We just returned from an incredible time in Tuscany, and we owe our faithful followers a report:
This trip was conceived two years ago, a process that involved sifting through dozens of villas and finding the one that was “just right.” Ultimately we decided on a villa near Siena, just outside the town of Pianella. Everything was set…for September 2020. That, of course, didn’t happen, and the villa owner agreed to a postponement of a year.
We, of course, had to wait; the world wasn’t open. But now that travel to places like Italy is once again possible, we can’t imagine waiting. The time to visit Italy is now; the conditions are ideal.
The day for our departure arrived, and we set off from O’Hare IAP with our son Alex and daughter-in-law Aly. Travel on the airline was uneventful…just an additional check or two of COVID test results and vaccination records, but otherwise unremarkable. Throughout our visit we found that Italy was easy to navigate—light crowds and minimal restrictions. We all made sure to have our vaccination records with us when we ventured out, but over the span of our two week-plus visit we were asked to show those documents no more than around a half dozen times. As in the States, some people were wearing masks, but outside very few people did so. Most of our meals were on patios—some covered and some not—and wearing masks was just not an issue. In museums and shops all were wearing masks.
So, overall, we experienced very little inconvenience. For those who are fully vaccinated, Italy is truly a piece of cake to visit. It’s perhaps even a bit better to visit at this time because of the light crowds. But, on to the details of our visit….
Flying via Frankfurt, we arrived in Florence the morning following our departure and made our way to the beautiful St. Regis, situated along the Arno River. Upon settling in, we immediately set off to visit our friend Claudio Meli, the GM of The Place, an exquisite small hotel in the heart of Florence. Claudio, the consummate host, treated us to what was absolutely the best gelato any of us had ever experienced. Later, we returned to The Place for an exquisite dinner on the outdoor patio. Really, a stunning setting.
The following morning we took a quick walking tour of the city, then set off to pick up our rental car and head for the heart of Tuscany. The drive was fairly uneventful, at least as uneventful as any drive in Italy can be, and we were just a little flabbergasted when we arrived at our beautiful villa, just outside of Siena. It was perfect.
Rather than droning on with a play-by-play, an overview, with a few highlights is probably best:
We spent a couple of days in the cities of Florence and Siena, each beautiful in its own way. It is just possible that Florence is our favorite city in the world. The concentration of history, art and architecture is unmatched, largely a result of the Medici family’s wealth and influence.
Most days saw us jumping into our car and exploring Tuscany. We went in every direction from our villa, and within a very short drive there was inevitably a beautiful village to be seen, a winery to be visited, or a stunning vista to take away your breath. It’s hard to envision the concentration of notable wineries and historic sites in every direction. And, wonder of wonders, there were three Michelin-star restaurants within minutes of our Villa.
A large part of our time in Tuscany was focused on visiting our industry partners, evaluating their properties, and discussing future joint plans with Elán. First among these was the St. Regis in Florence. This elegant hotel combines notes of traditional luxury with the modern. It was a true treat to settle into this iconic hotel, which is supremely comfortable, but the highlight had to be seeing our daughter-in-law Aly doing the sabering of the champagne, a St. Regis tradition around the world.
Have you ever heard of The Place, a small property in Florence heralded as among the world’s finest hotels? It’s so nice, we visited twice! The first time to meet with our good friend, GM Claudio Meli, for a tour of their latest updates and what turns out to have been the best chocolate gelato of our trip, and the second time for an incredible dinner on the piazza. It’s one of our favorites of all the places we’ve visited in the world. The Place. Florence. It gets no better.
One of our first expeditions was to Rosewood’s Castiglion del Bosco, near Montalcino. One of the most comprehensive vineyard tours and wine tastings we’ve ever experienced was followed by a visit to a villa to grab some video for a client, and a meal that was out of this world. Castiglion del Bosco is a real treat, offering a wide range of sumptuous accommodations atop a mountain that affords vistas that seem endless. They are among the most highly trusted partners in Elán’s portfolio, and our visit cemented our adoration of this property.
The following day, we were treated to a lunchtime visit to Villa San Michele, where a Michelangelo-designed facade greeted us, followed by a cocktail in the stunning gardens that overlook Florence. The setting for our lunch—prior to our tour of the Uffizi and the Academia—was a “Wow!” in the true sense.
