The Italian Riviera: Where Golden Sunshine, Azure Seas and Chic Sophistication Frolic
One of our favorite regions of Italy is the Italian Riviera, and we find ourselves returning again and again. The dazzling Italian Riviera is situated in the region of Liguria, in northwestern Italy. It stretches along the beautiful Ligurian Sea, beginning near the French border at Ventimiglia and extending to the Tuscan border near La Spezia. Nestled between the sea and the rugged hills, this iconic coastline is famed for its Mediterranean charm, colorful villages, and idyllic landscapes.
Portofino Fall 2024
The Italian Riviera
One of our favorite regions of Italy is the Italian Riviera, and we find ourselves returning again and again.
The dazzling Italian Riviera is situated in the region of Liguria, in northwestern Italy. It stretches along the beautiful Ligurian Sea, beginning near the French border at Ventimiglia and extending to the Tuscan border near La Spezia. Nestled between the sea and the rugged hills, this iconic coastline is famed for its Mediterranean charm, colorful villages, and idyllic landscapes.
The Italian Riviera is home to a range of captivating towns, each with its unique charm.
Here are some of the highlights:
San Remo - Famous for its music festival, flower market, and elegant casino.
Santa Margherita Ligure - A lively town with a lovely marina and promenade.
Portofino - Known for its upscale vibe, luxurious harbor, and pastel-hued waterfront (not to be confused with Positano on the Amalfi Coast)
Cinque Terre - A cluster of five picturesque villages—Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.
Porto Venere - A UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its stunning coastline and historic sites.
Ventimiglia - Located near the French border, it offers vibrant markets and stunning beaches.
Genoa is Liguria's capital and a historic port city with a rich cultural heritage.
Portofino
This was our second visit to picturesque, sophisticated, and chic Portofino. The town is a magnet for artists, celebrities, and travelers seeking its unique blend of natural beauty and cultural richness. Key attractions include the iconic Piazzetta, the Church of San Giorgio with breathtaking views, and Castello Brown, a historic fortress surrounded by hanging gardens. Portofino is easily accessible by boat, ferry, or smaller cruise ships.
Is it Portofino or Positano?? When I collaborate with my clients on their preferred itinerary, I find that these two coastal villages are frequently confused. Portofino lies on the Italian Riviera on the Northwestern Coast of Italy, while Positano is the postcard-perfect jewel of the Amalfi Coast in the southern part of Italy. Portofino is typically less crowded than Positano.
Santa Margherita Ligure
For visiting the Italian Riviera, I highly recommend a stay in Santa Margherita Ligure. On our fall 2024 visit, we enjoyed several nights at the Grand Hotel Miramare. Highlights were the wonderful views from the seafront suites, warm hospitality, easy walking to the historic center, and easy ferry access. The fresh, local cuisine was unforgettable!
San Remo
I’ll never forget waking up in San Remo for my first international luxury travel event, back in 2018, to brilliant blue skies, golden sunshine, and the azure seas of the Italian Riviera at the charming Grand Hotel San Remo. I felt like I had died and gone to heaven with these glorious views!
San Remo is a charming coastal town on the Italian Riviera, renowned for its mild climate, lush gardens, and vibrant cultural scene. It has a rich history dating back to Roman times and is often associated with its Belle Époque elegance, evident in its grand villas and Art Nouveau architecture. San Remo's connection to flowers is also showcased in the annual Corso Fiorito (in March), a vibrant floral parade featuring intricately decorated floats made entirely of fresh flowers. It's a delightful spectacle that draws visitors from near and far.
A Sunny Visit to San Remo - the City of Flowers - On the Italian Riviera
How I Survived Without My Luggage for 6 Days in Italy
Porto Venere
Portovenere, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is known for its stunning beauty, historic architecture, and its location on the Gulf of Poets, also known as the Gulf of La Spezia. It's particularly famous for its picturesque seaside village with colorful buildings, ancient churches, a medieval castle, and nearby islands. The town also offers a unique dining experience with fresh seafood, pesto dishes, and local wines.
