Latest news with #Tuscan
Hamilton Spectator
18 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
For a luxury Italian getaway, enjoy a taste of La Dolce Vita at these places
A raft of new and renovated properties is opening in Italy just in time for the lazy, sun-drenched days of summer. From Tuscany to Puglia, here are a handful of newcomers and thoughtful restorations, including a boutique hotel in a 16th-century Baroque mansion in Lecce and a collection of luxe villas in the mountains of Chianti. Pensione America, Forte dei Marmi, Lucca: Dating to the early 1920s, this one-time Tuscan villa, and then pensione (or boarding house), by the Ligurian Sea, has been transformed into an adults-only beach escape. Where there were once dozens of rooms, there are now just 18 rooms and suites. All have terraces or verandas; bamboo furniture that lends a breezy, seaside feel; and products from Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, the venerable Italian fragrance and personal care brand. If you really want to spread out, consider booking the two-storey casita, La Villetta, which has a garden and a plunge pool. Created by Collezione Em (the hotels of which include the Grand Hotel Minerva in Florence and the Violino d'Oro in Venice), Pensione America is part of the Leading Hotels of the World collection of luxury properties. You can delight in la dolce vita amid the gardens, on a tennis court and in the pool decorated with Sicilian tiles. Go for a stroll or ride on one of the free bikes to the nearby beaches for which the area is known. Begin each morning at the hotel's restaurant and indulge in sweet crepes or eggs in tomato sauce. At lunchtime, you'll find a menu inspired by the surrounding waters, with seafood dishes, such as ravioli with shellfish and spaghetti with arselle (little clams). The restaurant is also open for dinner. Prices from 1,600 euros (about $2,500) a night. La Roqqa, Porto Ercole, Grosseto: On the harbour of Porto Ercole on Tuscany's Argentario peninsula (a drive of about one-and-a-half to two hours from Rome), La Roqqa underwent a three-year renovation and is now a 50-room-and-suite boutique hotel designed by the Milan-based Palomba Serafini Associati studio. Bold lighting and furniture from the 1960s and '70s add nostalgic touches to the common areas, while many of the minimalist guest rooms are awash in the colours of the surrounding land and sea. Suites, in contrast, sport lighter hues. All rooms have outdoor spaces with views of hills and trees or the sea. But why just look from afar when you can get up close? Stretch out under an umbrella at Isolotto Beach Club, part of La Roqqa, on a sandy stretch of beach amid the otherwise rocky coast. Take in the Mediterranean air by hiking, cycling or horseback-riding. Treat yourself to a massage or a facial, or spend some time in the sauna. The hotel, part of Miramis Hospitality, has its own yacht that can take you to nearby islands, such as Giglio and Giannutri, and can arrange experiences such as lessons in wine-tasting and cooking. If you'd rather someone else did the cooking, order seafood by the water at Isolotto Beach Club, or head over to the hotel's Scirocco restaurant for family-style Tuscan dishes (and wines), including homemade pastas and dumplings such as gnudi with sheep ricotta and nettle, cacio e pepe sauce and fermented lime. Watch day turn to night at the Scirocco Rooftop Bar, where you can sip a cocktail — the hotel has several that it says were inspired by Caravaggio paintings — as you gaze out over the Corsini Botanical Garden and the harbour. Prices from 380 euros (just less than $600) a night. Palazzo Zimara, Lecce: The historical centre of Lecce, in the Apulia region, is rife with baroque buildings, including this boutique hotel in a limestone mansion that dates to 1557. After a four-year renovation, the property is now an 18-room-and-suite getaway that mixes contemporary design with vaulted ceilings and graceful arches. The rooms are elegant and spare, with 18th-century wooden doors, and each nods to the building's past, with different touches, including stone walls, brick-and-lime floors, and walls adorned with frescoes. For a special occasion, book the more-than-1,000-square-foot Suite Zimara, with a balcony, two bathrooms and your own hammam, Jacuzzi and fireplace. Palazzo Zimara is in the heart of the city, so you can go out for a meal or dine al fresco at the hotel's La Bocca restaurant. In the mornings, sip caffè leccese, iced coffee sweetened with almond syrup, and sample pastries and local cheeses. Later, try Italian dishes that change with the seasons, such as a misticanza salad with peach, walnut and cocoa; and croaker fish, puttanesca style. Unwind with a glass of wine while people-watching from the terrace at Radino Wine Bistro. The hotel, part of the D'Angelo Family Collection, a family-run hospitality group, has plans to open a rooftop bar next year. Prices from 240 euros ($375) a night. The Social Hub, Rome: Part of a vast, new complex in the capital that includes coworking and event spaces as well as a soon-to-open public park, the contemporary Social Hub Rome hotel is near the Termini train station in the San Lorenzo neighbourhood, which makes it a potential jumping off point for trips outside the city. On the site of a former railway customs house, in an area buzzing with students, the hotel offers 396 affordable rooms for both short and extended stays. The Social Hub, which is based in Amsterdam, operates 21 hotels in Europe