Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Uffizi – almost everyone knows the Florentine attractions. But the Tuscan capital also has other treasures to offer. If you’re willing to leave the beaten path, you can look forward to exploring Florence: exciting art projects, surprising river cruises and a wine-rich region. Helpful here: tips from the pros. The concierges of the hotels belonging to the Lungarno Collection are always up to date and know the best addresses, exhibitions and tours.

Oltrarno: Artsy district in Florence

The district on the other side of the Arno exudes a charm all its own: “di là” – over there, as the Florentines say – there are fewer tourists around. Instead, local students, craftsmen, architects and aristocrats sit in the nice wine bars and trattorias. The neighborhood was created in the 12th century, when the population of Florence skyrocketed and the people in the old town could no longer find enough living space. To this day, studios and workshops can be found here, as well as art galleries, bookstores, enchanting churches and museums that can be visited at leisure and without crowds. Every morning, farmers set up their makeshift tables in the atmospheric Piazza Santo Spirito, selling flowers, fruit and the season’s vegetables. Borgo Santo Spirito and Borgo San Frediano are the arteries of the district. They score with many small stores, traditional workshops and cool eateries. The tiny Piazza della Passera is particularly idyllic, while Piazza Pitti is magnificent. The narrow alleys in between are an enchanting labyrinth in which one gets lost again and again and only too willingly.

Renaioli: City tour from the water

Until the middle of the 20th century, the Renaioli were still traveling on the Arno with their simple work boats to salvage building sand and stones from the riverbed. Today, their characteristic pole-guided barges are used for river cruises. From the water, the elegant palaces on the Lungarni are particularly visible. The bridges also present themselves in an unusual perspective. You glide silently past the Uffizi, under the jewelry stores of Ponte Vecchio, see – perhaps for the first time – the churches of Santi Apostoli and San Jacopo Soprarno. And, you learn that the beautiful Ponte Santa Trinità is the oldest wicker arch bridge in the world and has been rebuilt a full five times in its nearly 800-year history.

Exploring Florence on the traces of Tuscan Wine

The wines of Tuscany are legendary. If you want to not only drink them, but also learn about their production, book a tour to the vineyards south of Florence. The landscape alone would be worth the trip. Villages like Castellina, Gaiole or Greve are postcard-pretty. However, cellar visits accompanied by experts are considered the highlight. Wine production here has a centuries-old tradition, and getting your individual steps explained between gleaming steel tanks and ancient oak barrels is a unique experience. Each tour ends with a wine tasting and the opportunity to purchase a few bottles right where they were made.

Art & Culture

Florence is considered Italy’s cultural heartland, and in fact you’re more likely to see too much art here than not enough. Still, it’s worth looking for lesser-known projects. The American artists Sara Amrhein and Anna Rose, for example, open up the possibility of visiting an artist’s studio in private. Or you can visit Manifattura Tabacchi, a multicultural center with many different activities in a former tobacco factory. Also interesting are the city’s many highly diverse art galleries and the people who run them. Usually a phone call from the hotel concierge is all that is needed to make an appointment. Guests of the Hotel Lungarno already get their money’s worth – there, over 400 works of art by Picasso, Cocteau, Bueno and many Italian artists adorn the walls.

Exploring Florence with Craftmanship

Where else can you find that? A well over 100-year-old bookbindery, where antique writings are restored, but also individual paper objects are made to measure according to old techniques? A silk weaving mill with looms from the 18th century, on which fabrics are created according to very old but also very modern patterns? An art printer who produces small masterpieces in his studio? A bronze foundry, founded in 1925, whose employees handcraft artistic picture and mirror frames, but also fittings and lamp bases, piece by piece? In Florence there are still many traditional craft workshops where furniture, silverware or shoes are made as they were 100 years ago.

Dolce Vita in Florence

Pappa al Pomodoro, Schiacciata, Cantucci… – what is served in the typical Florentine Trattorias and Osterias can also be cooked at home. Provided you know how to do it. Cooking courses in a special ambience are offered, for example, by The Cooking Touch or Desinare. Here you learn to prepare Tuscan classics and other Italian specialties and are rewarded at the end with a delicious menu – fatto in casa, of course! For those who prefer just to be served food, the various restaurants of the Lungarno Collection are the place to go: At Borgo San Jacopo, star chef Claudio Mengoni creates taste sensations, while Antonio Minichiello serves up modern Italian cuisine with an international interpretation at Caffè dell’Oro.

