As Italy’s number one golf resort, Verdura Resort has played a prominent role in helping to raise the profile of Italian golf with players across Europe and beyond, and the country’s status in world golf is set to be elevated to a new level at the end of this month (September) when Italy hosts the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup – the biggest team competition in golf – for the first time in its burgeoning history.
The eyes of the golfing world will fall on Rome’s Marco Simone Golf & Country Club from September 29 to October 1 as Europe’s best players take on the United States in a bid to regain the trophy they lost two years ago.
Originally designed by Jim Fazio in the 1980s, the course – a 45-minute drive from Hotel de Russie – has undergone a major renovation by Tom Fazio II and European Golf Design ahead of the biennial contest. A two-time host of the Italian Open, the course is renowned for its pristine condition and offers unparalleled views of lakes, the Marco Simone Castle and Saint Peters dome throughout, providing guests with a unique yet classic Italian setting to enjoy.
Vivacious, glamorous, powerful. Few figures encapsulate the effortless grandeur of the Belle Époque quite like Donna Franca, our Sicilian muse. Famed for her petite frame, thick dark hair and an exquisite fashion sense that has endured for over a century, Franca was the epitome of an era that placed beauty and high fashion at its forefront.
The festive season brings its own kind of sparkle - a flurry of celebrations, feasts, and time with those who matter most. To make gifting simple, we’ve curated a selection of bespoke experiences to delight everyone on your list. From candlelit dinners and Italian wine tastings to tranquil spa escapes and moments devoted to yourself, each experience thoughtfully crafted to offer moments of joy.
In a time when beauty shaped every facet of life — from the curve of a staircase to the vivid bloom of a painted iris — Italy’s Stile Liberty captured the optimism of a new century. Across Europe in the late 19th century, the Belle Époque blurred the line between art and the everyday, celebrating craftsmanship, elegance, and expressive freedom. Now, a new cultural itinerary, From Mucha to Florio, traces that movement between Hotel de la Ville in Rome and Villa Igiea in Palermo, two different cities, two glorious expressions of the same artistic impulse.
