A Sunny Visit to San Remo, the 'City of Flowers', on the Italian Riviera (Part One)
The first stop on my trip to Italy was an invitation to the Royal Hotel San Remo on the Italian Riviera, just 10 miles east of the French border in west Liguria. Following a red-eye flight from San Francisco, I arrived at the airport in Nice, France, and was driven to the elegant and classic Royal Hotel San Remo. I was introduced to my luxurious suite and joined the formal dinner in progress where I met a wonderful group of fellow travelers from the luxury travel industry.
Lovely San Remo
The first stop on my trip to Italy was an invitation to the Royal Hotel San Remo on the Italian Riviera, just 10 miles east of the French border in west Liguria. Following a red-eye flight from San Francisco, I arrived at the airport in Nice, France, and was driven to the elegant and classic Royal Hotel San Remo. I was introduced to my luxurious suite and joined the formal dinner in progress where I met a wonderful group of fellow travelers from the luxury travel industry.
Click on image below for video of views of the Italian Riviera from my balcony at Royal Hotel San Remo
The next day dawned bright and clear with stunning sea views beckoning on the balcony of my suite. Following a leisurely breakfast, our group was invited to a food & wine walking tour of San Remo. Vibrant flowers were everywhere and showcased the iconic beauty of the sun-splashed Italian Riviera.
Espresso, gelato and a local wine tasting followed our walking tour. Next, we headed back to the hotel for a 2-hour, 4-course lunch. #livingladolcevita
The dining options at Royal Hotel San Remo are impressive. Each lunch and dinner brought multiple courses of fresh salads and vegetables, fish, unique pasta creations and meats dishes. The flavor combinations are a nod to local Northern Italian cuisine. Many of the plates were adorned with edible flowers from the region. Prosecco toasts kicked off each meal and wait staff kept our glasses topped off with local white and red wines. Service was always impeccable in the dining room by the handsome Italian wait staff.
Even a glass of wine to the suite was served with potato chips ( a lovely combination as it turns out) and the handsome smile was a bonus.
As you may already know, my luggage did not arrive with me at the airport in Nice. This was a bit of a panic, knowing I was scheduled for business events and 9 nights of cocktail attire for formal dinners and parties during my trip. I'll share more on how I handled 6 days without luggage in an upcoming post. Let's just say, I was happy to see that track pants are chic in Italy since they were the only pants I had with me when I arrived from the airport.
My thanks to the Royal Hotel San Remo managers and staff for the beautiful suite, gourmet dining, spa treatment, food and wine tour and hospitality during my visit.
First stop, the Italian Riviera, next up ---- Lake Como.
Ciao!
Heather
For more on the luxurious Royal Hotel San Remo. If you are considering a trip to the colorful Italian Riviera, contact me to get started today.
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An Afternoon in Picturesque Varenna on the Shores of Lake Como, Italy
There are places you stumble upon while traveling that simply need no explanation. On a hazy summer afternoon, we arrived by boat, from Bellagio. Between flashes of sunlight, bursts of showers, and a moody mist that wound around our afternoon, we experienced Varenna, on the shores of Lake Como. These images speak for themselves. Click on the gallery to open a slide show of charming Varenna.
Varenna, on the shores of Lake Como, Italy
There are places you stumble upon while traveling that simply need no explanation. On a hazy summer afternoon, we arrived by boat, from Bellagio. Between flashes of sunlight, bursts of showers, and a moody mist that wound around our afternoon, we experienced Varenna, on the shores of Lake Como. These images speak for themselves. Click on the gallery to open a slide show of charming Varenna.
When the skies opens up and you find yourself drenched like we were, seek shelter under a covered patio. Order up some yummy comfort food, like this Northern Italian style risotto, enjoy the decadence of the chocolate mousse and enjoy that chilled bottle of sauvignon blanc. We lingered at this lakeside restaurant, enjoying the view, our conversations and making some new friends on this cozy afternoon at Varenna.