We spent an afternoon here on a cruise (that’s our ship in the harbor). Despite the fall showers we were charmed by the winding streets, cozy dining spots and lovely views.
For more info on the stunning Italian Riviera
and to book your next trip Contact us!
Ciao!
Heather & Scott
Envision: The Anticipation of Travel
I’ve read that half the pleasure of travel is the anticipation. I’m in that phase now with my upcoming solo trip to Italy. I find myself envisioning the sights, sounds, tastes, and even the rose gold hues of sunset over the Arno River bathing Florence. I can almost taste the cacio e pepe (we made it in a cooking class in Tuscany) and the gelato di caffe’. I’m checking the weather report daily (mostly highs in the upper 60s) to envision my daily clothing needs and am fully packed early for this trip.
“When you plan your next vacation, it can create positive emotions and expectations. If you have a vacation next week, this week you’ll probably be feeling better.” —Chun-Chu Chen, PhD
I’ve read that half the pleasure of travel is the anticipation. I’m in that phase now with my upcoming solo trip to Italy. I find myself envisioning the sights, sounds, tastes, and even the rose gold hues of sunset over the Arno River bathing Florence. I can almost taste the cacio e pepe (we made it in a cooking class in Tuscany) and the gelato di caffe’. I’m checking the weather report daily (mostly highs in the upper 60s) to envision my daily clothing needs and am fully packed early for this trip. Early packing definitely eases the pre-travel stress. Of course, it’s a challenge to pack for business casual/dressy events in a fashionable city like Florence, as well as explorations and adventures on the Italian Riviera. Once that suitcase is finally closed, it is what it is and I let it go.
This will be a business + pleasure trip for my Curated Travel. I’ve been invited to attend a luxury travel event in Florence, DUCO, followed by a 6-day small group trip exploring Lake Maggiore, Lucca, and Forte dei Marmi on the Italian Riviera. The itinerary looks dazzling.
““Everything about Florence seems to be colored with a mild violet, like diluted wine.”
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With so many of my clients traveling to Italy, I always appreciate the opportunity to explore and experience the best that Italy has to offer. It is also a perk to connect in real-time with my partners from Italy and around the world. These relationships are what enable us to make our client travel seamless and memorable. The truth is, this type of business travel is also a pleasure. And yes, sometimes I even wonder, “Pinch me, am I dreaming” (how do you say that in Italian)? The travel business is my second career and I couldn’t possibly be enjoying it more.
What are you envisioning for your next travels?
You can follow along with my Italian adventures below and on Instagram here.
Grazie Mille for being here!
Heather
Lake Garda: Mercurial, Magical and Idyllic
Arriving at Villa Cortine Palace Hotel is an event in and of itself. Our driver whisked us through majestic gates, past antique statuary and formal gardens to this stately, historic property. It sits on 12 acres on the peninsula just north of Sirmione and is bordered on both sides by Lake Garda. This location yields the most amazing lake views from all angles.
Here I am! Popping back in with a blog post on my trip to Italy back in April. It’s hard to believe I’ve already returned to Europe for two weeks since I last posted. Needless to say, I’m catching up and am excited to have some new favorite destinations to share!
Here’s the scoop: Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy, was one of my absolute favorite stays of this trip. I was invited to visit by the wonderful team at Villa Cortine Palace Hotel as a pre-stay before the Travelux luxury travel event in Venice. Trust me, it was an unforgettable experience.
Arriving at Villa Cortine Palace Hotel is an event in and of itself. Our driver whisked us through ornate gates, past antique statuary and formal gardens to this stately, luxurious and historic property. It sits on 12 acres on the peninsula just north of charming Sirmione and is bordered on both sides by Lake Garda rimmed with majestic mountains.
As you can imagine, this location yields the most amazing lake views from all angles.
