Ariella’s Villas Blog

A garden at Costa San Giorgio in Oltrarno

In the cradle of the Renaissance many visitors pass through for a few special days filled with brief fleeting moments. All those who have been swear they will return; those who haven’t yet laid eyes on the jewel of Tuscany‘s world-famous landscape do know what they are missing…

Elegant interior near Piazza Santa Croce

Dating back centuries the city of Florence has been on the map for different reasons. The first bank was founded here by the infamous Medici family in the 14th Century but already hundreds of years before them the Golden Age of Florentine art was visible with the construction for instance of the Basilica di San Miniato a Monte beginning as early as 1013. The history of art which lead Florence to the time when Humanism began and well beyond then, that same history which has granted the city her fame as creative centre through the ages, not to mention birthplace or chosen home of many notable historical figures from Dante to Emilio Pucci, is too long and nteresting to be recounted here, although it may be argued that the ancient Florentia the last (best) preserved Renaissance city in the world.

View over the Arno River from Lungarno Vespucci

To experience this place is something like a dream for most of us; there is however the possibility of renting a flat or apartment within the historical centre thanks to careful research and great connections through private owners by Ariella’s Villas specialist rental agency. A handful of beautifully appointent apartments and flats with magnificent locations in central Florence are available to select clients at weekly, monthly and yearly fees.

It has been an inspiring few days in one of the hottest/coolest cities in America this December with the Miami Art Basel contemporary art fair. To quote their own website the show is ‘the most important art show in the United States, a cultural and social highlight for the Americas’. The event is a host of many scenes at once:

For starters and most importantly the Art Basel fair itself which compares to its Swiss counterpart held every Spring in Basel from which it draws its name, closely followed by the Art Miami and Pulse show pavilions in the trendy  Design District where all the sexiest accessories for decorating the home are collected in chic boutiques selling high brow and trendy brands. A couple of the more interesing are the NiBa Home Store and UZCA, both on NE 2nd Avenue in the downtown District.

Bigger and better known galleries and artists are in the Miami Beach Convention Center whereas smaller shows like Pulse feature a wide range of gallerists from the Americas and beyond. Some gallery names to remember are the Brancolini Grimaldi Arte based in Rome and Florence who feature photography by Massimo Vitali as well as Vermelho from Sao Paulo displaying the brand new creations of Marcelo Cidade.

My personal favourite was the NADA (New Art Dealers Alliance) Art Fair held at the nostalgically glamourous Deauville Hotel. In 1964 The Beatles appeared in their second US performance ever, broadcast live on the Ed Sullivan Show, direct from the hotel’s famed Napoleon Ballroom which between December 2^nd and 5^th, 2010 contained a little more than half of the NADA gallerists’ stands. The best stand prize went to the Kate Gerble Gallery of Vandam Street in downtown New York City who represents the beautiful works of my friend the sculptor Ernest Burgos. His work was not at NADA this year but at an independent show called ‘The Every Other Day’ at Ideobox Artspace in Wynwood curated by Donald Jonson Montenegro and well worth a visit before it closes its doors on January 7^th, 2011.

Miami Art Basel is a concentration of the most exciting international contemporary art with a strong focus on the Americas in particular. Less of a high brow manifestation than its Swiss older sister it attracts visitors and international collectors, mostly people who come for the art, but many who also come for the party. I didn’t need but a little help from my friends to partake in the latter, with numerous private gallery-held, brand- and store-sponsored events every evening all over town as well as late night art and non-art celebrations in homes and famous South Beach hotels like the Delano which this year opened its cellar to the Parisian Le Baron nightclub for a special Miami Art Basel edition. My culture and art experience however was guided throughout by another friend and true curated art professional Anna Di Stasi, director at the unique travel and service provider Pinacoteca NYC, who shared with me some of the inside knowledge about up and coming art that she normally only saves for her bespoke clientele.

Some of Ariella’s Villas owners and clients will highly appreciate my new awakening to the world of contemporary collecting. I am referring for to collectors themselves who travel to inspiring places in search of new art or to those who fill their own homes with special pieces like at La Fàbrica in Ibiza. For next year’s edition of the show there will be an assortment of apartments and villas in Miami for rent through the exclusive villa agency; the collection continues to grow with every new destination visited and will constantly evolve around the events which keep the interested and interesting citizens of the world on the move.

The splendid Villa Lara, a premium waterfront property overlooking the ocean at Llandudno in Cape Town, has been made available for exclusive stays during the 2010 World Cup hosted in South Africa.

Villa Lara is an exquisite hideaway only 20 minutes from the Waterfront and Green Point Stadium. From the moment the wooden gates shut an air of luxury, comfort and tranquility envelops guests with the hypnotic sound of the sea soothing away any stress. Everywhere one looks the views are sensational.

Hospitality match tickets will be outsourced for our clients through Sports Escapes depending on availability.

