Villa La Massa near Florence reopens, welcoming gests to an oasis of tranquility and elegance. This hamlet comprised of six units with a total of 51 rooms, is surrounded by ten hectares of parkland overlooking the Chianti hills and is only eight kilometres from Florence.

During the winter closure period, Villa La Massa was given a refurbishment that included the restyling of some Villa Nobile rooms and a complete renovation of the gym. Guests can reserve the entire property or individual buildings exclusively for their stay, allowing them to enjoy a unique experience in the Tuscan countryside.

The Arno Spa has many facilities 

The Arno Spa, which includes a Turkish bath, sauna, Roman tub with whirlpool and sensory showers, as well as two treatment and massage cabins, is made for total relaxation. There is also a heated outdoor swimming pool with views of the Tuscan hills, a gym, an exercise and yoga area, jogging paths, and bicycles for the more active. 

Mediterranean and Tuscan favourites in the restaurants

The exclusive Il Verrocchio restaurant, with a splendid terrace overlooking the Arno river, has refined traditional Italian and Mediterranean menus with a gourmet twist created by Chef Stefano Ballarino. The l'Oliveto bistrot with its laidback atmosphere beside the pool offers a selection of traditional Tuscan dishes featuring fresh and summer flavours.

A live music festival will run all summer 

This year L'Oliveto Summer Lounge live music event will be held every Wednesday from June to September, featuring a gourmet pizza menu paired with a selection of matching cocktails, fine Tuscan and Italian wines, spirits, and beers. Chef Stefano Ballarino together with chefs from some of Italy’s most prestigious hotels will create exclusive dinners, each featuring a tasting menu

Tennis, yoga and a motor rally

The Tennis Clinic, with tennis lessons at the Match Ball Firenze Country Club is scheduled for Easter and summer, and yoga classes, are also among the many recreational and sports activities planned this year. The Romantic Journey Through Italy is an experiential journey from Lake Como to Florence staying at Villa d'Este and Villa La Massa. And from 7 to 9 October Villa La Massa will host VLM Excellence Supercars Firenze, a fantastic event featuring supercars produced since 1990.

Palazzo Garzoni is an ultra-luxe Almae Collection property making its debut on 1 April with just four apartments and hotel services overlooking the Grand Canal, between the Rio di Ca' Garzoni and the Fondaco Marcello, opposite Palazzo Pisani Moretta in Venice. 

The apartments have magnificent halls and large rooms  

The Gothic-style palace, purchased in 2019 by a French lover of art and Italy, has been completely renovated, and the four apartments have magnificent halls and large rooms, while the apartment on the main floor also has a library. All this is enhanced by Carrara marble, original wall frescoes and door jambs carved by Venetian master craftsmen.

‘Luxury tourism has withstood the crisis’

"Despite the difficulties under the lockdowns and restrictions of various kinds, the luxury market has withstood the crisis and it is the segment on which to focus to relaunch tourism,” says Anne Cecile Quey, director of the Almae Collection. "Venice, with its evocative views, history and heritage of unique beauty, has always been a destination for high-level tourism, for visitors with high spending power who generate wealth for the destination and the surrounding areas.”

Plans for Ibiza and Cognac and a new Veneto property 

The Almae Collection’s future plans include the opening in 2023 of a hotel in Cognac as well as projects in Ibiza, Spain, and another property in the Veneto region: the Palladian Villa Emo in Fanzolo di Vedelago, currently undergoing redevelopment and scheduled to open in 2024 or 2025.

On 1 April Amalfi’s historic 5-star luxury Hotel Santa Caterina opened the new Villas della Marchesa historic residences set, like the hotel, in lush hanging gardens overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Gulf of Salerno, south of Naples.  

The interiors are bright with white and blue features, and there is also a private swimming pool and a solarium. In this new secluded, private accommodation guests will get the same luxurious services as in the Hotel Santa Caterina.
 

Two lifts bring guests to the sea-level facilities

The Hotel Santa Caterina, a few minutes away from Amalfi, overlooks the sea, has gardens with natural terraces, and two lifts carved into the rock that take guests to the sea-level facilities include a swimming pool, solarium, gym, café bar and an open-air restaurant. All the rooms in the new Ville della Marchesa are bright, with modern furnishings and sumptuous crystal chandeliers and they can be reserved in their entirety, giving guests access to several courtyards and a 36-metre swimming pool.

The Follia Amalfitana suite has a circular mini-pool

The Hotel Santa Caterina has 36 standard, superior and deluxe rooms and 13 suites. It also has 17 rooms and suites in the Garden Suites including the Follia Amalfitana suite with its circular mini-pool and breath-taking views of the bay, and the Romeo and Juliet suite with a small terrace overlooking the sea and a private infinity pool.  

