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INDULGENT DOLCE&GABBANA BUCCELLATI BOTTURA Rome amalfi

living a bespoke lifestyle

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BIRTH PLACE OF LA DOLCE VITA

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Direct Boarding Sushi Bars First Class Wine Cellars First Class Private Suites Lavish Onboard Lounges Onboard Spas

emirates.com

atelier

H interiors

Full turnkey interior design service Gardens, Cape Town

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+27 (0) 71 412 3341 atelier.h.interiors@gmail.com 4

INDULGENT

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Aspire to inspire and to fuel the adventurous spirit.

Founder & Editor Kobus Wilmans publisher@indulgent.co.za +27 71 412 3341

Marketing & Sales jaco@indulgent.co.za

Published by Dust Cover Media Group 204 Rust en Urbe, 19 Breda Street, Gardens 8002 Cape Town, South Africa +27 71 412 3341

Contributors Kobus Wilmans Jac Hejmann Gunilla Putila Skyman

News from the ditor’s desk

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elcome to our much anticipated 7th issue edition. The past two years have been an exciting journey for me, during which I have watched my proverbial baby evolve with every issue. I have received constant support and encouragement from friends and family who believed that Indulgent would grow into the publication I envisioned when I started on the layout of the first page, six issue ago.

Indulgent VII was such a journey of discovery. From the Romans and their La Dolce Vita, to the supremely relaxed and content citizens of the Amalfi Coast, the people of Italy certainly know how to enjoy life without reserve.

No Italian edition of any magazine would be complete without the masterful duo of Italian high fashion, Dolce & Cabbana. They have ruled the fashion universe season after stylish season and, to the delight of their fans and the insatiable appetite of a well-dressed society, have launched another gasp-worthy collection with Spring Summer 2016.

A life of heedless pleasure and luxury is only worth experiencing with designer adornments, and we discover the masters of precious stones and metals. The House of Buccellati have moulded masterpieces for royalty and high society since 1919 and have shown the world what stunning jewellery should look like.

Massimo Bottura reins supreme in the world of food. He has inspired more chefs than one can count and have titillated the refined palates of his foodie fans who flock to his restaurants from the four corners of the globe.

Delight in this issue of Indulgent and enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed discovering the designer destinations.

Kobus

CONTENT a factory reinvented

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JAFFA DESIGNER HOME

the unmistakable

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STANISLAW TRZEBINSKI

for a love of Italy

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DOLCE & GABBANA

rare timeless beauty of

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BUCCELLATI

living la dolce vita

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ROME

the enchanting beauty of

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THE AMALFI COAST

a master of Italian cuisine

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MASSIMO BOTTURA

Indulgent is a quarterly publication by Dust Cover Media Group.

The articles published reflect the opinions of the respective authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher and editor.

All rights are reserved and no material in this magazine may be reproduced or distributed in any form without prior written consent of the Editor.

Indulgent reserves the right to accept or reject any article or material, and to edit the material prior to publication.

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A GRACIOUS RETREAT 9

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AN INTENSE WAY OF LIVING www.brabbu.com | info@brabbu.com

THE FACTORY HOUSE OF JAFFA JAC HEJMANN

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The aesthetically pure language of minimalism is imbedded in a historic residence in Old Jaa.

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n a unique location in Old Jaffa, a 180 square meter residence has been delightfully restored in a location that could not be any more idyllic. Facing west above the harbour; all windows and sliding doors face the majestic splendour of the Mediterranean Sea. Whilst it is difficult to determine the buildings exact age, it is clear that it is hundreds of years old, and over the years has undergone many changes with many additions that have damaged the original quality of the building and its spaces.

The central idea was to restore the structure’s original characteristics; the stone walls, the segmented ceilings and the arches - including the exposure of the original materials (a combination of pottery and beach sand). The building has been cleaned of all of the extraneous elements and has undergone a peeling process to expose its original state.

Surprisingly modern minimalistic construction styles correspond with the aesthetic style of the past, despite the vast time difference between them.

The central idea was to combine the old and the new whilst maintaining the qualities of each, and to create new spaces that blend the styles together, even intensify them because of the contrast and tension between the different periods.

The historical is expressed by preserving the textures and materials of the building’s outer shell and by respecting the building engineering accord. The modern is expressed by the opening of spaces and by altering the internal flow to one that is more open plan. The creation of an urban home environment along with the use of stainless steel and iron and Korean Teak in the various areas of the house and in the furniture.

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The project succeeds in both honouring and preserving the historical and - almost - romantic values of the structure, whilst creating a contemporary project which is modern and suited to its period. Despite the time differences, the tensions and the dichotomy between the periods exist in a surprisingly balanced and harmonic space.

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Architecture: Pitsou Kedem Architects Initial Design and Planning: Irene Goldberg, Pitsou Kedem.