Designed & owned by award-winning photographer Chris Simpson, Villa Lara reflects his quintessential taste, his love of shape and form and his enviable ability to frame views for maximum breathtaking impact. The spectacularly airy double height gallery at the heart of Villa Lara displays many of Chris’s most famous works, including Allée des Baobabs. The photographs hung on these walls transport the viewer as far as Madagascar, Namibia, Cuba, Mali, Easter Island and Mauritius while staying at beautiful Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa!

This 2010 is going to be a fun-filled New Year for all of us who suffered through a most boring and uneventful Recession-struck past few months… It appears many are low on cash, but all it takes when it comes to holidays is to learn how to spend it and where to invest. For instance, solid stone castles who’ve been staning for centuries may be a safe bet!

Save $$$ not flying half way around the world and spending most of your budget per person on air fare and start making plans for the Spring & Summer closer to home. For those of us in Europe, there are endless fabulous destinations to choose from, ranging from countryside breaks in Italy, France, Morocco & Spain to island retreats in Ibiza, Mykonos, Crete, Cyprus, Sardinia… to name a few!

A couple of new castles and châteaux have recently been added to our books; they are well suited for groups of holiday-makers who don’t want to overspend but want to have a private residence for a week or two, perhaps where they can celebrate someone’s birthday or perhaps for a cosy a wedding party? Getting married somewhere private is becoming very trendy.

At the Castello di Cabbiavoli near Siena a beautiful garden and small chapel make for an ideal venue to get hitched. The Castello di Pergolato in the hills of Tuscany is surrounded by its own medieval town across the valley from a great open winery where tours and tasting are held daily and sleeps almost 20 adults. Of the same size, the Château Saint Martory in South West France is appropriate for a gastronomical experience in the Garonne, and the Château Grand-Lucé in the Loire Valley is a convenient drive from Paris.

All villas in Mediterranean spots are hot hot hot in Summer, but give great rates for early birds and Autumn stragglers.

It’s always worth enquiring with us through the website! If you book early some saving is guaranteed and your destination of choice will be relatively tourist-free when compared to the busiest months (June, July, August depending on the spot). We are here to answer your questions and fit you with the best possible solution for big and small travelling parties.

On average, you won’t be spending more than €150 per person per day in most of our staffed European castles.

Its location on Morro Altos dos Segredos is just above the Pousada Estrela d’Àgua, most famous beachfront hotel in the popular Brazilian coastal holiday resort of Trancoso. Overlooking the Rio Trancoso and the immense turquoise waters of the Atlantic and facing the colourful and historical houses of Trancoso’s famous square called Quadrado, the Casa do Jeff is immersed in the natural splendor of the Bahian coastline with views to the nearby ocean.

View to the Ocean from the dining terrace

During both sunny daytime and breezy nights a peaceful feeling of privacy pervades this small abode. The one or two couples who choose to spend a holiday here live contained by the tropical jungle but are only a 5 minutes’ drive from the Quadrado, its restaurants, shops and pousadas, and a 5 minutes’ walk down to the white sandy beach.

The house offers two large bedrooms with views over treetops and palms leading down to the candid beaches, each with its own bathroom. There is a dining table and sofa area on the interior which open onto a wooden deck equipped with hammocks in the shade, a further dining area, and a freshwater swimming pool. Casa do Jeff comes with a full staff including a housemaid, a gardener and the lovely Fernando, an English speaking “butler” who can answer almost any question about the house, the best beaches, the coolest bars and the most exciting New Year’s party in Trancoso this year!!!

The Bahian culture is colourful and African-influenced

High Season Rates – December through February

Daily rate is BR$ 700 per day (min 3 days)
New Year’s package 10 days : 21,000 BR$
February Carnival package 7 days : 9,500 BR$

That time of year is quickly approaching and in mid-October it is already getting difficult to find availability at our favourite villas and properties across the African continent. This year’s Number 1 Cool Cat New Year’s destination has got to be the island of Lamu off the coast of Kenya. All the Shela Village houses were filled up by the end of the summer and now everything at Kizingoni Beach is also full… Up for grabs are a couple of smaller villas on Manda Island and Diani Beach.

For those who want to see & be seen: Lamu during the last days of 2009 will have it all!

The rest of us will have to start looking elsewhere if we haven’t done so already. From anywhere in Europe and the UK travelling south to Africa for the Christmas holidays just makes so much sense. The jet lag is minimal, the sun is hot and the beaches offer uncrowded sands and crystal waters. Although Kenya is closest, it’s not much much further down to Mozambique or South Africa, two great countries with more beaches and hot spots that anyone could count!

