client experience: italian excellence, a journey with aLIVE
“All roads lead back to Rome, well at least in my life. Its captivating beauty, vibrant people, indulgent food, and convenient airport make it the perfect start to any good Italian holiday. The moment I landed, I was greeted with my favorite Roman pastry: a maritozzo. After a short 30- minute drive, we arrived at my family’s favorite hotel in Rome, the Bvlgari Hotel. From the second you step out of the car, you’re overwhelmed with uplifting Italian hospitality that makes the Bvlgari feel like home. This hotel is a feast for your eyes....and stomach. Mesmerizing mosaics, a rainbow of marbles, and Bvlgari high jewelry adorn the hallways. With a seamless check-in, we were escorted to our suites stocked with a fresh fruit basket, dates and dried apricots, and our itinerary for the following days.
First on the agenda was a private cooking class: a foodie family’s dream. Hungry and ready to eat, we made our way into an impeccably clean kitchen that overlooked the bustling streets of Rome. We geared up to start cheffing the night away when we were faced with a very difficult question: “Do you want to make white pasta or red pasta?” There’s only one right answer here and it’s both. With pleasure, the chef began guiding us through the pasta and tiramisu-making process. Although my family is very experienced in the kitchen and knowledgeable about cooking, we still learned a great deal from this experience. One bowl of amatriciana and ricotta pasta later, we devoured our tiramisu and headed back to Bvlgari for a restful night before our actual Italy trip began.
The next morning we checked out of the Bvlgari Hotel and began our journey to Florence, of course with a few stops along the way. My dad being the wine fanatic he is was eagerly looking forward to our private showing of Podere Le Ripi winery. Known for Sangiovese grapes, Montalcino is a wine lovers paradise. Our tour guide took us through the estate highlighting the one-of-a-kind barrel room that took our breath away. After this is the fun part...drinking and eating. We were faced with 8 glasses of wine and homemade lasagna. There are definitely worse ways you can spend a Monday, but, afterall, we left with full stomachs, a slight buzz, and a perfect nap opportunity as we continued our drive to Florence.
The Florence and Ravenna Chronicles
After what felt like a short dream, we arrived at the Portrait Hotel with a picturesque view of the historic Arno River. We cleaned ourselves up and headed out for a free night in Florence. For us this looks like eating and shopping: the two simple pleasures of life. After making a must-stop at Luisavuiroma, we made our way to a quiet alley where Regina Bistecca, No. 45 on the World’s 101 Best Restaurants list, lies. As someone from Chicago and an avid steak-lover, I consider myself a steak connoisseur. This steak left me picking up the bone with my bare hands and shamelessly making sure every piece of meat was off the bone. They are known for their steak but don’t overlook the truffle pasta and bone marrow. An absolute party for your tastebuds.
The next day was a Ferragamo extravaganza. After a beautiful run along the river and an extensive Italian breakfast buffet, we went to the Ferragamo Production Lab and Museum for a private visit. Adorned with frescos and grand chandeliers, the Production Lab is a site most people don’t have access to, but of course, we had VIP treatment with aLIVE. After an in-depth briefing on all things Ferragamo, we had a new appreciation for the company as we went into the shop to buy a few “souvenirs”. After lunch in the winter sun, we transferred to the Ferragamo Factory for a private visit, again, something most people don’t have access to. Although photos were not allowed in many of the locations in the factory, having an insider look at the Ferragamo archives of clothing, handbags, and shoes was the highlight of our day. With the rest of our evening at our leisure, we grabbed a pre-dinner gelato from one of the best gelaterias in Florence, La Carraia, followed by more shopping and a cozy dinner at Trattoria Sostanza known for their succulent butter chicken.
Our final morning in Florence was spent eating yet another breakfast buffet and saying our farewells to the beautiful hotel. Our driver picked us up and we made our way to Ravenna. I must note, that the driver who took over our trip from this point on was a spectacular person professionally and personally. He quickly became family over the next few days.
