The ambiguity of noble Venezianity

Approaching the city of waters always feels like diving into a sea of emotions, while those very sentiments are of all types of nature, the good and the bad, the glad and the sad, the beautiful and the ugly, but mainly the healthy and the sick ones. In that very sense, Venice for sure represents all types of movies, for it is the ideal setting for the romantic drama on the one canal and the mysterious thriller on the other (foggy) canal.

Palazzo Guadagni’s room with a view

Located in the artistic Oltrarno district, a neighbourhood filled with antique stores and old artisan ateliers, Palazzo Guadagni brought me to a movie set, waking up with a view onto the most beautiful Florentine architectural monuments, such as the Duomo or the Palazzo Vecchio.

A princely waltz of opulence

The curtains were raising, as soon as the first note of Mozart’s symphony no. 40 was going to fill a salon of opulence. That is also when I lifted my feet and danced my interpretation of a waltz through a lustrous hall, which made me feel rather small yet gave me a kind of comfort, for its splendour was a luxurious feast for my eyes and thereby for my soul too.

Hotel La Perla’s alpine fairytale

La Perla, located in the heart of the Dolomites, is a place of wonders, which may seem impossible in the head of an adult, but becomes a dreamy version of reality, as soon as entering the doors of paradise or as soon as climbing a tree house for an exclusive welcome aperitif, including a spectacular view onto Dolomites Unesco Heritage. 

Gatsby hideaway at Villa Arnica’s retreat

Serendipitously, the creative twenties spirit and allover artistic atmosphere never seemed to have died but rather to have survived until today, thanks to the owner’s wish of preserving bygone aesthetics, inspired by Slim Aarons’ nostalgia.

Noble seaside living at Villa Talamo

After a good swim, a pleasing afternoon aperitif or dinner al fresco with an outstanding Tuscan cuisine, based on organic ingredients and homemade plates, can be organised at Villa Talamo’s golden hour, while catching the sunset and observing the facade turning into a golden treasure box, which truly contains six treasury rooms and three beautiful private suite retreats.

Childhood moments at La Scuola Guesthouse

Similarly acclaimed might have been “la maestra”, which used to reside at “La Scuola Comunale”, located in the remote town of Lusiana, in the Vicenza hills, back in the 1920s.  This former public school would have fallen into decline, if not a Veneto couple would have recognised the faded beauty and the unique atmosphere of this place and  transformed it into a unique Maison d’Hôtes, called “La Scuola Guesthouse”.

Standing for solidarity by offering hospitality

The real value and face of humans always shows up in the most difficult moments. Usually that is when all the masks come off. Similarly these times of pandemic emergency demonstrate the most about human solidarity and empathy or rather the contrary. And I truly believe that in the end amity, harmony and cooperativeness will save humanity from destruction. 

Stellar lodging in the heart of the Dolomites

As soon as entering the house you will feel at home for the scent of the rooms, the kindness of the owner herself and the vintage furniture in the salon.Actually I could spend a whole afternoon in the salon and that’s also what I did.

Caravaggio’s Viennese theatre of emotions

It is no secret that especially Caravaggio has been able to bring not only an incredible light but also an equal amount of strong emotions to his works. The innermost motions of the psyche were greatly important to Caravaggio’s contemporaries too.

Ottmanngut’s guest house of all senses

Located in between the mountains, close by the historical spa city of Merano in Italy’s region of Alto Adige, the country residence’s history is almost as long and rich as the one of Merano itself. A document from 1920 bears witness to the existence of a country property known as Psorengütl located just outside the city wall. By the 16th century the name changed to Ottmangut and the property became one of five such farmhouses in the area.

Franz Fromm and his rare art collection at Villa Freischütz

As soon as entering the villa, I entered a world of wonders, feeling almost like an old romantic movie in black and white including loads of aesthetic scenes. Indeed I have experienced an intense connection with the arts and its former owners, while strolling through the well-decorated living rooms.