CHASING THE ITALIAN SUMMER WITH ROCCO FORTE HOTELS (Italy)
From September onwards, UK visitors to Italy will no longer have to complete the mandatory five-day quarantine upon arrival in the country. |
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CHASING THE ITALIAN SUMMER WITH ROCCO FORTE HOTELS (Italy)
From September onwards, UK visitors to Italy will no longer have to complete the mandatory five-day quarantine upon arrival in the country. |
Category: Europe - Italy - Exclusive experiences
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This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2021-09-15
From Tuscany to Puglia, and Lazio to Sicily, temperatures across the country remain balmy throughout September and October, making it the perfect place to chase the last of the summer sun.
With eight properties in the country, Rocco Forte Hotels offers a wealth of ‘dolce vita’ experiences for travellers to reclaim the Italian summer.A Roman HolidayVisitors to the Eternal City can choose between the iconic Hotel de Russie, home to the famous Secret Garden just moments away from Piazza del Popolo, Hotel de la Ville, a contemporary design hotel above the Spanish Steps, and Rocco Forte House, a private, residential-style escape with all the amenities and services of a five-star hotel.
This autumn, guests will be welcomed to the new, refurbished garden at Hotel de Russie, restored to its original splendour as envisioned by architect Giuseppe Valadier in the 1820s.
The garden is a central part of Roman life and has long been a favourite meeting spot for locals and Hollywood stars alike. Following a year-long restoration, the garden has been revived to Valadier’s early, eclectic design, with multiple terraces, grottos, balustrades, and fountains surrounded by this unique botanical frame.
The hotel will also be home to an exhibition of 17 of Sebastiao Salgado’s artworks, on display in the Diaghilev Meeting Room from 1 – 31 October.
From its elevated position above the Spanish Steps, Hotel de la Ville, offers some of the best views over the city. All three of the property’s Signature Suites, Canova, Roma and Suite de la Ville, feature elegant terraces, ideal for a morning espresso, aperitivo or private dinner.
For the ultimate sense of privacy, Forte Suite guests receive Mercedes S-Class airport transfers, in-suite check-in, full in-room bar, concierge services before and during a stay, and a personalised experience, such as a private tour of Gaetano Aloisio Boutique and Atelier, one of the most acclaimed tailors in the country, or a private cooking class with the hotel’s Chef.From Country to City in TuscanyThough located in the centre of Florence, with Piazza della Repubblica on its doorstep, Hotel Savoy simplifies exploring the Tuscan countryside for guests with several rural experiences available exclusively through the hotel.
This autumn, Hotel Savoy presents its very own Truffle Concierge, just in time for the elusive white truffle season.
Giulio the Truffle Hunter, one of the region’s most renowned experts, takes guests on a gourmet adventure in the idyllic countryside of Bagno a Ripoli, just 25 minutes drive from Florence.
Commencing at Giulio’s country house, guests explore the land for hidden treasures alongside Maga and Scott, his loyal hunting dogs, and following the hunt, return to his home for a truffle-based meal, prepared by Giulio himself.
Hotel Savoy’s new ‘Ultimate Romance’ experience will capture the hearts of couples who have delayed engagements, weddings and honeymoons throughout the pandemic.
The evening begins with a private sunset boat ride on a traditional barchetto, the Florentine gondola, along the Arno River.
The first stop is Loretta Caponi’s atelier, Italy’s renowned ‘Queen of Embroidery’, recognised for her delicate finery and handcrafted work that has been worn by empresses and emirs around the world. Guests will enjoy a private atelier appointment where they can admire Loretta’s handmade linens and lingerie and choose their own customised nightwear.
The evening concludes with a private dinner in Hotel Savoy’s Presidential Suite, which occupies its own wing and has views of Brunelleschi’s grand Cupola and Giotto’s Campanile. Should they wish, guests can also design a ring with Count Simone Rucellai, one of the city’s most well-known jewellery designers whose artisanal business Aloisia has been creating precious custom-made treasures for over half a century.Pastoral Paradise in PugliaMasseria Torre Maizza, a white-washed, serene hideaway set between the blues of the Adriatic Sea and the verdant Apulian countryside, brings centuries-old traditions to life this autumn.
The picturesque resort offers nature-loving families the opportunity to adopt an ancient olive tree from the botanical garden ‘La lama degli ulivi’. When at the masseria, guests can enjoy a private dinner in the gardens and walk through the natural surroundings, where over 2,000 flora species thrive, many of which are indigenous to the region.
The gardens are located near Monopoli, tucked between the hills and the sea, brimming with caves, ancient walls and two historic stone churches. Once a tree is chosen and the adoptive family returns home, frequent updates are sent about the tree’s health alongside freshly-pressed olive oil.
Green-fingered guests can also go foraging with Cooperativa Serapia, walking over edible wild herbs towards a picnic at the Albergabici.Seclusion in SicilyFor urbanites and sea-seekers, Rocco Forte Hotels’ two outposts in Sicily, Villa Igiea in Palermo and Verdura Resort in Sciacca, offer the best of both worlds.
Having opened in June 2021 following an intricate two-year restoration, Villa Igiea promises an experience as grand and glamourous as the hotel’s origins in Sicily’s Belle Époque.
Originally commissioned by the influential Florio family as a private villa, Design Director Olga Polizzi collaborated with Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen of Nicholas Haslam Studios to reinstate the hotel’s charm and architectural grandeur. Their combined vision manifests in a stylish mix of classic and contemporary with touches of local Sicilian style that convey the design mission of careful preservation married with thoughtful reinvention.
Rocco Forte Private Villas, overlooking the sparkling bay of Verdura Resort, are also new to the collection in 2021. Launched in April, the first 20 branded independent villas guarantee optimum privacy and security for guests alongside the resort’s services.
Perched on a hillside on the expansive grounds, the villas look out over the 230-hectare estate, championship golf course and Mediterranean Sea. Ranging from 200 to 300 sqm, the three and four-bedroom villas also feature large private pools set within landscaped gardens.About Rocco Forte HotelsEstablished by Sir Rocco Forte and his sister, Olga Polizzi in 1996, Rocco Forte Hotels is a collection of 15 individual hotels and resorts. All of the hotels are landmarks, both old and new, occupying magnificent buildings in exceptional locations. Led by a family who has been in hospitality for four generations, the hotels are united by their distinctive approach to service ensuring guests experience the best of the cities and surrounding areas. Rocco Forte Hotels comprises: Hotel de la Ville, Hotel de Russie and Rocco Forte House, Rome; Hotel Savoy, Florence; Verdura Resort, Rocco Forte Private Villas and Villa Igiea, Sicily; Masseria Torre Maizza, Puglia; The Balmoral, Edinburgh; Brown’s Hotel, London; The Charles Hotel, Munich; Villa Kennedy, Frankfurt; Hotel de Rome, Berlin; Hotel Amigo, Brussels and Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg. Future openings: The Carlton Milan in 2023.
Ultimate luxury experience will end on 2021-10-31
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