The green Valnera valley crossed by the Nera River in Italy’s Umbria region. is rich in history, culture and tradition and an excellent choice for a rejuvenating trip away from the noise and chaos of the city.

Montefranco’ s castle dates back to 1228

To visit it in all its nuances, why not choose one of the small villages hidden in the valley? Like Montefranco from which you will have a whole series of places to visit within a range of 30 kilometres. Montefranco dominates the Nera Valley, and the town owes its origins to the old Bufone Castle, which dates back to 1228 and of which the Franca and Spoletina gates and the external walls still remain. 

The Marmore waterfall has a 165-metre drop

The main natural attraction in the area is undoubtedly the Parco Fluviale del Nera Natural Regional Protected Area and the majestic Marmore Waterfall (15 kilometres from Montefranco), a spectacular 165-metre drop of water, and a must-see for anyone curious to discover Umbria’s verdant nature. About 20 kilometres from our starting point you come to Lake Piediluco which is the second largest natural lake in the region after Lake Trasimeno. 

Arrone is one of Italy’s 100 most beautiful villages

Just five kilometres from Montefranco you come to Arrone, one of the 100 most beautiful villages in Italy. Arrone is not just a medieval village, as its  roads, buildings and monuments tell the story of ancient days and of  its vibrant present.  

Moving a little further north-east we find Spoleto which is just 35 kilometres away  and Norcia (55  kilometres). Spoleto was the ancient capital of the Lombard dukes, and will enchant you with its fascinating historical and artistic heritage. Norcia is a must-visit for those who love unspoiled nature, tranquillity and good food because this town is famous for its norcineria which is the noble art of pork processing, The Valnerina area boasts numerous quality food products which are national and international favourites like the saffron from Cascia, the black Melanosporum truffle from Norcia, brown trout from the Nera River, and goat and pecorino I.G.P. and D.O.P. cheeses. All these carefully controlled and certified delicacies are the expression of an unaltered and genuine territory. Furthermore, these products are easily available in restaurants and trattorias, celebrating the culture and traditions of the Valnerina. 

Toscana Resort Castelfalfi opened on 1 April with booking up and expecting to close 2022 with a 30% rise in turnover compared to pre-Covid 2019: "The pandemic has made a residence like ours even more appealing with its rural setting and large spaces,” said general manager Isidoro Di Franco.

Rooms, villas and apartments

The 1,100-hectare Tuscan estate, which reopened on 1 April, consists of 120 rooms, a second unit called the Tabaccaia with 31 keys, three villas, and 12 apartments. The common areas of the entrance, the lobby and the Ecrù Bar will be the first areas to get a makeover and half of the rooms in the main building will also be renovated, with the remainder to follow in the 2023 season.

A 27-hole golf course and a Kids & Teen Club

Natural products under the Espa brand will be introduced to the spa, and the wide range of outdoor and indoor experiences for guests will include trekking through the vineyards, horseback riding, cycling, wine tasting in the cellar, cooking classes, truffle hunting, archery and hot air balloon rides, and there is a 27-hole golf course. Younger guests will enjoy the Falfy Kids & Teens Club and there are plans to build an adventure park.

Many guests are honeymooners and repeaters

Guests are about 30% Italians and many are golfing enthusiasts and MICE delegates, while another 30% are German-speaking and from other European countries and the United States, and 40% are honeymooners, repeat visitors and organised tourism.

 

Trentino's first outdoor Kneipp Centre, which is in a large park, is the place to go for peace, relaxation, and fun. Water and natural materials such as wood, pebbles, and grass define a path for the regeneration of vital energy and long-term well-being.

The Val di Rabbi valley is a natural paradise

The Val di Rabbi has the first outdoor Kneipp Centre in the Trentino region; a must for those who enjoy wellness and nature. Located in Valorz, near the town of San Bernardo, it is set in a beautiful area of 550 square metres with flower beds, fountains, a pond and deck chairs in which to relax.

The water has healing properties 

The Kneipp method uses the healthy principles of hydrotherapy, taking the fresh water of the Rio Valorz which is enriched with natural materials. The healing property of the water, as well as the alternation of cold-hot water, improve the  circulation of the blood and provide an immediate sense of physical well-being, while the quiet of the area instils a deep sense of well-being in harmony with the surrounding natural environment. 

Time to relax and delight in nature

The calm and silence of the Val di Rabbi invite you to relax on a comfortable deckchair made of larch wood or on the soft grass, basking in the sun, and letting yourself be lulled by the murmur of the waters of the nearby lake.