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Author: jgowans

Miami

Miami is a world-class destination, buzzing with energy day and night. Its iconic Art Deco architecture exudes vintage glamour, while the pristine white sand beaches offer stunning coastal beauty. South Beach sets the standard for sophistication, boasting vibrant nightlife and renowned celebrity-chef restaurants. Often dubbed the American Riviera, Miami effortlessly combines luxury, culture, and an unparalleled tropical vibe.

Aspen

With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, Aspen is truly a year round destination. The community’s mantra – mind, body, spirit – is as fresh today as it was 60 years ago. Aspen made a name for itself as a winter destination. Visionary skiers, philosophers, blue-collar workers, and locals created a cultural hub high up in the Rocky Mountains centered around skiing. Summertime and the seasons that bookend summer, however, illustrate the “mind, body, spirit” ethos that makes Aspen so special.

What sets Aspen apart from other mountain towns? It is the striking beauty of the natural landscape and the close-knit community of locals who have planted roots in this idyllic mountain town. Aspen is the greenest, healthiest, most sophisticated and most beautiful small town in America. Often referred to as the Rocky Mountain playground for the rich and famous, no matter how you choose to spend a day in Aspen, there is an unforgettable experience right at your doorstep. A place like no other place.

Florio Restaurant

Florio is located in the original Louis XVI hall at Villa Igiea. The interior and color scheme pays homage to the elegance of the Belle Époque era. Fulvio Pierangelini has designed an exquisite menu which portrays the culinary history and the wonderful flavors of Sicily.

Palermo Cathedral

La Cattedrale di Palermo is a prime example of Sicily’s unique Arab-Norman architectural style with construction beginning in 1184 by the Norman Archbishop Guiltier Offamilio. Alterations continued for centuries, thus encompassing a wide variety of architectural styles.

Teatro Massimo

Explore the stunning auditorium, its treasures, and the most interesting halls of the third largest opera house in Europe. Teatro Massimo’s opening night happened in May 1897 with Giuseppe Verdi’s Falstaff as the inaugural opera.

Siracusa

Soak up the atmosphere on the Island of Ortigia in Siracusa, Sicily. Delightfully packed with over 2,500 years of history, Greek and Roman architectural styles, pizzerias, trattorias and bars. The real center of Ortigia is the Piazza del Duomo. It is a delightful pedestrian square home to a Cathedral built on the site of an ancient Temple of Athena.

Nearby highlights might include other areas within Sicily that celebrate its Greek and Roman history, such as the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento.

Rocco Forte Villa Igiea

Villa Igiea is a superior Sicilian residence with luxury accommodations. The private palazzo was transformed into one of the most luxurious hotels in Sicily. The historic villa offers panoramic views overlooking the Bay of Palermo. A stay at Villa Igea in the capital of Sicily is full of tradition, elegance and serenity.