and, as its name suggests, aims to bring locals and tourists together in hubs that may include hotels, gyms and other spaces. At the Rome location, guests can attend free community events such as yoga and craft workshops. (Details are on the site's Instagram page.) The rooms, all with desks, have a no-fuss youthful vibe. Stop into the all-day restaurant and bar on the ground floor for dishes, such as rabbit porchetta or fettuccine with smoked butter and Parmigiano-Reggiano, along with a glass of organic wine. Or grab a slice at Berberè Pizzeria Roma San Lorenzo, which is part of the complex. In early June there will also be a rooftop pool and bar where you can order shareable plates. A 24-hour gym is scheduled to open then as well. Prices from 90 euros a night. (If you're visiting for more than 14 days, you can book an extended stay in a studio or an apartment with a kitchenette and weekly cleaning.) A&K Private Estates: The Chianti Collection, Chianti region: This summer, luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent is rolling out five estates for families and groups seeking plush villas in Chianti, the Tuscan region beloved for its mountains and wine. The properties, available May 31, include renovated farmhouses and wine estates with romantic views of hills, olive groves and vineyards. Your trip begins at the airport, where a private car will pick you up. Rates include a case of Tuscan wine and a hamper of food — think homemade bread, local olives and cheese — as well as breakfast, housekeeping and experiences, which include welcome and farewell dinners, a wine-tasting on the estate (or in the winery on your property), a cooking class with — who else? — an Italian chef and a photography session, as well as private return airport transfers. Ranging from five to 10 bedrooms, the estates have amenities such as pools, outdoor kitchens, gyms, wine cellars and a concierge who can book restaurants and private chefs, and arrange car rentals and spa appointments. Prices start at around $75,550 a week for up to 10 people at Villa Pianvecchio, a five-bedroom farmhouse on a wine estate. (Split among 10 people, the sum is not quite as intimidating.) This article originally appeared in The New York Times .
The Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Tennis-Musetti plays game of contrasts at French Open
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 30, 2025 Italy's Lorenzo Musetti celebrates after winning his third round match against Argentina's Mariano Navone REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes PARIS (Reuters) - Lorenzo Musetti has always been a player of contrasts — a mercurial talent whose beautiful, fluid game can light up a court one moment and unravel the next. Now, the Italian craftsman, seeded eighth at the French Open, concedes those contradictions are not just on the surface, but deeply rooted in his personality. After a tough outing at Roland Garros, the 23-year-old spoke openly about the internal battle that shapes both his tennis and his identity, describing himself as a man caught between instinct and discipline, sensitivity and grit. "I'm a very, very sensitive guy, and I get carried away by my emotions," Musetti told reporters. "Sometimes that instinct makes me do things on court I later hate watching back. But other times, that same instinct is what brings out the beauty in my game — the talent people talk about." The Italian's Tuscan hometown of Carrara, known for its marble quarries and for being one of the few places where the sea meets the Alps, mirrors this duality. "In Carrara, we say we're as tough as marble. Today didn't go the way I hoped, but I'm learning, and I'm trying to be both things — to weather storms like the sea, and to be as hard as marble when I need to be," he said after fighting from a set down to reach the fourth round. Musetti said that for much of his career, he's been accused of lacking the fight to match his flair — a perception he doesn't entirely deny. "People said I gave up too easily, that I didn't get my hands dirty. And for a while, that was partly true. But anyone who's followed me since I was a junior knows I've always had the will to suffer and fight, even if I complained too much along the way," he said. Now, as he matures on and off the court, the soon-to-be father of two acknowledges that learning to reconcile these two sides — the instinctive artist and the hardened competitor — is the key to his future success. "That double personality is part of who I am. The challenge is knowing when to listen to each side," he explained. Musetti is about to be tested for a place in the quarter-finals as he meets another mercurial player in Denmark's Holger Rune. (Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Musetti plays game of contrasts at French Open
