Sweet Art of Summer from luxury hotel Belmond
It seems most are heading to Europe for their incredible summer. This summer, luxury hotel group Belmond introduces new experiences that embrace ‘the sweet art of summer living’ and celebrate ‘La Dolce Vita’. From private concerts in Portofino Bay to chic picnics on the Amalfi Coast, Belmond’s timeless portfolio of hotels in Southern Europe are set to seduce guests against a backdrop of the most beautiful and iconic locations in Italy, Mallorca and Portugal.
Dine under the stars, take part in alfresco cooking and cocktail classes, or embark on an outdoor adventure with the wind in your hair. We’ve collected our favourite reasons to see, savour and stay with Belmond, perfect to inspire your next trip, honeymoon or european adventure. With warm temperatures lasting until October, your Dolce Vita summer awaits.
BELMOND HOTEL CIPRIANI: ALFRESCO COOKING CLASSES AND DINING
This year, Belmond Hotel Cipriani celebrates its 60th anniversary with a series of unmissable events, including cooking classes in collaboration with Electrolux, hosted by Roberto Gatto, Head Chef at Cip’s Club restaurant. Each class begins with a visit to the colourful Rialto market, Chef Roberto helps guests to identify seasonal products, carefully selecting ingredients used in some of Cip’s Club most loved dishes, including Tagliolini Verdi Gratinati. The cooking class takes place in the gardens followed by a lunch under the new pergola in the hotel’s vineyards. Classes take place between July and October and start from 350 Euros per person.
Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo launches a summer pop-restaurant on the Literary Terrace to celebrate its 145 years anniversary. Named after the influential German painter who resided in Taormina, the Otto Geleng pop-up, is an intimate restaurant open each evening for 16 guests and with views of Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea. The tasting menu features Otto (eight) dishes designed by the property’s chef Roberto Toro, highlighting local produce and traditional Sicilian culinary methods with a vibrant twist. Tables are dressed with white original Sicilian linen and ceramic oil lamps made locally.
There is nothing more “dolce vita” than indulging in a delightful picnic at the foot of the ancient basilica of Sant’Eustachio in Scala, the oldest village of the Amalfi Coast. Feast on Neapolitan focaccia dressed with local cherry tomatoes, mouth-watering mozzarella sandwiches, and spaghetti omelettes with salami, created by Chef Mimmo di Raffaele to pair a slice of Caprese cake and a glass of ice-cold limoncello. Discover the natural reserve of the Ferriere Valley, with cascading waterfalls and crystal-clear pools as well as paper mills and ironworks ruins.
The hotel offers the most romantic experience for a magic summer evening at its “Mirador” (viewpoint), a secluded terrace where a sunset dinner for two can be arranged. With the dramatic backdrop of the Sierra de Tramuntana mountains and the Mediterranean at a stone’s throw, Belmond La Residencia offers an enchanting evening like no other. The spellbinding panorama and a special menù created by Chef Guillermo give guests a true taste of Mallorca.
The wildest island in Sicily’s cobalt blue archipelago, Filicudi is the most alluring of the seven islands and one of the most untouched. Discovering the daily life of the islanders and their warm Aeolian hospitality, guests meet a resident cave artist, crafting artwork using natural materials including pebbles, coloured glass and driftwood, before heading out with the local fishermen to fish for the catch of the day ready for lunch.
Celebrate romance and ‘La Dolce Vita’ in a very special way and join the hotel’s exclusive Sunset Cruise along Portofino Bay, followed by a private and extraordinary open-air concert in the beautiful Abbey of San Fruttuoso. Journey aboard Belmond Hotel Splendido’s private boat for an unforgettable trip to the pretty San Fruttuoso Bay (only accessible by boat or foot), and enjoy the stunning scenery along the way before the private concert begins in the Abbey’s enchanting courtyard.
Savour the morning and enjoy first light from Pico do Arieiro, Madeira’s third highest peak, one of the few spots on the island to admire the sunrise. Beneath the clouds, view the mountains clad in lush vegetation including heather, moss and striking purple Echium candicans.
After such a magical and inspiring experience, and in a verdant setting, surrounded by pine forests and birdsong, a private butler serves a breakfast of fresh pastries, succulent fruits and champagne.
Three new sea view suites are unveiled at Belmond Vila Sant’Andrea this summer, inspired by Sicilian craftsmanship. With views of Mazzaro Bay, the suites reflect the beauty of the surrounding bay and natural elements found around the property. Stone floors using local materials sweep through the suites which feature copper bathtubs and unique pieces of artwork by acclaimed Italian artist Mimmo Rotella. Adorning the walls, the original pieces include torn cinema advertising posters, adding a touch of retro glamour as a nod to the Taormina Film Festival which put the town on the map and began in the 1950s.
Belmond Villa San Michele’s newly opened Cloister Bar introduces a new fresh cocktail menu, inspired by the world’s greatest fashion icons. Set in the hills of Fiesole, overlooking fashionable Florence, the hotel’s Cloister Bar combines traditional design with a modern twist. Head Barman Alberto Ferraro’s creations include ‘Dark Lagerfeld’, an intense and velvet-smooth , mixing vodka with lemon juice and carbon. The ‘Tiffany Martini’, blends gin, dry vermouth and silver leaf, embodying timeless elegance. This summer guests can also enjoy an aperitivo picnic in the gardens prepared each week.