Our best new find of 2008 had to be Benguerra Island in southern Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago. We have a special new deal on for this season with the two new villas that have been built adjacent to the formidable Benguerra Lodge for private use. They face the bay and are set directly on the beach, with acess to the Lodge’s facilities such as private butlers, delicious meals, the dhow bar & real dhow sunset sails, horseback riding all around the island, deep sea fishing on the speed boats which can also be used for exploratory tours of the different islands dotting the archipelago… A totally exclusive and brand new option for the clients of Ariella’s Villas who will book their December trip now!

Gigantic South Africa has an endless amount of options for the end of the year. From a beach holiday at Plettenberg Bay to a sojourn in the fascinating city of Cape Town, whether renting a home near the Residence or out by Camp’s Bay, and all the way to the Karoo or the Limpopo Valley. There are homes and villas of all sizes and prices some of which are still available at affordable rates. Last minute deals are not a tradition in this part of the world.

We have added more and more to our books and can only provide a sample of the multiple options online, so please enquire with us for all queries regarding the upcoming Christmas Season under the sun of Africa.

from this terrace the views open over the ocean towards the Nicoya Peninsula

This August my second visit to Costa Rica was finally achieved! I had been to the central valley of this small Central American state once before in February 2006 when I was still finishing my degree at the University of Geneva and already setting up my first company (which then was sadly closed in favour of this one!) called Ride Escape Ltd.

At that time my purpose of travel was not the discovery of rare and beautiful properties which almost no one else knew about, but rather, of exciting horseback adventures in different natural settings. I had found out about Centaura on the net and soon gotten in touch with Esteban who kindly invited me out for a ride. I had flown from Los Angeles through Houston and arrived at San José airport on my own expecting to easily pick out ‘a man with a hat and a moustache named Alex’. What I hadn’t realised then was that most people you will run into at SJO airport are men, have a moustache and wear a straw hat!

riding in a sunday cabalgata 2006

Luckily Esteban had also been there that day and we quickly found each other and took off for the 2.5 hour drive through a lush landscape of coffee plantations, rain and cloud forest, leading to the small village of Platanar at the feet of the famous Arenal Volcano. Platanar gets its name from one of the rivers in the state of San Carlos and Esteban has built a farm there where he and his family now reside, together with a team of almost 30 horses. His company Centaura takes visitors on rides in the region and further afield all around Costa Rica, as well as flying safaris in a hot air balloon!

proud man with embellished tack participates in a traditional topé parade

March is the season for cabalgatas in rural Costa Rica and I had planned my visit there as to be a part of this yearly fiesta, which is a true treat for horse lovers, no matter what kind of riding they’re into! On Saturdays local men and women put on a show prancing through town and village squares on their prize horses who literally dance down the road decorated in fancy saddles and silver-studded bridles. On Sundays over 1,000 riders meet up in the morning a ride throughout the day with a stop for lunch half-way between start and finish point. Parishes take turns at hosting these events and local ladies who prefer not to ride prepare the rice & bean gallo pinto, grilled meats and tortillas for the hungry crowd. At the end of the day, dances are held in large farmsteads and rodeos and cattle sales take place into the night.

But that was 2006. This year I did go back to Platanar and Esteban’s farm but only for a short visit which did of course include some horseback riding and a big surprise given all the changes which had taken place on the property since my last visit when the farm was brand new.

youngest horse at the finca

There is now a swimming pool and a lodge for guests. Esteban’s wife Monica now has a beautiful finca-style home uphill from the stables where her children also live and where my sister Ania and I were invited to home-cooked breakfast early in the tropical mornings. We had a couple of very relaxing days which ended with a visit to a remote hot spring up in the hills facing the Arenal Volcano. This nighttime activity is often enjoyed by locals who can wade in the hot mineral baths while sipping piña coladas or ice cold Imperial beers.

ania & ariella at the hot springs

What a great finish to our stay in the countryside and a fabulous first impression for Ania of Costa Rican hospitality and lifestyle. We were ready now to move on to villas! It was sad to leave the finca and Esteban’s family behind, but we were whisked off for our meeting with Katrin von Enden at the mall in San Ramon. Katrin has been living in Costa Rica for 4 years although she is originally from Germany, and that very morning she had picked up Ania’s & my cousin Sam in San José. We were going to drive towards to coast that day: destination Dominical on the Pacific shore.

Because of her deep knowledge of the country, Katrin was the perfect guide for our visit and the perfect partner for Ariella’s Villas in Costa Rica. We had met one morning at my Geneva office and discussed the possibilities of future collaboration for private property rentals in the popular coastal sites of Mesoamerica’s safest country, beginning with better known areas such as Guanacaste and Tamarindo, then moving down towards Manuel Antonio and its natural reserve, and Dominical with it’s excellent surfing spots. Our plan for August was to start at a villa in Dominical but before we reached it later that evening (in the pitch black night and pouring rain!), Katrin had to take us for lunch at one of her favourite restaurants: the terrace at Villa Caletas, one of the most spectacular views of all times. My family members and I were literally blown away when we reached our table from the car park below.

the view of nicoya from villa caletas terrace

The rainforest canpy stretched out from just below us in a steep descent all the way to the waves breaking on the jagged cliffs facing the Nicoya Peninsula.