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 30, 2025 Italy's Lorenzo Musetti celebrates after winning his third round match against Argentina's Mariano Navone REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes PARIS - Lorenzo Musetti has always been a player of contrasts — a mercurial talent whose beautiful, fluid game can light up a court one moment and unravel the next. Now, the Italian craftsman, seeded eighth at the French Open, concedes those contradictions are not just on the surface, but deeply rooted in his personality. After a tough outing at Roland Garros, the 23-year-old spoke openly about the internal battle that shapes both his tennis and his identity, describing himself as a man caught between instinct and discipline, sensitivity and grit. "I'm a very, very sensitive guy, and I get carried away by my emotions," Musetti told reporters. "Sometimes that instinct makes me do things on court I later hate watching back. But other times, that same instinct is what brings out the beauty in my game — the talent people talk about." The Italian's Tuscan hometown of Carrara, known for its marble quarries and for being one of the few places where the sea meets the Alps, mirrors this duality. "In Carrara, we say we're as tough as marble. Today didn't go the way I hoped, but I'm learning, and I'm trying to be both things — to weather storms like the sea, and to be as hard as marble when I need to be," he said after fighting from a set down to reach the fourth round. Musetti said that for much of his career, he's been accused of lacking the fight to match his flair — a perception he doesn't entirely deny. "People said I gave up too easily, that I didn't get my hands dirty. And for a while, that was partly true. But anyone who's followed me since I was a junior knows I've always had the will to suffer and fight, even if I complained too much along the way," he said. Now, as he matures on and off the court, the soon-to-be father of two acknowledges that learning to reconcile these two sides — the instinctive artist and the hardened competitor — is the key to his future success. "That double personality is part of who I am. The challenge is knowing when to listen to each side," he explained. Musetti is about to be tested for a place in the quarter-finals as he meets another mercurial player in Denmark's Holger Rune. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Reuters
2 days ago
- General
- Reuters
Musetti plays game of contrasts at French Open
PARIS, May 30 (Reuters) - Lorenzo Musetti has always been a player of contrasts — a mercurial talent whose beautiful, fluid game can light up a court one moment and unravel the next. Now, the Italian craftsman, seeded eighth at the French Open, concedes those contradictions are not just on the surface, but deeply rooted in his personality. After a tough outing at Roland Garros, the 23-year-old spoke openly about the internal battle that shapes both his tennis and his identity, describing himself as a man caught between instinct and discipline, sensitivity and grit. "I'm a very, very sensitive guy, and I get carried away by my emotions," Musetti told reporters. "Sometimes that instinct makes me do things on court I later hate watching back. But other times, that same instinct is what brings out the beauty in my game — the talent people talk about." The Italian's Tuscan hometown of Carrara, known for its marble quarries and for being one of the few places where the sea meets the Alps, mirrors this duality. "In Carrara, we say we're as tough as marble. Today didn't go the way I hoped, but I'm learning, and I'm trying to be both things — to weather storms like the sea, and to be as hard as marble when I need to be," he said after fighting from a set down to reach the fourth round. Musetti said that for much of his career, he's been accused of lacking the fight to match his flair — a perception he doesn't entirely deny. "People said I gave up too easily, that I didn't get my hands dirty. And for a while, that was partly true. But anyone who's followed me since I was a junior knows I've always had the will to suffer and fight, even if I complained too much along the way," he said. Now, as he matures on and off the court, the soon-to-be father of two acknowledges that learning to reconcile these two sides — the instinctive artist and the hardened competitor — is the key to his future success. "That double personality is part of who I am. The challenge is knowing when to listen to each side," he explained. Musetti is about to be tested for a place in the quarter-finals as he meets another mercurial player in Denmark's Holger Rune.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Francesco Farioli in line to take over at Fiorentina
After rumours of a possible departure for some time, Fiorentina have officially said goodbye to coach Raffaele Palladino and his technical staff. One of the most striking candidates mentioned to succeed Palladino is former Ajax coach Francesco Farioli. The 41-year-old Palladino leaves after just one season in Florence. The Tuscany side announced the news with a concise press release in which it was announced that the collaboration had ended 'by mutual agreement'. Advertisement At the beginning of this season, Palladino signed a contract until the summer of 2027. At the beginning of May, that contract was extended by another year, as Fiorentina activated a clause in the deal. It's been an extension that hasn't lasted long, and the club and the coach part ways just 25 days later. The Italian media are now speculating about La Viola's successor. Corriere dello Sport are pushing veteran Stefano Pioli forward. The current Al Nassr coach was already in charge of the group at Fiorentina (between 2017 and 2019) and is said to be open to a return to the Serie A. Daniele De Rossi, without a club since his dismissal at AS Roma, and Marco Baroni of Lazio are also mentioned. And then there is Francesco Farioli. The young Tuscan coach, who led Ajax to second place in the Eredivisie this season, was spotted in a restaurant in the centre of Florence on Thursday evening. Farioli has also been linked to Glasgow Rangers. GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield
