Wonder World Seasonal #18

Fine Jewellery Bartorelli Maison

Bartorelli: Bartorelli: the the tradition tradition of of high high jewellery jewellery and and watches watches since since 1882 1882 in in the the most most prestigious prestigious Italian Italian locations. locations.

Brands Brands sold sold in in Bartorelli Bartorelli jewellery jewellery shops: shops:

Patek Patek Philippe Philippe

Rolex Rolex

A. A. Lange Lange & & Söhne Söhne

Cartier Cartier

Audemars Audemars Piguet Piguet

Bvlgari Bvlgari

Panerai Panerai

IWC IWC

Jaeger-LeCoultre Jaeger-LeCoultre

Breguet Breguet

Hublot Hublot

Vacheron Vacheron Constantin Constantin

Chopard Chopard

Roger Roger Dubuis Dubuis

Vhernier Vhernier

Richard Richard Mille Mille

Omega Omega

Chanel Chanel

Pomellato Pomellato

Damiani Damiani

Ulysse Ulysse Nardin Nardin

Tudor Tudor

De De Grisogono Grisogono

Pomellato Pomellato 67 67

Breitling Breitling

Dodo Dodo

Longines Longines

Mimì Mimì

Mikimoto Mikimoto

Gucci Gucci

Bartorelli Bartorelli rare rare and and unique unique

The The brands brands sold sold and and relative relative assistance assistance provided provided by by each each Bartorelli Bartorelli store store is is in in accordance accordance with with the the concessions concessions agreed agreed upon. upon.

editorial

S

pring is here! And with it come some important - I’d even say unmissable - events. From 2 to 4 April Milan is the location for the Bit 2017 Travel Exhibition, a fair showcasing the Italian and international tourism offer. Immediately afterwards

it’s the turn of the Salone del Mobile di Milano (from 4 to 9 April). This Milanese event, week entirely dedicated to design, provides a wealth of hints about current trends. A truly unmissable occasion for all those who love surrounding themselves with beautiful things, where the worlds of Italian and international design and furnishing meet to create a truly unique experience. Almost at the same time the lovely city of Verona hosts Vinitaly 2017 (from 9 to 12 April), a unique event where visitors can enjoy the best of Italy’s winemaking production. Over a period of ten days it’s possible to enjoy a hands-on experience of three sectors where the Made in Italy offer is known all over the world - tourism, furnishing and design and fine wines.

All in all, it’s a great opportunity to plan a visit to Italy at a time of year when everything’s in bloom and the landscape is clothed in green! Wishing all of you a wonderful spring.

Matteo Galbiati CEO Platinum Media Lab

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LIVE THE LIFE 06-09 APRIL 2017

ONE°15 MARINA CLUB, SENTOSA COVE

SINGAPORE

VENUE HOSTS:

WWW.SINGAPOREYACHTSHOW.COM

SUPPORTED BY:

HELD IN:

contents 44 102

7 14

Editorial

5 Questions to‌ Barbara Lehmann

16

Art

20 News in brief 24 Style

Like a dip in the sea

28

Fashion Italian touch Shoemaker to the stars

34

Spa hotel Salus per Aquam

28

38 Beauty

Spring is here

40 Spa

Ecological Spa

44 Spring time

In the countryside to enjoy the scents and

colors of spring

52 Watches 34

Astronomical watches

56 Jewels Flower Power

58

Being in the world Eataly intuition

64 Suitcase

Red passion around the world

66

Luxury hotel Lake Como Living in Style

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52

contents 120

70

Luxury rental Beautiful houses and exclusive yachts

76 Destinations

Singapore the Lion City

82 78

128

Italian chef A delicious profession

90 Wine

Frescobaldi The Marquis of excellence

92

Mise en place Décor +Surprise

94

Extra virgin olive oil EVO oil, Italy’s Yellow Gold

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Luxury hotel Fasano The Magic of Puglia

106

112 102 Interview The man of dreams

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112 Destinations

Luxury hotel Lugano Five-Star Chef

Mozambique Paradise

118

Design gallery Paola Colombari and Rossana Orlandi

122

120

122 Objects

Décor design Silvia Massa the colours of emotions

Stars of design

The future is now

128

Design hotel Rome An Oasis on the Modern Grand Tour

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NOW OPEN

MILANO, CORSO VENEZIA 14

5 questions to...

Barbara Lehmann is head of historical archives for Cassina, the leading furniture and design company that this year celebrates its 90th anniversary Maria Clara Caglioti

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The Cassina I Maestri Collection is a benchmark for international design.

How did it come into being?

The Cassina I Maestri Collection was founded in the early 1970s when models by Gerrit T. Rietveld and Charles Rennie Mackintosh were re-edited. They form the foundational nucleus, together with works by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand, which were added to the catalogue in 1965. They are linked by a theme, as they are all Modernist icons, representing the most famous 20th century architects. The collection has gradually been enhanced by new pieces and new creators, and they can all be traced back to the early

days of modernity in different cultural contexts, from the American background of Frank Lloyd Wright to the Italian setting of Franco Albini and Marco Zanuso. Its main aims are to promote universally acknowledged cultural values that inform the function of the featured items, and to stimulate constant reflection by contemporary designers, for whom these objects serve as a point of reference.

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From living room to lounge - how have furnishings changed with the increasing emphasis on fluid, multifunctional spaces?

The typical roomy, middle-class homes where the spaces each have just one function is a model that’s long been superseded. The

increasing popularity of new habitation models, often linked to the fact that we move around a lot more, has led to fluid, multifunctional spaces that adapt to new ways of living. These often small interiors are suitable for short and medium-term stays. The lounge can be transformed into an office or bedroom, and many spaces are shared, resulting in a need for flexible, versatile furnishings.

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Does this reflect a global lifestyle culture? If so, how is this reflected in furnishings and design?

Multiculturalism is, of course, a characteristic feature of the new globalised world. For some time now the Cassina catalogue has

been presented as an example of multiculturalism with a diversified offer it has gradually developed, inspiring totally new kinds of interior.

Recent trends, also expressed through new projects like Gerrit Rietvelt’s Utrecht armchair upholstered in an innovative fabric by the artist Bertjan Pot, are in harmony with today’s society. There’s an increasing cultural and artistic cross-fertilisation.

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What has been Cassina’s best-selling piece? What’s behind its success?

There are two - the LC2 armchair and the Maralunga sofa. For the Cassina I Maestri Collection, the LC2 armchair designed by Le

Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand in 1928, produced and distributed worldwide by Cassina in 1965, is a best-seller, an iconic object that’s a prototype for the modern armchair. It fully expresses the concept of separation between the supporting and supported elements, as it comprises a metal cage enclosing five soft cushions. In the Cassina I Contemporanei Collection, the Maralunga sofa designed by Vico Magistretti in 1973 and in the collection since then has been a sales star. Winner of a Compasso d’Oro, it was the original sofa with incorporated movement. Their international success has led both models to be the subject of frequent imitation.

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What challenges will the future bring?

Cassina produces furnishings that respond to the requirements of the present, and we have worked together with designers and

architects to create new domestic scenarios. This approach has enabled the company to develop far-sighted visions of the contexts for future habitation, tracing innovative, pioneering trajectories. The current subject of debates about developments like accelerating technology, globalisation, environmental impact and cultural influences are deliberately included in research into its new projects. This drive towards innovation and the desire to open up new horizons are always accompanied by a desire for continuity with the past, an awareness of the important role the past plays in progress. Maintaining the historic memory will be a future challenge in a society now characterised by rapid obsolescence of images, often without any real assimilation of how things were. In fact they are sometimes destined to be forgotten - and that’s a dangerous situation.

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Right, Gerrit T. Rietveld’s Utrecht armchair from 1935 (Cassina I Maestri Collection), upholstered with the new Boxblocks fabric by artist Bertjan Pot. Below, Soft Props modular seating system by Konstantin Grcic (Cassina I Contemporanei Collection) is a new model presented at the Salone del Mobile. Bottom, LC2 armchair by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand (Cassina I Maestri Collection).

Designed in 1928, produced

by Cassina since 1965

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art

WORLD

Paris

Marina Moioli

Anversa THE AMERICAN DREAM: POP TO THE PRESENT The creative drive of a superpower that has just lived through six of the most dynamic decades of its

PISSARRO À ÉRAGNY - LA NATURE RETROUVÉE

history. Taking the Pop Art explosion of the 1960s as

All Camille Pisarro’s works from Éragny-

its starting point, the show includes works from the

sur-Epte, the French village in Picardy

most famous American artists, from Andy Warhol to

where he lived from 1884 in a lovely house

Ed Ruscha, Kara Walker and Julie Mehretu.

bought with a loan from Claude Monet.

British Museum

As well as family archives the exhibition

From 9 March to 18 June www.britishmuseum.org

London

features around a hundred paintings, drawings and spectacular, little-known prints.

Musée du Luxembourg From 16 March to 9 July museeduluxembourg.fr

EGON SCHIELE The Austrian artist’s work bore witness to the collapse of the Hapsburg empire. This exhibition, held to mark the centenary of Schiele’s death, traces his artistic progress through one hundred

The MoMu Anversa Fashion Museum is staging the first ever comprehensive exhibition celebrating

A selection of masterworks in a miniature format

the relationship between Martin Margiela and

from the collections of the Old National Gallery (one

Hermès. Called Margiela: The Hermès Years

of the five museums and galleries making up Berlins’

presents all Margiela’s creations for the Paris

“Museum Island”, hosting pieces by Manet, Auguste

brand. Twenty collections marking a collaboration

Renoir and Auguste Rodin). A total of more than fifty

that in the space of six years redefined the way

paintings and sixty rare miniatures on display for the

we think of luxury and the relationship between a

first time.

creative director and a brand’s Dna. This was the

Alte Nationalgalerie

result of the encounter between Martin Margiela

From 30 March to 30 July

and Hermès, a seemingly impossible fusion

www.smb.museum

of spirits and intentions, linking this illustrious French high fashion brand with one of the most cutting edge couturiers of recent years.

MoMu Anversa Fashion Museum From 31 March to 27 August www.momu.be

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and eighty works focusing on the existential

KLEINE MEISTERWERKE SMALL MASTERPIECES

MARGIELA: THE HERMÈS YEARS

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loneliness of human existence.

Berlin

Albertina Until 18 June www.albertina.at

Vienna

Miroslaw Balka CROSSOVER / S 16 March – 30 July 2017 curated by Vicente Todolí

Via Chiese 2, Milan hangarbicocca.org

Thursday—Sunday 10 am—10 pm

FREE ENTRY

Miroslaw Balka, Wege zur Behandlung von Schmerzen, 2011 Installation view, Four Domes Pavilion, Wroclaw, 2011 Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Lukasz Kropiowski

Pirelli HangarBicocca

ITALY

art

HIGHLIGHTS SPRING 2017 A DAZZLING SCHEDULE OF ART EVENTS IN ITALY FROM NORTH TO SOUTH At Milan’s Palazzo Reale: “About art”, over one hundred works by Keith Haring (until 18 June) and “Manet e la Parigi moderna” (until 2 July). www.palazzorealemilano.it At Mudec, until 9 July, “Vasilj Kandinskij, il cavalier errante”. www.mudec.it At the Prada Foundation (until 14 May) “Slight Agitation” by the young Swiss artist Pamela Rosenkranz. www.fondazioneprada.org The Palazzo Ducale in Genoa presents Modigliani (until 16 July). www.modiglianigenova.it In Venice, a show by Damien Hirst is being held at the Palazzo Grassi and Punta della Dogana. www.palazzograssi.it Glass by Ettore Sottsass is at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini until 30 July. www.lestanzedelvetro.org Bologna focuses on Miró. Palazzo Albergati until 30/9 www.arthemisia.it Palazzo Te in Mantova juxtaposes Giorgio Morandi and Tacita Dean until 4 June. www.centropalazzote.it Florence stages a homage to Bill Viola, the American giant of contemporary video art, with “Rinascimento elettronico”.