Bella Figura in Florence

At the beginning of the 1950s, the young Marchese Giovanni Battista Giorgini organized the first fashion show in Florence and made “made in Italy” world-famous with very young couturiers such as Emilio Pucci and Roberto Capucci. It then took a good 30 years for Milan to establish itself as a fashion Mecca. But with Pitti Uomo, Florence still offers the most important men’s fashion fair in the world. The fashion school ‘Polimoda’ is known far beyond Italy’s borders. Those interested in the history of fashion should definitely visit the Museo Salvatore Ferragamo with its unique shoe collection – and perhaps the flagship store of the cult brand in the same Palazzo. Also of interest: the Fashion and Costume Museum housed in Palazzo Pitti, with 6,000 exhibits from the 18th century to the present day. And, the Stazione Leopolda, a former train station hall from the early 19th century that regularly hosts fashion-related exhibitions.

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With the abundance of hotels and destinations, it’s easy to lose track. Would I prefer an active vacation with sauna in the evening? Or rather culinary experiences with friends? Do I dream of luxury and relaxation or am I looking for relaxation in nature? But which hotel and destination suits me best? We might have the answer. Tell us which vacation type you are – and discover the most beautiful hotels according to your wishes!

Sustainability

Slow travel as a lifestyle

Sustainability is not a trend for you, but a lifestyle. Do you value regional food, are you careful about what you consume, and do you want a hotel that is also conscious and climate-neutral in its approach to life? Here are two hotels that will make you happy. That’s a promise!

The Alpin & Relax Hotel Gerstl in the Val Venosta puts great value on regional food from the immediate surroundings. Whether in the infinity pool, the natural bathing pond or the sauna, the mountain view is always included. Recharge your batteries, feel tranquility and absolute liberty. At this place, where familiar hospitality, modern style, South Tyrolean tradition and strong holiday emotions are unified, the beauty of life is put in the center of attention, every day.

Montivas Lodge in Livigno is built entirely from ecologically valuable materials. In addition to a completely sustainable energy concept, a first-class organic breakfast awaits you in the morning. At Montivas Lodge ethics meets aesthetics. The building was built exclusively using environmentally friendly materials to make your sustainable holiday and the words go for green a reality.

Wellness

Warm and cozy

Every visit to the sauna is relaxation for you. Nothing relaxes you more in the winter months than pleasant scents and cozy warmth? Then off you go to the Garberhof in South Tyrol. A unique spa with a large pool area and sauna worlds awaits you here. The special thing: Italy’s largest Hamam, which takes you to a world of ethereal scents and a special cleansing ritual. Surrounded by sunny orchards, the hotel merges with the scenic beauty of South Tyrol. It’s an oasis of tranquility where you will find the ideal conditions to experience a feeling of total freedom.

The Cyprianerhof in the Dolomites of South Tyrol is a wonderful place to unwind. Here you can not only look forward to the breathtaking panorama of the Rosengarten, but also to the brand new Similde Spa. Jump into the pool with Dolomite water, enjoy an infusion in the glass sauna or a bubble bath in the whirlpool – mountain view included. The close connection to nature is reflected in the hotel. The impressive Catinaccio/Rosengarten rises impressively in front of the 5-star hotel. It is a sight that inspires the eyes and touches the soul.

Luxury

No wishes remain unfulfilled

No infinity pool, no you. When you go on vacation, it may – no, must – be unique and luxurious. True luxury can be experienced at the five-star Hotel Fanes in the South Tyrolean Dolomites. Whether in the sky pool or in the private whirlpool: Here you relax at the highest level. The hotel in Alta Badia, in the heart of the Dolomites, lies in the picturesque scenery of the village of San Cassiano. It is a charming and elegant destination where you breathe a centuries-old art of welcoming. A precious place for regeneration and special attentions.