Varenna was our last stop in Italy on our summer holiday.
Next stop-- PARIS!
An Afternoon in Beguiling Bellagio on Lake Como
One afternoon Scott and I pointed our rented Peugeot northeast, from our villa in Lezzeno, to beautiful Bellagio for the afternoon. Known for grand hotels, elegant villas, voluptuous flower boxes and stunning views from the steep staircases of the city center. Bellagio is beguiling.
One afternoon Scott and I pointed our rented Peugeot northeast, from our villa in Lezzeno, to beautiful Bellagio for the afternoon. Known for grand hotels, elegant villas, voluptuous flower boxes and stunning views from the steep staircases of the city center. Bellagio is beguiling. Lake Como, in the Northern mountains of the Lombardy region, is breathtakingly beautiful with a chameleon microclimate for weather. In my earlier post of our stay in a lakeside villa, I mentioned the quick changes from cool and breezy, to rain showers, to brilliant sunshine within the space of an afternoon. It's all part of daily life at Lake Como and allows for these showy gardens and flower displays. On this afternoon in July, we appreciated the cool temps and brief rain showers as a break from the summer sun. We did stop to buy an umbrella at a nearby boutique which came in handy once we boarded a ferry later in the afternoon.
Bellagio is beguiling
If you are fortunate to find yourself in Bellagio for an afternoon, enjoy lunch at a tasty trattoria, people watch the colorful locals and tourists, climb the stone steps to pastel framed lake views and plot your next destination on Lake Como. It's easy to access other picturesque ports of call from the ferry center, or better yet, a water taxi.
Learn more about Bellagio on Trip Advisor.
To book your unforgettable trip to Lake Como contact me at Curated Travel.
Our Lakeside Stay at a Villa in Lezzeno, at Lake Como, Italy
If the Amalfi Coast is shimmering pastels and Siena is rich, brushstrokes in oils, then Lake Como is bathed in watercolors mingling shadows with light. The views of mountain, sky and water are made chameleon by the microclimates in the Lombardy region of the Italian Alps. From sunny and brilliant to dark and stormy, punctuated with raindrops, no wonder this moody vista is considered magical to those who visit.
Our Lakeside Stay in a Villa at Lezzeno, Lake Como
If the Amalfi Coast is shimmering pastels and Siena is rich, brushstrokes in oils, then Lake Como is bathed in watercolors mingling shadows with light. The views of mountain, sky and water are made chameleon by the microclimates in the Lombardy region of the Italian Alps. From sunny and brilliant to dark and stormy, punctuated with raindrops, no wonder this moody vista is considered magical to those who visit.
For the third stop on our summer tour in Italy, Scott and I rented a car for the 90-minute drive to Lake Como from the train station in Milan. Leaving the dry heat of Siena behind we could already feel the coolness of the verdant mountains and cerulean lake. We rented the top floor of a villa in Lezzeno on the eastern shore of the western arm of the wishbone-shaped Lake Como.
We arrived at our top floor villa on a Sunday, late afternoon, and found that the small local market had closed early for the day. We were grateful that the owners of the villa left a welcome basket of pasta, sauce, crackers and chocolates which we used to create our first dinner lakeside at Lake Como. We added a bottle of 2012 Ar.Pe.Pe Rosso di Valtellina from our stash for a cozy evening watching the lake from the terrace.
As you may imagine, life at Lake Como is all about lazy days, leisurely walks, boat rides, lakeside lunches, tours of elaborate villas and lush gardens. Evenings are filled with lakeside cocktails, mouth-watering dinners in the moonlight that extend until the wee hours. In this petite villa we envisioned staying for months: reading, writing, photographing, creating, cooking from the local bounty and viewing lake life-- thoroughly living the rhythm of Lake Como.