Palazzo Strozzi until 23 July. www.palazzostrozzi.org Complesso del Vittoriano in Rome presents Giovanni Boldini until 16 July. www.ilvittoriano.com Finally, Naples and the Picasso-Parade.

Museo di Capodimonte until 10 July. www.museocapodimonte.beniculturali.it 18

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ITALY

Aosta ROBERT DOISNEAU. ICÔNES A new selection of photos by a man regarded one of the founders of street photojournalism.

The exhibition’s theme is the iconic nature of the images, presenting the works that made the greatest impression on the collective imagination, like the famous kiss Le baiser de l’Hôtel de ville.

Forte di Bard Until 1 May www.fortedibard.it

Forlì ART DÉCO. GLI ANNI RUGGENTI IN ITALIA (THE WONDER YEARS IN ITALY) In the early 20th century the new Art Deco style swept the world of art and design, from architecture to cabinet making, apparel and jewels. It reached the zenith of its expressive

Parma

potential in Italy, as clearly shown by the four hundred works on display, all from the interwar period.

Musei di San Domenico Until 18 June www.mostrefondazioneforli.it

Nuoro

BERENICE ABBOT “Topografie” is Italy’s first-ever anthology of works

by American artist Berenice Abbott (1917-1991), one of the most original and controversial figures in 20th century photography. Divided into three sections, (Portraits, New York and Scientific Photos) the exhibition restores Abbott’s exceptional talent to its rightful place in the spotlight and provides an overview of her varied work.

Museo Man Until 31 May www.museoman.it

DEPERO, IL MAGO (THE MAGICIAN) A depiction of “an artist who could create marvels”, the originator of an innovative aesthetic that combined a variety of genres, through over one hundred works, including collage paintings, drawings, clothes, furniture and advertising items. Not forgetting, of course, the Futurist’s famous fabric intarsia.

Fondazione Magnani Rocca From 18 March to 2 July www.magnanirocca.it/depero

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news in brief

CORTINA’S ICONIC CRISTALLO This year the Cristallo Resort & Spa in Cortina will become the first ski resort to join the Marriott International The Luxury Collection. Built in 1901 and situated in the heart of this renowned skiing destination, it has a fascinating history. In numbers, the hotel boasts 74 rooms, 7 Royal suites, 2 Presidential suites and 4 restaurants with numerous local specialities served in different venues - the informal Gazebo, the traditional La Veranda, the refined La Stube 1872 and Il Cantuccio, described as “The Chef’s Private Table”. Its facilities include the Transvital Swiss Beauty Center, an indoor pool and a golf course, offered in association with the Golf Club Cortina.

The addition of this iconic hotel to The Luxury Collection means its Italian portfolio now numbers eight properties. www.cristallo.it

ANA ROŠ BEST CHEF OF THE YEAR Ana Roš is a Slovenian chef who has just been named as the World’s Best Chef in the list of the 50 Best Restaurants. Kobarid is her headquarters - in fact, the restaurant Hisa Franko, owned by her husband Valter Franko and her father, who stocks the restaurant’s cellars with local Collio wines, is in Caporetto. The panel of journalists and critics who awarded the title did so in recognition of the chef’s ability to use her dishes depict a border region boasting very different ethnic influences.

Her cooking highlights the Isonzo river valleys in all their culinary aspects - cheeses, meats and freshwater fish, complemented by a selection of wines that unmistakeably recall the local identity. Ana Roš will receive the prize in Melbourne on 5 April.

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INTERNATIONAL FINE DINING The San Pellegrino Sapori Ticino returns for its 11th edition in 2017.

The brainchild of Dany Stauffacher, it is one of the most important international fine food events, with 26 evenings and 11 grand dinners to celebrate the event’s eleven years. The passion for fine food it embodies has lost none of its intensity over its ten-year history - the welcome is just as warm and the chefs invited to take part are as illustrious as ever. For 2017, San Pellegrino Sapori Ticino meets Le Soste, an Italian association that brings together some of the most respected names in Italian fine food, providing emotions and excitement inspired by Mediterranean flavours. Clearly, the Italian chefs take centre stage in the feature-packed calendar for 2017, in the most prestigious locations of the Ticino Canton, from Lugano to Ascona and Mendrisio. Plus a series of special events to please all palates. www.saporiticino.com

PISTOIA, CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2017 A small Italian gem, Pistoia has a unique heritage, with lots for visitors to discover. To celebrate the award of this important status, the city is opening the doors of its historic centre, rich in artistic and architectural treasures. It now stands ready to welcome international visitors, who can also explore the enchanting region that extends beyond its walls, with nurseries, nature reserves, small villages, parks and hot spring complexes. The city is already known around the world for attractions like its Gothic monuments, the statue of the Visitation by Luca Della Robbia and the Gori Collection of site specific contemporary art at the Fattoria di Celle, it also offers less well-known but priceless jewels.

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news in brief

PORTOPICCOLO SISTIANA JEWEL Nestling on the coast between two of Italy’s most important art cities, Trieste and Venice, Portopiccolo reveals the Italian maritime village’s typical atmosphere and hospitality, boasting the most innovative and ambitious challenges: sustainability, accessibility and technology. There are facilities and services galore here, including a limited number of exclusive and elegant residences, the only five-star deluxe hotel of the region Falisia, from The Luxury Collection by Starwood, designed by Lazzarini Pickering Architetti, a Beach Club and a Yacht Club, several restaurants and cafés. Housed at the heart of the most evocative destination of the Adriatic Sea, the 3,600-square-metre Portopiccolo Spa by Bakel, opening at the beginning of April, provides far-reaching views of cliff, sea and sky at every moment. Indulge yourself with a restoring experience by enjoying water facilities as well as indoor and outdoor pools, biosauna, hammam, training pool, private Spa, panoramic Spa Suite and a fitness centre complete with state-of-the-art equipment.

Truly Italy’s most charming address. www.portopiccolosistiana.com

PECK FROM MILAN TO THE WORLD New stores in Milan, flagships in London and New York, and an expansion of its restaurant operations. This high spot of Milanese gastronomy was acquired in 2013 by the Marzotto family, and the group is firmly rooted in its flagship on via Spadari, with the attached food laboratories.

The centre hosts fine dining on the upper floor and the new gastronomic Piccolo Peck cafe, successfully launched in September, is located in a restyling of the store’s entrance, probably also replicable in Japan. In addition it is also present in Milan with the Italian Bar and in Japan, with a network of twenty-four franchise stores, plus a generous space in South Korea. The next opening, scheduled for 2018, will be in London or New York. www.peck.it 22

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style

Like a dip in Beatrice Galbiati

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the sea

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1. Casadei is a metallic blue platform with leather mignons, a homage to the essence of the 1980s. 2. A Mila SchĂ–n dress in bonded cotton, printed cotton silk duchesse inlays. 3. Blue patent leather, English-style piercings and leather tassels for the Baldinini moccasin with flat leather heel. 4. The Aurora bag by Demanumea is an art object, with entirely hand-painted panels on specially-coloured leather. Fabric lining and adjustable, removable strap.

Opposite page. Denim for jacket and trousers with leather belt and contrasting buckle. All by Dondup.

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2

3

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style

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1

2

1. The archetypal G9 Harrington jacket by Baracuta is versatile, timeless and a favourite of important men in recent history. 2. Leather computer case by Piquadro with external compartment. 3. Suede moccasin with penny bar, stamped Tod’s monogram and classic leather sole with raised rubber tread. 4. By Bagutta,

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men’s shirts in cotton with clover pattern, pois and geometric prints.

Opposite page. These cult scarves by Faliero Sarti stand out for their artisanal content, natural materials and an explosion of colours.

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fashion italian touch

Shoemaker to the Stars Beatrice Galbiati

Salvatore Ferragamo, a Made in Italy icon around the world

I

t’s said that Salvatore Ferragamo’s passion was inspired when he created his first footwear for his sisters, and shoes are the brand’s historic product. Ferragamo offers perfect fit, exceptional quality, distinctive design and a made-to-

order service. The history of this iconic brand relates that everything began in a small workshop in Bonito, Irpinia, when Salvatore, born in 1898 as the eleventh of fourteen children, began to make shoes for the local female clientele.

This situation didn’t last long, as at the age of sixteen he flew to the USA top meet one of his brothers, who was working in a shoe factory. For Salvatore, it was an excellent opportunity to gain some experience.

His fame was established in America when he became “Shoemaker to the Stars” and opened the Hollywood Boot Shop at a time when the youthful movie industry was flourishing.

Thirteen years later Salvatore returned to Italy and in 1927, with the help of talented leatherworking artisans he founded the Calzaturificio Ferragamo & C. in Florence, concentrating on the creation, production and sales of women’s shoes.

It was then only a short step to his first monobrand store. After starting off in Florence and Rome he went to Britain and arrived on New York’s Park Avenue in the late 1940s. This was also when the first Salvatore Ferragamo label was established, as well as the first advertising poster, designed by a Futurist painter.

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Charlotte Rampling photographed by Andrè Rau wearing a Ferragamo sandal in pony and PVC (2001). The classic Ferragamo bag with strap and Gancino clasp. Scene from Alan Parker’s film “Evita” with Madonna. Evita is trying on Ferragamo shoes (1996)

W O N D E R W O R L D 29

fashion italian touch But it was during the post-war period that his shoes became a symbol of Italy throughout the world, thanks to unique inventions like the reinforced stiletto heels made famous by Marilyn Monroe. As a result the magnificent premises in Palazzo Spini Feroni became a destination for actresses, the international jet set and royalty, all visiting the showroom to order these wonderful objects.

Quality and innovation are his hallmarks Ferragamo was the visionary spirit, and his sketches ranged from creations so bizarre that they became genuine art objects to others with a more traditional elegance. He was also a creative pioneer in the use of innovative materials like cork, raffia, nylon fishing line, cellophane and many other everyday materials.

The brand’s fame and output grew, the first runway show was held in 1951 and the curtain opened on a glittering series of successes that continued despite Salvatore’s death. Bags and clothing lines were developed, appearing alongside the silk and accessories collections already launched a few years before by Salvatore Ferragamo with the production of Foulards.

Men’s and accessories collections followed glasses, perfumes and watches - and a wave of flagship store openings in Asia, Japan, China, South Korea, Latin America and the Middle East.

Salvatore’s demanding role was first taken over by his wife Wanda and then his children. Under their guidance the brand gained a worldwide fame and presence, always respecting the founder’s values and the brand style he shaped - quality, artisanal values and Made in Italy creativity.

Ferragamo always had a close relationship with Flrence, his artistic background and strong artisanal tradition. The brand collections are a synthesis of Italian traditions and innovation, emphasising local materials like Tavernelle lace and the straw and raffia the company’s founder Photo by David Lees taken on the roof of the Palazzo Spini Feroni.

From left, Fiamma di San Giuliano Ferragamo and Fulvia Visconti Ferragamo, Wanda Ferragamo, in background from left, Giovanna Gentile Ferragamo, Leonardo Ferragamo, Ferruccio Ferragamo and a model.

Opposite page, Salvatore Ferragamo with some of his workers

loved so much.

His memorable, timeless creations embraced several generations - the famous Vara with gilded panels, fabric bow and grosgrain ribbon of Ferragamo’s the famous low-heeled show, an iconic, ever-present design known throughout the world, as is the Gancino, the small metal clasp used since the 1970’s to fasten bags.

