Rewrite
Schön! alive rediscovers the enduring allure of Italy’s heritage and craftsmanship.
The newly renovated Hotel Gabrielli, Venice, opening later this year
With origins dating back to the late 16th Century, the term ‘Grand Tour’ was officially first used in the 17th Century book ‘The Voyage of Italy’ by Richard Lassels, a priest and travel writer. Over time, the Grand Tour was seen as the ‘finishing touch’ for noble and wealthy young men coming of age in England and Northern Europe. They would be accompanied by a ‘cicerone’ (guide), and would typically travel through countries like France, Italy and Greece to help round out their classical education. Now, in the 21st Century, the historic European tradition is being revisited, with Starhotels inviting us to experience some of the Italian destinations at the heart of the original Grand Tour and witness the work of the modern-day artisans that help to keep the energy of these cities alive.
At the time, embarking on a Grand Tour was generally reserved for a privileged few, lasting anything from one to several years, depending on family wealth. The young men were expected to return home with newfound knowledge and maturity, usually laden with an impressive collection of commissioned art, books and luxury goods to symbolise their intellectual growth and cultural sophistication.
left: Fondazione Rubelli, Venice. Right: Hotel d’Inghilterra, Rome
But no matter the route, a Grand Tour was rarely completed without a stop in Italy. Many would choose to spend months there, not wanting to miss out on the picturesque canals of Venice, or the chance to absorb the legacy of Renaissance artists like Leonardo da Vinci in Florence.
While the magic of these destinations endures, travel in the 21st Century brings its own unique issues; in Florence and Venice, the weight of modern-day tourism currently threatens the very essence of these cities, as governments and local inhabitants search for a sense of balance.
left: Gucci Osteria, Florence. right: Helvetia & Bristol, Florence
A major project that hopes to address an aspect of this is La Grande Bellezza – The Dream Factory by Starhotels. Founded in 2019, the contemporary patronage programme is the brainchild of Starhotels’ President and CEO Elisabetta Fabri, alongside Fondazione Cologni dei Mestieri d’Arte, Gruppo Editoriale and OMA – Associazione Osservatorio dei Mestieri d’Arte. Fabri states, “With La Grande Bellezza project, we set ourselves the ambitious goal of giving a voice, space and concrete opportunities to the workshops and enterprises of Italian craftsmanship.”
Recently La Grande Bellezza – The Dream Factory launched Craft Experiences, a new initiative which sees artisans pull back the curtain on traditional craftsmanship by allowing guests of the Starhotels Collezione to enter workshops to experience these historic cities through its artistic history.
Splendid Venice Hotel
when in venice
Our personal Grand Tour kicked off at the charming and elegant Splendid Venice hotel. Every arrival is celebrated with a gift from the historic Italian leather goods brand Pineider: a gorgeous diary to write down your own travel experiences, like the Grand Tourists before you.
Each craft experience allows you to immerse yourself in the destination, and in Venice, our first took us into the heart of the city to visit Fallani Venezia. The silk-screen printing lab dates back to 1968, and Gianpaolo Fallani was on hand to explain his family’s history, while guiding us in creating our own print as a unique souvenir to take home.
Fallani Venezia, Venice
The private tour at Fondazione Rubelli allows visitors to step back in time thanks to the Rubelli Historical Archive boasting more than 50,000 textile artefacts, and more than a thousand pointed papers and preparatory drawings highlighting the creation of the fabrics: an unmissable chance to dive into the intricate craft and the excellence found in Rubelli textiles from 1889 to the present day, five generations later.
Fondazione Rubelli, Venice
when in florence
Next up? Firenze. Accessible from Venice in just over two hours by train, Florence is also home to Helvetia & Bristol, a recently renovated hotel and part of the Starhotels Collezione since 2016. With a heritage as a hotspot for past travellers on their Grand Tour, the latest updates pay homage to the building’s place in history – with one or two contemporary updates, of course, the Cibrèo Helvetia & Bristol being one of them.
