Cocooned in bucolic Umbria lies Villa Monte Solare, one of the region’s most romantic boltholes. The once private home of an aristocratic family, the history of Villa Monte Solare can be traced back as far as 1780; today it is now a luxury spa resort. It embodies rural living with irrepressible Italian charm as all the original features have been preserved including the murals, ancient cotto floors and period furniture. The sumptuous 25-bedroomed villa, close
Nestled in the picturesque surroundings of Monferrato and Langhe, lies Relais Sant’Uffizio (part of the LDC Italian Hotels Group), in what can only be described as a woodland utopia. Close to Asti’s fine wines and truffles in the heart of Piemonte, Relais Sant’Uffizio dates back 500 years when it was home to a Roman Catholic monastery. The ancient Relais was at the heart of Monferrato, one of the most important wine regions of Italy, surrounded
Discover The Palazzo Venart Luxury Hotel The stunning Palazzo Venart Luxury Hotel opened its doors to the public in August 2016 and is the latest LDC luxury hotel in Italy. The five-star Palazzo Venart Luxury Hotel consists of 18 prestigious and fastidiously decorated rooms and suites, each based on a unique aspect of Venetian history and culture. Fronted by its placid garden which opens directly onto the Grand Canal, the entire 16th century Palazzo
A.Roma Lifestyle Hotel, settled in the rolling green hills outside Rome, is a magnificent contemporary hotel, counting 276 rooms, LDC Hotel Group has brought it up-to-date with elegant design, turning it into a luxurious Urban Retreat with an outdoor pool, large private gardens, outdoor dining, comfortable conference rooms, and international cuisine. Perfect for an escape while in town, with a day spa for residents of Rome and its surroundings, the hotel has also become
8 Mar 2019Words and images by Rosalind Milani Gallieni Since my last visit to Lisbon in 2017, I can safely say there is a whole new vibe finding its way around town, like a beautiful but determined old ivy plant, still keeping a grip. It’s found its way into the cracks of history and heritage of the old buildings it has been growing on for years, but now, at the same time, it’s suddenly growing a new
21 Feb 2019Do you know about Le Mude? The enticing new fragrances by The Merchant of Venice are all based on them.... Mainly made up of Venetian galleys, Le Mude were the convoys of ships that serviced the main maritime trade routes between the Mediterranean and Asia. Today, these important trade routes – and the raw materials and traditions that were exchanged as a result of their voyages – are the inspiration behind three new fragrances (two
Fine Italian luxury linens – Frette 1860 Since 1860, Frette has endeavoured to produce linens and home furnishings of unparalleled quality. From its bases in Monza and Milan, Frette employs only the finest fibres and most skilled artisans to craft a range of products that have come to embody luxury, comfort and creativity across the globe. Known for their chic, original design and inimitable finish and feel, Frette bed linens can be found in many
7 Feb 2019
11 Jan 2019La Rosa Moceniga by The Merchant of Venice - 300 combinations to capture history and fragrance....in a bottle! Harmoniously set in a soft and sensual base note, this rose becomes the queen of its fragrance. The comfortable musk, the white cedar wood, and the vanilla absolute, coupled with a touch of amber crystals, assure a precious base to the majesty of this historical rose. These were the notes of the nose who went to work
11 Dec 2018Cyrill Gutsch (Photo taken from Parley TV's Instagram) The Fashion Awards 2018, by the British Fashion Council and in partnership with Swarovski, saw Cyrill Gutsch, Founder of Parley For The Oceans, awarded with the Special Recognition Award For Innovation. The award was bestowed for Parley For The Oceans’ commitment to highlighting the devastating effects of plastic on our environment and through collaborations, working with designers to reinvent the way in which products can be made and designed
21 Nov 2018By Hannah Norman (no relation of Russell's - at least, we don't think!) An evening of prosecco and cicheti sounds like an Italian dream to most people, and so it was that we found ourselves in the expansive lobby of Hotel Heureka in Venice about to enjoy just that! Organised by British maverick restaurateur Russell Norman (the founder of London’s POLPO restaurants), the event was designed to showcase Russell’s flair and knowledge of local Venetian
8 Aug 2018Hotel Heureka, situated in the Cannaregio district of Venice, is close enough to the Church of Madonna dell’Orto to hear her to bells chime on the hour, much as they did in the days of sixteenth century painter Tintoretto. In anticipation of the 500th anniversary of the birth of Jacopo Robusti (known more commonly as Tintoretto), the hotel will be celebrating the artist’s works in Cannaregio, in this magnificent church it counts at its