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fashion italian touch

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It then became a distinctive hallmark, applied to many

that was originally intended to be only temporary. The

accessories and garments, almost a company logo.

permanent exhibition features around 15,000 shoes from

Then the tramezza shoe, creating Salvatore Ferragamo’s

the 1920s to the 60s, and three archives - clothing, bags

exclusive men’s shoe segment.

and jewellery.

Not forgetting Ferragamo Creations, the exclusive

The campaign surrounding the S/S 2017 collection was

women’s shoe line that reinterprets classic models - a

also a homage to Italian style and values, expressed

journey through the world of Salvatore Ferragamo,

through images by Peter Lindbergh, taken in Taormina.

enhanced by unique packaging and a certificate of

The result is a woman who dares to wear unexpected

authenticity telling the product’s story and describing

matches, glam graphic art and surprising materials like

its distinctive features. Finally, Ferragamo’s “F” wedge

techno-grosgrain, woven stretch shoes, the supersoft

sandal, which won the Neiman Marcus prize in 1947, the

effect of natural leathers and a matt version of the classic

“kimo” sandal inspired by traditional Japanese footwear,

Gancino, with a cognac and military colour becoming

the suede ballet flat created for Audrey Hepburn and the

the collection themes, linking and highlighting the more

unforgettable court shoes worn by Marilyn Monroe are

intense colours the brand has always held dear. For

just a few examples of the models in the collection.

men, sartorial and military styles stand side-by-side in a

To celebrate this exuberant creativity the company

collection inspired by travel, where the artisanal content

opened the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum in 1995 in the

of the sporty outwear can be seen in the light, almost

Spini Feroni building, following a successful exhibition

paper-like leather.

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Pictures from the S/S 2017 advertising campaign by Peter Lindbergh.

Opposite page: ballerine “Varina� by Salvatore Ferragamo

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spa

S

urrounded by the sea, offering a wealth of thermal springs, lakes, rivers and streams, Italy is rightly regarded as being at the

forefront of wellbeing through water.

Throughout the world the word spa - an acronym derived from the Latin phrase ‘salus per aquam’, or health through water - is used to describe those magical places where we go to recover our youthfulness and mental and physical harmony.

They are oases where we can combat stress, destinations such as those under the Italian Hospitality Collection brand, with high-quality hotels, resorts and spas. They are all unique, chosen for their beauty, history and the loveliness of their surroundings. Tuscany is home to three of the resorts in the collection - Fonteverde, Bagni di Pisa and Grotta Giusti, originally aristocratic hot spring residences.

These historical and architectural jewels were built on natural springs bubbling to the surface in some of the region’s most attractive locations, like Val d’Orcia, the hills embracing Pisa and the Valdinievole.

The place to go to rediscover a healthier, serene and aware lifestyle is Fonteverde Tuscan Resort & Spa,

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Salus Per Aquam Antonella Euli

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spa

A place to go to rediscover a healthier, serene and aware lifestyle nestling in the relaxing greenery of the Tuscan countryside

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nestling in the relaxing greenery of the Tuscan countryside. Here, guests can restore harmony between body and spirit with the Equilibrium wellbeing programme. This innovative approach involves a mix of dietary education, thermal treatments, antistress techniques and physical activity in contact with nature. It all starts with a macrobiotic diet, a simple, equilibrated and fibre-rich, low-sugar diet that encourages the formation and maintenance of a balanced bacterial community. The kitchen is the realm of chef Salvatore Quarto, who creates imaginative dishes based on traditional Mediterranean recipes, enriched with probiotic, prebiotic and nutraceutical foods.

This is complemented by the therapeutic powers of the thermal treatments, where the high mineral salt concentrations encourage relaxation, and soothes inflammation of the joints and respiratory system.

Then it’s the turn of anti-stress techniques, which include simple, effective relaxation rituals and the application of modern paradigms derived from neuroscience and PNEI (psycho-neuro-endocrino-immunology). Finally we come to physical exercise, one of the most effective ways to achieve and maintain an ideal balance. The Equilibrium fitness programme offers a personalised programme that takes into account individual needs, abilities and expectations. Guests receive exclusive beauty and therapeutic mud treatments, and throughout the week-long course they are monitored by a multidisciplinary medical team comprising doctors, tutors, physical and manual therapy expert and experts in oriental disciplines, as well as a personal trainer, aestheticians and thermal waters staff. www.italianhospitalitycollection.com

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beauty

Spring is Here!

Beatrice Galbiati

It’s springtime for your body, too - including the tips of your hair!

1. The slimming expert that diminishes the appearance of cellulite is called Body Fit by Clarins, a treatment that acts against the three types of fat cell through an effective slimming complex with quince leaf extract. 2. A single product with five uses, rich, concentrated yet extremely delicate and absorbs in an instant. Amber, orange and vanilla fragrance. Gocce Sublimi is a precious 1

elixir in drops by Collistar, and can be used on dry and wet hair. 3. Cool Eyes by Bakel is an emulsion for the eye contour and eyelids. It exerts a special draining and anti-ageing action to prevent and correct loss of tone and the signs of ageing. Wonderfully easy to apply, it absorbs completely to leave a cooling “menthol” sensation. 4. Created for daytime use but also protects during the night. DayWear SPF 15 by Estée Lauder is an advanced multi-

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protection antioxidant moisturiser with a delicate watermelon fragrance blended with fleeting hints of violet, cyclamen, jasmine and musk.

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Live the Diamonds Lifestyle!

On one of the world’s most pristine and beautiful beaches in northern Mozambique

www.diamondsresorts.com

spa

Ecological Spa Antonella Euli

Water, Light and Nature - Aspects of Sustainable Wellbeing

S

ustainable wellbeing now has a name - the Aqualux Hotel Spa Suite&Terme, the first resort outside the Alto Adige region to win Clima Hotel certification. We’re in Bardolino, on the shores of Lake Garda where the blue of water and sky, the green of the vines and olive trees and the mild climate create a beautiful, relaxing

setting. The concept of wellbeing has shaped the entire resort, from the high-end spa to the choice of bio-compatible materials used in its construction. Wood forms

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spa

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the hotel’s 100% green basic structure, while renewable

steam baths, ice fountain, caldarium and solarium. The

energy and special software provide savings in water

treatments are green, and use natural substances and

and energy use. Certified natural soundproofing also

active ingredients like diamond powder, iron, crystallised

adds to the all-round comfort. Cascades of plants

honey combined with vitamin C, dried flowers and

define the edges of the structure, hanging gardens

buckwheat to make up sachets used for the massages.

cover the roof and the 125 rooms are eco-climatised.

The many programmes frequently offer the benefits of

The two restaurants - Italian Taste, reserved for hotel

the latest non-invasive aesthetic medicine, like the Cryo-

guests, and Drops Food&Wine, also open to those not

Repairing Lifting, a cold lifting that combines massages

staying in the hotel, offer an original, high-quality cuisine

with a selection of active ingredients to rejuvenate the

with seasonal recipes encouraging the use of locally-

face. Another interesting treatment is the AquaSpa

sourced ingredients. At the centre of the complex

Break Ritual, an antioxidant based on essence of Garda

lies the large courtyard hosting the AquaExperience,

lemons and oranges, and the Diamond Rose Cup ritual,

eight indoor and outdoor natural hot water pools

which mixes the aroma of Damask Rose with diamond

with therapeutic properties, flowing water path, swim

powder. The wellness concept is completed by a beauty

area, hydro and air massage stations and a relaxing

partner of excellence - Natura BissĂŠ, with its famous

saltwater pool. The 1,000 square metre AquaSpa &

elastin-based amino acids, natural free form collagens

Wellness wellbeing space has cabins for treatments,

and Phytomer, a pioneer of seaweed cultivation for

hydrotherapy and mud therapy, a Private Spa, sauna,

cosmetic applications. www.aqualuxhotel.com

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spring time

In the countryside to enjoy the scents

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and colors of the spring

Valeria Rastrelli

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spring time

VILLA GALLICI, AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FRANCE The Provence region never fails to take the breath away. The birthplace of Paul Cézanne and a haunt of the Impressionists is home to the Hotel Villa Gallici, one of the Baglioni Hotels collection, an 18th century provincial residence that is also a Relais & Châteaux associate. It stands just a short distance from the city centre, and offers some very tempting exclusive services, a restaurant that features in all the best good eating guides, and a shade-filled three-hectare garden with swimming pool. The luxurious suites are furnished in provincial style, and have their own private garden or terrace with a view over the gardens surrounding the villa. The sixteen rooms, all furnished with baroque-style pieces, have a select, intimate charm.

The spirit of the resort’s structure, varying between rococo and baroque, West and East, leads from one epoch to another, across the five continents.

Finally, the gourmet restaurant prepares dishes with hints of regional tradition - a richly creative menu served in the shade of the garden’s plane trees that is sure to leave guests with some very special memories. www.villagallici.com

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LA BOBADILLA, ANDALUSIA, SPAIN Now we’re in the region of Loja, amid the softly rolling hills in the heart of Andalusia. Here, a small rural hamlet has become a jewel of the Spanish hotel culture, the Barcelò Hotel & Resort. This exclusive resort offers seventy rooms, all different, standing amid the olive groves in a 350 hectare estate where time seems have come a standstill. Over the past thirty years celebrities and artists have sought refuge and inspiration within its walls, and even members of royalty have been seduced by the influence of its Moorish past. It has become a international symbol of the Slow Travel philosophy, offering a range of activities including cookery courses and creative workshops promoting this new trend, encouraging travellers to create a profound connection with the environment. Guests at the two restaurants, La Finca and the Cortijo, can dine in the church square with a view of the olive groves, enjoying a gourmet tasting menu or romantic dinner under the stars. www.barcelolabobadilla.com

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spring time

BORGO SANTO PIETRO, CHIUSDINO, TUSCANY This Boutique Hotel enjoys a unique location in a splendid 13th century Tuscan villa, standing on the ruins of a farm that is now a precious jewel. The hotel was inspired by its owner’s passionate desire, kindled by travel and observation, to create and share a unique, welcoming destination where nature and luxury meet. Their experience has shaped those details that make all the difference between a five-star hotel and “The Borgo experience”.