Later in the week we visited Tenuta Argentaia. This thousand-year-old compound had fallen into ruins and has been faithfully restored by its owner, a former trader on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It features tremendous privacy and expansive spaces, along with one of the foremost privately owned modern art collections in Europe. Look for a collaboration between Elán and this one of a kind property in the months ahead.
It’s hard to name any one of these properties as the top among those we visited, but it’s hard to imagine any place more beautiful and serene than Belmond’s Castello di Casole. Describing it as a hotel does not really do it justice, as it consists of a restored castle and all the elements of the surrounding town, now incorporated in the accommodations, dining venues, and other facilities of the resort. GM Roberto Protezione is the consummate host, and his passion for gardening has created one of the most visually stunning places in all of Tuscany. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by the rose garden he conceived, with 4,000 rose bushes. Incredible! Throughout the property the gardeners have masterfully woven extravagant flowering plants into the fabric of this ancient town. Photos cannot do it justice.
One other property worth mentioning was one of our neighbors…Hotel La Fontanelle was just a couple hundred meters from the entrance to our villa. We crashed their party twice during our visit, the first time to meet with the GM and sales staff, and the second to enjoy a lunch on the pool patio. This family-owned hotel is an unheralded treasure, lovingly restored from ancient ruins and commanding an impressive place atop a Tuscan hill. The family owns and operates a nearby winery that is utterly state of the art.
We were so privileged to visit these, and other, properties in Tuscany. We are developing Elán-specific programs with each of them, and truly could spend an extended holiday at any one of them. Alas, this is not to be…at least not now. It’s too invigorating to make the rounds, firm up plans, and look toward the future.
Our villa, a short distance from Siena, was fabulous. Comfortable and quiet, it provided a great home from which to conduct our many excursions. The household manager Salvatore (“Sati”) took great care of us, and our chef who came in daily, Merope Harris, really made our time at the villa special. We hope to partner with Merope in the future, and would suggest that she is a great choice for those who want to experience a level of true culinary excellence in their Tuscan home. FWIW, our son Alex declared Merope “family,” and it was truly sad to bid her farewell.
Apart from the visual splendor of Tuscany, the wines, and the food, that is what makes our travels so rewarding. The casual conversations. The shared stories. And the bonds that last forever.
Now, more than ever, two words should guide each of us: “Don’t wait.”
Please enjoy the slideshow….
This trip was conceived two years ago, a process that involved sifting through dozens of villas and finding the one that was “just right.” Ultimately we decided on a villa near Siena, just outside the town of Pianella. Everything was set…for September 2020. That, of course, didn’t happen, and the villa owner agreed to a postponement of a year.
We, of course, had to wait; the world wasn’t open. But now that travel to places like Italy is once again possible, we can’t imagine waiting. The time to visit Italy is now; the conditions are ideal.
The day for our departure arrived, and we set off from O’Hare IAP with our son Alex and daughter-in-law Aly. Travel on the airline was uneventful…just an additional check or two of COVID test results and vaccination records, but otherwise unremarkable. Throughout our visit we found that Italy was easy to navigate—light crowds and minimal restrictions. We all made sure to have our vaccination records with us when we ventured out, but over the span of our two week-plus visit we were asked to show those documents no more than around a half dozen times. As in the States, some people were wearing masks, but outside very few people did so. Most of our meals were on patios—some covered and some not—and wearing masks was just not an issue. In museums and shops all were wearing masks.
So, overall, we experienced very little inconvenience. For those who are fully vaccinated, Italy is truly a piece of cake to visit. It’s perhaps even a bit better to visit at this time because of the light crowds. But, on to the details of our visit….
Flying via Frankfurt, we arrived in Florence the morning following our departure and made our way to the beautiful St. Regis, situated along the Arno River. Upon settling in, we immediately set off to visit our friend Claudio Meli, the GM of The Place, an exquisite small hotel in the heart of Florence. Claudio, the consummate host, treated us to what was absolutely the best gelato any of us had ever experienced. Later, we returned to The Place for an exquisite dinner on the outdoor patio. Really, a stunning setting.
The following morning we took a quick walking tour of the city, then set off to pick up our rental car and head for the heart of Tuscany. The drive was fairly uneventful, at least as uneventful as any drive in Italy can be, and we were just a little flabbergasted when we arrived at our beautiful villa, just outside of Siena. It was perfect.
Rather than droning on with a play-by-play, an overview, with a few highlights is probably best:
We spent a couple of days in the cities of Florence and Siena, each beautiful in its own way. It is just possible that Florence is our favorite city in the world. The concentration of history, art and architecture is unmatched, largely a result of the Medici family’s wealth and influence.
