Montepulciano

March 25, 2019 | Design & Culture by Ed

If you’re travelling by car and got a place to stay at in Florence, you really should go and discover Tuscany. To feel the Tuscan rhythm of life, try Montepulciano. This medieval village rests atop a narrow hill and can be found in an unbelievably postcard-perfect landscape, filled with cypress trees and sun-drenched vineyards…The best way to discover the elegant historic center is on foot: as you walk along, you’ll come across Renaissance palazzos before reaching – at the highest point of Montepulciano – the main piazza. But despite its beauty, Montepulciano is also world-famous for its Vino Nobile, considered one of the best Tuscan wines in the world, made with grapes coming from vineyards surrounding the village. Also, it’s worth visiting the local food stores (I mean, their salami and cheese… well. I can’t believe I ate all the supplies I brought home!) and the oldest library in town – Magnanet Libreria Di Lorenzo Rago. The owner is the third generation of the family that opened it and there are more than 15,000 books (!) in their archives. It’s impossible not to fall in love with this place…

All photos by Edward Kanarecki.

Gucci Garden

March 22, 2019March 22, 2019 | Design & Culture by Ed

Florence is Gucci, Gucci is Florence. Gucci Garden is a must-see in this city, but I wouldn’t take it too seriously. I mean, it’s not a museum written with capital ‘M’. Still, it’s an experience, like anything Gucci and Alessandro Michele pull off together. Inside the historic Palazzo della Mercanzia, the museo is housed, conceived by creative director Alessandro Michele. The newly designed space features a store with one-of-a-kind items, the Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura and the Gucci Garden Galleria exhibition rooms curated by critic Maria Luisa Frisa. Divided into a series of themed rooms, the Gucci Garden Galleria narrates the brand’s new vision while celebrating the archives including old advertising campaigns, artisans’ images, retro objects. From the Double G motif to Michele’s Guccification, the house’s universe is presented in a subverted, slightly surreal way. ‘Paraphernalia’ is a room dedicated to signature codes and symbols that define Gucci’s identity while ‘Cosmorama’ reveals the historical jet-set customer of Gucci. My favourite part? Anything by Tom Ford (the white slit dress, iconic kamasutra bomber jacket…). Was quite surprised the brand completely erased Frida Gianini from its history, though…

Photos by Edward Kanarecki.

Trattoria Sostanza in Florence

March 21, 2019 | Design & Culture by Ed

A fact: Trattoria Sostanza is the best restaurant in Florence. Please, if you’re planning a trip to Tusany’s capital, book your table here (at least three-four days in advance). This small restaurant, with a toilet located in the back of the kitchen (yes, you have to go through the entire kitchen, which also means meeting the very Italian cooks!), is the best kept secret of the locals. It might be classical, Tuscan cuisine, with dishes that sound like regular Italian plates. But the taste of every single thing here is heaven. From the Florentine steak and artichoke pie to tortellini stuffed with signature ragout and a plate of tomatoes from the chef’s garden, Trattoria Sostanza really shows what finest Italian food is, in an unpretentious, home-made way. If you’re lucky with the season, you will get wild strawberries (straight from a Sicilian farmer) with your meringue cake – which is a masterpiece. Again, go there. Thank me later.

Via del Porcellana, 25/R / Florence

Photos by Edward Kanarecki.

In Italy

June 15, 2014June 15, 2014 | Design & Culture by Ed

As you might have noticed, I was absent for a while on my blog (except the What’s Hot posts)… Why? I am now in Italy and I just felt like taking a break from everything. But now I am again full of power and energy, so I am ready for the Resort’15 and SS15 show reviews… for a good, fresh start, here are some of my facourite pics from Venice, Florence and Verona!

Tuscany: Villa Sant Michele

August 19, 2013August 20, 2013 | Design & Culture by Ed

There is this bad type of restaurants, where you pay more for the view and exclusive fog, than for the taste of food. This is all about the Villa Sant Michele’s restaurant that is located on the top of the hill. You walk in, the place is beautiful. But, a closer look, it feels a bit cheap. Then the veranda, so the restaurant. The view is AMAZING. Whole Florence seen in one place. So it’s all kind of OK. Until the food… First dish is a catastrophe! A warm tartar of scampi… Disgusting. Then meat tagliata. Looks like shit on the plate, isn’t it? And the most horrifying thing- peach semifredo. It was the biggest minus. It tasted like the cheapest one from a super market! No, this place is a big mistake, with it’s “REAL TUSCAN” atmosphere. Eeuuu.