It stands against the backdrop of an incredibly lovely, rich and fertile region with organic gardens, herbs and even honey, all of which are transformed into treats for discerning palates. The wellbeing centre and spa offer a wide range of anti-stress, healing and rejuvenating treatments. A sense of wellbeing can also be provided by a simple relaxing walk in the hotel gardens and the surrounding natural landscape. Borgo is designed to create an intimate, comfortable hideaway that combines its aristocratic splendour with a wonderfully warm welcome. www.borgosantopietro.com

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VILLA CORDEVIGO, CAVAION VERONESE, VENETO Many of us dream of staying in a beautiful Veneto villa, near Verona, perhaps, one of the world’s most romantic cities. Now it’s possible, and for an intimate weekend we’ve chosen Villa Cordevigo, an 18th-century residence at Cavaion Veronese, surrounded by the immense estate of vineyards and olive groves of the Villabella farmstead. For centuries the villa was the residence of noble families that beautified the palace’s sumptuous drawing rooms, filling them with frescoes and works of art. After an ambitious restoration initiative this is now one of Italy’s most beautiful hotels, a place of charm, art and history with only twenty-three exclusive rooms and a private chapel dedicated to San Martino, which hosts an exceptional collection of over three thousand holy relics. The hotel is complemented by the equally superb Oseleta restaurant in one of the villa’s barns, presided over by executive chef Giuseppe D‘Aquino, who was awarded a Michelin star in 2013. www.villacordevigo.com

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spring time

MASSERIA SAN NICOLA, SAVELLETRI, PUGLIA An old farm estate near Salento transformed into a guest house that retains all the charm of a history shaped by sober elegance and a deep connection with the land and its traditions. The main villa offers six generous rooms, all different, while around the villa stand four independent residences, totally private retreats. The services are those of a luxury hotel, including the wellbeing treatments and massages in the “Relax Room”. The Masseria stands in a garden with two swimming pools, surrounded by a wall in traditional style, and is full of Mediterranean fragrances and flowers. The hotel’s family feel, authentic interiors, atmosphere of pleasant tranquillity and links with the region and Puglian traditions combine to make a stay at the hotel an unforgettable experience. www.masseriasannicolasavelletri.com 50

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MASSERIA DELLA VOLPE, NOTO, SICILY Situated in the heart of the Val di Noto, the Masseria della Volpe is wrapped in a timeless enchantment. The old late 19th-century farm has been skilfully renovated and is now a refined hotel, inspired by a philosophy of eco-bio-sustainability. Elegant rooms and suites, the colourful citrus groves, the olive trees and centuries-old carob trees, swimming pool, elegant restaurant, wellbeing centre and sports facilities embrace the typical Sicilian agricultural complex, carefully restored using the original materials and shapes. The farm’s rural spirit is also reflected by the cuisine offered by the Codarossa restaurant, which proposes traditional Sicilian and Mediterranean food. The estate produces organic ingredients like a famous Secolo 21 oil and the chef pampers guests with mouthwatering creations and fine wines. In summer guests dine in the open air, on the scenic terrace overlooking the swimming pool with its view onto the Val di Noto. www.masseriadellavolpe.it

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watches

Additional indications show more than just hours and minutes - displaying calendar and moon phases, for example, is an old, fascinating fine watchmaking practice

Paolo De Vecchi

ASTRONOMICAL WATCHES Right, the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony one of the most interesting new arrivals from the Geneva manufacturer, presented in January at the Salone Internazionale dell’Alta Orologeria in Geneva. It has an automatic movement and displays on its opaline dial the phases of the moon with retrograde movement (the hand advances along the days of the month, then springs back to the beginning). Original and classic at the same time, it has a white or rose gold case with sapphire crystal back revealing the movement.

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watches Right, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar. The perpetual calendar is nothing new for the Le Brassus brand, the novelty lies in making this complex watch - automatic with a 40-hour power reserve - entirely out of ceramic materials.

Below, the IWC Da Vinci. This reinterpretation of an iconic chronograph from the 1980s has a steel case, automatic movement with flyback action, hacking seconds, perpetual calendar and moon phase indicator.

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Above, the Cartier Drive de Cartier Moon Phases.

Our moon is here treated as a decorative element, in full view on the guilloche dial. Steel case, automatic movement. Left, the A. Lange & SÜhne 1815. The Saxon manufacturer’s new annual Calendar with white gold case and mechanical movement also has a moon phase display. Only needs adjusting once a year, on 28 or 29 February, while all the month indications are controlled automatically.

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jewels

Flower Power Beatrice Galbiati

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Gorgeous rings in spring blossom

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1. The ring by Giampiero Bodino is a delicate bouquet of red spinel, amethysts, emeralds, tsavorites, white, yellow and cognac diamonds and white and yellow gold. 2. Total white - the Chanel ring in white gold with 70 brilliant-cut diamonds is one of

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the pieces in the Bouton de Camelia collection. 3. All the shades of the sky and sea in this Chopard ring, white gold with tsavorites and marquise or oval cut Paraiba tourmalines.

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4. Yellow gold with blue sapphires and diamonds for the Flora ring by Gucci Jewellery. 5. Part of the flowerinspired Ghirlanda collection, this ring

by Pasquale Bruni is in white gold with aquamarine and white diamonds.

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5

Our g ue sts a re 65 % rep ea t ers W h y?

Nika Island

Resort & Spa *****

t ha t sp ecia l mood at the mald i v e s

INT R AV CO I nternat i onal Travel Consul tants - www.intravc o .c o m

being in the world

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EATALY INTUITION Marina Moioli

“We’re in love with good food, and we’ve transformed our passion into our work. We’ve opened a new path in the world of food distribution and the commercialisation of artisanal products”. Oscar Farinetti

“E

at well, live well”. That’s the philosophy of Eataly, the Italy’s largest agri-food supermarket. And it says everything about this quintessentially Italian initiative.

It’s now ten years since Oscar Farinetti, born in the

Langhe region in 1954, chose Lingotto di Torino as the location for the foundation of a fine food and wine empire that now boasts twenty-two stores in Italy and a further fifteen across the world, from the USA to the UAE, Japan, Brazil, Germany and South Korea. The idea itself dates back to several years previously, in 2002, and a careful scouting exhibition supported by Slow Food in search of companies and brands with a number of key values in common - an emphasis on quality,

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being in the world EATALY AND ITS ARCHITECTURES The latest is the thirty-eighth, opened in Trieste on 17 January.

It’s a 3,000 square metre megastore dedicated to the winds that blow across Italy. Here, clients can also admire the most important images from the latest Barcolana, the longestablished international sail yacht regatta, held every year in the Gulf of Trieste. The store is housed in Trieste’s Antico Magazzino Vini, and that is another characteristic that links many Eataly shops - a desire to bring new life to historic sites by redeveloping old architecture. It’s already been done at Eataly Lingotto, opened on 26 January 2007. The building is an 11,000 square metre structure that was once home to the Carpano factory, active until the mid-1980s. The Bologna sales point, opened on 5 December 2008, also reflects this concept, as it located inside a former 19th-century market that had lain abandoned for many years, as does Eataly Florence,

dedicated to the renaissance and opened in 2013 in the interiors of the old Libreria Marzocco, founded in 1840 and famous for having published the first edition of Carlo Collodi’s “Adventures of Pinocchio”. Not forgetting EatalySmeraldo, opened in Milan in 2014 in the historic former premises of the Smeraldo Theatre, or the Piacenza store, where an investment of six million euro brought new life to the former Cavallerizza on stradone Farnese, a building dating back to 1550. And finally, the Forlì store in the old Palazzo Talenti Framonti. The philosophy has also been exported abroad the Viktualienmarkt in Munich, for example, in the building that once housed the Schrannenhalle market, an important commercial and cultural site in the heart of the city, with the aim of giving new prestige to a historic building that is much loved by the people of Bavaria.

environmental and economic sustainability, responsibility and sharing. The Eataly boss explains his brilliant idea is this way: “Italy is leading world power in agricultural biodiversity, and that had not yet been clearly communicated to the wider world. We developed a type of format that expresses it well - the only way was to integrate the market, restaurants and education, with posters that explained the product effectively. Now we’re continuing this work - in fact we’ve dedicated this tenth anniversary to the future, as well as the past”. In the meantime he has handed over the company’s reins to his three children - but that does not mean he’s walked away from the project! His energy has spanned the years, as it was Farinetti who between 1978 and 2003 took his father’s supermarket and, under the UniEuro brand, transformed it into Italy’s largest domestic

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being in the world appliance group, with the unforgettable slogan “Optimism is the spice of life”.

And that optimism soon bore fruit.

What clients now see in many countries across the world is only the latest stage in a long research project that has enabled the brand to create an unrivalled range of products to sell and cook because, as they say at Eataly, “We’re in love with good food, and we’ve transformed our passion into our work.

We’ve opened a new path in the world of food distribution and the commercialisation of artisanal products, and we’re striving to make it known, and to persuade our followers that quality and responsibility are the wisest way forward for us all”.

So, as each new store opens (the next in Italy will be the magnificent 100,000 square metre Fico - Eataly World in Bologna with twenty-five restaurants, teaching rooms, theatre, cinema and six “carousels”), Eataly moves closer to fulfilling its next ambitious aim - to be quoted on the Stock Exchange.

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THE VIEW Lugano...a world of its own! www.theviewlugano.com

suitcase

Red passion around the world Beatrice Galbiati

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1. Timeless elegance and innovative design for Versatile, the travel bag by Valextra.

Its light material makes it perfect for slipping into a case to use later as extra luggage.

2. The Maremmana bag can alternate between a backpack and travel bag courtesy of its adjustable side and shoulder straps. Crafted using a combination of leather and Olona fabric, it has become an iconic symbol of Il Bisonte. 3. Minimum weight, maximum durability for Salsa Air Deluxe Oriental Red by Rimowa in polycarbonate, a durable hi-tech material that’s resistant to UV rays and cold/hot temperature swings.

4. Part of the Neo-Vintage Collection, the Duffel Bag by Gucci bears the distinctive

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detail of the oval leather cartouche with gold logo and small skull motif. Available in a number of versions, here with classic GG logo fabric.

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luxury hotel

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Living in Style Spa, magnificent suites, Michelin-starred cuisine: the 5-star luxury resort offers an innovative lifestyle concept on the shores of Lake Como Teresa Crespi

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luxury hotel

T

he CastaDiva Resort & Spa is a magical location providing the authentic Italian experience, with excellent service, glamour and style. It’s a favourite destination for royals, entrepreneurs, tycoons and pop stars. This 5-start luxury resort in Blevio, on the eastern shore of Lake Como, has welcomed a long list of Italian and international celebrities. The resort’s interior design

is by architects Alice Fratti Lucini and Erasmo, who have drawn on the excellence of local and national products. The exclusivity of the result was sealed several months ago, when the resort was awarded the Seven Stars Luxury Hospitality & Lifestyle project’s

highest accolade, the

sought-after “Signum Virtus” prize. The resort boasts a series of interesting features, starting with the fascinating history of the place. It was once home to Giuditta Pasta, the 19th century’s most famous opera singer. She bought Villa Roccabruna, the core of the estate, in 1827 with her first earnings as a singer, renaming it Villa Roda. In fact the residence comprised three houses, the main villa and two lodges where the singer hosted famous guests. Many important figures from the worlds of music and culture stayed here, including Bellini, Donizetti, Rossini, Stendhal and Manzoni. Between 1906 and 1910 the Milanese architect Carlo Formenti rebuilt Villa Roda and gave it back its original name, Villa Roccabruna. It was later bought by the Wild family, Turin-based cotton magnates originally from Switzerland. The villa, uninhabited for almost fifty years before being purchased by the Gruppo Hotel Residence Club Spa, is regarded as the heart of the resort, and it is here that most of the main facilities are located, including the lobby, reception and conciergerie,

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period lounges, the American Bar and a 1,300 square metre spa. The magical panorama, seven villas with seventy-three lake-view suites, each with its own furniture and style, and 26,000 square metres of botanical gardens, provide guests with a unique experience. The greatest luxury is to be found in the two private villas inside the estate, Villa Norma and Villa Amina, where guests can enjoy all the resort’s five-star services in the exclusive privacy of their villa, including butler and private chef on request.