Helvetia & Bristol, Florence
Already an icon on the Italian food scene, thanks to the legacy of Florentine chef Fabio Picchi, the Cibrèo Helvetia & Bristol Ristorante & Cocktail Bar is a stunning space with high ceilings and decadent furnishings that feels both chic and cosy. But if you fancy something sweet, you can head a few steps further to Iginio Massari Alta Pasticceria, the artisanal high pastry brand next door. It’s also conveniently connected to the hotel and provides the tasty breakfast served up every morning in the sumptuous Tinello (dining room).
left: Cibrèo Ristorante and right: Cibrèo Caffè, both Helvetia & Bristol, Florence
So with Helvetia & Bristol as the perfect launch pad to explore the ‘Renaissance city’, we headed to Il Bronzetto artisan workshop, a treasure trove of knowledge and artifacts specialising in decor and lighting in brass, bronze and other metals. The infectious love for the medium shines through in the tour, given by one of the Calcinai brothers, who carry on the legacy that started with their father in 1963. After a demonstration, we were able to create a souvenir to add to our growing collection of Italian artisanship.
To discover why the ‘Made in Italy’ tag is so coveted, take a trip to the Scuola del Cuoio. Founded in a former convent after World War II as a place for recent orphans to learn a trade and earn a living, it now welcomes visitors to watch the leather artisans at work and to make their own creation using knowledge passed down through time. A walk through the building is a reminder of its deep history and a small, curated gift shop allows for a little treat after all your hard work.
Finally, if you’d like to complete your tour with a unique taste of Florence look no further than Gucci Osteria. The Michelin-starred restaurant is the brainchild of chef Massimo Bottura, infusing his vision with the energy embodied in the Gucci philosophy. At the helm in Florence, Co-Executive Chefs Karime López and Takahiko Kondo deliver their own interpretation of contemporary Italian cuisine which they’ve dubbed: ‘Nuove Memorie’ (New Memories). We had the pleasure of being guided through a delicious seasonal menu by expert hosts who enhanced the meal with an element of theatre – as every delicate dish arrived with a story, providing the perfect end to our journey.
Gucci Osteria, Florence
when in rome, milan and beyond…
Although we left our hearts in Florence and Venice, your own Grand Tour doesn’t need to stop there. With Starhotels in Rome and Milan, you can curate an adventure that doesn’t just involve returning home with unique and handmade goods but also allows travellers to meaningfully contribute to the local economy in a way that supports these magnificent cities, honouring both their rich history and future.
Hotel d’Inghilterra, Rome
Read more about Starhotels’ Craft Experiences here.
words. Jade Thompson
Images. Courtesy of Starhotels
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Schön! alive rediscovers the enduring allure of Italy’s heritage and craftsmanship.
The newly renovated Hotel Gabrielli, Venice, opening later this year
With origins dating back to the late 16th Century, the term ‘Grand Tour’ was officially first used in the 17th Century book ‘The Voyage of Italy’ by Richard Lassels, a priest and travel writer. Over time, the Grand Tour was seen as the ‘finishing touch’ for noble and wealthy young men coming of age in England and Northern Europe. They would be accompanied by a ‘cicerone’ (guide), and would typically travel through countries like France, Italy and Greece to help round out their classical education. Now, in the 21st Century, the historic European tradition is being revisited, with Starhotels inviting us to experience some of the Italian destinations at the heart of the original Grand Tour and witness the work of the modern-day artisans that help to keep the energy of these cities alive.
At the time, embarking on a Grand Tour was generally reserved for a privileged few, lasting anything from one to several years, depending on family wealth. The young men were expected to return home with newfound knowledge and maturity, usually laden with an impressive collection of commissioned art, books and luxury goods to symbolise their intellectual growth and cultural sophistication.
left: Fondazione Rubelli, Venice. Right: Hotel d’Inghilterra, Rome
But no matter the route, a Grand Tour was rarely completed without a stop in Italy. Many would choose to spend months there, not wanting to miss out on the picturesque canals of Venice, or the chance to absorb the legacy of Renaissance artists like Leonardo da Vinci in Florence.
While the magic of these destinations endures, travel in the 21st Century brings its own unique issues; in Florence and Venice, the weight of modern-day tourism currently threatens the very essence of these cities, as governments and local inhabitants search for a sense of balance.
left: Gucci Osteria, Florence. right: Helvetia & Bristol, Florence
A major project that hopes to address an aspect of this is La Grande Bellezza – The Dream Factory by Starhotels. Founded in 2019, the contemporary patronage programme is the brainchild of Starhotels’ President and CEO Elisabetta Fabri, alongside Fondazione Cologni dei Mestieri d’Arte, Gruppo Editoriale and OMA – Associazione Osservatorio dei Mestieri d’Arte. Fabri states, “With La Grande Bellezza project, we set ourselves the ambitious goal of giving a voice, space and concrete opportunities to the workshops and enterprises of Italian craftsmanship.”