Leading architect on project: Raz Melamed Photographer: Amit Geron

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Faith

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STANISLAW TRZEBINSKI JAC HEJMANN info & images courtesy of artist

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The works of Trzebinski are a symphony of form and movement. They have a maturity beyond his age and he produces work that is far superior to many artists who have been working in this chosen medium for decades.

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Faith Portrait

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enyan born Stanislaw Trzebinski spent his childhood escaping the bustle of Nairobi to explore the wilderness of the Rift Valley and the East African coast.

Immersed as much in its rich cultural heritage of Arabic, African and European influences as in the beauty of its biodiversity.

Stanislaw moved to Cape Town in 2012 to apprentice in sculpture and bronze casting and currently works out of his studio in Woodstock. The guiding thread of his work to date has been an exploration of the symbiotic relationship between humans and the natural world and draws on his intensive exposure to wildlife, cultural diversity and artistic engagement.

The Trzebinski family is one of compulsive creatives and eccentrics whose home virtually demands an appreciation of art from anyone who enters. Filled with paintings by his late father Tonio Trzebinksi, artworks by close friends such as neighbour Peter Beard, books on art, found art and original interiors created by his famous fashion designer mother Anna. His childhood home was a living and learning space that invited artistic contribution as a primary means of selfexpression.

A young Stanislaw talent was furthered by a high school art teacher who invited him to experiment with a wide range of mediums, from painting, collage and photography to welding and sculpting.

He was gradually drawn most strongly to sculpture and on the strength of his portfolio, briefly attended Pratt in New York where he came to the realisation that his creativity was intimately connected to Africa, its nature and peoples.

As a young boy, he spent summers diving off the coral reef of the East coast, famous for its mangroves and marine life. His current series, Beneath the Surface, gives expression to that intimate connection with nature, and in particular to his fascination with marine life. This notion of what lies beneath the surface is equally present in his anatomical treatment: by grafting textures from coral samples, shale, rock and organic shapes, onto a human anatomy stripped bare of its outer layers, he meshes the tissue of human and organic form.

His compositions are also invested with dynamic motion and in the case of his coral series, a sense of weightlessness.

‘I wanted to capture movement at a moment in time. I hope to invite the viewer to animate the piece, hence my abstracting the limbs while keeping them anatomically and proportionally correct.’

The effect, almost like a slow shutter speed on a moving form, captures the form of motion rather than the motion of a form. There is a lot of vigour and immediacy in the work, due in part to the wax modelling which Stanislaw favours. Traces of the process, which involves heat and water, invariably celebrate the beauty of accident. ‘Bronze as a material offers a permanence and at the same time an ongoing mutability in response to the environment. I love to hear from clients that the patinas of my pieces come alive with time in their individual environments.’

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Stanislaw’s is not merely art without purpose. Besides being thought provoking and a catalyst to discussion, this artist aim is simple; ‘In spite of our total reliance on the natural world, we have become almost blind to it. The less time we and especially children - spend in nature, the less we understand and identify with it. I would like my work to plant seeds of curiosity and imagination that intrigue people enough to go out and take a closer look at our roots.’

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The Solemn Truth

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Italia Is Love by

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Dolce & Gabbana

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When a woman purchases a dress, she buys a dream, an emotion; because this is exactly what Italy is about. The Dolce & Gabbana Spring Summer 2016 collection portrays dreams and emotions, and represents the relationship between craftsmanship and art. It is a tribute to Italian style and beauty.

KOBUS WILMANS info and images courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana

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The inspiration of the collection came from the experience that the Dolce & Gabbana create each summer with their Alta Moda, which is showcased in different locations in Italy. Because of their travels, they have rediscovered how people and global travellers see and enjoy summer in Italy.

Chinese and Japanese models strut the stage wearing traditional clothes with Italian embellishments and jewels, representing tourists that have just arrived in Italy and cannot wait to absorb the local mood and culture.

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he STAGE recreates the corner of a street set within a typical Italian town, with its traditional “botteghe” (small local shops) and represents TRADITION - the DNA of the brand.

The RUNAWAY is a street that represents everything that’s new. The street cannot exist without the stage as much as the future cannot be built without the consciousness of the past. They do not cancel one another, as one cannot exist without the other.

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Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have always tried to protect and preserve the Italian tradition and craftsmanship. Although each dress is created employing traditional techniques, they are very modern, and experiment with new styles and techniques. Extensive research and studies are always implemented with each collection.

Walking along the streets of Portofino, or going to Venice and Taormina is something Italians have grown accustomed to, but for a foreigner it is still cause of wonder. This is why the collection is called “Italy Is Love”. Scripted “Roma” and images of Capri, Taormina, the Amalfi coast, Lake Como and Pisa are printed on the outfits like postcards.

