(2010) the grand tour: old world luxe meets 21st century charm

7/29/2019 (2010) The Grand Tour: Old world luxe meets 21st Century charm

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hen it comes to traveling, who doesn’t want to indulge …

pourquoi pas ? The Grand Tour was a form of Old World

education where young, well-to-do travelers would traverse

Europe’s history. Read on for your insider’s guide to a 21 st Century

alternative Grand Tour, where you can enter the world of

unparalleled luxury and discover Europe’s most opulent places.

I taly : the V Illa

V illaM angiacane

Escape to a world of renaissance beauty at Villa Mangiacane

in Firenze, Italy. Former home to the powerful Machiavelli family

and famed author of The Prince , Villa Mangiacane is a gem nestled

amongst the Chianti Classico and overlooking the Arno Valley.

Built over half a millenia ago and located near the Dome of the

Cathedral and Astronomer Giotto’s Bell Tower, Villa Mangiacane

is a piece of Italian history with the standard of modern style and

class. Owner, Glynn Cohen made sure that the hotel embodied

the spirit and style of a private Italian estate—surrounded by

vineyards, olive groves and forests.

The twenty-eight luxurious guestrooms and suites are elegantly

designed in the Tuscan style, reecting the serenity of the

property’s surroundings. Guests may enjoy the romantic setting

of the innity pool or on the chillier winter days, the indoor heated

pool. For the wine connoisseurs, Villa Mangiacane is a full-scalepremium wine and olive oil producing estate.

Villa Mangiacane, Via Faltignano 4, San Casciano, 50026 Firenze

+39 (0) 55 8290123, www.mangiacane.iti

France: the château

c hâteau de B agnols

Standing amongst vineyards, lush forests and green hills in the

heart of Southeast France—seventeen miles from Lyon—is the

nest ve-star deluxe château hotel in France, the Château de

Bagnols. Featuring impressive towers, a moat and the dramaticentryway across a drawbridge, the Château de Bagnols is not

only one of the most luxurious hotels in the world but also one

of France’s major historic monuments, dating back to the 13th

Century. Perfect for a scenic getaway, walk through the Gardens

of the Castle, experience Michelin dining at the Salles des Gardes

restaurants and unwind under the lime trees.

The hotel’s twenty-one guestrooms have been decorated with

exceptional detail and careful thought. Soft velvets and shimmering

silks are complemented by rare and beautiful antiques. Theinuence of Italian Renaissance decoration is evident in the work

of the 17th Century painters, who included landscape panels and

bold ceiling arabesques in the designs. Suites offer sweeping views

over the Renaissance courtyard, the Beaujolais valley or the village.

For those seeking the ultimate, luxurious visit, The Apartment is a

stunning private duplex, furnished with antique furniture belonging

to the private collection of Lady Hamlyn, previous owner of the

château. The Apartment features a dining room, a separate lounge

with an open replace, an ofce and a terrace overlooking the

valley with private access to the gardens.

Château de Bagnols, 69620 Bangols, France

+33 (0) 4 74 71 40 00, www.chateaudebagnols.fr

W

THE GRAND TOUR

Old World Luxe Meets 21st Century Charm

V i l l a M a n g

i a c a n e , i t a l y

Social Life, vol . V I I i s s ue 1

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by Norah Lawlor



a s h f o r d c a s t l e , i r e l a

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S wItzerland: the P alace

B adrutt ’ s P alaceh otel

A long-standing landmark in the heart of St. Moritz, Badrutt’s

Palace Hotel has been a hotspot for celebrities and royalty since its

opening in 1896. The ultimate property of the Swiss Alps, the hotel

is surrounded by unspoiled scenery, offering extraordinary views of

Lake St. Moritz and the Swiss Alps.

An ideal destination during the winter and summer seasons,

the hotel is host to visitors who want to experience world-class ski

resorts and home to summer Alpine activities.

Tucked away in the basement of the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel is the

aptly named King’s Club, ruling the nightlife scene in St. Moritz.

The hot nightclub is lled with jetsetters dancing away until the sun

comes up. Known for its no-curfew vibe and star-studded guest list,

this see-and-be-seen spot is truly exhilarating.

Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, Via Serlas 27, 7500 St. Moritz

+41 (0) 81 837 1100

Ireland: the c aStle

ashford c astle

Poised deep inside the heart of County Mayo, Ireland, amidst

sweeping green forests, rugged mountains and massive lakes, a

destination of untainted beauty exists. Ashford Castle, dating

back to 1228 and now one of the world’s most exclusive luxury hotels seems as though untouched by time—however, inside this

13th Century Castle, history meets luxury. Ashford Castle guests

experience stylishly-designed antique rooms while having access to

all of the modern comforts of a ve-star-hotel.

For foodies, Ashford Castle’s chef, Stefan Matz, is reason alone

to trek to Ireland—he offers four unique dining experiences, each

suiting diners’ different styles and preferences. Overlooking the

magnicent Lough Corrib Lake, diners may enjoy afternoon tea and

casual meals at the resort’s Drawing Room. For those preferring a

more formal dining experience, the George V Dining Room offersbreathtaking views and traditional elegant dining in Ashford’s main

dining room. The restaurant offers a Table d’Hote menu seven

days a week and discreet, efcient service. The Connaught Room

is regarded as one of Ashford Castle’s most celebrated rooms.

Adorned with delicate and intricate wood carvings and a hand-

carved Inglenook replace, the room radiates with a warm and

embracing ambiance.

Ashford Castle, Cong, Co Mayo, Ireland

1-800-346-7007, www.ashford.ie

V enIce: the SuIte

h otel c iPriani

Follow in the footsteps of Sophia Loren, Princess Diana, Dame

Elizabeth Taylor, Brad Pitt and Angelia Jolie, George Clooney and

Sir Paul McCartney—take a boat ride (the island is only accessible via

boat) to Venice’s Giudecca Island and discover Hotel Cipriani. Fun

fact: in Casino Royale, James Bond (played by Daniel Craig) moors

his yacht at the Hotel Cipriani dock. The hotel has 101 rooms and

suites, featuring Murano glass chandeliers, Fortuny fabric curtains,

Italian marble, and cashmere and silk blankets. Unique offerings

include an Olympic-sized, ltered salt-water pool, a private red clay tennis court in a garden with a lagoon and access to the only golf

club in Venice.

For the ultimate luxury experience Hotel Cipriani has to offer,

stay in the Palladio Suite, with glass walls offering a 180-degree view

of the Venetian lagoon, a balcony, a private terrace with a pool and

Jacuzzi, a dining room and a private boat dock. Also, linked by an

ancient courtyard to the hotel is a 15th Century palace, the Palazzo

Vendramin. Enjoy sweeping views of the lush private gardens,

fountains and sculptures.Hotel Cipriani, 10 Giudecca

Fondamenta San Giovanni, Venice, Italy

1-800-223-6800, www.hotelcipriani.com

B a d r u t t ’ s P a l a c e h o t e l , s w i t z e r l a n d

c h â t e a u d e B a g n o l s ,

f r a n c e

(2010) the grand tour: old world luxe meets 21st century charm

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