italy Archives

Corinna B October 24, 2014

Corinna B’s World Goes To Panarea

Panarea

The Aeolian Island where the jet set go to escape the rest of the jetset.

Or something like that.

The Corinna B’s World Glam Italia Tour spent some time here this summer. Panarea is very glamorous, and completely and utterly lovely.

Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour

the main harbor in Panarea

This delicious island off of the north coast of Sicily has become the chicest summer spot in the Mediterranean.
But it’s not about out-doing the neighbors, or about flashy displays of wealth. It’s not the club scene of Ibiza, and you’ll probably (hopefully!) never see Lindsay or Paris here.

there are beautiful walkways everywhere

everywhere you look the colors are vibrant

Home owners include Borghese’s and Bulgari’s and Visconti’s.

Panarea is a safe haven from overbuilt vacation destinations.

If anything it is underbuilt. Beautiful private homes on streets with no street lights, no cars and no pretense, heady with frangipani and lemons, hibiscus flowers and wild cacti, it’s an island that you get around on on foot, the locals frequently navigating the winding cobblestoned paths barefoot.

my bikini matches the door….

Little hamlets such as San Pietro, Ditella and Drauto have the island’s few shops.

Here you can buy the highly coveted custom made leather sandals with colored straps that wind up the leg, or the batik fashions found at the Raya boutique. There are no designer shops here, although major designers name products after the island.

world famous sandal shop Moda Mare makes you sandals while you wait

You may however see some pretty fabulous designers visiting the island. Dolce and Gabbana come over from their home on nearby Stromboli, Giorgio Armani finds his way there from his home on Pantilleria on his super yacht.

Princess Caroline comes by on her yacht Pacha III, and there are invariably a handful of mega models and actresses arriving as guests of other yacht owners pulling in for the evening.

Panarea is charming, and very, very quiet.

It is surrounded by the bluest water I have ever seen, anywhere in the world.

the ocean around Panarea is the bluest I have ever seen

the best way to swim here is off a boat

There are not very many beaches, and they are a considerable hike to get to, but if you have access to a boat, swimming off of the coast of Panarea is one of the most glorious experiences ever. The water even feels soft and luxurious and the views are just breathtaking.

Panarea feels like a decadent secret hideaway, the loveliest of escapes.

Corinna B October 17, 2014

Hotel Il San Pietro Di Positano

There is no place on earth quite like the
glorious Il San Pietro Hotel in Positano.

No place at all.

The Il San Pietro is an
architectural masterpiece, sculpted into the cliffs overlooking the beautiful
bay of Positano. The hotel was designed to be in complete harmony with the
natural beauty of this very unique stretch of the Amalfi Coast, and combines
the utmost in luxury with views so spectacular you can barely breathe.

There are only 62 rooms, each of which has
it’s own private balcony with views so stunning you can barely breathe.

The San Pietro has its own private beach
that you reach by an elevator cut into the rocks.

The Michelin Star restaurant grows it’s
own vegetables in a private terraced garden, and the olive oil comes from The
Hotel San Pietro’s own olive grove.

If you are unable to stay at the hotel, a
glass of wine on the beautiful Mediterranean terrace, with it’s breathtaking
and world famous view of Positano is an absolute must. It is one of those
multi-sensory experiences that will stay with you forever.

It is quite possibly
the most romantic place on earth and most definitely the very closest you can get to
heaven on earth.

Every view is stunning

My favorite place for a glass of wine at the end of the day. The terrace at the beautiful Hotel Il San Pietro, Positano.

Corinna B October 10, 2014

Lipari ~ The Glam Italia Tour

Lipari, Aeolian Islands, Sicily.

Midnight in Sicily, on the beautiful island of Lipari

Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere.
And sometimes in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself.

This year I lead a private tour of Italy.
We called it the Corinna B’s World Glam Italia Tour.
It really was quite glamorous.
We spent a few days in the Aeolian Islands, with home base being the beautiful island of Lipari.

Lipari-Aeolian-Islands-Corinna-Bs-World-Glam-Italia-Tour

Lipari town, Lipari

From Lipari we took boat trips to other islands in this breathtakingly beautiful volcanic chain.

boating in the Aeolian Islands

Boat trip in the Aeolian Islands

Aquacalda, Lipari

One of the most magnificent things about the Aeolians is the lack of Hiltons. And Marriots. And any other major chain of hotels.
There were no condo complexes blighting the horizon.
It was perfect.

Lido on the beach in Porticello

scooters at Canneto Beach, Lipari

If you venture to Lipari, stay in Canneto Beach. It is only 5 minutes from the main harbor and Lipari town, but is quiet, lovely, and has a perfect view of the active volcano Stromboli across the water.

Blue waters off Canneto beach in Lipari, with a view of Stromboli smoking in the distance

From Aquacalda in Lipari you can see Salina, the island from Il Postino

There are fantastic places to eat in Canneto Beach, and you can walk to them all.
(Just make sure you avoid La Papisca. They charge tourists a ridiculously inflated prices and are surly and mean. Everywhere else is fantastic).

Canneto Beach at night

We stayed at the beautiful Hotel La Zagara. The service was amazing and very personable, and we loved everything about this hotel. I most definitely plan on staying there again next year.

Corinna B’s World Goes To Panarea

Hotel Il San Pietro Di Positano

Lipari ~ The Glam Italia Tour

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