The opulent spa, whose design recalls the interiors of a classic ocean liner, offers chemical-free treatments, a fitness centre, an indoor pool with sensory showers, hydromassages, Jacuzzi, Finnish sauna, Mediterranean baths and a hammam with aromatherapy and chromotherapy, alongside ice falls, vertical Kneipp, emotional showers and a salt room with walls of pink Himalayan salt. The Orangerie restaurant is introducing a collaboration with the “chef to royalty” Enrico Derflingher, nominated seven times as one of the world’s ten best chefs by the Five Star Diamond Award. He will be presenting his dishes for the entire 2017 season with the collaboration of Executive Chef Massimiliano Mandozzi, and during the summer the lovely outdoor terrace overlooking the lake will be the ideal venue to begin this extraordinary gastronomic journey. www.castadivaresort.com

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luxury rental

Exclusive Residences on the Costa Smeralda Surrounded by art, design and nature Teresa Crespi

A

n exclusive villa with spectacular view of Porto Cervo Marina. A magnificent terrace where guests can admire the seas and sky of Porto Cervo - this natural setting has inspired architecture that creates a perfect combination of exteriors and interiors. The furnishing style is minimalistic, with natural colours and materials, white paint or bleached wood and an inspiration drawn from the surrounding countryside. The spaces open onto a roomy lounge with fireplace and

the full-optional kitchen with access to a well-equipped patio. The villa is designed to provide all guests with privacy and independence - there are five suites, four of which have access to the terrace and garden. The lower floor is the location for two double rooms and the elegant tower, currently furnished as a study, can be converted into another bedroom. www.engelvoelkers.com/it/sardinia

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luxury rental

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C

osta Smeralda, Pevero Golf: taking the landscape as a starting point, this redevelopment has provided the elegant villa with a spectacular natural setting that reflects the typical Costa Smeralda countryside. The airy outdoor spaces and the care lavished on furnishing details create a cool, fresh feel and a touch of elegant modernity to the residence. Standing in a dominant location, the estate extends over 3,000 metres of green, the background for the swimming pool and relaxation area.

All the spaces are enhanced by rhythmic architectural openings that surround the dining area in delicate patterns of light.

The bathrooms in the seven bedrooms - some with an intimate terrace and clothed in delicate yet intense shades of dove grey have windows that create fascinating interplays with the evocative colours of the bay. www.engelvoelkers.com/it/sardinia

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luxury rental

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his over 40-metre Baglietto, currently sporting an all-black livery, was for many years famous for its dazzling colour scheme, which could change from purple to green in the shifting sunlight. Formerly called RC, its luxurious interiors were designed by Studio Gagliardi, with exteriors by Design Studio Spadolini. It can host up to ten people in five cabins, comprising a master suite, three double cabins and one twin cabin, as well

as carrying a crew of eight. The hull and superstructure of this planing yacht are in aluminium, and it is also equipped with stabilisers operating at anchor and under way With a cruising speed of 21 knots and a maximum of 35 knots, Ability is an ideal combination of performance and luxury. www.floatinglife.com

Performance and Luxury

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The Perfect Cruise

N

arvalo is a new 33-metre steel and aluminium Explorer Yacht built by Cantiere delle Marche. It is the first in the robustly-engineered, long-range Naura Air line, which features Italian-style design. The upper deck offers a roomy sky lounge, with a dining area and 5.5-metre tender outside. The sun deck is the ideal spot for sea-watching, with a hydromassage pool, dining area and space for cocktails around the bar. Guests are accommodated in

four cabins on the lower deck, where there is also a large atrium with relaxation area. A seaworthy superyacht, perfect for a summer in the Med or Caribbean cruises in the most extreme conditions. www.floatinglife.com

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destinations

Singapore the Lion City Antonella Euli

Every year more than 35 million passengers pass through Singapore’s Changi airport.

Most of them are unaware that only a few kilometres away lies a city-state that despite its small size offers a variety of attractions

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I

t is home to some of the world’s most fascinating hotels embodying over one hundred years of history, as well as various boutique hotels throughout the city’s trendiest areas. The huge shopping malls are concentrated in the Orchard Road district, but there’s fantastic shopping everywhere, with markets, shophouses and workshops featuring up-and-coming

young designers. The food, too, is a melting pot of flavours in the top-class restaurants and the more traditional Chinese, Indian, Indonesian and Malaysian venues. But above all, Singapore - The City in a Garden -has a city centre studded with public parks, and just outside its limits, natural oases and untouched rainforest ecosystems. Some of its charm lies in its many contrasts, reflected by its various districts, where people from a host of ethnic origins and cultures co-exist. In Chinatown, a colourful maze of alleyways off South Bridge Road, visitors can still find magnificent examples of shophouses recalling old Singapore,

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destinations

as well as antique shops, bars, restaurants and

to the goddess Kali) and shops selling Indian

the banks of the Singapore river.

other small, luxurious boutiques. Temple Street,

spices, jewellery and fabrics. Marina Bay is the

There is a prestigious hotel inside the Marina

once the city’s red light district, is the location for

new quarter, a symbol of modern Singapore.

Bay Sands, while The South Beach Hotel is

the wonderful Temple of Buddha, surrounded by

At its centre is the Marina Bay Sands resort,

a dazzling jewel with 654 rooms and suites

ancient shophouses and shops selling garments and

while the Colonial District, on the right bank of

furnished by Philippe Starck. Also in the centre

porcelain. The Design Trail area, though, a former

the river, still retains all the 19th-century charm

is the Park Royal Pickering, an eco-sustainable

clove and nutmeg plantation, boasts a wealth of

of the colonial era. Here stands the St Andrew’s

hotel that is a symbol of luxury, modernity and

buildings in Chinese Baroque style, while Kampong

Anglican Cathedral.

environmental awareness.

Glam is the Arab quarter. Its character changes

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The island of Sentosa is home to the Resorts

at sunset - though the cafes and restaurants do

Where to stay

World Sentosa, the island’s first integrated resort,

not serve alcohol, this is compensated for by

The Lion City offers a taste of authentic Asian

comprising six themed hotels.

excellent live music and the opportunity - unique

hospitality, offered in a rich variety of possibilities.

in the city - to smoke a nargile. The magnificent

First and foremost is the iconic Raffles Hotel, a hotel

Where to eat

Sultan Mosque looms over Arab and Muscat

of timeless charm, not far from the sophisticated

Singapore has become the world’s new fine

Street, the Muslim shopping area, Little India is

Sofitel So, situated in a period building restored

dining star, and although it does not have its

one of Singapore’s most characteristic areas,

by the work of interior designer Isabelle Miaja

own typical cuisine, all the best of Far Eastern

whose and its heart is Serangoon Road, one

and stylist Karl Lagerfeld.

traditions can be found here. It enjoys a huge

of the city’s oldest streets, known for its Hindu

The Fullerton Hotel is another historic hotel, a

culinary heritage - Chinese, Malay, Indian and

temples (the most famous is the one dedicated

majestic classical-style palace built in 1928 on

Peranakan restaurants offer mouthwatering

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specialities (Pernakan is a mix of Malay and Chinese

high quality ingredients.

ingredients and techniques with Indonesian and

Iggy’s, in the Hilton Hotel, established by Ignatius

European influences).

Chan, is also worthy of note - the food draws

Then there is, of course, Singapore’s street food,

inspiration from European cuisine but combines

and its high temple the Lau Pa Sat, situated in a

this with Asian tastes and ingredients.

large Victorian edifice next to the financial district.

Another gourmet destination is the ultra-refined

Thousands of people gather here every day to

Guy Savoy, in the Marina Bay Sands, named

enjoy simple dishes and tempting delicacies. The

after its famous chef.

city’s gastronomic panorama is as rich and varied

The Pollen in the Flower Dome is managed by

as its culture, and benefits from the presence of

Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton, and is

chefs from all over the world.

inspired by the Mediterranean tradition.

Even the most experienced foodie will be dazzled

One address to remember for the most daring

by the wonderful embarrassment of choice - but

diners is the Tippling Club, the well-known hipster

we can offer some suggestions. The Waku Ghin

venue run by the explosive Ryan Clift, a tattoo-

(in the Marina Bay Sands) with Japanese chef

covered English chef.

Tetsuya Wakuda is now recognised as one of

For genuine Peranakan food the Blue Ginger,

the world’s best retaurants.

one of the city’s best Peranakan restaurants, is

The Labyrinth is the realm of LG Han, offering

the place to go, as is chef Benjamin Seck’s True

creative, modern cooking based on extremely

Blue Cuisine.

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destinations

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What to see and to do

largest orchid collection in the world.

Gardens by the Bay : an area of over 101 hectares

The Bukit Timah nature reserve a few kilometres

Fort Canning: a green area with buildings recalling

with 220,000 plants in three large gardens looking

from the centre: 164 hectares populated by an

the colonial era, a large artificial lake in the centre

out onto the sea. These green expanses offer

incredible variety of flora and fauna.

and the Spice Garden with various species of

themed trails, brooks and the now-famous Super

The Botanical Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage

typical local spices.

Trees, vertical gardens between 25 and 50 metres

site: 74 hectares in the heart of Singapore with

The Singapore Zoo is home to over 240 species,

high standing out against the city’s skyline.

lakes, open-air concert venues and residences

40 of which are classed as rare or under threat

Marine Life Park: the world’s largest aquarium

transformed into restaurants, as well as natural

of extinction, like the White Bengal tiger.

with almost 100,000 marine animals belonging

habitats for various species of swans, ducks and

The Night Safari: gives visitors the chance to

to over 800 species.

turtles. A huge expanse of urban gardens forms

observe the animals’ nocturnal behaviour in their

River Safari: the first and only nature reserve in

the setting for the National Orchid Garden, the

natural habitat.

Asia that focuses on river environments.

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THE NEW SERIES K MODELS FOR SALE - FULL CUSTOMIZED ALL-INCLUSIVE PACKAGE With over 15 years of exper ience in new supe r yacht constructions and yacht management, and over 200 technical surveys done for sales , Floating Life has decided to develop an alter native and innovative full service package system, star ting with a project – for the development of both owning company & vessel – custom-made on the specific need s of each client. Based on a proven tank-tested technical

platfor m (hull) and “moulded” on the exper ience in long-ter m management of pr ivate and commercial vessels, Floating Life offers an all-inclusive package comprehensive of technical survey dur ing construction - which can be done in any shipyard guaranteeing the cor rect quality/pr ice ration, reliabili ty and deliver y schedule - and the post-sale yacht management for 4 years a er deliver y.

italian chef

A delicious profession Antonella Euli

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hree restaurants and three interpretations of food, from north to south. Wielding the knives this time are a man in the Veneto, a woman in Rome, and an entire family on the Amalfi Coast. At Lonigo, near Vicenza, under

the colonnades of a Palladian villa, the Michelin-starred chef Vincenzo Di Grande runs the Osteria del Guà. The restaurant has just opened in this lovely location, and offers an appealing selection of dishes that Vincenzo uses to stimulate the tastebuds of his guests. Originally from Sicily, he has amassed a great deal of experience in illustrious kitchens around the world. His passion for cooking is rooted in family tradition, the past and his heritage from his mother, who has handed over the baton on to her son. An emphasis on locally-sourced ingredients, top-level technique and a natural tendency to lightness provide an exceptional gastronomic experience. The menus at the Osteria del Guà are entertaining and innovative, with a tendency towards vegetables and fish. Intriguing combinations that celebrate the region are a constant feature. We now move on to Trastevere, Rome, to pay tribute to Cristina Bowerman, the pink-haired Puglian chef with a law degree and Michelin Star. After a stint in the USA she returned to Italy, and has been at the Glass Hostaria since 2005, alongside her husband Fabio Spada. Along the way she has picked up a series of important accolades, and her original creations, sometimes provocative and quirky yet always recognisable and tasty, set up a dialogue of global and local elements, the cutting edge and traditional, winning her an enthusiastic following in the Italian capital and throughout the world.

Her success has encouraged her to open a new venue in Rome, the Romeo e Giulietta, the city’s largest. Vide ‘o mare quant’è bello… We’re in Sant’Agata sui Due Golfi, on the Sorrento Peninsula, world famous for the Iaccarino family’s two Michelin Star Don Alfonso 1890 restaurant, a local institution. Chefs since 1890, from generation to generation the members of this talented family have scaled the heights of fine cooking. Now at the helm are Ernesto and his new wife Maiangela, a chef patissiere.