If you wondered if we spotted George and Amal Clooney while visiting Lake Como, our invitation may have gotten lost in the mail. We did spot George's charming lakeside villa, with his white speed boat docked in front. Since they tend to summer at Lake Como - and who wouldn't? - the boat parked out front 'seems to indicate' that the Clooneys were home on this beautiful day in July. We do know they were in residence at Lake Como for fourth of July the week before our visit.
Our Stay in a Luminous Apartment in Centro Storico of Siena, Italy
Thick stone walls create a sense of velvety silence and the stone stairway, leading up to the second-floor apartment, is worn with footsteps of the ages.
There are so many options of where to stay while traveling that it makes the decision all the more challenging, but also intriguing. I love to pour over the images and descriptions of each destination under consideration; our trip to Italy was no different. After months of flirting with various lodging ideas - a villa in the countryside perhaps - we happened upon a charming apartment in the historic city center of Siena. The second-floor apartment is housed in a former monastery and it looked like the right place for us.
As with most of our travels, Scott and I crafted what we wanted our experience to be in Siena. We wanted an authentic, medieval city living situation in the heart of the city.
The Luminous Apartment in Siena
Thick stone walls create a sense of velvety silence and the stone stairway, leading up to the second-floor apartment, is worn with footsteps of the ages.
There are so many options of where to stay while traveling that it makes the decision all the more challenging, but also intriguing. I love to pour over the images and descriptions of each destination under consideration; our trip to Italy was no different. After months of flirting with various lodging ideas - a villa in the countryside perhaps - we happened upon a charming apartment in the historic city center of Siena. The second-floor apartment is housed in a former monastery and it looked like the right place for us.
As with most of our travels, Scott and I crafted what we wanted our experience to be in Siena. We wanted an authentic, medieval city living situation in the heart of the city center. We wanted thick stone walls, rough-hewn beamed ceilings and cheery window boxes gracing the windows. We wanted to scour the markets for fresh, simple fare and create a few authentic Italian dishes in our own kitchen. We wanted to bring in fresh loaves of bread and slather it with jams from the countryside. We wanted to bring in fruit forward bottles of wine and toast to living 'la dolce vita' while we nibbled at the fresh cheeses from the shop on the corner.
I, secretly, wanted to hang our laundry out on the line from the window, just like the locals.
If these walls could talk they would have a rainbow of colorful stories to tell.
Upon our arrival in Siena, having left the Amalfi Coast that morning, we were warmly greeted by the owner, Anna, who showed us around the 3 bedroom/2 bath apartment on the second floor. Anna sat us down to review notes she has prepared for her guests. She shared tips on where to dine, where to shop and what sites to see, along with a map on how to get around. Anna and her husband, Franco, could not have been more helpful during our stay. Their apartment is on the floor below and the pride of ownership is evident in how they tend to their guests. They described a bit of their lifestyle in Siena to us and, believe me, Anna and Franco have learned to live life Italian style and it shows.
A video tour of our apartment with a surprisingly messy ending.
From the website description of the apartment:
About the owner: Anna is a physical therapist who works in Siena and loves her work. Franco is her husband and is a banker in Siena. They love welcoming guests from all over the world, especially people who are curious about Italian culture.
Why the Owner Chose Siena, Siena, Italy: This is the ideal apartment for exploring the gorgeous Gothic jewel that Siena is. The tower of the Church of San Giorgio is part of the apartment's inner structure. The apartment is well cared for, immaculately clean, and reflects the serenity and beauty of Tuscan style.
The Unique Benefits at this Apartment: Location, location, location! The presence of the owners nearby is a definite advantage. In spite of its inner town location, the apartment is very quiet. There is every convenience; dishwasher, washing machine, one bath with shower, and one bath has a bathtub. Separate thermostat for heat.
As a travel consultant, I highly recommend this spacious, luminous apartment in the heart of Siena for couples, families and groups of friends. Truth be told, it is so spacious that Scott and I got turned around trying to find the kitchen a time or two.
