43.771125,11.248155
Last summer, my husband and I rented a car for 3 weeks and descended from the…
Florence
-
Emilio Pucci (1914-1992) had a passion for women, a visionary sense of style, and an eye for color and design. With these talents he created a fashion house unlike any other. By the early ’50s his boutique on the isle of Capri was catering to wealthy sophisticates, heiresses and movie stars buying his “Capri pants”, silk scarves and lightweight separates.
-
Established in 1200, the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is one of the oldest pharmacies in the world. Founded by Dominican friars after 1221, the pharmacy used medicinal herbs grown in the monastic gardens to take medications, balms and pomades for the monk’s infirmary… Every time I step on that door I get a familiar feeling of ” Deja-vu” from past lives.
-
It’s such a great feeling to come back from hectic Florence and have a nice walk around the peaceful garden here at the Villa. Throughout the centuries it has been the tradition for Italian nobility to be patrons to great artists. Villa Mangiacane stays true to this tradition, sponsoring on-site artists from Zimbabue and abroad, and numerous art exhibition openings.
-
Giotto found the kindling, Fra Angelico, Brunelleschi and Donatello built the fire. Massaccio and Verrocchio struck the match, then Leonardo, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Raphael threw gasoline — the result was the greatest blaze of art the world has ever seen.This city is literally one huge, glorious, easily walkable treasure chest. I have prepared all kinds of tips in case you decide to go. Have yourself your very own Renaissance…
-
Overlooking Florence just 10 kilometers away from the city, the Mangiacane estate spans 306 hectares situated between San Casciano Val di Pesa and Greve in Chianti, at an altitude of 250 to 300 meters. Its Villa produces 80.000 bottles per year mainly Chianti Classico D.o.c.g wines, and Igt wines ( typical geographical indication). I might take a helicopter tour and wine tasting later this evening. I am exited… I have never done this before!
-
They say every land holds a story in its heart. The story of Villa Mangiacane, a recent property of the Stein Hotels and Resorts, has waited five-hundred years to be told. After so many years. In case you are a Renaissance dreamer, a connoisseur of high art, a celebrator of life, a lover of simple pleasures, a passion seeker or an incurable romantic sit back, and read the tale.
Shoemaker to the stars, Salvatore Ferragamo saw his brand become more of a lifestyle choice than an accessories line. It was the first Italian fashion house to diversify into travel and lifestyle. I decided to go to Florence for the day and check how he accomplished that.
The Naduska spa is just beyond the Giardino della Scultura among the Tuscan landscape of vineyards and olive trees. Only such a spectacular environment could offer the perfect sanctuary for the relaxation I need at this moment. The natural therapeutic products are locally produced using mostly plants and herbs from the Tuscan countryside. A little rejuvenation won’t hurt.
Most people in large cities like New York, Paris, Moscow, and London are back to work from the Summer vacation season. Through time, I have personally earned the luxury of making my own work-leisure schedule, therefore I decided to experiment with wine-tasting around the Tuscan vineyards of the Sangiovese grape.