Their restaurant blends elegance, technique, passion and top-quality ingredients with inventive flair. When the Don Alfonso closes its doors from November to April, Ernesto, his wife and the rest of the family decamp to New Zealand, where last year they opened a new venue in St Helena Bay.

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italian chef

VINCENZO DI GRANDE AT THE OSTERIA DEL GUÀ

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e’re in the Villa Pisani at Bagnolo di Lonigo, not far from

on artisanal creations that reflect the seasons and traditions).

Vicenza, designed by Palladio in 1541 and now a UNESCO

The combination of the lovely setting and intriguing food is a

World Heritage Site, to describe a new hotel to be opened

successful one, and the Sicilian chef likes to insist, “I come from

in early April. It’s the restaurant the Osteria del Guà, the subject

the past and live in the present, but my work is directed towards

of our feature. The kitchen is ruled over by chef Vincenzo Di

the future”, sentiments that also sum up his professional career.

Grande, a “great” in every sense of the word, famous for his

His passion for cooking is rooted in family tradition, the past and

refined, delicious dishes that reflect the region and Di Grande’s

his heritage from his mother, who has handed over the baton on

expertise. With extensive experience in prestigious venues,

to her son. An emphasis on locally-sourced ingredients, top-

working with equally illustrious chefs, Di Grande is no newcomer

level technique and a natural tendency to lightness provide an

to the challenge, one he has taken up in the past during his

exceptional gastronomic experience. The list of dishes includes

previous adventures. Vincenzo combines his native skills with

Cinta suckling pig salad with mostarda and a balsamic vinegar

an outstanding team and his conviction that bringing the best

glaze, guinea fowl bottone with zabaglione and crispy Montagnana

out of his ingredients means above all respecting their origins, as

ham, seabass fillets with artichokes in puttanesca sauce and

well as ensuring they retain their nutritional qualities and flavour.

orange soup with Campari and pineapple sorbet. His maître

The time he has spent in famous foreign restaurants plus an

d’hotel is the seasoned professional Giancarlo Dutto from

equal number of outstanding Italian venues like the Locanda La

the Piedmont region, who presides over the restaurant and is

Solarola, Antica Osteria del Teatro and the Convivio, has enabled

an outstanding sommelier with a talent for discovering niche

him to navigate confidently through the four seasons, using raw

wines and great labels. In summer and autumn guests can

materials that are select yet simple. Now he is here to “stimulate

dine outdoors in a beautiful space that invites guests to extend

my guests’ palate” (he is also responsible for the breakfasts, based

their stay. www.labarchessadivillapisani.it

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The menus at the Osteria del GuĂ are entertaining and innovative, with a tendency towards vegetables and fish. Intriguing combinations that celebrate the region are a constant feature

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italian chef

CRISTINA BOWERMAN AT THE GLASS HOSTARIA (AND THE ROMEO E GIULIETTA)

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orn in Cerignola, Foggia, this talented chef has conquered the world, gaining Michelin stars along the way. And her success is well-deserved. After graduating in law, in 1992

she left Puglia for the USA, studying forensics and graphic design while working at Higher Grounds, a San Francisco coffee house where she developed her long-standing passion for cooking, inspired by her mother and grandmother. In 1998 she moved to Austin, where she studied Culinary Arts. Here - especially during her stint at the Driskill Grill - she further honed her discipline and technique, focusing on the clarity, definition and concentration of flavours. She returned to Italy in 2004, gaining valuable experience at the Troiani brothers’ Convivio in Rome, and the following year she joined the Glass Hostaria, owned by her now-husband Fabio Spada, in the heart of Trastevere. This is where she began to present her original creations, sometimes provocative and quirky yet always recognisable and tasty, a dialogue of global and local elements, the cutting edge and traditional, which has won her an enthusiastic following in the Italian capital and throughout the world. In 2009 she was awarded Two Fork status by the Gambero Rosso, and won a Michelin star in 2010. In 2012 she took the helm in the kitchens at the Romeo chef&baker in Rome, and in 2013 she was nominated as Female Chef of the Year at Identità Golose. In 2015 Cristina Bowerman was chosen as Chef Ambassador for Expo Milano 2015, and 2016 turned out to be a golden year for her - in March she joined the ministry of food, farming and forestry policy commission tasked with drawing up the Food Act, an agreement between institutions and the world of quality Italian cuisine. She was awarded the Identità Nuove Sfide prize at Identità Golose and in June 2016 Bowerman became President of the Ambassadors of Flavour Association. In March 2017, she and her husband opened “Romeo”, an incredible 2,000 square metre space hosting a restaurant, pizzeria, oven, fine food and gelateria. Who knows what the future will bring for this human dynamo? www.glass-restaurant.it

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Cristina’s multifaceted story is driven by passion, and she tells it in her first book, published in 2014 by Mondadori: From Cerignola to San Francisco and Back - My life as a maverick chef

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italian chef

ERNESTO AND MARIANGELA IACCARINO AT THE DON ALFONSO 1890

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ant’Agata sui Due Golfi, on the Sorrento Peninsula, world

has met with great success, based on the restaurant owners’

famous for the Iaccarino family’s two Michelin Star “Don

direct involvement in the production and monitoring of the raw

Alfonso 1890” restaurant, a local institution. Chefs since

materials, using only fresh, natural products. In order to create

1890, from generation to generation the members of this talented

his entrancing dishes the chef can draw on the Mediterranean

family have scaled the heights of fine cooking, building a solid

roots of his ingredients and herbs cultivated at the family’s farm in

reputation that is now maintained and even enhanced by Ernesto,

Punta Campanella. His inventiveness and creativity then transform

the most recent scion of a dynasty that has been preparing fine

these into modern interpretations of regional classics. As a result

food since 1890. The same year appears emblazoned next to

his restaurant is an unmissable destination in a gastronomic

the name Don Alfonso on the restaurant founded by Alfonso

tour of central-southern Italy. Desserts are the realm of his wife

Costanzo, grandfather of Alfonso, who in his turn is father of

Mariangela (Matera Sanseverino), an internationally-renowned

Ernesto, and tireless director of one of Italy’s most famous and

chef patissiere. Her sinfully good delicacies are as unforgettable

hospitable relais. Born in 1970, a graduate in economics and

as the rest of the Don Alfonso experience. The wonderful cellar,

commerce at Milan’s Bocconi university, in 1999 Ernesto yielded

carved out deep into the volcanic rock, contains some real

to the call of his native region and the profession that has shaped

treasures. Visitors to this temple of fine food - where cookery

his family for over a century. After arriving in Sant’Agata sui

lessons are also held - can sleep in one of the Relais Don

due Golfi he enthusiastically took the reins at the Don Alfonso,

Alfonso’s eight suites. When the Don Alfonso closes its doors

presenting elegance, technique, passion and excellent raw

from November to April, Ernesto, his wife and the rest of the

materials (provided in part by the family estate, Pieracciole, an

family decamp to New Zealand, where last year they opened a

eight hectare farm on the lovely Punta Campanella). Remaining

new venue in St Helena Bay.

true to the Iaccarino project that by Alfonso and Livia, Ernesto

www.donalfonso.com

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Mariangela and Ernesto - a timeless love nurtured by a passion for the art of cooking, blossoming into its full splendour among Michelin-starred flavours and equally original desserts

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wine

The Marquis of excellence Frescobaldi - a name that evokes nobility and prize-winning wines Antonella Euli

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n the 20th century this ancient family, backed by centuries of history, focused its attention on winemaking. Vittorio, Ferdinando and Leonardo made an important contribution towards raising Tuscany’s status to that of a centre of excellence for great wines. Now

the reins have been handed over to Lamberto Frescobaldi, and fresh from his long technical experience he now aims to further enhance the unique nature of all the family’s estates - and he is succeeding magnificently, producing unforgettable wines year after year. But that’s not all - the precious nectar has become a precious cultural and charitable asset through the international “Vendemmia d’Autore” (“Signature Harvest”) prize promoted by the Ornellaia, the leading estate in the Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi group. Since its launch in 2009 the prize has generated an income of over one million euro, all of which has been donated to museums and organisations throughout the world. This old-style patronage combines winemaking and the figurative arts, where the painter or sculptor invited by an independent jury creates a work inspired by the name of the vintage wine produced by the estate. The Ornellaia 2014 is bottled under the name “Essenza”, and the Brazilian artist Ernesto Neto drew inspiration from this to create his entry for this year’s “Vendemmia d’Artista”. Now in its ninth year, the 2017 prize was presented in a preview in Milan, and the event will reach its climax on 27 April in New York. For the occasion Sotheby’s will auction off 222 bottles of Ornellaia 2014 in a variety of formats, divided into nine lots, clothed in Neto’s work. The earnings will go to New York’s prestigious Guggenheim Museum.

Tenuta and the Frescobaldi family and bottles of Ornellaia “dressed” by the Brazilian artist Ernesto Neto

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mise en place

DÉCOR + SURPRISES Maria Clara Caglioti

Flowers, colours and eggs, symbols of rebirth and good fortune, welcome the springtime. On the table, too, nature reawakens, reminding us of the pleasure of creativity, from geometrical shapes to the vivid expression of decorations and inspirations

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1. Eggs and triangles - two perfect geometries meet in the aluminium double eggcup Roost, designed by Adam Goodrum for Alessi. The two sections fit into each other, and when separated can hold two eggs. 2. This plate from Richard Ginori’s Aurea collection gives a contemporary twist to a decoration conceived

by Gio Ponti, who was the artistic director behind the factory’s success. 3. The copper table centrepiece or fruit bowl Colosseum I is part of the New Roman collection designed for Paola C. by Jaime Hayon, inspired by imperial Rome. 4. Two blown-glass egg boxes from the Arlecchino collection by Vetrerie di Empoli.

Opposite page: a fantasy of watercolour flowers decorates Missoni Home’s porcelain Floral Dream by Richard Ginori.

Below: candleholder Flor by De Vecchi Milano 1935 in silver or silver plated.

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extra virgin olive oil

EVO oil, Italy’s Yellow Gold Valeria Rastrelli

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t’s easier to say how many Italian regions don’t produce olive oil than the opposite, with almost the whole country involved. Our extra-virgin oil, the fruit of passion, experience, technology and identity occupies an unassailable position

in the roster of products that embody Italian food excellence on tables throughout the world. Each oil has its history, colour and distinctive taste. According to Paolo Cuccia, president of Gambero Rosso, Italian EVO oil should follow the same path wine first took thirty years ago, “Avoiding unnecessary mistakes by learning from the experience of others and making the most of technology to produce the best from healthy olives”.

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extra virgin olive oil

Which regions produce the best oil? All of them! But as the figures show, pride of place belongs to southern Italy - on average the country produces around 6-700 million kilos every year. Puglia, Calabria and Sicily account for over 85% of this, with the rest split between Lombardy, Lake Garda, Tuscany, Liguria, Umbria, Abruzzo and Sardinia. Italy’s olive-growing resources are estimated at 150 million plants across eighteen out of the total of twenty regions. In other words, excellent oils can be found in every region - the hard part is discovering the real jewels. Buyers are advised to learn how to sniff and taste the oils in order to distinguish between good and lowquality oils. It’s not hard, as the aromas of a good oil should recall natural products like grass, vegetable gardens, fruit and leaves. But there’s more - a true connoisseur should own several types of oil, one for every dish - the best for a tomato and basil pasta is a very fruity, perfumed oil with only a touch of bitterness and slight hint if spice, a Sicilian oil for example. Grilled meats need a less aromatic oil, but one with a more robust kick of spice and bitterness that can support the flavour of the meat - Tuscan oil would fit the bill here.

