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Tour of
Italy
Cultured cities and classic
coastlines with
Belmond
wing to its fabulous climate, enviable
gastronomy, fantastic wines, beautiful
scenery, magnificent architecture and rich
heritage, Italy has long been a favoured haunt for
British travellers even stretching back several centuries
when the privileged few embarked on expansive
“Grand” tours lasting many months.
These days the luxury grand tourer is more likely to be
somewhat “time” poor, so would want to squeeze a lot
into a small period of time. For those in search of the
superlative Italian experience there can be no doubt
that a week or two spent in the company of Belmond
staying at their impressive collection of iconic hotels
across the Italian mainland and Sicily offers a worthy
21st century reworking of the classic Grand Tour.
The cities of Venice and Florence are the two Renaissance
jewels of Italy. The buzz of the waterways and the
spectacle of the classic architecture is a glorious, theatrical
experience that touches all the senses. And if Venice is a
theatre,
Belmond Hotel Cipriani
is the Royal Box. Four
minutes by private launch from San Marco, on the tip of
Giudecca Island, this landmark hotel commands
unrivalled views of the lagoon and Doge’s Palace.
Florence delivers an equally rich, cultural experience of
world-famous galleries and Renaissance architectural
masterpieces like the Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo. It
is also the gateway to the gastronomically rich hills of
Tuscany.
Belmond Villa San Michele
is nestled on a
hilltop amid lush trees and terraced gardens, enjoying
unparalleled vistas of Florence, stretched out before it in
all its classic splendour. Dating from the 15th century,
the
Villa’s
facade
is
attributed to
Michelangelo.
Step inside and
you experience the
ethereal beauty and
solitude of a Renaissance
monastery that is as much a part of
Italy's culture as the country’s greatest
cathedrals and galleries.
Italy’s coastlines are a natural spectacle and no tour of
Italy would be complete without time spent exploring
the beautiful bays and hillside villages of Liguria and
the Cinque Terre. Set overlooking the picture-perfect
harbour of Portofino, with its luxury yachts bobbing at
anchor,
Belmond Hotel Splendido
and
Belmond
Splendido Mare
are two of Italy’s most glamorous
retreats and the ideal stopover between Venice and
Florence. Or perhaps the lure of the South beckons.
Admire the beauty of the Amalfi Coast and the
shimmering Mediterranean far below from an infinity
pool that seems to touch the clouds at
Belmond Hotel Caruso
, a former 11th
century palace above Ravello.
End your grand tour in Taormina in
Sicily, where, in the shadow of mighty
Mount Etna, you might choose to split
your time between a stay at
Belmond
Grand Hotel Timeo
on the high slopes of Taormina
Town itself before relocating to edge of the azure waters
below at
Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea
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