Rome is a city that has always contained contradictions: ancient ruins beneath Renaissance frescoes, Baroque piazzas beside Fascist rationalism. To open a new hotel here is to add another layer to that palimpsest. But to open one designed by Zaha Hadid — posthumously completed as her last architectural project — is to enter a differentContinue reading “Romeo Roma: Zaha Hadid’s Final Masterpiece of Heritage and Futurism”
Tag Archives: Italy
Florence & the Making of the Renaissance
Everything you need to know about the Florentine Renaissance. We researched it so you don’t have to. The Rise and Fall of the Medici—and the Long Road to “Rebirth” The Renaissance was not a single spark but a long turning of Europe’s imagination. It was a shift of confidence and attention: toward antiquity as aContinue reading “Florence & the Making of the Renaissance”
Winter in Venice: A Month-by-Month Guide
In winter, Venice reveals its truest self. Mist drapes over the lagoon, candlelight warms wood-panelled trattorias, and gilded mosaics gleam in the hush of half-empty basilicas. From November’s fog to February’s carnival masks, this is the season to experience La Serenissima at its most romantic. Explore more at our Amazon store November — Mist andContinue reading “Winter in Venice: A Month-by-Month Guide”
Murano Glass: History, Houses, Authenticity & Collector’s Guide
Murano glass is more than artisan craft—it’s a living archive of Venetian science, design and family dynasties. Its history spans centuries of technical breakthroughs and stylistic revolutions. Below is an in-depth account of its origins, major firms, technique, and how to authenticate and collect. To explore further on our Amazon store front: CLICK HERE OriginsContinue reading “Murano Glass: History, Houses, Authenticity & Collector’s Guide”
Hugo Toro: Redefining the Language of Hotel Interiors
At just 35, Franco-Mexican designer Hugo Toro has emerged as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary hospitality and interior design. His projects—ranging from Provençal hotels to Roman palazzos—carry a singular blend of narrative, texture, and cultural depth. For Toro, interiors are not backdrops; they are stories waiting to be told. A Designer BetweenContinue reading “Hugo Toro: Redefining the Language of Hotel Interiors”
Winter’s Grand Stages: Europe’s Legendary Alpine Resorts
Some ski destinations are not just mountains but theatres of culture, history, and style. They were once retreats for aristocrats, industrial magnates, and artists; today they remain bastions of tradition, blending Alpine sport with society, architecture, and ritual. These resorts are not about speed alone — they are about the mood of winter itself: fur-linedContinue reading “Winter’s Grand Stages: Europe’s Legendary Alpine Resorts”
Roman Ristretto: The Ultimate Coffee Tour of the Eternal City
Rome is a city steeped in centuries-old rituals, and coffee is one of its most cherished. Whether you’re drawn to the heritage of storied cafés or the clarity of third-wave single origins, the capital offers a caffeinated journey unlike anywhere else. Icons of Tradition Caffè Sant’EustachioA Roman institution since 1938, famous for its wood-roasted beansContinue reading “Roman Ristretto: The Ultimate Coffee Tour of the Eternal City”
Villa d’Este, Lake Como: Renaissance Origins to Modern Grandeur
Perched on the shores of Lake Como, Villa d’Este is more than a hotel—it is a living testament to Renaissance architecture interlaced with 19th-century luxury, sustained by impeccable interiors and a storied cultural legacy. It has also just been confirmed that it’s the best hotel in Italy, possibly the world. No small feat. Architectural HeritageContinue reading “Villa d’Este, Lake Como: Renaissance Origins to Modern Grandeur”
Villa Borghese: Rome’s Most Cultivated Escape
There are few places in Rome where history, art, and nature fuse with such elegance as the Villa Borghese and its surrounding park. More than a green lung in the heart of the city, this is a cultivated landscape — a place where cardinals once entertained, where artists found inspiration, and where today, Romans andContinue reading “Villa Borghese: Rome’s Most Cultivated Escape”
Claudia Cardinale: A Life in Light and Shadow
Claudia Cardinale, indomitable star of Italian and European cinema, has died at the age of 87. Born Claude Joséphine Rose Cardinale in 1938 in La Goulette, Tunisia, to Sicilian immigrants, she rose from modest beginnings to become one of the defining faces of post-war film, grace and grit entwined. Her death marks the closing ofContinue reading “Claudia Cardinale: A Life in Light and Shadow”
My World of Interiors 