To draw up a personal list of favourites simply try as many oils as you can, taking advantage of the tastings offered by Italy’s finest olive mills. We have chosen some of the most highly-prized oils, produced in locations from Lake Garda to Sicily, and present them to you in a virtual shop window.

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Precious drops 1. Premier Cru Secolo 21, Masseria della Volpe, Noto (Sicily) 2. Franci Bio Toscano IGP, Frantoio Franci, Montenero d’Orcia (Tuscany) 3. Biancolilla Bio Taibi, Agrigento (Sicily) 4. EVO Pujje, Palagiano (Puglia) 5. “Affiorato”, Azienda Agricola “Dinoabbo”, Lucinasco (liguria) 6. “Denocciolato” Monocultivar Coratina, Antico Frantoio Muraglia, Andria (Puglia)

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luxury hotel

The Magic of Puglia Antonella Euli

The Masseria San Domenico is one of the region’s top destinations, and in recent years it has become a cult destination for elite tourism

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n the shoreline of Savelletri di Fasano, between Bari and

boasting their ancient embrasures and chimneys, now host the

Brindisi, stands the Masseria San Domenico, an imposing

exclusive Masseria San Domenico Spa-Thalasso & Golf resort.

shape in a breathtaking location. The main core of the

A comprehensive restoration, carried out with full respect for

15th century structure comprises a watchtower built

the ancient plan and original materials, has transformed the

by the Knights of Malta to defend against Saracen raids and

Masseria into an enchanting spot. The rooms and suites - in the

a residential nucleus that in the 18th century became one of

historic core and the new section next to thalassotherapy centre

the region’s most important fortified estates. These walls, still

- are spacious, bright and elegantly furnished. The ground-floor

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rooms have a well-equipped patio, while the suites include a

San Domenico can also claim to be one of the first hotels in Italy

private garden. The first-floor rooms look out onto the sea or

to provide thalassotherapy treatments. Filtered, bacteriologically

the swimming pool and magnificent gardens. The Masseria

pure water from the nearby Adriatic Sea, drawn from a depth of

restaurant, set in an 18th century star-vaulted olive mill, is the

four hundred metres, is rich in minerals and oligoelements, and

ideal setting for sampling typical Puglian cuisine, accompanied

the covered swimming pool with seawater heated to 37° is the

by Italian and international wines. As well as offering an

fulcrum of the thalasso centre. Seaweed, packed with vitamins

enchanting atmosphere and outstanding service, the Masseria

and minerals, is combined with seawater to form a miraculous

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luxury hotel

cocktail. Treatments guests must not miss include the Douche d’Evian, a relaxing massage with essential marine oils under micro jets of seawater, and the “Thalatherm”, where the body is covered in a layer of marine muds and then immersed in hot steam followed by cool jets of seawater. There are also massages and treatments with products from the Masseria San Domenico line based on natural ingredients, or products by Carita and Thelgo. Further pampering is provided by a Technogym-equipped space, Turkish bath, sauna and relaxation areas. All-round health and fitness means that the thalassotherapy treatments are complemented by a nutritional model based on the Mediterranean diet principles developed by Dr Agostino Grassi. Sports enthusiasts will appreciate the two tennis courts within the resort, while only three kilometres away they will find the eighteenhole San Domenico Golf club. The reserved “La Fonte” beach, San Domenico’s rocky lido, can be reached by bike or with a lovely walk of only 700 metres along a tree-lined track, although less energetic souls may prefer the hotel shuttle service. Enjoy your holiday! www.masseriasandomenico.com 100

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interview

THE MAN of dreams

Piero Fornasetti’s visionary inspiration as described by his son, Barnaba, who has inherited his father’s creative gene Maria Clara Caglioti

Cabinet Kiss by Barnaba Fornasetti. Wood and brass. Hand printed, lacquered and painted.

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Capitello ionico chair. Wood. Hand printed and lacquered

Barnaba Fornasetti

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very year Milan hosts the Salone del Mobile, a showcase for all that’s new in furniture and design. The city is also home to a jewel of Italian - and especially Milanese - creativity,

one that has been acclaimed for its originality since its launch in the early 1930s. The Atelier Fornasetti is where Barnaba Fornasetti carries on the work of his father Piero, creating highly imaginative, timeless creations. The son now draws on the extensive archive where Piero meticulously collected figures cut out from old prints and antique books to suggest the materials and inspiration for everyday objects, pieces whose purity of form communicates a surreal, dreamlike imagination that transforms them into poetic art.

Design, decoration, art, artisanal skills. Which of these is Fornasetti?

It’s a combination of all four.

Which of Fornasetti’s creations are most intimately, exclusively Italian? Something you’d say couldn’t be anything but Italian?

ARIANNA SANESI

My father said he was more European than Italian,

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interview Arlecchini cabinet by Barnaba Fornasetti. Wood.

Hand printed and lacquered

A plate from the Tema e Variazioni series. Porcelain

even though his images often recalled ancient, classical and neoclassical Italian art. And as his decoration was almost always inspired by Italian art of the past, it inevitably has strong national character.

Fornasetti works display a visionary imagination combined with extremely clean lines and sharply-defined forms. How do you blend imagination and visionary elements with precision and order?

Pablo Neruda called my father “Magician of precious, precise magic”, and it’s very apt. It gives an idea of how the graphic precision of his decoration emphasised the choice of ideas contained in the images. Coming from a poet like Neruda, I think it’s undeniable.

In your opinion, what’s the relationship between design and decoration?

I see decoration as a conceptual, emotive element that counterbalances the coldness and rationality that may be expressed by the shapes of design.

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Fornasetti pieces have enjoyed mixed fortunes over the years, but today they’re attracting a lot of attention. In a culture like ours, dominated by technology and the transcendence of physical form, what are the reasons behind this success? In what way does Fornasetti speak to our age?

For the very reason it’s going against the trends, it’s stimulating a reaction to the uniformity created by technology and rationalism. Fornasetti is timeless, and not linked to fashions or design in the strictest sense of the word. It’s more to do with graphic figures that decorate various types of surface.

That’s why the Fornasetti aesthetic can awaken images from the collettive unconscious, always stored in our brains. A Fornasetti object is never a simple passive item - it can dialogue with those who have not lost the ability to feel, responding to our need for comfort and solace when dealing with the struggles of everyday life.

People need more and more of decoration, because it has the same function as music - it may not seem strictly necessary, but in reality it is. It’s food for the soul.

Sardine tray. Wood. Hand printed, lacquered and painted with silver leaf

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luxury hotel

Five-Star Chef

The task of today’s great chefs is to educate tastes, and the kitchens of large hotels with an international clientele are increasingly popular venues for completing this mission

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t’s a trend confirmed by Mauro Grandi, the chef in charge of the kitchens of the View Lugano, one of the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of The World chain and the Planhotel Hospitality Group. This lovely hotel enjoys a breathtaking setting and a high-end design that evokes a luxury yacht

floating on the lake. All eighteen suites look out over the water and resemble an owner’s cabin with generous spaces. The hotel also provides top-level facilities like a Butler Service and The View Spa, an exclusive oasis of wellbeing. Then there’s the restaurant - its design and enchanting panorama provide a backdrop for the restaurant’s gourmet food and wine experience,

Antonella Euli

with open kitchen and a cellar offering a selection of prestigious labels. The dishes are by chef Grandi, whose style combines experimentation, research and innovation. From Italy to the Ticino, his second home, he has followed

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Mauro’s creativity reaches its zenith in banquets and special occasions, made unforgettable by the originality of his presentations

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luxury hotel

The chef’s skill and precision inspire modern, elegant dishes characterised by extremely high quality standards and deep affection and respect for classic Italian cuisine

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luxury hotel

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an exciting career path marked by an emphasis on inno-

of his food. He believes that choosing the raw ingredi-

vation, but never losing sight of history and tradition. For

ents, seeking out the finest producers and establishing

him, food and local influences are all one. This combina-

close relationships with them are all crucial aspects of

tion lies at the basis of the philosophy expressed by the

his work. He also likes to involve his guests, who can

“Gault Millau” guide - in 2006 it awarded the restaurant

go shopping - and more - with the chef, fishing on the

fourteen points, while the “Riso Gallo” includes it in the

Ceresio with the supplier of prized zander, walking in

list of the 101 best risottos in the world. He constantly

the Valle di Muggio in search of Zincarlin (a typical acid

perfects his cooking methods, favouring slow, delicate,

curd-based cheese of the Ticino region with herbs and

low-temperature and vacuum techniques, retaining the

pepper) or visiting to the local wine cellar where the Mer-

flavours, characteristics, consistency and colours of

lot del Ticino is bottled. The wine will later become the

the food. As a result he has developed an outstanding

subject of discussion with the Sommelier at the table.

variety of wonderful dishes - fresh pasta starters, main

And as fine food is fundamentally a sensory experience,

courses based on fish and meat and vegan and vegetar-

Mauro Grandi’s creations, enhanced by attentive service

ian dishes. His skill also lies in in his ability to juxtapose

and peerless setting, will not disappoint.

and mix the temperatures, flavours and characteristics

www.planhotel.com

Learn to fly with us TURN YOUR PASSION INTO A PROFESSION

ato@skyservices.it - skyservices.it

MILAN BRESSO | CAPUA | NAPLES | BRINDISI

destinations

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Mozambique Paradise Valeria Rastrelli

It’s the new, exclusive destination for anyone seeking to discover an untouched realm where nature rules supreme

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destinations

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nexplored reserves, islands that time forgot and stretches of sand sloping into the blue waters of the Indian Ocean.

Mozambique is all this, and on a pristine

beach in the Pemba region stands the Diamonds Mequfi Beach Resort, the latest addition to Diamonds Hotel and Resorts, the Planhotel Hospitality Group’s luxury brand. A holiday at Mequfi Beach, affiliated to the Small Luxury Hotels of The World chain and winner of the World Travel Awards 2016 as Mozambique’s Leading Resort and Mozambique’s Leading Beach Resort, combines total privacy and relaxation with the opportunity to enjoy thrilling experiences - an excursion in search of the region’s treasures, perhaps, or water sports like adrenaline-pumping kitesurfing, catamaran sailing, windsurfing and SUP. Guests can enjoy unforgettable snorkelling trips, dives to discover the incredibly rich and varied undersea life, and whale watching trips, especially in August and September, when the ocean giants swim along the shoreline before giving birth in the calm waters of Pemba bay. Diamonds Mequfi Beach is a world apart, dedicated to guests for whom holidays mean relaxation, and couples or honeymooners in search of romantic seclusion, maybe after a safari in the famous Gorongosa National park and encounters with lions, elephants and giraffes, or an excursion to the Quirimbas Archipelago and its coastal forests, coral reefs and sea turtles. The beach

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destinations

bungalows host fifty rooms, forty deluxe and ten suites, furnished in a contemporary style with details and materials reflecting local traditions. They offer every comfort, including a private veranda with ocean view. A saltwater swimming pool with bar is at the centre of the resort, and remains open until late to allows patrons to enjoy the magic of the African nights. One of the Mequfi Beach’s great strengths is its cuisine - the Assinatura restaurant serves a sumptuous American-style buffet breakfast, while for lunch and dinner it offers an a la carte menu of local and international dishes. The refined Sea You Restaurant, only open in the evening, prepares ocean-fresh fish. For guests hunting a snack, or for those who just can’t do without their pizza, the Brisa do Mar is open non-stop until six in the evening. Finally, the Mvua African Rain SPA, is a miniature paradise where guests can relax and allow themselves to be pampered with treatments based on natural ingredients. They can also be enjoyed on the beach, in the shade of a gazebo. And to be in perfect harmony with local traditions, guests can take cookery lessons with the chef before taking a walk on the beach to meet local fishermen, where they can choose and buy the fish of the day. mequfibeach.diamondsresorts.com 116

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Naturally extra-virgin

SECOLO21 extra-virgin olive oil represents the top quality of the natural and superb tasting Via G. B Perasso 20 Siracusa (Italy) www.secolo21.it info@masseriadellavolpe.it Tel. +39 328 1059112 Fax +39 0931 858696

of the 100% extra-virgin oil made in Sicily in the territories of Masseria della Volpe relais.

