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The Guardian
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Dior show packs drama and intrigue for Maria Grazia Chiuri's love letter to Rome
Dior's first catwalk show in Rome was a night of high drama on and off the catwalk that left the fashion industry with a cliffhanger ending. Borrowing the original working title of Federico Fellini's film 8 ½, Maria Grazia Chiuri, designer of Dior since 2016, called it 'The Beautiful Confusion.' She was talking about Rome, with its heady jumble of art, culture, faith and mopeds, and about a collection in which haute couture pieces were mixed with theatrical costumes. But there was also an inescapable allusion to the question of her own future of Dior. Even before the show opened, operatically coded with models in Venetian masks and knots of Eyes Wide Shut lace pageanting at nightfall through the central parterre of a villa packed with Roman antiquities, the evening was ablaze with intrigue. Chiuri was born and began her career in Rome, and the deeply personal nature of the show, which was a passionate love letter to her home city, fuelled longstanding rumours that this was orchestrated as a swansong. Chiuri has tripled sales at Dior during her nine-year tenure, but the Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson, recently appointed to lead menswear design at the house, is seen as waiting in the wings to assume complete creative control of the house. The plot thickened when it emerged that this cruise collection would also include looks from the autumn haute couture collection, which would normally be under wraps until July, putting a question mark over Dior's plans for the next Paris season. Like a Fellini film, there was no neat ending. The evening finished without official news, and with Dior's next chapter unwritten. But if it was a farewell, it was a fond and fabulous one for a designer whose progressive vision of fashion's power to platform feminism, female artists and the under-celebrated history of female creativity has been a gamechanger for her industry. Guests had been issued with a dress code – white for women, black for men – taken from a white ball thrown in 1930 by the Roman patron Mimì Pecci-Blunt – 'an extraordinary woman who loved the arts', Chiuri said before the show. The effect was to synthesise the front row with a collection that was 90% white, drawing the audience into the story. Each outfit brought the drama: a tailcoat suit with tiny ivory silk buttons; silvered latticework fit for a Renaissance princess, translucent classical gowns that looked like marble goddesses come to life; liturgical pomp in capes and collars tipping a hat to the Vatican in its jubilee year. The 450-strong guest list was heavily tilted toward Chiuri's friends and family, and luminaries of the Roman fashion and art world. Sign up to Fashion Statement Style, with substance: what's really trending this week, a roundup of the best fashion journalism and your wardrobe dilemmas solved after newsletter promotion 'My last show in Rome was for another brand, and it was over 10 years ago, so this is a big emotional moment for me,' Chiuri said before the show. The storytelling on the catwalk had close links to a personal project that Chiuri and her daughter Rachele Regini have masterminded and financed independent of Dior. The pair have renovated Teatro della Cometa, a 233-seat experimental theatre that was founded by Mimì Pecci-Blunt and became a cultural hotspot in the city when it opened in 1958, but closed just eleven years later after a fire. Drama aside, however, there are more prosaic possible explanations for Dior staging a show in Rome. Christian Dior himself loved the country, declaring in a letter home from holiday in Capri in 1957 that 'this is paradise!' More pragmatically, Italy has been the chosen destination for several luxury houses this year, with Gucci and Chanel staging shows in Lake Como and Florence respectively. In a challenging economic environment, the timeless elegance of Italy is seen as a reliably desirable backdrop for fashion.
Irish Examiner
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Colin Sheridan: Gaelic football is off life support but its rehabilitation should continue
Gaelic Football is so hot right now. If it were an actor, it would've gone to Cannes this week and received an 18 minute standing ovation, so attractive it has become. Which is quite something, because the sport was on life support two years ago - riddled with a plague of lateral passing and stacked defences. It reached rock bottom when some lad from Westmeath finished his thesis while playing midfield during a Tailteann Cup match. Solo, solo, hop, solo. Run sideways and backways. Order some takeout while you wait for your keeper to come up to take a free. It was bad, very bad, but the good news is the sport went to a life coach and started listening to the High Performance Podcast. Little bit of Botox by way of the Football Review Committee. A tummy tuck and a Hyrox subscription and before you know it, the Ulster Football Championship makes Munster hurling look like a Fellini movie where everything looks beautiful, but nothing really happens. As makeovers go, this is Bradley Cooper levels of transformation. This is exclusive subscriber content. Already a subscriber? Sign in Subscribe to access all of the Irish Examiner. Annual €120€60 Best value Monthly €10€4 / month Unlimited access. Subscriber content. Daily ePaper. Additional benefits.
