The sublime alchemy of good hospitality
As vacation season approaches, I draw up my very own hot list of memorable stays
“We need to hurry up and start booking; otherwise, we’ll find nothing good in August... Everyone I know has already booked!”
It was an exasperated young woman on the phone that I overheard a few days ago while strolling in Monza’s pedestrian precinct around the magnificent Duomo. She pretty much summed up how many of us in Italy are feeling right now as everyone starts making plans for the great escape from oppressive routines and the fast-approaching heat.
Italians take summer vacations and weekend escapes from the city incredibly seriously—in part because it becomes too hot to do anything properly, but above all because, for better or worse, we appreciate the importance of taking time off to enjoy life. We love our dolce vita; there’s no two ways about it, and as much as it can be terribly inefficient at times, I’ve come to adore this philosophy of life.
As I think about where I’ll be heading to rest and restore next month (Tuscany), I’ve looked back at some of my most memorable stays in recent years. I’ve thought about what made them so remarkable—what made them more than just places to sleep in—and understood that it’s not about 5-star ratings or 5-star hotels.
Instead, it has always been about the sublime alchemy of passionately professional people, design that is firmly and respectfully rooted in its surroundings, and an appreciation for uniqueness.
Here’s my own hot list of stays that embody this alchemy perfectly. May they inspire you to uncover new and memorable stays this summer.
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