Alternatively, head to Lake Garda: The Quellenhof Luxury Resort Lazise awaits you with an excellent pool and wellness paradise on 21,000 square feet. You can sleep in luxurious suites and glamorous private villas. It’s Dolce Vita pure at Lake Garda. Surrounded by olive trees, above the small medieval village of Lazise and only a few minutes away from the extensive southeast shore of Lake Garda.

Design

Here beats the aesthetic heart

You love design and innovative ideas. When choosing your hotel, aesthetics also play a role. The more inspiring, the better. The Parkhotel Holzner in South Tyrol is sure to make your design heart leap for joy. Let yourself be captivated by the charm of the Gründerzeit and discover modern elements in the midst of history. Built in 1908, the hotel is located 4,000 feet above sea level on Ritten Mountain, and offers a stunning view of pastures and forests, lovely hills, and rugged mountain peaks. It is an alpine refuge surrounded by fresh mountain air and ancient giant trees. All that only a 15-minutes cable-car ride from the city center of Bolzano.

Another tip: Hotel Muchele near Merano. 40 modern suites and excellent food await you. Wine lovers, architecture fans and free-spirited souls love the easy-going atmosphere that prevails here. Best of all, if you like the Moroso furnishings, you can buy a few pieces right away. A hotel as a showroom, so to speak. If that’s not something for design lovers. Hotel Muchele is part of the Vinum Hotels South Tyrol, top vacation addresses for everyone who wants to experience wine culture up close.

Water

Time out by the lake

Whenever you sit by the water, you are happy. A vacation without sea or lake – hardly imaginable! Then off to Lake Garda to the five-star luxury hotel EALA in Limone sul Garda. This exclusive 5-Star L hotel on Lake Garda is inspired by and owes its name to a wonderful animal that has always lived on the shores of Lake Garda: the swan, eala in Celtic. Enjoy the view in the spa or while swimming in the infinity pool. If you prefer to jump directly into the lake, a private beach area on the lakeside awaits you. In the evening, enjoy dinner in one of the two restaurants – with a view of the lake, of course.

A bit further north, near Bolzano, the Hotel Seeleiten welcomes you to Lake Caldaro. Two lake accesses including a sunbathing lawn and beach bar ensure wonderful days on the water. Directly in front of the hotel on Lake Caldaro there is a wonderful, spacious Mediterranean park with numerous secluded retreats that invite you to relax and sunbathe. The heated natural swimming pool in the green holiday oasis provides pleasant refreshment in between. You can also go out on a pedal boat or rowing boat, or on one of the hotel’s own stand-up paddles.

Wine & Dine

La Dolce Vita

For this vacation type we travel a bit further south. Vacation means for you: Dolce Vita! You want to enjoy the days, be pampered with culinary delights and just enjoy. Then you should definitely go to the Boutique Hotel Castello di Semivicoli in Abruzzo. A place that is perfect for those seeking peace and quiet and wine lovers. There are only eleven individual, charming rooms. During the day the main thing here is to enjoy life – with good food and even better wine. Visit the Masciarelli winery estate and cellar or, during the grape harvest, watch and appreciate the development of their wines, from the vineyards to your table, through a constant and patient work. If you want to enjoy the flavors of Abruzzo, they organize dedicated cooking classes. For explorers they provide bike rental and organize excursions and guided tours.

If you prefer a livelier atmosphere, you can stay at one of the five hotels in the Lungarno Collection. Whether in Florence or Rome, here you can enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city and a luxury hotel in one. From romantic spaces to an eclectic taste of the contemporary, from classic Italian style to a new concept of bespoke hospitality, each hotel in this exquisite collection boasts a unique personality.

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It is a ripe vintage, the top Masciarelli winery in Abruzzo! For the 40th anniversary, the mother-daughter duo Marina Cvetic and Miriam Lee Masciarelli invites guests to personally taste their fine wines at the place of their creation, with a cultural summer. Stylishly housed in the Castello di Semivicoli, guests can look forward to a delicious picnic in pink, stargazing in the vineyards and an installation by Belgian artist Job Smeets. Come with us on a journey to Abruzzo.

