Trust & Travel, Holidays on some of Italy's finest historical estates. Our mission: We want to offer our clients genuinely authentic holidays on historical italian country estates
I have been going through my photographs of 2011 and came upon a few memorable moments. This year was my first blogging year. Having to come up with news for my readers actually made me do things which I have been wanting to do for years.
February in Paris
The happy bidders and the happy me (in the middle)
I have always thought that running a company should give me the possibility to go beyond the stage of simply “making a living”. This year for the first time I had the opportunity to donate a weeks holiday in one of our villas (Villa Maramai near Montepulciano). The charity auction organised by the American women’s group in Paris was for the benefit of Envol, an association which sets up holidays with medical assistance for very sick children in a castle near Paris.
When I first came to Florence at age 18, my then boyfriend taught at a language school for foreigners on one of the city’s most beautiful squares, the Piazza Santo Spririto. The Palazzo in which his school was located stood on the corner of the square. It was an imposing renaissance building with an elegant loggia on the top floor.
Hotel Palazzo Guadagni, my favourite hotel in Florence. Spot the lovely loggia on the top floor.
Last month,The World of Interiors, my favorite decorating magazine, published an article about the Caffè Pedrocchi, a 180-year old café in the heart of Padua. While I’ve walked past this café countless times (and even once arranged a dinner for clients there), I never truly gave it much thought.
My mistake.
The “beating heart” of the café is the Sala Rossa, where you’ll find an enormous curving bar of fawn-colored marble that resembles a Roman vasca.(Photo World of Interiors)
A few years ago, when I was still living in Florence, a friend returned from a business trip in the Veneto in northern Italy with a magnificent set of dishes, which have stuck in my mind ever since. Oversized and finely hand-painted, these plates, serving dishes and bouillon cups were decorated with a random scattering of colorful tulips and roses.
Detail of the handpainted rose, a classical 18th century motif
Children playing outside at the Chateau de Boulains Summer Camp (L'Envol)
Paris, France – On February 12, 2011 the American Women’s Group in Paris (AWG) held its traditional annual gala. Each year the non-profit organization holds an auction as part of its gala in order to raise money for good causes. In years past they have donated to a number of charitable organizations including L’Envol, a non-profit organization that hosts European children with chronic illnesses at a free summer camp.
Olive harvest on the Chiarentana - La Foce estate in Tuscany
Yes it’s that time of year again when Tuscany begins to create it’s “Liquid Gold” olio extra vergine di oliva(extra virgin olive oil). Just as the days start to get colder and shorter and the mornings crisp and fresh, perhaps even too fresh, pickers go out to the olive groves, spread their circular cloths around the trunks to cath the olives as they are picked off the branches.
Staying in a La Foce house in winter is a way of discovering an unusually intimate Tuscany. In winter Tuscany reveals its most private qualities. Tourism is practically non-existant from November to March. This is the time when Tuscans take possession of their region again.
One of the La Foce Villas decorated for Christmas
Come and share La Foce’s Christmas tradition! Our guests are enchanted by the lifestyle developed here over the last 50 years. During this season you will be welcomed with La Foce’s traditional Christmas decorations.
In this video homeowner Donata Origo talks about her interesting restoration project. Before and after pictures show the transformation of Chiarentana.Giving beautiful old buildings like this one a new life is one of our strong motivations!
Towards the end of last month Villa Emo Capodilista in the Veneto, about 45 km from Venice, became the backdrop to one of the most beautiful weddings we have had in our villas. Giordano Emo Capodilista the owner of the villa was thrilled: “it was like in a dream…we were all floating”
Corzano e Paterno
Italy Tutto
Lospicchio
Memorie di Angelina
Truffle Pig