As we pulled up to the hotel, I was greeted by the staff and our host, General Manager Giacomo Grossi, with a welcome drink and escorted to my spacious, luxurious suite where gifts and goodies awaited.
This is a tour of my lake view suite. The view is stunning as is the Murano glass chandelier!
The next day, graced with sunshine, a scenic boat ride on Lake Garda and a festive wine tasting at Contithun were on the itinerary.
Our select group of international travel advisors was invited to experience the charms of Villa Cortine Palace. We enjoyed luxury accommodations, private tours of the historic hotel, grounds and gardens, gourmet dining with impeccable service at Il Molo, cocktails at Maria Callas bar & bistro, and enjoyed a wonderful time together thanks to our gracious host, Giacomo Grossi.
As you can imagine, we were all thrilled to be traveling in Europe again, and to be here was magical.
A tour of the historic Villa Cortine Palace Hotel
This video is a peek of the historical section of the hotel by our host, Giacomo Grossi.
Not only is the rich history of the property celebrated, but there are also modern touches like the luxurious linens, designer bath products, and the oh-so-chic beach club and dock.
My thanks to Giacomo Grossi for the fabulous stay and the introduction to magical Lake Garda.
I can hardly wait to introduce this property to my Italy-loving clients.
To learn more about travel to Italy contact us.
Up next: Venice
Grazie Mille!
Heather
Milan: Modern, Vibrant and Stylish (with Classic Soul)
The first stop on my long-awaited return trip to Italy, for a luxury travel event, was Milan. Though I have traveled through Milan, with stops at Malpensa airport and the train station, I have never ventured out to explore the heart of the city. On this trip, I blocked out time to recover from jet lag and acquaint myself with this vibrant city for a couple of days. And yes, on this trip my luggage arrived with me!
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Milan
The first stop on my long-awaited return trip to Italy, for a luxury travel event, was Milan. Though I have traveled through Milan, with stops at Malpensa airport and the train station, I have never ventured out to explore the heart of the city. On this trip, I blocked out time to recover from jet lag and acquaint myself with this vibrant city for a couple of days. And yes, on this trip, my luggage arrived with me!
My Fitbit celebrated the 16,000+ steps in one day (not my norm!) which is proof there is much to see in this historical city.
Milan is a delicious and fashionable mix of modern design and classic charm.
My Stay: The iconic Grand Hotel et de Milan. They had me at prosecco and potato chips (a delicious pairing!) in my suite upon arrival. What could be wrong?
Located in the historic city center, between the Duomo and the shopping district, it couldn’t be more convenient for exploring. This luxurious property Is steeped in history and has been owned by the same family since 1863.
Visit: Piazza del Duomo, The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Teatro Alla Scala (theater), Brera District, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II for high end shopping.
A number of movie stars, legendary opera singers and lauded authors have lived at the Grand Hotel et de Milan with suites named in their honor. The most famous of these is opera legend Verdi who was in residence for years and passed away in his suite at the hotel.
My thanks to Andrea, Laura and the staff at Grand Hotel et de Milan for a lovely stay, tour and treats. I’m looking forward to my clients enjoying this fabulous property in the heart of Milan. Contact me to learn more.
Up next: Lake Garda, Venice, Naples, the island of Ischia!
Thanks for following along!
Ciao!
Heather
Bravo! Italy is finally back on my horizon!
After numerous canceled trips over the last 2 1/2 years, Italy is finally back on my horizon! I’m beyond excited to be invited to attend Travelux, a fully hosted luxury travel event in Venice, hosted by Nebe Club. If you’ve followed this blog for several years you may remember that I attended this same event at Lake Como in 2018. Yes, that’s the one where I had all the fancy events and my luggage didn’t arrive for 6 full days! Travelux is an exceptional experience and I found it to be a life-changer for my travel business.