During the post-war period, the phenomenon of the “Boutique” was born in juxtaposition to the Haute Couture that was meant for the well heeled of society.

During this time there was a lack of precious fabrics and people created dresses with simple materials and adorned them with what they had at home, thus inventing the décor naïf.

This collection is simple, but never minimal; instead they are colourful and decorated with embellishments that are both hand-made and unique.

Alta Moda 2016 does not have a specific trend, but comprises everything Dolce and Gabbana love.

Fashion is a desire of the now. One buys and wants to use the products immediately, and unique in this runway show was SELFIE, with some of the models carrying iPhones and taking selfies on the runaway to represent a current holiday tradition, while also showing today’s desire of consuming fashion right away. The selfies were projected immediately on screens positioned along the runaway and posted live to Dolce & Gabbana’s social platforms

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The latest collection of this extraordinary duo captured the essence of Italy to a fault and converted the few undecided observers to starry eyed lovers of the brand, and everything unique in Italian fashion.

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A TRIBUTE TO THE BEAUTY OF ITALY

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BUCCELLATI

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Reflecting the sparkle in her eyes

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Jewellery has been the currency of love and passion since the dawn of time. Women have used it to show there station in life, and men in an attempt to win the ladies’ affections or even forgiveness.

Buccellati has been a trader in this currency since 1919.

JAC HEJMANN

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uccellati has been creating magnificent jewellery since Mario Buccellati opened his first Jewellery Boutique on Largo Santa Margherita in Milan, his exquisite designs soon became creations that society dreams were made of.

Soon Mario Buccellati - assisted by his son Luca - takes the US by storm when he opens his first store in New York, and in 1954 a second store is opened on Fifth Avenue.

When in 1979 Gianmaria Buccellati - Mario’s other son - opens a flagship store on place Vendôme, Paris, it confirms his status among the most prestigious jewellers of the world.

Almost 2 decades later, the exhibition “The Art of Buccellati” is held at the San Francisco Academy of Sciences, and soon after it travels to the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. Four years later, the museum exhibition “Buccellati: Art in Gold, Silver and Gems” opens at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C, showcasing a retrospective of the work of Mario and Gianmaria.

At the same time, an opera commissioned by and dedicated to Gianmaria Buccellati “Viaggio in Italia” (Trip to Italy) composed by the Italian composer and cellist Giovanni Sollima, makes its debut at The Carnegie Hall in New York.

One of Gianmaria exceptional pieces is Regina, this breathtaking piece is set with thirty-one ruby drops. Gianmaria accentuates the mesmerizing fiery glow of the red stones by combining them with the warm hue of sparkling champagne diamonds. The airy design softens the striking effect of the stones to ensure its elegance.

The Ghianda Set is a symphony of eleven gray pearls of rare beauty that are surrounded by white gold leaves and is set with rose cut diamonds. The shape and size of these pearls resemble acorns that are a symbol of prosperity, power and spiritual growth.

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Buccellati creations are fit to adorn royalty and those with exceptional taste in jewellery; and whichever design you choose from their vault or have commissioned, you will leave all who you meet at the next dinner party breathless and green as an exotic emerald.

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www.saxon.co.za

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LIVING LA DOLCE VITA

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The Eternal City has many facets and it wears many masks. It enchants and mesmerises, and one cannot help but be in awe of its history and charm.

KOBUS WILMANS

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ith a manic Italian energy, Rome can be a bit intimidating to many a fainthearted.

Youngsters on scooters weave in and out of the traffic as they zip past historical monuments, museums and architectural masterpieces.

A city of art, history, food, coffee and chaos, she has been the set for over 70 films; from La Dolce Vita, to more recently Angels and Demons, and Eat Pray Love.

A huge attraction for many visitors to Rome is the bewildering array of designer stores on offer. Bella Roma consists of three main streets for the glamorous follower of fashion Via Condotti, Via Borgognona and Via Frattina. A good starting point is at the historic and magnificent Spanish Steps, here you will find the popular ‘Made in Italy’ labels, Dolce & Gabbana, Just Cavalli and Missoni. The famous shopping streets are all in this area, and run from Via del Corso up towards Piazza di Spagna.

The most elegant street in the world, Via Condotti hosts practically all the most luxurious brands and it is here you will find Hermès, Cartier, Giorgio Armani, Valentino, Trussardi, Chanel, Gucci, Bulgari and Prada. Window displays are works of art, featuring breathtaking fashion, shoes and jewellery. Haughty sales staff access shoppers who enter these boutiques to decide whether or not they are worthy of their attention.

When your shopping bags are a bit heavy, stop for a coffee at the ‘chic-intellectual’ Antico Cafe Greco, which was opened in 1760 and was the meeting place for some of history’s most colourful characters such as Lord Byron, Keats, Hans Christian Andersen, Goethe, and Mendelssohn.