Its unique bottle gets a touch of pure design and it is the perfect present and accompany for any special occasion. It is available in two different selections; the unique Secolo21 blend, with a stronger but balanced taste, particularly adapted for red meat, soups and legumes; the 100% mono-cultivar Biancolilla sort, more dedicated and adapted for row fishes, shellfishes and delicate dishes.

design gallery

The Arreio armchair

by Sergio J. Matos from Brazil, made with the girths traditionally used to attach a saddle to the horse’s back

HOTBEDS OF TALENT Two design spaces in Milan, searching out new creative talent on the international scene Maria Clara Caglioti

PAOLA COLOMBARI GALLERY

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true pioneer of Italian and European art design, Paola

gallery owner has produced collectable design objects by

Colombari began her career together with her sister Rossella,

illustrious names like Riccardo Dalisi, Garouste&Bonetti and

founding a gallery in Turin whose purpose is to raise the

Karim Rashid. She has collaborated with historical masters

profile of 20th design. It is also responsible for the rediscovery

like Alessandro Mendini and Ettore Sottsass, and, open to the

of the great Turin architect Carlo Mollino. When Paola and

new fluidity of creative languages, produces research design

Rossella came to Milan in the late 1980s, Rosella continued her

pieces. The gallery is launching an exhibition of works by the

research into the 20th century and Paola devoted herself to art

Brazilian Sergio J.Matos on 5 April, showing how Brazil’s

design. The Galleria Paola Colombari, which enjoys juxtaposing

multicultural matrix is expressed through the relationship with

design and contemporary art, was one of the first to promote

materials.

the development of that fascinating area of creativity where

Galleria Paola Colombari

design loosens its ties with function to assimilate the expressive

Via Maroncelli 13

strength of art. With the Edizioni Paola Colombari brand the

www.artnet.com/galleries/galleria-paola-colombari

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ROSSANA ORLANDI GALLERY

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n one of those verdant courtyard that Milan sometimes conceals behind the facades of its buildings stands the Galleria Rossana Orlandi, opened fifteen years ago and situated just a short walk

from da Vinci’s Last Supper. This unusual exhibition space comprises the courtyard itself, offices and showroom - the various spaces spread across several floors create a variety of situations, an unconventional setting for the presentation of works by designers discovered by Rossana Orlandi and promoted in an unending initiative of international research. Two are the themes of this research - the creation of limited editions or single items with a high artisanal value, crossing over into the world of art, and limited runs of industrial design pieces that contrast with traditional Italian design in that their authors both design and produce the pieces. Every year for the Fuorisalone, as well as inviting new talent, the gallery welcomes now-famous designers it has discovered, and now supports their creative and professional growth.

Galleria Rossana Orlandi Via Matteo Bandello 14/16 www.rossanaorlandi.com Console by Nacho Carbonell. The Valenciaborn designer is from the famous Eindhoven Design Academy in Holland

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dĂŠcor design

SILVIA MASSA

THE COLOURS OF EMOTION Maria Clara Caglioti

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paces, volumes, furnishings and above all, light. It is the most important element in the work of Silvia Massa, a designer and interior designer from Milan, who actually describes herself as an interior&color designer.

In its infinite spectrum, its manifold variations, light can bring about radical transformations to the look of a room. Its personality and intensity dictate colours, atmospheres, noise and silence. This is well-known in the film world, and it is no surprise that the designer interprets interior architectures as sensory movie sets where the harmonious generation of shapes, colours, objects and materials can create a positive emotional impact. Silvia Massa boasts an impressive educational background ranging from interior design to philosophy, fashion and advertising. She is also a practitioner of Feng Shui, and this ancient Chinese discipline has provided inspiration for some of the

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principles that guide her interventions. Attention to detail, a search for balanced proportions, chromatic harmonies and deliberate discords create an equilibrium, a pleasing correspondence between an interior and the people who inhabit it. Her house, office, showroom and nightspot designs always embody an emphasis on functionality that is complemented by a search for beauty, even for its own sake alone. Her wallpapers and stickers, which cover the wall with images, colours and trompe-l’oeil, fill her spaces with a narrative as well as ornamental entertainment.

The lamps in her aLUZejos collection in ceramic-effect Forex are also famous. The name is a small pun on the word azulejos and Luz/Light, the joy and warmth of Mediterranean light. For the Fuorisalone there are installations by Silvia Massa at the In Style Showroom at Via Palermo 16, while the lighting collection will be on show in Cavalli e Nastri at Via Brera 2 and Via Gian Giacomo Mora 3. www.silviamassastudio.com

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objects Bombo by Stefano Giovannoni for Magis 1997 is a model for the contemporary stool and has been the subject of The Caboche ceiling light by Patricia Urquiola

countless imitations

and Eliana Gerotto for Foscarini, 2005.

Polymethacrylate spheres multiply the light in a dazzling mosaic of refractions

STARS OF DESIGN Twelve icons that have helped consolidate the success of Made in Italy style and values throughout the world Maria Clara Caglioti

The vertical vent, a reference to the inlets of the Nordic coast, reveals the Scandinavian inspiration for the Fjord armchair by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso, 2002. The idea derives from a fragment of shell smoothed and polished by the sea

The Sciangai coat stand by designer trio De Pas, D’Urbino and Lomazzi for Zanotta in 1974 won the Compasso d’Oro in 1979. It can be closed up, a feature inspired by the traditional Chinese game

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Up 5_6 from Gaetano Pesce’s Up 2000 series for B&B Italia, 2000. Created in 1969, the armchair recalls the soft, welcoming shape of a woman’s figure, suggesting an ideal of comfort

A popular conversation area feature, the 1962 Arco lamp from Flos was originally designed by Achille and An essential yet flowing shape is the distinctive

Pier Giacomo Castiglioni to throw light onto a table

feature of the Side 1 chest of drawers in the Progetti Compiuti series designed

by Shiro Kuramata for Cappellini in 1970

Jensen chair designed by Rodolfo Dordoni for Minotti, 2011. The rigid metal structure is complemented by soft goose down padding

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objects The Louis Ghost chair by Philippe Starck for Kartell, injection-moulded polycarbonate, 2002. An ironic reinterpretation of Louis XV style

The Costanza lamp by Luceplan, designed by Paolo Rizzatto in 1986 with a typical contemporary essentiality, evokes memories of old lampshades

The Opera table by Mario Bellini for Meritalia, 2014.

The multiple solid wood curved are made using a computerised design and production process

The Nathalie bed by Vico Magistretti for Flou, 1978.

The first of the modern textile beds, introducing a new concept that rejected the rigidity of traditional models, and was destined for great success

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Carlo Colombo has designed the Isabel armchair for Flexform.

It is entirely upholstered in leather, including the legs

THE FUTURE IS NOW Some of the new arrivals featured at Milan’s Salone Internazionale del Mobile reveal current design trends Maria Clara Caglioti

The antiqued gold finish metal base provides a touch of lightness to the Koro chair by Sicis, designed by Massimiliano Raggi. Upholstered in fabric from the Tessere collection

An airy metal structure surrounding a sphere of light evoke the path of the stars - the new lamp from FontanaArte designed by Francesco Librizzi is called Setareh, the Persian word for star

An open blossom is the inspiration for the Lennox two-seater sofa from Lema, designed by Gordon Guillaumier

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objects

Piper modular sofa by Rodolfo Dordoni for Roda. The back is lacquered aluminium and polyester bands. The low tables can be used in a variety of combinations

Piero Lissoni’s linear style is expressed through the elegance and comfort of the Dumas armchair, produced by Living Divani

Alphabet of light by Artemide, designed by the Big studio, is a modular system to express thoughts in light

Sebastian Herkner is the creator of the new Wanderlust collection from Alcantara®, inspired by the pleasure of travel. The unusuallycoloured decorative patterns are named after characters from Homer’s Odyssey

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Alessandro La Spada has designed the Rosemary armchair for Visionnaire in nabuk with feet and legs in leather and champagne colour steel, and the Minstrel table, in eucalyptus wood with satin steel base

Ludovica+Roberto Palomba have designed Sissi for Driade. Its sinuous lines are a lighthearted, ironic reference to traditional Viennese curved wood furniture

The glass unit with illuminated interior from the Self system

by Giuseppe Bavuso is from Rimadesio. With walnut frame, the tops and doors come in numerous finishes and colours

The Mondrian sofa by Jean-Marie Massaud for Poliform displays a pleasing compositional freedom and a wide range of accessory elements creates many opportunities

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design hotel

An Oasis on the Modern Grand Tour Maria Clara Caglioti

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A Roman hotel near the Piazza di Spagna combines classical touches with echoes of the 20th century

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design hotel

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ou have to ring the bell to be allowed in. The

from classically-inspired objects like the large plaster

J.K. Place Roma does not feature the triumphal

statues to 20th-century architecture echoed by the

entrance you would normally expect in a five-star

marble-framed doors and some references to La

hotel, but the simple doorway of a period building

Dolce Vita and 1960s furnishings. The Imperial Forum

at 30, via Monte d’Oro, not far from the Piazza di

is only a few metres from here, but there are some

Spagna, welcomes guests into an oasis of excellence.

1930s buildings, too”. The lobby features light, bright

Stepping over its threshold is like entering a home, a

colours and is dominated by neo-classical sculptures,

Roman home where the city’s history and style are

the graphic patterns of the large carpet and 1960s

evoked and reinterpreted in the design by architect

and 70s style furnishings designed by the architect.

Michele Bönan, who has totally reinvented the

The atmosphere in the library, on the other hand, is

interiors. As he explains, “There are many exquisitely

created by the dark, embracing colours of the wood.

Roman touches that combine in an eclectic mix,

The dialogue between colours is even more marked

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design hotel in the restaurant, where the petrol green of the walls - “A green I like very much”, says Bönan. “It belonged to the high society of the 1950s and 60s” - contrasts with the brilliant blue and red of the seats and the yellow fabric of the curtains and of the wall coverings. This dramatic array of colours reveals the unexpected harmony of daring juxtapositions. “For the choice of colours, I’m always sensitive to fashion trends”, Bönan continues. “Because fashion and interior design are two intersecting worlds that overlap, like two expressions of the same aesthetic and cultural context”.

The spacious rooms and suites boast canopied rosewood beds, boiseries and marble baths, but they are all different. There is no standardisation in this hotel, no formulas or reproduced patterns, everything is intensely personalised through decorative imagination combined with rigour, precision and attention to detail.

Here, guests feel at ease, and they know they are nowhere else but Rome, in a setting worthy of a modern Grand Tour. This is not one of those luxurious yet bland hotels with no identity, offering the same experience wherever in the world they are located. The interiors host paintings and photo art, original mid-20th century furniture and specially designed pieces by Bönan that bring to life the reassuring charm of that period. The compositional order of the furnishings, select materials and the surprise of the colour palette create a flawless yet vivacious and informal elegance. www.jkroma.com

Architect Michele Bönan has totally reinvented the interiors of J.K. Place inspired by La Dolce Vita and 1960s furnishings

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WONDER WORLD SEASONAL

SPRING 2017

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