26 Jun 2018Words and images by Rosalind Milani Gallieni Hotel Heureka has opened in the heart of secret Venice, playing with the layers of heritage and design, weaving tradition and art into one boutique property. Having spent several years searching for their perfect property, the owners discovered the ideal building (a 16th Century palazzo, no less) to transform into the bewitching Hotel Heureka. Since opening in October 2017, the hotel has been quietly whispering wealth, passion and
30 Apr 2018By Hannah Norman Venice (image courtesy of Ted Gushue) When in Venice….do as the well-travelled do! Rather than compete with the hordes for a busy vaporetto service, take a moment to relax and enjoy the city from the water (is there really any other way to appreciate it properly?!), by hiring a private water taxi. One firm that has spent the last three years paving the way (or should that be paving the waves?) in
24 Apr 2018My Private Villas is a collection of the highest quality holiday rental properties which gives an opportunity to rent beautiful and exciting houses world-wide. The MPV collection is a great mix of modern, leading edge, designer and historic houses with the portfolio offering a diverse range from beachfront, wine estates, a converted lighthouse, city apartments and family heritage properties. By booking directly with My Private Villas guests are assured of greater flexibility and personal attention
Welcome to Donna Coraly Resort, a jewel within the historical grounds of San Michele. Welcome to our home, set within Siracusa’s countryside, ensconced in the silence of a large Mediterranean garden, only a short distance from the sea. A moat, a watchtower and the memories of an armistice all combine to evoke an illustrious past, which lives again, in the uniqueness of an unforgettable experience. A patient and long restauration project unearthed and enhanced the
Amedei Tuscany – Made in Italy chocolate A woman and her dream: Amedei Tuscany, founded in 1990, was born from Cecilia Tessieri’s vision and love of chocolate. Cecilia Tessieri has embarked on a mission to make Italian chocolate the most exquisite chocolate possible. After a number of apprenticeships between France, Belgium and Germany and having always had a desire to find the world’s best cocoa beans and a continual search for perfection has resulted in
6 Apr 2018Words and images by Rosalind Milani Gallieni Why did I leave it so long?! Copenhagen is only an hour and a half away by plane, and the full immersion of the lifestyle and the general cheer of the city is the easiest thing to take on board. From landing on Danish tarmac and onwards, everything works, everything makes sense, everything just seamlessly slots into place. Even buying a tube ticket to get into town from
27 Mar 2018Words and images by Rosalind Milani Gallieni A ski resort is usually a pretty predictable kind of place, in that you know that after a great run on the slopes on fresh or beaten snow, the lifts (ski, button and even egg lifts!) close their perpetual daily service at about 4.30 or 5 o’clock and the variety of après-ski activities begin. It can turn into an early night to catch the first chair lift up
8 Mar 2018Words and images by Rosalind Milani Gallieni As the winter months drift by, a balmy few days away is just the thing to quickly banish the winter white-outs here in the UK. At just under 4 hours' flight from London, Marrakech offers summer - or at the very least, spring - weather all year round. So a perfect punt! Arriving from the airport straight into the action of the main square of Jemaa el Fna,
19 Jan 2018
20 Dec 2017Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for take-off. This is going to be a great trip.... With winter now fully upon us, this is the time that sees Brits board long haul flights to warmer destinations and escape the cold back home. However, a recent poll shows almost 70% of UK travellers suffer jet lag, and it’s a familiar story regardless of what direction you turn when boarding your flight, and however restrained you are with
Founded in Connecticut in 1975, Ghurka has served as a symbol of superior American leather craftsmanship for forty years. Ghurka bags and accessories are handmade by master artisans committed to a tradition of superior craftsmanship, superb functionality and timeless American style. Every item that bears the Ghurka mark remains loyal to our heritage of exacting design and trademark manufacturing processes and is built to provide a lifetime of use and enjoyment. Perhaps what best defines
27 Sep 2017