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After a well deserved break, head for Via Borgognona, the Mecca for wealthy shoppers from around the world. The stores are astonishingly beautiful and many feature neoclassical facades. Amongst the fashion houses that can be found here are the offices of Laura Biagiotti, with her boutique nearby at Via Mario de’ Fiori 26; Monetti at number 5 offers great solutions for elegant men; and Ermenegildo Zegna has one of its most important shops at via Borgognona 7, this top Italian label is known above all for the excellent quality of its handmade garments.

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If an elated shopping mood has swept you away, be sure to head to Piazza Mignanelli and see the Palazzo of fashion legend Valentino, easily identified by the ‘V’ logo on the facade.

Another large part of Roman culture is food. People revel in the pastime of eating and indulging their senses with extended lunches and dinners. Suffice it to say that you will find some of the best restaurants on the planet in Rome. One can live here for the rest of your natural life and not tire of the food.

Rome also offers an entire sub-culture of cocktail and rooftop bars where chic Romans and trendy hipsters gather during aperitivo time that usually morphs into late night dancing in the most elegant surroundings. The most noteworthy of these are La Cabala, Fluid and Akab.

Should you wish to take in stunning views while sipping on an elegant cocktail, then be sure to visit Terrace Bramante bar at Hotel Raphael, The American bar, or 0-300 Roof Garden at Restaurant All’Oro that wins the award for coolest Rome nightspot Coffee Culture is also large in Italy, and visitors who are partial to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee will find many delightful sidewalk cafes, and espresso bars tucked away in winding alleys. Here elegant ladies and debonair gentlemen while away lazy afternoons to sate their insatiable need for the dark nectar of their addiction.

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The choice of superb hotels are staggering with ultra luxury establishments scattered around Rome like sparkling gems. Our choice for the ultimate Roman experience was the Hotel De Russie, a hotel with a fascinating mix of old and new,, with a modern design that respects the classical architecture of the building.

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HOTEL DE RUSSIE

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Not far from the Spanish Steps you will find a hotel that is not only regal, but also hospitable to its core.

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or the ultimate vacation in Rome, it would be almost impossible to find a better hotel than the De Russie.

A garden in this sprawling metropolis, the Hotel de Russie is luxury five-star at its best and is located on the Via del Babuino between Piazza del Popolo and Piazza di Spagna. Being within easy walking distance of Rome’s key attractions, the most exclusive fashion houses, and Via Condotti, this is the ultimate base in the city.

When it opened, between 1816 and 1819, the hotel was popular among Russian guests who liked the mild Roman winters. The Romans called it L’Albergo di Russia. When French became popular among the aristocracy, the name became Hotel de Russie. Since its opening aristocracy, Russian royalty and illustrious artists have all passed through the elegant lobby.

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Pablo Picasso and poet Jean Cocteau stayed at the De Russie in February 1917 when preparing to stage the first ever Cubist ballet. Occupying adjoining rooms, they would regularly lean out of the windows to pick oranges from The Secret Garden. Designed by Valadier, it covers an area of 2,800 square metres of terraced gardens filled with palm trees, white rambling roses and yews.

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Located in the Secret Garden, you will find one of the best restaurants in Rome, Le Jardin de Russie. Here celebrity Chef Fulvio Pierangelini creates the finest classic Italian cuisine.

A private piazza at the Stravinskij Bar draws an eclectic crowd which is as perfectly mixed as their range of signature cocktails. The Piazzetta Valadier provides the best seat at the one of the liveliest bars in Rome, and is the perfect spot for people watching whilst enjoying a leisurely aperitif, premium cognac or the signature non-alcoholic Lady Bird cocktail. For midday sustenance, light Mediterranean dishes are served for lunch.

“The secret to making perfect pasta is that you must have it in your DNA – you must have seen your grandmother and mother prepare it, have a memory of its taste and flavours.”

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De Russie offers individually decorated guest rooms and arguably the best suites in Rome. The Picasso Suite’s large outdoor terrace overlooks the Secret Garden and the slopes of the Pincio.

It also offers a living room.

The most prestigious suite in Rome, the Nijinsky Suite is the most luxurious and offers an outdoor terrace with a seating area overlooking the city. The main bedroom features a dressing room that leads to the glamorous marble and mosaic bathroom with amenities including double basins, a bathtub, separate shower and a steam bath. The living room and dining room have a separate kitchen and bar area. The private library is filled with works by Italian authors, and visitors can freshen up in the guest cloakroom.

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The crowning glory of Hotel de Russie is the Russie Spa. This ultimate urban retreat in the heart of Rome is the perfect place to escape the pace of city life. Experience the essence of indulgence as a team of highly qualified therapists restore you physically and emotionally with a range of luxurious treatments.

