To celebrate Catriona Rowntree’s ‘European Fling’, we thought we’d return to some of our favourite ‘Ask the Concierge’ interviews from across Italy. Ciao!
From monastery to flagship hotel
Steven Ceschia is the Head Concierge at the Leading Hotels of the World property, San Domenico Palace Hotel, in Taormina, Sicily, in southern Italy. Taormina is carved into a rocky hillside overlooking both the glittering Ionian Sea and Mt Etna, an active volcano. The town is known for its Teatro Antico di Taormina, an ancient, Greco-Roman Amphitheatre which is still in use today as an entertainment venue. The hotel itself has a glamorous – and religious – past, counting actresses Marlene Dietrich and Audrey Hepburn among former guests. The luxury lodgings are housed in a former 14th-Century monastery, with an original, classic façade and soaring ceilings. Enjoy an insider’s guide to one of the Mediterranean’s most geographically spectacular holiday spots.
Finding the best espresso on Lake Como
Il Sereno Lago di Como Hotel, on the eastern shore of Italy’s Lake Como, is a sight to behold, for so many reasons. With a Lake Como back-drop that’s beyond your wildest dreams, the hotel’s award-winning designer Patricia Urquiola has given the interiors comfort and cutting-edge luxury with an unmistakably Italian flair. Discover how the concierge team, at this latest addition to the Sereno Hotels family, shares more reasons than just sheer beauty, inside and out, to venture an hour north of Milan.
A tranquil retreat minutes from Venice
Alessandro Heinrich, is Head Concierge at San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice. While buzzing Venice is only minutes away, San Clemente Island is the ideal destination for those seeking a retreat of peace and tranquillity and exclusivity at the same time – and it is only minutes away from St Mark’s Square by the resort’s complimentary boat! Having worked on San Clemente Island for almost 15 years, Alessandro is proud to have been among the first employees of this luxury property – a member of the Leading Hotels of the World. After working for quite a few years for one of the most well-known Venetian hotels, he was looking for a new challenge. Contributing to establishing a brand-new luxury resort from scratch is still his biggest accomplishment. The hotel’s spacious 190 rooms and suites offer exceptional views over the lagoon, or gardens and inner courtyards.