If you visit Siena during Palio season- July 2nd and August 16th - you will be in for an unforgettable cultural experience. The Christmas season is also a magical time to visit, according to Anna and Franco. Our thanks to our new Italian friends for making our stay unforgettable!
For more on our visit to Siena and a stylish wedding in Siena.
Have you visited Siena?
Planning a trip? I'd love to help create an unforgettable getaway for you.
If you are interested in information on the apartment, or travel planning services, please contact me at Curated Travel
Ciao!
A Summer Getaway to Siena, Italy
Scott and I spent a day in Siena, back in 2003, punctuated by wrong turns, a stint mistakenly driving in the no-vehicle zone and an epic heat wave. When we finally settled in and enjoyed the charms of an al fresco dinner, we vowed to return to this hilltop city someday. Siena was Scott’s top choice as a destination for our summer in Italy, so this was our time to revisit.
Getaway to Siena, Italy
If the Amalfi Coast is painted with shimmering pastels and flecks of gold, Siena, the jewel of Tuscany, is painted with bold, linear strokes of rich pigment aged over time.
Scott and I spent a day in Siena, back in 2003, punctuated by wrong turns, a stint mistakenly driving in the no-vehicle zone and an epic heat wave. When we finally settled in and enjoyed the charms of an al fresco dinner, we vowed to return to this hilltop city someday. Siena was Scott's top choice as a destination for our summer in Italy, so this was our time to revisit.
We arrived in Siena via a luxury bus from Florence. Our smooth arrival quickly turned into a 30-minute panic involving a missing wallet (again!), containing a stack of Euros and our credit card. Scott had been pickpocketed on our first day in Lisbon several years ago and we had the same sinking feeling. By using some stealth memory skills --of a missing curtain and royal blue upholstery -- we finally located the unmarked bus, among the 30 or so parked buses. We spotted an off-duty bus driver, and following some pleading and the pro-offer of a monetary reward, he popped the lock on "our" bus. Scott bounded up the stairs and immediately spotted his wallet which had fallen between the seats. We were now bathed in sweat, with blisters rising on our feet, but incredibly relieved to have the wallet in possession. Looking back there were a few comedic moments, picture Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, with us running around, luggage in tow, trying to find our bus before it departed.
At long last, our reward was to be in Siena!
The architectural details capture the imagination in Siena.
The food and dining options in Siena are unforgettable. Among Italians, there is a passion towards food and wine that is contagious. Not only are the flavors fresh and lively, but the recipes and vines are steeped in the history of the region. Even the dishware represents centuries-old family history as we learned during a private wine tasting.
In Siena we were seeking an authentic, medieval city experience for our three-day stay. I researched long and hard to find a place, in the historic city center, that was charming and peaceful. We ended selecting a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment in a former monastery. We were so pleased with our choice, owned by gracious Anna and Franco. I look forward to sharing our experience staying at their "luminous apartment' in an upcoming post.
Whether a hotel or a private apartment, staying in the city center allows for easy access to a number of historic attractions, as well as the iconic, fan-shaped Piazza del Campo and the heart of the city. It is ideal for wandering, dining, shopping, or lounging on the stones of the square to capture the light show that is 'evening' in this place. It is dazzling!
In Siena, if you pay attention, you can feel the rhythms of history, ancient battles fought, and the rich traditions of the area that continue. If you are fortunate enough to visit on July 2nd or August 16th you will witness the Palio of Siena festival where locals from the 17 neighborhoods compete. Though we visited in mid-July we were treated to a parade complete with horses, drummers, unfurled flags and cheering crowds in preparation for the Palio on August 16th. Palio is a deeply felt, emotional experience for the Sienese and fascinating to experience as a visitor.
Have you been to Siena?
Are you looking for a fabulous apartment in Siena?
Contact me for more information and travel planning services.
Ciao!
*ALL IMAGES HEATHER LINDSTROM - Curated Travel