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www.riva-yacht.com

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A MAGICAL STRIP OF ITALY

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The Amalfi Coast has been the playground of the adventurous traveller for many decades. With villages stacked against cliffs offering views of pristine beaches, and tiny coves filled with crystalline water.

This corner of paradise will entice you to retire to a world that is as enchanting as it is picturesque.

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s Renato Fucini once said: ‘The Day of Judgement, for the people of Amalfi who will go into Paradise, will be a day like all the others’.

Unesco deemed the Amalfi Coast to be an outstanding example of a Mediterranean landscape, with a beguiling combination of great beauty and gripping drama, where picturesque towns seem to be stuccoed to the sides of coastal mountains that plunge into the sea in a stunning vertical scene of precipitous crags. The coastline also offers lush forests.

The beauty of the landscape and the charm of the climate is what has entranced visitors since the beginning of time. The Amalfi Coast offers a rugged coastline and enchanting towns. While from Ravello you will be rewarded with the most breathtaking views, the vertically stacked town of Positano offers a more vibrant way of life. It is a legendary village and sparkle the brightest, with grandiose villas and a Wagnerian connection.

Positano is the coast’s most picturesque and photogenic town and boasts vertiginous villas tumbling down to the sea in a cascade of sun-bleached peach, pink and terracotta colours. Colourful steep streets and steps are lined with wisteria-draped hotels, smart restaurants and fashionable boutiques.

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The gateway to the Amalfi Coast, handsome Sorrento, has miraculously survived the onslaught of package tourism and offers a venerable cliff-top resort. Aside from its sheer beauty, the region is home to some superb restaurants and hotels.

An unashamed resort, Sorrento is nonetheless a civilised and beautiful town, and even the lack of a proper beach does not detract from the charming holiday experience. The town straddles the cliffs and overlooks the azure waters towards Naples and Mt Vesuvius.

Sorrento is arguably the best base for exploring the many highlights the region’s has to offer. The best of the peninsula’s unspoilt countryside can be found to the south, and to the east is the Amalfi Coast, to the north lie Pompeii and other archaeological sites, while offshore the fabled island of Capri awaits.

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Even the signs of everyday reality: crumbling stucco and streaked paintwork does not detract from its Southern-Italian holiday feel. Here you will find sunbathers eating pizza on the beach, children eating gelati and chic women from Milan, shopping at the boutiques. Fashion history runs deep in Positano, not only was Moda Positano born here in the ‘60s, it was also the first town in Italy to import bikinis from France.

After his visit in 1953, John Steinbeck wrote in an article for Harper’s Bazaar: ‘Positano bites deep.

It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes becomingly real after you have gone’.

Refined Ravello is a polished town that sits high in the hills above Amalfi and is almost entirely dedicated to tourism.

Wagner, DH Lawrence and Virginia Woolf all spent time here and the town boasts impeccable Bohemian credentials. Today it is known for its ravishing gardens and magnificent views that are according to former resident Gore Vidal - the best in the world, and certainly the best on the coast.

Although most people visit on a day trip from Amalfi, - which is a nerve-tingling 7km drive up the Valle del Dragone - to really enjoy Ravello and its romantic atmosphere, you will need to stay for at least one night.

When choosing day trips and tours in the area, there are a few operators in the area that offer private tours. One operator that tailors tours to meet refined expectations is Bellini. They will tailor your tours to avoid the masses and discover a hidden and private side to this delightful part of Italy.

With Bellini tours one can avoid the crowds and the baking midday sun and sneak into Pompeii at night with one of their brilliant guides, who brings those last extraordinary days of Pompeii to life.

They also offer a beautiful Riva boat to take guests for picnics on a private beach, or to some of the lesser-known villages and islands where tourists are still a novelty, and exceptional restaurants can only be reached by boat.

Another option is to helicopter around the volcano of Vesuvius and over the ruined cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum before swooping down to Capri for a late lunch.

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images by Sorento Tourism paradiseintheworld.com wanderlustphoto.com santanainstitute.com orangesmile.com

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PALAZZO AVINO

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Hotel Palazzo Avino is rare gem indeed.

Its flowing staircases, tall palm trees, and terraced gardens where rare beauties sunbathe wearing large hats, reminds one of the set of a Felini film.

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avello is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Positano and Amalfi which can be besieged by day visitors and coach parties during season. Cars are banned in the more gentile and civilised Ravello, and you can spend hours meandering along the paths that lead to the Villa Cimbrone at the tip of the village. Ravello can easily be reached from Naples, without having to negotiate the Amalfi Coast road, and even a couple of days in this magnificent village would do wonders for the soul It is here where you will find Palazzo Avino. Formally known as Palazzo Sasso, it was commissioned in the 12th century by a nobleman as a summer residence on the Amalfi Coast. The Avino family has developed the Palazzo Avino into one of the Amalfi Coast’s most distinguished hotels.