Arriving in Ravenna, we met with our private guide and began our tour of the Basilica di Sant’Apollinare then walked through the city center and arrived at the Basilica di San Vitale. Humbled by its beauty, our guide gave us a thorough explanation of the mosaics that enveloped the entire Basilica. With hungry bellies, our guide dropped us off at the historic market where we sat down and ate a delicious meal. You cannot go to Ravenna without paying a visit to Koko Mosaico. While my father wasn’t as into this activity, my mother and I handcrafted our very own mosaics.
Collaborating with my mom on a mosaic was a very comforting activity because it brought to life where I learned my taste for color and design. All I can say is I am my mother’s daughter and I truly did learn from the best. After my mother and I completed our mosaics and my father woke up from his nap, we transferred to Palazzo di Varignana and called it a night.
Modena’s Finest
Any day that starts with meat and cheese is going to be a good day. Arriving in Polesine Zibello, a region of Parma, we were welcomed by peacocks and chickens lining the driveway of the Spigaroli property situated on the Po River. We ducked our way through the underground Spigaroli cellars that were filled with Culatello floating from the ceiling. After learning all about Culatello, we finally were given the chance to try it at the trattoria on-site, and, of course, it was delicious. I can see why Prince Albert of Monaco has his supply of this delivered to him annually.
Back in the car and ready to see some fast cars, we drove to Modena and had our first stop at Maserati where we had an exclusive tour of the assembly line. I never was into Maserati until we did the factory visit. The workers, innovation, and selection of materials and colors made me develop a greater appreciation for the brand. I can proudly say I am now a Maserati admirer and I could definitely see one in my future. From one epic car to the next, we drove to the Ferrari Museum for a private tour. All I can say is wow. This museum was so tastefully designed and thought out. I highly recommend watching The Ferrari movie before your visit to grow a deeper appreciation for the Ferrari story. We were ooing and awing over new and old models and obviously had to stop by the merch store to begin manifesting our very own Ferrari.
Now, for the best part of the trip....Casa Maria Luigia, Massimo Bottura’s property that can be explained as a masterpiece. From the moment you step foot onto this property, you are overwhelmed by tasteful beauty. Greeted with life-size scoops of gelato in flower pots and a neon sign with the phrase
“red, white, and fucking blue”, you get an immediate sense of elevated, modern-day luxury. We were guided to our villa and our mouths were left wide open. The kitchen island was covered in house-made oils and vinegar, fresh cookies, nuts, and crackers. The fridge was fully stocked with various juices, fresh cakes, every milk you can think of, and seasonal salads. A record player filled the room with soothing jazz and our private pool lights glimmered on the windows as the sun was setting. After seeing our capacious bedrooms, we questioned, “Do we have to leave our villa to go to dinner?!” Alas, we knew deep down a bucket list dinner was on the line, so we gathered our things and walked a few hundred feet to the legendary Osteria Francescana.
Before I continue elaborating on our dinner, I must add, Ioana had a 3-week heads-up to book the entire trip, and in some Ioana way, she managed to get us in places that usually take being on a year's waitlist. How do I know this? Everyone at our table said they had booked 6-months in advance and my father was so delighted with our villa, he wanted to see what the rates were in June so we could utilize the pool, but the front desk informed us the villa had been booked out for a year already. Back to Osteria Francescana...
We walked into an open-concept restaurant with tables in front of the kitchen. Imagine watching Chopped in real life. It’s communal-style seating which turned out to be so fun in the end because you get to share your remarks and reactions with those around you. From camouflage risotto, the crunchy part of lasagna painted in Italian colors, to tortellini for dessert, Osteria Francescana deserves every star and accolade they have been awarded (I don’t say this lightly...the Michelin scale does not always guide you in the right direction). With very full bellies, we walked out of Osteria Francescana with a newfound appreciation for Chef Massimo Bottura.
We started the next morning with a workout in Massimo’s playground, and a playground it was. From Ducatti’s to Ferrari’s to state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, you could say I was in my version of heaven. I can confidently say, working out next to a Ferrari made it a bearable. We proceeded to walk the property grounds and took the time to truly admire all the little details on this property...and there’s a lot. Everything oozed charm and originality.
