Archive for the 'Villae International Magazine' Category

The Palacio Hotel, Estoril’s famous classic venue, played host to the annual meeting of the European Real Estate Network (EREN) this September past. Just as autumn was setting in across Europe, the 20 member agents from nine countries arrived to the welcome sun and mild climate of the Estoril coast – still the original Portuguese Riviera.

Continue reading…EREN take important decisions at annual meeting in Estoril…

The Iberian Peninsula is dotted with magnificent monuments of bygone days, witnesses to some of the most intriguing chapters of European history. The great event that shook this land was the Moorish conquest, initiated in 711 with the arrival of Tariq and his forces, and the subsequent Christian Reconquest that would start shortly afterwards and culminate with the retaking of Granada in 1492.

Continue reading…Hilltop sentinels…

Like a velvet revolution, a seamless new movement is making its presence felt in the upper echelons of men’s couture. Savile Row, the bastion of tailored quality, is being challenged by a new generation of couturiers that revive old-fashioned skills whilst creating exciting new designs. Oscar Udeshi is one of the leading lights of this new direction in men’s fashion.

The former banker had a career that involved travel, money and great perks, yet he gave it all up to commit himself to an entirely new calling. Rather than simply join the legions of designer wannabes, this economics and philosophy graduate really had something to say, and it’s a message that is helping to revitalise London’s luxury men’s fashion sector.

Continue reading…The tailored revolution…

To experience the Cirque du Soleil is to embark upon a sensory voyage in which one is transported to another world where gravity seems to have no hold and shapes, colours and sound blend into one. Like Alice in Wonderland come to life, this is a successful melange of circus, theatre, art and acrobatics that transcends age in its appeal. Cirque du Soleil is hard to define because there is nothing to compare it to; this unique experience that draws from other art forms sets the yardstick for modern performing arts because it is, in effect, the greatest live show of the modern era.

Continue reading…Cirque du Soleil, an ethereal experience…

The location of the Hotel Colonna Pevero could hardly be bettered: overlooking the azure waters of the Golfo del Pevero – an intimate indent right in the heart of Sardinia’s celebrated Costa Smeralda.

From its vantage point against a gentle rise the world is a subtle blur of parkland, natural Mediterranean vegetation, beaches, coves and the stylish cluster of local architecture ranged about a particularly privileged corner of one of the most glamorous coastlines in the world.

Continue reading…Hotel Colonna Pevero, Porto Cervo…

Music delights, feeds the soul and punctuates special moments in our lives, but music can be light, fluffy and superficial or a true work of enduring art and wonderment. To the latter category belong the master works of musical geniuses like Beethoven and Mozart, whose intricate dance with sound has endured the test of time and musical styles. Such genius deserves nothing less than the finest instrument, so is it not surprising that the noblest instrument of all is itself a masterful work of beauty and craftsmanship.

Continue reading…A rhapsody for the senses…

From the moment I laid eyes on them, the streets of Havana captivated me. I can’t recall if it was the exuberant friendliness of the people, the fragile beauty of worn façades or the bright colours of American road cruisers from the fifties, but I was immediately fascinated by this singular Caribbean mix. Through my lens I found Havana to be photogenic, intense and multifaceted.

Continue reading…The streets of Havana…