Recently La Grande Bellezza – The Dream Factory launched Craft Experiences, a new initiative which sees artisans pull back the curtain on traditional craftsmanship by allowing guests of the Starhotels Collezione to enter workshops to experience these historic cities through its artistic history.
Splendid Venice Hotel
when in venice
Our personal Grand Tour kicked off at the charming and elegant Splendid Venice hotel. Every arrival is celebrated with a gift from the historic Italian leather goods brand Pineider: a gorgeous diary to write down your own travel experiences, like the Grand Tourists before you.
Each craft experience allows you to immerse yourself in the destination, and in Venice, our first took us into the heart of the city to visit Fallani Venezia. The silk-screen printing lab dates back to 1968, and Gianpaolo Fallani was on hand to explain his family’s history, while guiding us in creating our own print as a unique souvenir to take home.
Fallani Venezia, Venice
The private tour at Fondazione Rubelli allows visitors to step back in time thanks to the Rubelli Historical Archive boasting more than 50,000 textile artefacts, and more than a thousand pointed papers and preparatory drawings highlighting the creation of the fabrics: an unmissable chance to dive into the intricate craft and the excellence found in Rubelli textiles from 1889 to the present day, five generations later.
Fondazione Rubelli, Venice
when in florence
Next up? Firenze. Accessible from Venice in just over two hours by train, Florence is also home to Helvetia & Bristol, a recently renovated hotel and part of the Starhotels Collezione since 2016. With a heritage as a hotspot for past travellers on their Grand Tour, the latest updates pay homage to the building’s place in history – with one or two contemporary updates, of course, the Cibrèo Helvetia & Bristol being one of them.
Helvetia & Bristol, Florence
Already an icon on the Italian food scene, thanks to the legacy of Florentine chef Fabio Picchi, the Cibrèo Helvetia & Bristol Ristorante & Cocktail Bar is a stunning space with high ceilings and decadent furnishings that feels both chic and cosy. But if you fancy something sweet, you can head a few steps further to Iginio Massari Alta Pasticceria, the artisanal high pastry brand next door. It’s also conveniently connected to the hotel and provides the tasty breakfast served up every morning in the sumptuous Tinello (dining room).
left: Cibrèo Ristorante and right: Cibrèo Caffè, both Helvetia & Bristol, Florence
So with Helvetia & Bristol as the perfect launch pad to explore the ‘Renaissance city’, we headed to Il Bronzetto artisan workshop, a treasure trove of knowledge and artifacts specialising in decor and lighting in brass, bronze and other metals. The infectious love for the medium shines through in the tour, given by one of the Calcinai brothers, who carry on the legacy that started with their father in 1963. After a demonstration, we were able to create a souvenir to add to our growing collection of Italian artisanship.
To discover why the ‘Made in Italy’ tag is so coveted, take a trip to the Scuola del Cuoio. Founded in a former convent after World War II as a place for recent orphans to learn a trade and earn a living, it now welcomes visitors to watch the leather artisans at work and to make their own creation using knowledge passed down through time. A walk through the building is a reminder of its deep history and a small, curated gift shop allows for a little treat after all your hard work.
Finally, if you’d like to complete your tour with a unique taste of Florence look no further than Gucci Osteria. The Michelin-starred restaurant is the brainchild of chef Massimo Bottura, infusing his vision with the energy embodied in the Gucci philosophy. At the helm in Florence, Co-Executive Chefs Karime López and Takahiko Kondo deliver their own interpretation of contemporary Italian cuisine which they’ve dubbed: ‘Nuove Memorie’ (New Memories). We had the pleasure of being guided through a delicious seasonal menu by expert hosts who enhanced the meal with an element of theatre – as every delicate dish arrived with a story, providing the perfect end to our journey.
Gucci Osteria, Florence
when in rome, milan and beyond…
Although we left our hearts in Florence and Venice, your own Grand Tour doesn’t need to stop there. With Starhotels in Rome and Milan, you can curate an adventure that doesn’t just involve returning home with unique and handmade goods but also allows travellers to meaningfully contribute to the local economy in a way that supports these magnificent cities, honouring both their rich history and future.
Hotel d’Inghilterra, Rome
Read more about Starhotels’ Craft Experiences here.
words. Jade Thompson
Images. Courtesy of Starhotels
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