Postcards from... Booklet 2022

Contents T heflagshipcityofFrancehasamagneticappeal thathas lured countlessvisitors to thebanksof theSeine.Classicalelegance sitscomfortablywithmodern innovation inawell-planned cityscapecontaining someof themost iconic structures includingmedievalchurches,Bourbonpalaces,BeauxArt department storesand thecity’sdefining industrial-agebeacon - theEiffel Tower. It isnowonder thatParis is renownedasaculturalmeltingpotandhas been regardedconsistently,especially since themid-19thcentury,asacentre for thevisualarts,gastronomyandhigh fashion. Elegant,wideboulevardsproliferate the low-risecentreof thecity, linedwithchracteristic stone- cladappartmentblocksvarying inheightbetween just5and7floors.This is the legacyof BaronHaussman,who transformedParisbetween1853until1870 fromamazeofnarrow, windinganddisease-riddenalleys into theprototype,modernmetropolis thatwould best servea rapidlygrowingpopulation.Whilst thenew,broad streetsmayhave beendesigned todeteraParisianhabit for riotingandblockades, it isevident Paris N oothercity in the worldcanboastas richanda long- survivinghistoryas Rome. Itwas the gloriousheartof thegreatRoman Empire,oneof thechiefcitiesof the Renaissance, thenearconstantbase for thePapacy in the ‘citywithinacity’ andpresent-day,buzzingcapitalof Europe’s fourth largesteconomy, Italy. Likea re-workedcanvas,all these elementshavebeencarefullyapplied inovercoats,buildingoneach layer to create simply themost storiedcampus withina thrivingmodernmetropolis. F irstdescribedas ‘TheEternalCity’by theRomans on theassumption thatnomatterwhathappened in the restof theancientworld thegloryofRome wouldalways remain standing, itbecameanatural target for successive sackingsby thebarbaric hordes from thenorthduring the900yearsof the DarkAges.Curiously itcouldhavecrumbled into Rome A glittering repositoryofworks from thegoldeneraof theRenaissance,Florence isoneof theworld’sgreat artcities.With the strikingandharmoniousbuildings ofBrunelleschi, frescoesbyGiottoandGhirlandaio, canvasesbyBotticelliandBronzino,and sculptures byMichelangeloandGiambologna, there is somuchexquisiteart andarchitecturewithin itsancientwalls thatyoucoulddedicate years rather thandays touncoverallher treasures. Andyet there isalsoa livingcity toenjoy, fullof fashionboutiques,quirky shopsand qualityartisanworkshops. Itmayhavea richartistic legacybut it isalsoahotbed for contemporaryartandculturewhich reflectsacommunitydisplayinganelectric,heartfelt mixofoldandnew. As forentertainmentandgastronomy, the streetsarebrimfulof restaurantsandbarsandas the sun sets revellerswill soondiscoverabuzzingnightlife scene.Furthermore,dependingonyourcultural schedule, theopportunity toescape to 4 28 20 Florence V enice isquite simply themostbeautiful antique in theworld.An impressively preservedhistoricalcityofhigh Renaissanceartandarchitecture in strictly controlled isolation in themiddleofa sheltered lagoon.Andherein lies its inherentmodern flaw -daylightassaultbyhordesofdaytrippers,butas the light fails thebusloadswilldepart (with the remains of theirpacked lunch)andcruisepassengerswill re- embark for thenext legof theirwhistle-stop7/10night Mediterranean seaadventure.Now is the time to discover theVeniceof theVenetians. What is for sure is thataprincipalmotivation to spend somenights inVenice is for loversandbonviveurs todrinkat thewellof love, lifeand libation for there isnowheremore romanticand ifyouare in theknowyouwillalso discover thatVenetiansare renowned for theirdeliciouscuisine.This isnot surprising since thecitywasbuilton thewealthof trade,whichwould naturallyenrich thepossiblities for thepalette.Ofcourse, fruitsof the sea takeprecedentwithdishes like bigoli insalsa (pasta inananchovy sauce), risottoalnerodiseppia (risottocookedwithcuttlefish ink)and sarde insaor (sardinespreserved ina sweetand sourmarinade)amongst themost famous Venice 12 La Reserve Paris Hotel & Spa Four Seasons Georges V Hôtel de Crillon , A Rosewood Hotel Mandarin Oriental Paris Relais Christine Hotel Chateau Voltaire Monsieur George Hotel Bvlgari Hôtel Paris Saint James Paris La Demeure Montaigne Hôtel Le Bristol Paris Le Meurice J.K. Place Paris Maison Souquet Hôtel Lutetia Hotel Banke Opera, Autograph Collection Aldrovandi Villa Borghese Hotel de la Ville , A Rocco Forte Hotel Villa Spaletti Trivelli Hotel Eden Hotel de Russie , A Rocco Forte Hotel Baglioni Hotel Regina Grand Hotel Plaza The Inn at the Roman Forum Hotel Lord Byron J.K. Place Roma The St. Regis Grand Hotel Margutta 19 Hotel Palazzo Manfredi Hotel Hassler Roma Villa Agrippina Gran Meliá Hotel Vilòn Hotel Brunelleschi Villa Cora Hotel Savoy , A Rocco Forte Hotel Four Seasons Hotel Firenze Villa La Massa Villa San Michele , A Belmond Hotel Il Salviatino Torre di Bellosguardo Relais Santa Croce , by Baglioni Hotels Hotel Lungarno Hotel Helvetia & Bristol Hotel L’Orologio Portrait Firenze Grand Hotel Baglioni St. Regis Florence The Place Firenze Aman Venice Baglioni Hotel Luna Hotel Heureka Hotel Londra Palace Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel Gritti Palace , A luxury Collection Hotel Hotel Danieli, A Luxury Collection Hot el Palazzo Giovanelli Ca’Sagredo Bauer Palazzo Hotel Flora JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa Sina Centurion Palace Hotel L’Orologio Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido Venissa Wine Resort A series of popular City Break features (4-page format) with a great choice of supporting hotel partners that you can choose from... ...fast forward by clicking your preferred destination or city hotel