When it comes to a glamorous, lazy, hot vacation, Italians do it best.
Mark the most sensational destinations of the country by making a slow journey from Sicily to Venice through the romantic pit stops of the Amalfi coast, Tuscany and Portofino.
Experience the taste of a good life and delicious food, admire the stunning views and unsurpassed historical monuments, and properly imbue yourself with the spirit of each timeless place.
When it comes to a glamorous, lazy, hot vacation, Italians do it best.
Mark the most sensational destinations of the country by making a slow journey from Sicily to Venice through the romantic pit stops of the Amalfi coast, Tuscany and Portofino.
Experience the taste of a good life and delicious food, admire the stunning views and unsurpassed historical monuments, and properly imbue yourself with the spirit of each timeless place.
The charming town of Taormina
A curl of thinly sliced squid, fat mussels on a bed of sea bass ceviche, sprigs of salted samphire.
The plates standing on top of the embroidered lace tablecloths look like a work of art.
Which is quite appropriate, since the restaurant Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo, designed for 100 days, this summer pays tribute to the German landscape painter Otto Gehling, who was so in love with Sicily.
He was especially fascinated by Taormina, a city conquered by all who passed through it, which is dotted with monuments of its dramatic past. The Greco-Roman amphitheater rises immediately behind the Belmont Timeo Grand Hotel, and on the other side, with gifts from Bougainvillea, there is a terrace overlooking the waters of the Gulf of Naxos and Mount Etna.
Chef Roberto Toro strains his creative muscles in the most exquisite way. Dinner here, under the stars, at one of the eight tables is a dreamy start to an Italian adventure.
Mazzarò Bay
For something more rustic, take a trip to Mazzaro Bay, a delightfully old-fashioned pebble beach with yellow and blue umbrellas.
From Belmont Villa Sant'Andrea, you can go sailing to the sleepy Filicudi Island. After a quick morning stop at the home of antiques dealer Nicola Rinaudo, where you can taste homemade pastries and strong espresso, a private boat stops at local artists' studios.
After exploring the island, delicious spaghetti, caponata and crispy fritto misto prepared by Giuseppe Parella and his wife Zin Mar are served for lunch. The tour is an amazing way to get under the skin of this harsh, untouched Aeolian place.
Amalfi Coast
Sicily, however, is only a starting point. Fly from Catania to Naples and take a classic Fiat 500, perfect for a windy route to the Amalfi coast.
A trip along the steep roads of the Corniche on a clear day is dizzying: heights, views, steep cliffs descending into the inky Mediterranean Sea.
Surrounded by wisteria and ivy, the Belmond Caruso Hotel in Ravello, decorated with frescoed palazzo, is located at an altitude of 304 meters above sea level.
For a magical lunch, follow the donkeys through the winding streets of Skala, the oldest village on the Amalfi coast, to the ancient Basilica of St. Eustace.
Jackie Onassis loved going up there when she stayed at the hotel in the early 1960s. Pillows and carpets are laid out among the crumbling walls and columns of the 12th century-the most otherworldly picnic setting.
The chef fills wicker baskets with local delicacies: sun-sweetened tomato focaccia, creamy mozzarella, salami and omelets, as well as Caprese pie for pudding. Work it out by going on a hike towards Amalfi.
The route runs through the cool green Ferriere Valley with waterfalls and pools, past the lemon harvest of farmer Salvatore Aceto. If you're lucky, he'll offer a glass of iced limoncello to anyone who wants to drink after a dizzying walk.
The stunning heart of Tuscany.
After this hit with a sea view, take a detour inland towards Florence. A five-hour car ride past Rome and through the stunning heart of Tuscany.
The impressive Villa Belmond San Michele, which is located in the hills of Fiesole, close to the city (but still overlooking the Duomo), has magnificent terraced gardens that attract visitors from all over the world. At dusk, the scent of lavender, rosemary and lemon trees gently envelops, and the terraces become shimmering.
The newly opened Cloister Bar serves a strong martini, and street performers perform on a stage turned into a rickshaw, and orchestras play at night.
Further out in the Tuscan countryside, Belmonte Castello di Casale is a brilliant base in which to really disconnect and slow down. You can rent bicycles to explore the surroundings of the estate, its cypress alleys, vineyards and olive groves.
The energetic can pedal further, to the villages of Mensano, Radicondoli, Casole d'Elsa and Monteriggioni. Devotees can make half-day trips to San Gimignano and Colle Di Val D'Elsa.
And those who are looking for relaxation can spend a long, lazy day by the pool or in a stunningly good spa.
Forward, past the city of Pisa
Now go ahead, past Pisa, up the coastal road, waving Forte dei Marmi and spices, to the charming fishing village of Portofino and the incredibly beautiful Belmond Splendido Hotel. The small port here is very beautiful and charmingly atmospheric for evening drinks.
But for something on a different level, the hotel can arrange a cruise at dusk to the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, half an hour up the coast towards Camoglia.
This round-the-clock access to a remote Benedictine monastery, accessible only by boat or on foot, is magical. Monasteries are lit by candles, and you can organize a private concert - a string quartet, a jazz band, even an Italian folk artist.
The final stop is the legendary Belmont Cipriani Hotel in Venice. A cross-country trip here can take you through Parma, Modena and Bologna to celebrate three of the best gourmet spots of Northern Italy, or up to the foothills of Lombardy and the sparkling Lake Garda.
In any case, finally crossing the lagoon on the Ponte della Liberta and seeing the Venice skyline is exciting. Rent a car at Piazzale Roma (or at Marco Polo Airport) and take a private water taxi down the Giudecca Canal to the classic brown and white striped pontoon, unchanged over 60 years of the hotel's existence.
This summer, the chef of the Cip club, Roberto Gatto, reveals his kitchen secrets. After a morning trip to the lively Rialto market, guests gather in the garden for a master class in collecting herbs and vegetables, and then prepare lunch-tagliolini Verdi or classic carpaccio-to eat in the gazebo in the hotel's vineyard.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
The only way home from this majestic adventure is the Venice Simplon-Orient Express. Check into one of the new Grand Suites: Istanbul, Venice and Paris (each decorated according to its city).
It's all supremely elegant, with deep frosted double beds, marble bathrooms, thick crystal glasses, massive silver and doors that close with a satisfying thud.
Plus, of course, rich silks, intricate mosaics, custom-made glass lamps, carved carvings and champagne at the click of a finger, all the way to London.
"First we embark on a journey to lose ourselves, and then we go all the way and find ourselves. We embark on journeys to open our eyes and hearts, to learn something new, something that is not printed in newspapers and textbooks. We travel to bring to the world what little we are capable of, what our knowledge allows us to do. And we travel to slow down time and fall in love, as in our youth." (Pico Ayer)
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