Slow down at Castello di Semivicoli

Located between the Adriatic coast and the Maiella Massif, this lovingly restored 17th-century patrician residence invites guests to take a relaxing break in the heart of Italy. In the eleven rooms and suites of the Castello di Semivicoli, somehow, the heart seems to beat slower. Magnificent rooms from a bygone era and the spacious garden are perfect for quietly reading a good book or enjoying a glass of wine while looking out over the vineyards to the sea. At Castello di Semivicoli you can choose from 11 suites, all located on the upper floors of the Castle. Each suite is different from the other, timeless atmospheres blend with the essentiality of contemporary design. The characteristic period interiors, unaltered by the skillful restoration, contain furnishings chosen from the most characteristic collections of Frau, Lupi, Driade and Stark.   

On hot days, the large pool area offers refreshment. In the evening, when the crickets start their song in the garden, the clatter of cutlery on the castle terrace joins in. The cuisine, made from fresh, regional organic ingredients, finds its ultimate complement in the wines pressed here. Environmentally conscious guests are in the right place at this Ecoworld hotel. But also simply connoisseurs whose heart likes to beat a little slower.

Stargazing and Pink Picnic

On clear summer nights, stargazing is the order of the day. Supplied with a picnic bag, the cosmos can be observed wonderfully from the darkness of the surrounding vineyards. If you are lucky, you might even spot the Big Dipper or Cassiopeia, but certainly many other stars in the firmament. Always with you: the fine Masciarelli wines. On August 27, the summer picnic in pink continues: At the Serata Rosè in piscina, all guests are asked to dress in pink as a tribute to the famous rosé wine Masciarelli Cerasuolo. At the same time, live music will ensure a good atmosphere, reservations are required. The cost is € 45 per person. In addition, the open-air summer restaurant invites you to indulge in “La Tavola di Gianni”. In the garden or in the vineyards, experienced sommeliers present not only the popular Masciarelli wines, but also selected drops – from the region to the top wines of Europe.

A heartfelt wish for the 40th – the Masciarelli Art Project

The Masciarelli Art Project fulfills a long-cherished wish of the heart: The Masciarelli Art Project is launched just in time for the winery’s 40th birthday. In the future, it will bring international talents of contemporary art into a dialogue with the kaleidoscopic Masciarelli world. The Belgian artist and designer Job Smeets, founder of the avant-garde Studio Job, will kick things off. He picked up ideas during his residency at Castello di Semivicoli in April for an installation that will be on view at the castle in October 2021. Smeets is also designing a label exclusively for the limited-edition Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva Villa Gemma. “It is an honor to be the protagonist of the first edition of the Masciarelli Art Project,” Job Smeets is pleased to say, “Immersing myself in the unique and evocative atmosphere of Castello di Semivicoli, I was overwhelmed by the centuries-old history, surrounded by the beauty of nature and the enormous diversity of the vineyards. I was very fascinated by the elements that help to protect it: Roses, bees, herbs, flowers, symbols of a powerful nature that maintains the delicate balance of wine production.”

Straight from the heart – the education of Syrian children

Anyone who decides to buy a bottle of Pecorino DOC Castello di Semivicoli 2020 will be supporting access to education for refugee children from Syria. Five percent of the proceeds will be donated again this year by the Masciarelli winery to the refugee organization Terre des Hommes Italia. Among other things, it operates protected learning spaces for girls and boys in Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon. The initiative to dedicate one of Casa Masciarelli’s most innovative wines to charity has been in place since 2017.

It is a matter close to the hearts of Marina Cvetic and Miriam Lee Masciarelli. This year, a child from Syria even designed the wine label. But it’s not just for the good deed that the 2020 vintage is worth investing in: made from pure Pecorino grapes, Pecorino Castello di Semivicoli comes from the vineyards around the castle. Versatile, full-bodied and dense, it presents itself as a lively, contrasting white wine with aromas of balsamic, sage, thyme, honeysuckle and mountain herbs, as well as hints of pear, dried apple and lemon zest. Crisp and fragrant, it is suitable for an aperitif or as an appetizer, but equally with fish dishes or cheese.

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