Overlooking some of the most picturesque fishing villages from where it is perched high on the cliffs, 350 m (1,000 ft) above the sparkling Mediterranean. With sweeping views to the harbours of Maiori and Minori, Palazzo Avino is one of the jewels of the Mediterranean and offer views that are simply jaw dropping, and the splendour of the Amalfi coastline is omni present; from your bed, from the pool, from the glorious gardens, and even from the gym.

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Guests have various dining options; from two-star Michelin dining at the famed Rossellinis restaurant - which is known as one of the region’s most recognized and creative eateries; to the low key Terrazza for sensational grilled fish, drizzled in emerald green olive oil and washed down with a flinty Verdecca from the slopes of Vesuvius.

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Enjoy some of the more than 65 versions of lethal cocktails on offer at the lobster and martini bar, and if you can muster the energy to leave the hotel - which is so perfect you would not want to - the Avino is the only hotel in Ravello that boasts a beach club.

Opened in 2009, it is located just a 15 minute drive away from the property in the small town of Marmorata, this exclusive private beach club includes a casual restaurant and a relaxing lounge. There is also a small outdoor pool and convenient changing rooms. The hotel offers a daily complimentary shuttle service to the beach club.

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Frette linen adorn rooms and suites that are bright and airy. Among the Deluxe Suites, guest accommodation range from one bed roomed suites with living rooms, private terraces and large bathrooms with Jacuzzi baths.

The Infinito Suite is the largest and most beautiful suite in the hotel and is located on the top floor of the building; this spacious 100 square metre bi-level suite consists of a large living room and a dining area, and has a private terrace of 50 square metres overlooking the brilliant blue Mediterranean Sea.

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HOTEL CARUSO

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Frescoed ceilings and chandeliers set the scene for authentic Italian vacations where guests are serenaded by tenors during dinner.

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riginally an 11th century palace, Belmond Hotel Caruso seems to drift on a ‘balcony’ above the Mediterranean Sea from its charmed position on the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast.

The Pool Restaurant is obligatory for the ultimate al fresco experience. The stunning infinity pool is the backdrop to a dining extravaganza with the emphasis on relaxation and fine food.

Set at the highest point above the town of Ravello, the spectacular infinity pool is an architectural masterpiece, which is seemingly suspended in the clouds, providing breathtaking and unparalleled vistas of the coastline.

Relax in the gently heated water of the pool, and the concierge will gladly bring you an iPod that is preloaded with your favourite music, or if you choose, a fresh fruit appetizer or an Evian vaporizer.

Liberate your mind, body and soul with some extraordinary pampering at the Caruso’s Wellness Centre, where every treatment has been designed to create the ultimate sybaritic splendour.

Relax under an azure-blue sky as the comforting breeze envelops your body, while a masseuse skilfully removes any possible stresses and strains.

After a good night’s sleep, head for the tranquil surroundings of the hotel’s beautiful garden or the air-conditioned gym to re-energise your body with a workout.

Guests can set off on the hotel’s traditional wooden boat Ercole and experience an exciting trip around the beautiful Amalfi coast. Launching daily from Amalfi the trip is complimentary for Hotel Caruso guests and also includes return shuttle transfers from the hotel.

Famed for its superb selection of fresh, local Mediterranean dishes, Belvedere Restaurant offers diners an unforgettable experience as they dine in the elegant indoor dining room, the atmospheric outdoor terrace, or - surrounded by ancient rose bushes - in the al fresco area close at the pool.

Adorned by magnificent frescoes from the 18th century and awe-inspiring views of the Amalfi Coast, there is no better way to unwind after a busy day than in the Cocktail and Piano Bar. An extensive list of innovative cocktails, and a wide range of champagnes and wines are complimented by the delicious local Prosecco.

Exclusive Suites are set in the best part of the hotel and offer unrivalled sea views and the complete decadence of picture-perfect Ravello. With private gardens that offer the perfect setting to enjoy a leisurely stroll or savour a sweeping panorama from a private terraces, complete with loungers and a dining area. These suites offer beautifully appointed living areas with soft furnishings and unique art, and are complemented by every conceivable modern amenity.

For even more space, connect to a Deluxe Suite and create a stunning two-bedroom suite that is deal for friends travelling together or families.

Whatever choice of accommodation you settle for, the Belmond Hotel Caruso will ensure that your stay on the Amalfi coast is memorable beyond your wildest expectations.

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Welcome to Capri

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Across the Bay of Naples is where you will ďŹ nd an Island that has inspired many songs. Visitors ock to this idyllic destination during summer months to view famous spots like the Blue Grotto.