Most days saw us jumping into our car and exploring Tuscany. We went in every direction from our villa, and within a very short drive there was inevitably a beautiful village to be seen, a winery to be visited, or a stunning vista to take away your breath. It’s hard to envision the concentration of notable wineries and historic sites in every direction. And, wonder of wonders, there were three Michelin-star restaurants within minutes of our Villa.
A large part of our time in Tuscany was focused on visiting our industry partners, evaluating their properties, and discussing future joint plans with Elán. First among these was the St. Regis in Florence. This elegant hotel combines notes of traditional luxury with the modern. It was a true treat to settle into this iconic hotel, which is supremely comfortable, but the highlight had to be seeing our daughter-in-law Aly doing the sabering of the champagne, a St. Regis tradition around the world.
Have you ever heard of The Place, a small property in Florence heralded as among the world’s finest hotels? It’s so nice, we visited twice! The first time to meet with our good friend, GM Claudio Meli, for a tour of their latest updates and what turns out to have been the best chocolate gelato of our trip, and the second time for an incredible dinner on the piazza. It’s one of our favorites of all the places we’ve visited in the world. The Place. Florence. It gets no better.
One of our first expeditions was to Rosewood’s Castiglion del Bosco, near Montalcino. One of the most comprehensive vineyard tours and wine tastings we’ve ever experienced was followed by a visit to a villa to grab some video for a client, and a meal that was out of this world. Castiglion del Bosco is a real treat, offering a wide range of sumptuous accommodations atop a mountain that affords vistas that seem endless. They are among the most highly trusted partners in Elán’s portfolio, and our visit cemented our adoration of this property.
The following day, we were treated to a lunchtime visit to Villa San Michele, where a Michelangelo-designed facade greeted us, followed by a cocktail in the stunning gardens that overlook Florence. The setting for our lunch—prior to our tour of the Uffizi and the Academia—was a “Wow!” in the true sense.
Later in the week we visited Tenuta Argentaia. This thousand-year-old compound had fallen into ruins and has been faithfully restored by its owner, a former trader on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It features tremendous privacy and expansive spaces, along with one of the foremost privately owned modern art collections in Europe. Look for a collaboration between Elán and this one of a kind property in the months ahead.
It’s hard to name any one of these properties as the top among those we visited, but it’s hard to imagine any place more beautiful and serene than Belmond’s Castello di Casole. Describing it as a hotel does not really do it justice, as it consists of a restored castle and all the elements of the surrounding town, now incorporated in the accommodations, dining venues, and other facilities of the resort. GM Roberto Protezione is the consummate host, and his passion for gardening has created one of the most visually stunning places in all of Tuscany. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by the rose garden he conceived, with 4,000 rose bushes. Incredible! Throughout the property the gardeners have masterfully woven extravagant flowering plants into the fabric of this ancient town. Photos cannot do it justice.
One other property worth mentioning was one of our neighbors…Hotel La Fontanelle was just a couple hundred meters from the entrance to our villa. We crashed their party twice during our visit, the first time to meet with the GM and sales staff, and the second to enjoy a lunch on the pool patio. This family-owned hotel is an unheralded treasure, lovingly restored from ancient ruins and commanding an impressive place atop a Tuscan hill. The family owns and operates a nearby winery that is utterly state of the art.
We were so privileged to visit these, and other, properties in Tuscany. We are developing Elán-specific programs with each of them, and truly could spend an extended holiday at any one of them. Alas, this is not to be…at least not now. It’s too invigorating to make the rounds, firm up plans, and look toward the future.
Our villa, a short distance from Siena, was fabulous. Comfortable and quiet, it provided a great home from which to conduct our many excursions. The household manager Salvatore (“Sati”) took great care of us, and our chef who came in daily, Merope Harris, really made our time at the villa special. We hope to partner with Merope in the future, and would suggest that she is a great choice for those who want to experience a level of true culinary excellence in their Tuscan home. FWIW, our son Alex declared Merope “family,” and it was truly sad to bid her farewell.
Apart from the visual splendor of Tuscany, the wines, and the food, that is what makes our travels so rewarding. The casual conversations. The shared stories. And the bonds that last forever.
Now, more than ever, two words should guide each of us: “Don’t wait.”
Please enjoy the slideshow….