As a fashion fanatic myself, I was most excited to visit the Parmeggiani house. This is a family-run company that has been making leather goods for decades. Stores like this are rare to come by nowadays, so it made this experience extra special. They gave us a very warm Italian welcome and we started the process of creating our handbags. This process took longer than expected, but when there are hundreds of leather to choose from, the narrowing down process becomes seemingly difficult.
My family loves interior design and textiles, so Ioana scheduled a visit to Iris Ceramica. Not your typical vacation pitstop, but this is the perks of working with someone who tailor-makes your itinerary specifically for you. By the way, I don’t know if you’re aware of what they’re doing with ceramic lately, but we were blown away. The textures, colors, patterns, and usability of this textile is limitless!
We built up quite the appetite and drove to the legendary Cavallino Restaurant. Branded from ceiling to floor, the Ferrari spirit was alive and well in here. After yet another delicious Italian meal, Pagani was calling. I did not think I needed a private showing of the Pagani factory, but boy, I will never be the same after that. While everyone was touring the general access Pagani museum, my family had the opportunity to actually go inside the “factory”. I use quotations because this is not a factory, this is an art exhibition. Music filled the factory and workers were in the zone doing what they do best...crafting masterpieces. The story of Pagani combined with the worker’s energy, the kindness of our guide, and the beauty of the car itself, made me Pagani’s number one fan. So much so, I am now considering getting an apartment at the Pagani Residences in Miami opening in 2027.
After an extremely long day, all we wanted to do was stay on property grounds. We freshened up and walked to Gatto Verde. All I can say is wow. This was by far our favorite meal of the trip. The Canadian chef incorporated North American classics with the elegance of Italian cuisine creating an absolute party for your taste buds. Pro tip: don’t miss out on the short rib.
Our last day in Modena started with an exclusive factory visit of Max Mara. Men and women meticulously hand-stitching coats and blouses gained my admiration and influenced me to practice patience more often....something we all need. After a visit to the Max Mara store in Reggio Emilia and lunch at Caffè Delle Arti, it was finally time to adopt our barrel at Acetaia Maria Luigia.
The grounds were purchased with barrels of balsamico and, of course, Massimo Botture turned it into art. Balsamic barrels lined the ground with some dating back to 1910 and a tunnel of light transported you into Massimo’s world. Mind-blowing. Since Ioana has special “ins” to experiences and places, we had the opportunity to adopt a barrel with our last name written on it. Every year, Acetaia Maria Luigia will send us twelve of our balsamico with a custom label on the front. Having a piece of our family in this region, at Casa Maria Luigia is a great honor.
Our dinner that night was a chef’s table experience at Erba del Re, a one Michelin star restaurant. Although the food was not our favorite, Chef Luca Marchini is so passionate about his work. Behind every dish is a story. Each ingredient is so intentional and that’s what made this meal magical. We felt truly spoiled to have him to ourselves for the night.
All good things must come to an end, but not before an epic Christmas morning -inspired breakfast at Casa Maria Luigia. Inspired by Massimo’s childhood, the breakfast at Casa Maria Luigia is well-known and well-loved. Served in Osteria Francescana, Ginori china lines the tables and the aroma of cinnamon fills the air. Fresh focaccia, warm cinnamon rolls, creamy romanesco, and addictive chocolate chip cookies are just a few of the lineup items they generously serve you.
With very full stomachs, our journey back to Rome began. When we arrived, we had the surprise of a lifetime waiting at the Bvlgari Hotel....Ioana herself. She sat in the library surrounded by delicious pastries and tea eager to hear our experience. She is so involved in the process and truly holds great passion for her company, experiences, and you as a customer. This is why her service is irreplaceable. Ioana takes the time to understand you and caters to every detail of your preferences. This kind of service is few and far to come by in 2024. The best thing? She’s available anytime during the trip. If something is not what you thought it would be, she’s one text away. Because of her passion, she wants every guest to leave her journey hungry to explore and learn, but most importantly, she wants people to feel alive. With our hearts filled with pure joy and excitement, every great Rome trip has to end with a creamy carbonara from Roscioli....I don’t make the rules. A perfect nightcap for an incredible week-long journey discovering legendary Italian craftsmanship.”