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jewel in the Bay of Naples, the alluring Capri has captivated the imagination of adventurous travelers for countless decades. Key to enjoying this dramatically beautiful island is to avoid the overwhelming crowds of season and to live life like a true Caprese: dining at hidden restaurants - some of which can only be reached by boat, and staying at one of the more secluded and idyllic hotels.

a nymphaeum (shrine to the water nymph). Remarkably, you can still see the carved Roman landing stage towards the rear of the cave.

The key to the magical blue light is that sunlight enters through a small underwater aperture and is refracted through the water; this combined with the reflection of the light off the white sandy seafloor, produces the vivid blue effect to which the cave owes its name.

One could be forgiven for expecting Sophia Loren to appear around the next corner with an entourage of extras and film directors filming a scene of a classic movie as you walk around Capri Town. The town feels more like a film set than real life.

Whitewashed stone buildings and tiny - car-free streets - add to the feeling of a diminutive model of upmarket Mediterranean chic, with a pristine mix of luxury hotels, exclusive bars, fancy restaurants and designer boutiques. To escape the camera-yielding day-trippers and the glossy rich that swamp the centre in summer in summer, explore the ancient side streets. They offer a charming atmosphere and the crowds quickly wane.

In the heart of Capri, prepare to discover a 14th century masterpiece. Built in 1371 by Giacomo Arcucci - on land donated by Queen Giovanna 1st of Angiò the Charterhouse of San Giacomo is the oldest historic building on the island. This is the perfect location to discover a shady place in which to relax on a hot summer afternoon.

The entrance to the Charterhouse lies at the end of an avenue, next to a fortified tower. Comprising of three buildings; one which is separate from the convent and houses the pharmacy and women’s church; one for the converse monks and for the external guests with annexed granaries, stables and the monks workshops; and the last block is reserved for a life of seclusion with a series of cells around Choistro Grande cloister and the other rooms encircling the smaller Chiostro Piccolo.

The Chiostro Grande follows a late renaissance plan with cross vaults on stone columns, the area at the centre is organised following a geometrical design with green spaces. The Chiostro Piccolo has delicate cross vaults on Roman marble columns.

Today, the Charterhouse is seat of a High School, the Diefenbach Museum and, during the summer a venue for concerts and cultural events.

A fast and painless way to reach Capri’s highest peak, of Anacapri, the Seggiovia del Monte Solaro chair lift whisks you to the top of the mountain in a tranquil ride of only 12 minutes. The views from the top are breathtaking and on a clear day, you can see the entire Bay of Naples, the Amalfi Coast and the islands of Procida and Ischia.

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Capri’s single most famous attraction is the Grotta Azzurra (Blue Grotto), a stunning sea cave illuminated by an other-worldly blue light. The easiest way to visit is to take a tour from Marina Grande.

The grotto has long been known to local fishermen when it was rediscovered in 1826 by two Germans, writer Augustus Kopisch and painter Ernst Fries. Subsequent research however, has revealed that Emperor Tiberius had built a quay in the cave around AD 30, complete with

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A 45-minute walk east of Capri along Via Tiberio, will take you to Tiberius’ main Capri residence Villa Jovis; this is the largest and most sumptuous of the island’s 12 Roman villas. The once vast pleasure complex - now reduced to ruins - pandered to the emperor’s debauched

it that from this sheer cliff Tiberius had out-of-favour subjects hurled into the sea. Whether true or not, the stunning views are real enough.

Anacapri - Capri Town’s more subdued neighbour attracts its fair share of tourism, although the focus is largely limited to Villa San Michele di Axel Munthe and the souvenir stores on the high street.

Explore a little further and you will discover that Anacapri is still at heart, the laid-back, rural village that it has always been.

above and overleaf - Charterhouse of San Giacomo

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tastes, and included imperial quarters and extensive bathing areas set in dense gardens and woodland.

The villa’s spectacular location posed major headaches for Tiberius’ architects. The main problem they faced was in collecting and storing enough water to supply the villa’s baths and vast gardens, spanning 3000-sqmetres. The eventual solution they devised was to build a complex canal system to transport rainwater to four giant storage tanks, the remains of which can still be seen today.

Follow the stairway behind the villa to discover the 330m-high Salto di Tiberio (Tiberius’ Leap). Legend has

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images courtesy of Capri tourism

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The incomparable JK Palace

A rare hotel that not only occupies a charmed position, but also commands attention from all who pass through her imposing gates.

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ust as magnificent as its sister hotels - J.K. Palace in Florence and J.K. Roma J.K. Capri is a truly special hotel and a much visited favourite on the Emerald Island. It is also the only luxury hotel on the island with staggering views of mainland Italy, and majestic Vesuvius rising above the clouds.

JK Palace is the only hotel on the island to be set on the cliffs, between Marina Grande and Capri Town. Built as a villa in 1878 and turned into a hotel in 1885, the building’s architecture is classic and simple. Despite its position overlooking the bay, it remains exclusively understated. It is miles away from the hectic mood of Capri’s piazza, but still close enough to feel its buzz.