After numerous canceled trips over the last 2 1/2 years, Italy is finally back on my horizon! I’m beyond excited to be invited to attend Travelux, a fully hosted luxury travel event in Venice, by Nebe Club. If you’ve followed this blog for several years you may remember that I attended this same event at Lake Como in 2018. Yes, that’s the one where I had all the fancy events and my luggage didn’t arrive for 6 full days! Travelux is an exceptional experience and I found it to be a life-changer for my travel business.
ON THE ITINERARY:
2 nights in Milan at the Grand Hotel et Milan.
Next, I’m off to catch a private transfer to Lake Garda for a few days of luxury, charm, and exploration at the Villa Cortine Palace Hotel in Sirmione.
Another private transfer and I’m off to Venice and a stay at the Venetian classic beauty of Baglioni Hotel Luna for the three full days of Travelux events.
JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa is the location for the official Travelux event. I will meet with international luxury travel partners and brands, a few of whom I already partner with for Curated Travel clients. As opposed to my first Travelux event at Lake Como, I now have friends and colleagues who will also be attending and that makes it infinitely more fun. On the menu are one-to-one meetings, gourmet meals, cocktail parties, a villa garden tour, boat rides around the islands and so much more.
Following Travelux I’ll train to Naples for a post-Travelux event starting with a stay at The Britannique Naples, a walking street food tour, a tour of the ruins of Pompei, seaside dining (to include the famous pizza Napoletana to be sure).
The final stop on my trip to Italy is the island of Ischia. Ischia has long been near the top of my wander list for Italy so I’m excited to visit for a few days and explore. Following a short ferry ride from Naples, my stay at Hotel Regina Isabella will include alfresco sea-side dinners, cocktails on the terrace, spa treatments, visits to the beach club, and even a vintage tour of Ischia in a Piaggio Ape car (Mr. C.T. will be jealous of this one!;).
This and that:
My Trip to Travelux at Lake Como 2018 (Start Here)
For this trip, I’ll be packing much smarter with a ‘capsule collection’ of necessities and multi-use items in my carry-on bag. To learn more about having no luggage for six days: How I Survived Without My Luggage for Six Days on a Luxury Trip to Italy
A few notes on Prepping for an International Getaway
FOLLOW ALONG on INSTAGRAM:
Curated Travel
At Curated Travel we have so many clients headed to Europe in 2022! I’m excited to be the first to lead the way for my clients traveling to the British Isles (for an epic 79-day trip!), to Italy, France, Scandinavia, Portugal, and Greece this season.
By the way, we still have space available for you to join us on the Greek Islands Cruise in October. Learn more here.
Until next time. Ciao!
Heather
With Love from Italia!
I wish I could say I’m writing to you from Italy today but, no, not just yet. Last week I spent three glorious days connecting with brand partners in Italy through Duco Virtuale, an invitational luxury travel network in Italy. It was wonderful to connect on one-to-one zooms with old and new Italian friends in the industry. With all the downtime this last year, hotels and resorts have refurbished, refreshed, created new protocols, and reimagined unique ways to experience la dolce vita. They are counting the days until they can welcome Americans again and we have much to look forward to.
I wish I could say I’m writing to you from Italy today but, no, not just yet. Last week I spent three glorious days connecting with brand partners in Italy through Duco Virtuale, an invitational luxury travel network in Italy. It was wonderful to connect on one-to-one zooms with old and new Italian friends in the industry. With all the downtime this last year, hotels and resorts have refurbished, refreshed, created new protocols, and reimagined unique ways to experience la dolce vita. They are counting the days until they can welcome Americans again and we have much to look forward to.
Take a peek at some of the tantalizing views I experienced on zoom with Duco Virtuale.
After 3 days of catching up with travel industry friends in Italy, I’m now catching up with my clients who are booking now for travel later. It’s exciting to have travel on the horizon again, isn’t it?
I will let some of the stunning images I enjoyed with brand partners satisfy your senses for Italy today.
Contact us when the time is right for you to start planning your next dream getaway here.
Images: credit Duco Virtuale and brand partners
