velvet | Italy

Palazz-ial luxury in Florence

A special guest post by Rajul Chande. To call Relais Santa Croce in Florence a “hotel” is a slight misnomer. The building is so unique, replete with historic details and visually opulent that I immediately felt as if I’d stepped into an entirely different dimension. This feeling began with the sense of discovery on arrival. [...]

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The fortress town of Civitella del Tronto

Civitella del Tronto is a historic fortress town in the northeastern corner of Abruzzo, the Italian region that stretches from the slopes of the Appenine mountains (east of Rome) to the Adriatic Sea. The last fortress The 500 meter long fortress, the second largest of its kind in Europe after the fortress in Salzburg, is [...]

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Plane views: Assisi

Assisi is a historic town in Umbria, Italy. Famous as the birthplace of St. Francis and home to the magnificent Basilica of St. Francis, the town can trace its roots back to the 1st century B.C. Assisi is built on the western slopes of Mt. Subasio – a mountain that, funnily enough, sports a bald [...]

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Impressions of Abruzzo

I knew very little about Abruzzo other than that it’s a region to the east of Rome, on the other side of the Apennine mountains, and that it’s home to Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, a sublime red wine that instantly makes you daydream of rolling hills bathed in sunshine and fragrant herbs – well, that’s the effect [...]

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Plane views: the European Alps

The European Alps are not the largest chain of mountains in the world, nor are they the highest, but they possess a unique charm and history that speak to the imagination of locals and visitors alike. The daunting peaks, impressive slopes and picturesque villages have lured visitors to the Alps for centuries, and today the [...]

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The spires of the Duomo

Milan is famous as one of the world’s most dynamic fashion and design capitals but there’s one monument whose design will never run out of fashion: the Duomo. The Duomo is the largest cathedral in Italy and one of the largest in the world. Work on the current structure began in the 14th century and [...]

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Tuscany’s gifts to the world

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Tuscany, or Italy for that matter! My love affair with Tuscany began more than two decades ago. I think it started the moment I had my first meal at a cosy trattoria in Florence. The food was absolutely divine. Simple, fresh and cooked with a passion [...]

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Exploring the Italian Riviera

The Liguria peninsula in the northwest of Italy, a short drive east of Genoa, is a gorgeous region of colourful fishing towns, beautiful beaches and historic attractions. Liguria, often referred to as the Italian Riviera, is a favourite holiday destination amongst many Milanese and the global jet-set (think royal families, Madonna, Rihanna… and you get [...]

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The iconic Vespa

The Vespa is without doubt the most iconic scooter around. Since the 1950′s, it has appeared in a countless number of movies, music videos and commercials, creating an almost mythical aura. I always wondered what it was that made the Vespa so appealing. Brilliantly executed marketing strategies obviously played a significant role in creating an [...]

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Enchanting spots: Calci Charterhouse, Tuscany

  The Calci Charterhouse is a magnificent Carthusian monastery located in Calci, at the foothills of the Monti Pisani (Pisan Mountains) about ten kilometers from Pisa. The Charterhouse traces its roots back to 1366 when it was founded by a group of Carthusians. However, its current baroque façade stems from the 18th century. Thanks to [...]

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