From its cliff overlooking the bustling harbour of Marina Grande, the hotel is located behind closed gates and feels private and exclusive; with both the design of the hotel and the impeccable service contributing to the feeling of vacationing in a private home.

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Owner Ori Kafri, collaborated with designer Michele Bonan to bring the comfort and style of his Florentine and Roman hotels to Capri, with a burst of colour and character to make it uniquely Caprese.

At the end of the gardens, the restaurant focuses on Southern Italian cuisine, which, despite the rustic menu could not be more glamorous and guests are encouraged to linger at meal times. The restaurant offers a unique dining experience with fresh mozzarella shipped in daily from Campania and tomatoes that come from a farmer up the road.

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Staying at JK Palace you have a sense of being inside a private home - your home - with elegant reception rooms leading to the hotel’s large terrace, where one can enjoy breakfasts, a relaxed aperatif or a romantic dinner with the Gulf of Naples as the backdrop.

The 22 spacious bedrooms are all individually furnished and offer four-poster beds dressed in the finest linen. Many have private terraces or balconies, and all of them - but one - overlook the sea.

Grand mosaic-tiled bathrooms offer the perfect setting to revive your senses after a long day of exploring the many sights of Capri, before preparing to explore the night at one of Capri’s many exclusive nightspots.

The hotel’s vast swimming pool is reminiscent of a South Beach pool party, with a mirrored building housing the gym and hotel spa, where guests can look forward to the ultimate level of pampering with signature Sisley treatments.

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If you want to mix with the elite of Capri, there is a charming public pebbly beach below; straight out of a Martin Parr shot. Here plump Italian grannies in bikinis wade in the shallows and gossip as nut-brown grandchildren dive off the surrounding rocks.

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Whatever your motivation or reason is for visiting Capri, JK Palace will enhance your experience of this stunning island. And when the time comes that you have to leave, you will know what it feels like to leave your heart on a Mediterranean island; and soon you will experience an intense yearning to return to the tranquillity of this stunning hotel from where you can watch life float by in the Bay of Naples.

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“I always advise young chefs to believe in their dreams.

Impossible is Nothing.”

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MASSIMO BOTTURA

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Italy’s leading restaurateur, the inventive Massimo Bottura is a leading figure amongst a new generation of Italian chefs, and his work confirm him as one of the world’s most creative culinary forces.

GUNILLA POTILA SKYMAN

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ottura has two restaurants in the quaint town of Modena, which is in the culinary-rich Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. Besides the 3 Michelin star Osteria Francescana. Passionate foodies can also enjoy the brasserie Franceschetta58.

Since its opening in 1995, Osteria Francescana has been no stranger to critical acclaim, being awarded its first Michelin star in 2002, a second followed four years later and finally, it reached the height of critical acclaim with a third Michelin star awarded in 2011.

Consistently ranked top in class by L’Espresso, Gambero Rosso and the Touring Club Guide, it is no surprise that Osteria Francescana currently rests at 2nd position on The World`s 50 Best Restaurants listing. It has also been voted the best restaurant in Italy for the past 7 years.

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Engaging in an exploration of territory and tradition the expression of which can be found in the absolute concentration of flavours guided by conceptual premise.

Bottura is dedicated to reconstructing Italy’s cultural heritage - not deconstructing it. Italy’s exceptional ingredients and classic dishes are re-evaluated with the benefit of critical distance, ensuring that the Italian Kitchen is free to evolve. Bottura bewitches diners with menu items such as “Risotto Cacio e Pepe” - a meditation on tradition created as a direct response to the May 2012 earthquakes in Emilia, which damaged nearly 400,000 forms of Parmigiano Reggiano.

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A Mecca of contemporary culture, Osteria Francescana’s plates are adorned with references to experimental art, and are peppered with social, political and historical implications and laced with a healthy sense of humour.

In 2014 Massimo Bottura’s released his first English language book with Phaidon Press, Never Trust a Skinny Italian Chef. This book has subsequently been translated into Italian and Dutch with releases in French and Spanish in 2015.

Boundlessly energetic and enthusiastic, Bottura created an off-shoot EXPO Milan 2015 project Refettorio Ambrosiano otherwise known as Food for Soul. A contemporary soup kitchen, Food for Soul was created in collaboration with the Vatican and Caritas to address the emotive issue of food wastage and hunger in inner cities. Many of Bottura’s colleagues from Italy and abroad joined him during the 5 months of the EXPO Milan to cook for the city’s needy and share innovative recipes for reducing waste in the kitchen.

“2015 marked the 20th anniversary of Osteria Francescana. Who would have ever thought the journey would be so full of adventure!” - Massimo Bottura. photography by Diego Poluzzi and Paolo Terzi

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