco hotel and helipad. Burgh Island, off the coast of Devon, has a 25-room hotel, mermaid swimming pool and billiard room - the perfect setting for Colonel Mustard and Candlestick.
Do you think this is too big a task to take on? Well, a South African couple bought oneruined castleon a Tuscan hill and turned the fortress into a luxurious second home. Then they bought houses in a nearby village and turned them into five beautiful villas with swimming pools and two apartments, which they rent out to holidaymakers.
And on a smaller scale, but just as perfectly crafted, a Japanese-Israeli couple bought a traditional Japanese country house calledcampfire, and changed it to aunique guesthouse experience.
Shoot to the sky
If you're going to pay tens of thousands for a trip to the edge of space, you want the food to be out of this world. French company promises space tourists a big walletMeals at Michelin star levelserved at an altitude of 25 kilometers, meaning diners can admire the curvature of the earth while sipping a cuvée.
And if these talented guys have lunch in Europe and dinner in Australia, they could soon make the trip in less than five hours if Swedish supersonic aviation start-up Destinus realizes its vision. Planning an introductionhydrogen passenger flightsfive times the speed of sound in the 2030s.
This year, however, marks two decades since the era of supersonic commercial flight ended when Concorde last touched down at an airport in England. The Concorde pilots told CNNwhat it was like to fly the legendary plane.
Disney snyder
Marceline, Missouri, Walt Disney's hometown, was the inspiration for Main Streets USA, which fill Disney theme parks around the world. But Walt's last unfinished project was an attraction in Marceline that would relive his childhood there. HistoryDisneys Lost Parkit is now told at the Walt Disney Museum in the town of Marceline.
Taylor Jeffs, now 39, grew up near Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm in California, when it was "definitely not fun to love theme parks," but he was "obsessed." He is currently a theme park designer andcreates immersive worldsAll over the world. "It's art and science," he says.
Our partners at CNN Underscored, the guide to CNN's product reviews and recommendations, talked to theme park veterans to come up with the ultimate Walt Disney World packing list. They are here22 things you need.
Law and order
A man has been accused of installing a hidden camera in a public restroom on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in late April. After that he stayed there for several daysanother passenger saw it.And on April 28, at Chennai airport in India, a woman was caught with 22 snakes in her luggage.Watch the video here.
Decades of dedication
A cruise ship passes bythe river Nilein the 90s. Crackedwinding through the streets of Parisin the 2000s. ANew Year's partyin the party city of Goa in the 2010s. We have three more love stories for you that started fast but lasted a long time - hang in there.
Trekking in South Africa
Odder:Founded in 1968, the Otter Trail is South Africa's oldest and most famous walking route.
Coastline:The Otter Trail runs along the Eastern Cape coast between Storms River Mouth and Nature's Valley in the Garden Route National Park.
Mont-Aux-Bronnen:At 27 miles long, Mont-Aux-Sources isn't the longest, but it has one of the most challenging vertical climbs—literally straight up the chain ladders.
Top shared:The Mont-Aux-Sources trail climbs the legendary Drakensberg. The relatively flat top is shared by South Africa and Lesotho.
Klipspringer sti:Augrabies Falls National Park is a dramatic desert setting for a trail that starts at the largest waterfall along the Orange River and winds along the top of a deep gorge.
Seasonal walks:The Klipspringer Trail is only open from April to October, when temperatures are at their mildest.
Cape of Good Hope route:This two-day, 24-mile hike offers a historic and highly scenic route with stunning ocean views and rich fynbos vegetation.
wild land:The Cape of Good Hope has unrivaled biodiversity for a temperate region with over 1,080 plant species and 250 bird species as well as ostriches, zebras, caracals and antelopes.
Kgaswane at the top:This 25km route takes you through the rugged highlands of the Kgaswane Mountain Reserve in the Magaliesberg range.
Prehistoric past:The Kgaswane Summit Trail covers an area that has been home to humans and their evolutionary relatives for over 2 million years.
Droga Tsitsikamma:This six-day walk crosses the Garden Route National Park, the original habitat of a trail of prehistoric ferns and cool rock pools, river crossings where the water is often waist-high, and bright green highlands reminiscent of Scotland.
Cross-country skiing:Tsitsikamma hikers start on the coast in Nature Valley and explore forests and high ridges with cool winds and panoramic views.
Edge of Africa:The Rim of Africa is a guided walking tour that stretches through the mountains and valleys of the Western Cape, from the remote Cederberg Mountains north of Cape Town to the Outeniqua Mountains near George.
Ribbed disc:Ribbok climbs the colorful sandstone cliffs and rock formations of the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, about three hours' drive east of Bloemfontein.
Coast of Namaqualand:This stretch of Atlantic coast, 300 miles north of Cape Town, is famous for its rugged beaches and stunning spring wildflowers.
Lighthouse and Caves:The 50 kilometer long route covers the entire coast of Namaqua National Park between Groenriviermond Lighthouse and the Spoeg River.
The Best Hiking Trails to Discover South Africa's Flora and Fauna (Photos)
In case you missed it
South Africa is an undisputed continentwalking champion, with over 3,700 trails and an epic adventure around every corner.
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