LuminosityItalia

By Mariella Radaelli A constellation of little hamlets comprise the commune of Framura, an atmospheric, somnolent village perched on a rocky outcrop rising from the Ligurian Sea. Though the authentic beauty in La Spezia province is just a 15 minute-train trip from Monterosso and the Cinque Terre, Framura is actually the “anti-Five Lands” that might not even crop up in your average guidebook. This little slice of coast and its hamlets of Anzo, Ravecca, Setta, Costa and Castagnola have no real nightlife and shows no sign of developing into a major tourist destination. Its ancient features and social fabric are unaltered. No real nightlife and no sign  of developing into a major  tourist destination. We found Framura’s special atmosphere was ideal for recharging our batteries through the flow and the rhythm of natural time. Atop the hamlet of Costa on Monte Serro sits an imposing torre di guardia. The Carolingian tower overlooks the village with stunning views of the plai...

By Mariella Radaelli Only a 15-minute drive from Bergamo, the small picturesque town of San Pellegrino Terme still boasts the hot springs and stunning architecture that made it a star-studded spa capital in Europe during La Belle Epoque. But for decades it was a shadow of its once-illustrious past. After years of isolation and a transient population, today it is ready to revive itself and rediscover its authenticity as an Art Nouveau phoenix rising from the ashes. A pleasant walking tour reveals a series of stunning buildings in the flowing style of Art Nouveau: crisp curvilinear patterns on still-elegant facades facing the Viale Vittoria, the beautiful boulevard along the river. Residents now fully embrace the importance of Lo Stile Liberty – the Italian term for Art Nouveau – with many successful renovations in the proximity of Ponte Vecchio, which itself dates back to 1430. The Grand Hotel was once the choice of European royalty. But the star attraction is the Gran Casinò desi...

By Mariella Radaelli Only 20 miles from Milan and yet a world apart, the solid heart of Lombardy beats to its own timeless rhythm in the pretty hilltop village of Montevecchia, a place where old traditions live on unabashed in a breathtaking setting where cheese meets wine at the center of the Brianza lecchese. There are no global brands in sight, no cybercafes or fast food joints, instead trattorias and chic rustic restaurants that offer revisited regional cuisine. Ancient pathway amid vineyards leads to a rustic trattoria. Photo: Fabrizio Radaelli Rich in rural buildings, courtyards, churches and votive chapels, the Montevecchia area has for centuries been a favored holiday destination for the Milanese, particularly those in need of weekend countryside escape. As many visual artists and musicians today flee the city for more serene locales, a number choose to live atop the village surrounded by Curone National Park because it is only half an hour’s drive from Milan yet of...

By Mariella Radaelli Italy has been in the news recently for the high-profile purchase of legendary soccer clubs by Chinese investors, but it isn’t solely corporations that are buying. Wealthy and middle-class Chinese individuals are also grabbing a slice of La Dolce Vita, or the sweet life, for which Italy is renowned. Over the past 18 months, Chinese nationals have poured 600 million euros into Italian real estate, according to Andrea Faini, CEO of World Capital Group, an international real estate consultancy headquartered in Milan with offices in Beijing and Shanghai. The real estate expert, who is also business advisor to the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce, works closely with Chinese investors and banks such as Bank of China and China Construction Bank, which recently opened a new branch in Milan to facilitate transactions.  Another indicator of robust Chinese activity is that “Agriculture Bank of China considering opening a branch in Milan”, says Faini. This stately hom...