Telegraph
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
On board Europe's most luxurious new train, with tickets from £2,600
Is there a station exit in the world that can match the coup de théâtre of leaving Venice Santa Luca, with the Grand Canal and the Pantheon-modelled San Simeone Piccolo laid out before you? ' Venice never loses that magic of appearing as if for the first time,' as Freya Stark observed. We had arrived from Rome on La Dolce Vita Orient Express, Italy's first luxury train, intended to create the glamour and care-free spirit of the 1960s, as portrayed in Fellini's film, with its unforgettable images of Anita Ekberg cavorting in the Trevi Fountain and Marcello Mastroianni driving round the city in a Triumph TR3. Under a full moon we boarded deeply varnished launches to breeze down the Grand Canal to Palazzo Nani Bernardo, one of the few palaces still owned by the family who built it, in this case in the 1550s. A dark candlelit corridor from the landing stage led to glasses of champagne and a courtyard garden with Venice's tallest palm tree. Upstairs, dinner was served at a long table festooned with white flowers, while a harpist played in the window overlooking the canal. The itineraries on La Dolce Vita Orient Express combine the pleasures of scenic routes with quintessentially Italian off-train experiences that would be hard or impossible for a tourist to arrange. The train has been created by Italian luxury brand Arsenale in partnership with Orient Express, and the pampering begins before departure from Rome Ostiense station in the palatial reception area Arsenale has fashioned out of unused spaces. There's a modern twist to the Art Deco feel of the lounge areas and bar, and showers are provided for anyone coming straight from a plane or train via the complimentary transfer service. We all thought the train looked new, but it isn't. Instead, 1970s carriages have been completely rebuilt to the designs of a Milan studio to create 31 cabins, lounge and dining cars, and accommodation for the train's 35 staff. Cabins are masterpieces of compression, but sumo wrestlers wouldn't do well in the space between shower, washbasin and lavatory. Cleverly contrived storage has been created behind one of the opposing mirrored walls, giving an illusion of greater space. Deluxe cabins have a single chair and a sofa which converts into a small double bed but suites, larger by 60 per cent, have a fixed bed, sofa and two chairs. An ambitious programme of eight one- and two-night itineraries covering 14 Italian regions has been devised, most starting and ending in Rome and the most elaborate entailing a transfer of the train across the Straits of Messina on a privately chartered vessel to Sicily for visits to Taormina and Palermo. Some thought two nights was the right duration, others wanted longer, but all agreed that more time at our destinations would have been welcomed, and that will be reflected in tweaks to tours. As invariably happens on hotel trains, guests from half a dozen countries soon bonded in the lounge car, where the bar and piano were placed between an area of sinuous banquettes and seats arranged in twos and fours. The youngest in the surprisingly wide age range were a couple from South Korea, evidently on their honeymoon. Other passengers included an investor who had been successful enough to retire early and become a professional bridge player, and a couple from Delhi in the legal profession. Most of us matched the glad rags of the pianist, saxophonist and singer entertaining us after dinner. The near extinction of proper dining cars on so many national railways has increased the pleasure of eating in one, and we began lunch to views over a glittering bay to the island of Napoleon's first incarceration, Elba. Our creative and high-quality six-course tasting menu with paired wines was created by Heinz Beck, who runs Rome's only three-Michelin-star restaurant, and produced by one of his protégées, Walter Canzio. The train stops for four or five hours every night, and over breakfast it was evident that the world divides into those who can sleep on moving trains, and those who can't – however comfortable the bed. Italy had the wit to retain many of its cross-country railway lines, which often venture into its equivalent of la France profonde, so it was a pleasure to reach Siena by the single-line route from Montepescali through remote countryside. Between woods, an avenue of slender cypresses led to a characteristic Tuscan farmhouse with arcaded veranda on the upper level, surrounded by fields of artichokes, vines and apple orchards. On distant hilltops, a jumble of pale brown houses rising above wooded slopes recalled a turbulent past, when villages were safer on high ground. Another form of endemic rivalry was the subject of our visit by minibus to meet the winning jockey of last year's Palio at his stables and training fields just outside Siena. Remarkably self-effacing for the man who had become the city's hero until the next Palio, Carlo Sanna took us through the Byzantine rules that govern the world's oldest horse race and the highlight of the Siena calendar since 1283. So fierce is the rivalry between the contrada, neighbourhoods traceable back to medieval guilds, that he has to be protected against malfeasance by four bodyguards from the moment he is selected until he enters the bare-back race around the Campo. The three circuits took him just 75 seconds. Before lunch in the kind of unpretentious restaurant that Italy does so well, we had time to admire the jewel in the city's glorious Gothic cathedral, the Carrara marble pulpit sculpted in the 1260s by Giovanni Pisano, with its seven narrative panels of Christ's life and a cast of almost 400 figures. He also sculpted the statues encrusting the lavish façade, which still looks astonishingly crisp and unweathered. Because the train has to dovetail with passenger and freight trains or replenish water tanks, there are occasional longueurs in stations, but that is all part of slow travel. The train never exceeds 75mph, and – unlike on high-speed services – this lack of velocity makes it possible to actually admire the landscapes. As we headed back to Rome, morning mist was rising over the broad plain flanking the Tavere river. A long double avenue of umbrella pines shading a farm track spoke of the forethought of past generations. We skirted the lagoons enclosed by the peninsula of Monte Argentario, where the rackety life of Caravaggio came to an end in 1610, and as we approached Ostiense station, a large section of the Roman walls still stands beside the line. All this luxury and exclusive access comes with a steep price tag, of course: a single-night itinerary costs from £2,662 per person. But strong forward bookings suggest there is healthy demand for this sort of five-star experience, and I was told some celebrities have booked the whole train. Arsenale certainly expects it to continue – a second train will be finished later this year, intended for a Rome to Istanbul journey, among others, and it is building a train for Saudi Arabia with plans for others in Egypt, UAE and Uzbekistan. The sweet life is going global, for those who can afford it. Anthony Lambert was travelling as a guest of La Dolce Vita Orient Express on its Venice and Tuscany tour, which costs from £6,447pp. One-night itineraries start at £2,662pp, departing Rome Ostiense station on multiple dates. Prices includes private transfers from other stations, an airport or a hotel, all tours, meals and drinks.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Travellers rank the world's most disappointing tourist attractions. The top five are in Europe
Some of the most lauded tourist attractions in the world leave travellers distinctly underwhelmed, a new study has found. Luggage storage company Radical Storage analysed 95,352 visitor reviews across 200 of the most visited landmarks to reveal the world's most disappointing tourist attractions. The top five spots were all taken by European sights, a few of which are often considered bucket list-worthy destinations. Inspired by Disneyland's success in America, the country estate of Alton Towers was transformed into a theme park in the 1980s. With 10 themed areas spread across 910 acres, it is the UK's biggest. However, the research found that almost half of the reviews for the Staffordshire-based amusement park featured words indicating a negative experience. For context, the average rate of negative reviews in the study is 10.9 per cent. Alton Towers had the highest percentage of reviews that specifically complained about value for money including misleading ticket information, and expectations to pay for overpriced add-ons such as expensive food and drink or access to different areas of the park. Comments also suggest it's often not the rides that disappoint customers, but the customer service. The Széchenyi Baths and Pool in Hungary's capital Budapest is the largest medicinal bath in Europe and has been a wellness tourism destination since 1913. However, over a third of people who left a review of the baths online reported a less than satisfactory experience. The baths ranked third worst in the crowds and accessibility category (16.8 per cent of all reviews compared to the 4.4 per cent average). Siam Park in the Spanish Tenerife is Europe's biggest water park, opened by the Princess of Thailand Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in 2007. However, a visit to the 'world's best water park' is not universally enjoyable. Reviewers frequently mention the rude staff and accessibility issues. Some reviewers mentioned feeling shamed due to their weight and mentioned the park not being disability-friendly. Overall, nearly a third of reviews had something negative to say about their experience. Planned and built by the magazine Time Out (a British media and hospitality company) in 2014, Time Out Market Lisboa was the company's first venture into food halls. In 2018 the project earned the prestigious Hamburg Foodservice Award - one of the most respected awards in the food-service industry. But according to reviews, things may have taken a turn for the worse since. Over a quarter of reviewers have left underwhelmed or disappointed. It seems the Time Out Market Lisboa is a victim of its own success. The attraction had the greatest percentage of reviews mentioning crowds or access issues (18.4 per cent compared to the 4.4 per cent average). The Trevi Fountain is an iconic Baroque monument in Rome and has been featured in popular films such as Fellini's La Dolce Vita and Wyler's Roman Holiday. Every year, tourists throw an estimated €1 million into the fountain, and a coin tossed into the water is supposed to guarantee a return to Rome in the future. Related Tourists throw over €1 million into Italy's Trevi Fountain each year. Here's what happens to it 'Ugly' pool for coins built next to Rome's Trevi Fountain as city undergoes massive facelift But if you cast a wish into the fountain, you may want to time your visit wisely. After Time Out Market Lisboa, the reviews had the second greatest proportion of people mentioning crowds or accessibility issues. Overall, one in four people had something negative to say about their experience. The fountain was also closed for renovations for part of 2024, which may have contributed to some visitors' disappointment.
The Independent
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Millions of tourists flock to it every year – but how does Rome's Trevi Fountain work?
Rome 's Trevi Fountain is arguably the world's most famous fountain. A historical and cultural icon, the monument has featured in everything from Fellini's La Dolce Vita to Netflix 's Emily in Paris. Each year, millions of visitors push through Rome 's narrow streets to gaze at the towering Titan god flanked by falls cascading into a turquoise pool. Yet, they never get to venture behind Oceanus' back to see what produces the sublime play of water in the baroque masterpiece. Wooden doors on an adjacent street lead to the maneuvering chambers that control the fountain's water supply, coming from the Aqua Virgo — an ancient Roman aqueduct 16 kilometres (10 miles) away. Two electric pumps recycle 126 litres (33 gallons) of water per second while Rome's water management company, ACEA, carefully monitors the flow around the clock. This precise amount is crucial for the movement of water through the statues; a little more or less, and it wouldn't work, said Davide D'Alonzo, ACEA's manager for the area. The modern manoeuvring chamber features metal tanks and lighted panels. In the original, arched chamber, water audibly rushes through a thick pipe and there is a functional, 18th-century hydrometer to gauge the fountain's water level. A large, rudimentary spreadsheet on the wall displays the names of rich Roman families whose homes received water from the chamber long ago; when they fell behind on their payments, their supply was cut off. The chamber's grated windows grant views out over the fountain and its many visitors — all of whom are oblivious to its hidden waterworks. They toss coins over their shoulders into the water, a hopeful gesture based on a legend that it guarantees their return to the eternal city.