As August in Costa Rica is smack in the middle of Green Season (or Rainy Season), we were constantly trying to figure out when would be a good time to see properties, or travel in Katrin’s jeep, or do some outdoor stuff.. or hit the beach! After lunch at the resort we took off for a long drive in hard rain. In the car we couldn’t stop talking; everyone was so excited and our encounters with dangerous creatures of this climate were making us giddy. Before getting to Caletas, we had a made a stop on a bridge over the Rio Tarcoles, famous for its large reptile inhabitants, and in the driveway of the resort we ran into some of the biggest eight-legged insects Sam had ever seen (and he is terrified of spiders!)… Luckily we didn’t come too close to any of them!

crocodiles in the rio tàrcoles

We reached Casa Amigos well after nightfall- which happens early on the Equator- and ventured down the hill to an American restaurant run by a crazed football fan. The villa we were staing at is part of a two-house property set above the coast on an elevated plot of land with only a few neighbours, all of them also fancy villas. What was so amazing is that despite its proximity to some great surfer’s beaches and touristy bars and restaurants, we felt completely isolated at Casa Amigos, as it is set in a small clearing in the untouched rainforest. From our bedrooms we could hear monkeys calling at daybreak and one night at sunset we watched a couple of toucans build their nest just a few hundred metres away from the swimming pool. Staff only comes in for cleaning and the house is equipped with all the commodities one could possibly need for entertainment, relaxation, even cooking! The DVD collection was a big hit with us, but then we never found the time to cuddle up of the sofas and watch a movie because we were so busy exploring our surroundings. On the second night there, we drove towards Uvita (famous for it’s ‘whale-tail’ shaped beach) and had the most delicious fish dinner at a small restaurant that Katrin knew well.

During our stay in the area around Dominical we learned about all the activities Ariella’s Villas’ clients will be able to partake in when renting a holiday home there. Dolphin tours are quite popular although from Katrin’s experience it is sometimes quite difficult to spot any!

ania at the beach

The choice of beaches to visit is endless, as there is sand, cliff and wave distinction of many kinds on Costa Rica’s Pacific coastline. Some beaches are popular with surfers, others with locals, and yet others are deserted and great to spend half the day on (remember there are high and low tides here, and high tide is not a good time to sunbathe, but the schedules for these are provided at the villas). Busily visiting villas, Katrin and I were unable to do any ocean swimming in Dominical, but Sam and Ania experienced the waves without us and took some pictures to share.

To find the first Indian villa outside of Goa Ariella’s Villas has travelled to an awe-inspiring natural wonderland at the foot of the Himalayas called Nainital Lake.

View of the Range from Nainital Lake District

This two-mile long lake is the largest in a District named after it, host to a wide variety of outdoor adventires and to some of the most astonishing bird and wildlife in the entire subcontinent!

Breakfast table in the garden

Guests at Abbotsford House will partake in nature walks around the property exploring the rich tropical flowerbeds and discovering new bird species, or hike uphill as far as China Peak, where they will discover a view of the snow-capped Himalayan Range they had never quite imagined. Sailing and other water sports are readily available on the nearby Lake Nainital itself, and the best views guaranteed are offered on hot air balloon flights over the region.

At Abbotsford, the service is level with that of the best Indian hotels, and the location and surroundings exceed in beauty any other accomodation in this distinct part of the world. Staff is attentive and professional with great detail given to the care of this historical abode’s interiors and passionate upkeep of the gardens and plantlife. All meals will be served and prepared to guests’ tastes and no breakfast, lunch, tea or dinner will be the same, as there is a vast choice of spots where one might chose to enjoy them, from the grand dining room to the outdoor veranda to picnics on the lawn or in the forest under a tall tree…

Lucca is rapidly taking first place in the Tuscan property market. Punters from all over Europe and the World have been spotted touring the hilly region north-east of Florence in search for the perfect second home. Lucchesia, as this part of Tuscany is referred to locally, spans along the Mediterranean coast from the famous city of Pisa upwards until reaching the border with neighbouring Liguria (home of Portofino and Genova). This coast is incredibly famous for its sandy beaches and incredible seafood cuisine- Versilia’s chefs own the most successful Italian restaurants as far away as America and Australia- in sites such as Forte dei Marmi and Viareggio.

View as far as the Mediterranean Sea

The nature around Lucca is most inspiring, dotted with magical Medieval hilltop towns that interrupt the undulating movement of the landscape, alternating forested hills and inhabited valleys.

Last week Ariella visited an exclusive property for sale in the hills 10 minutes from Lucca’s fortress walls. The view from the grand windows of the main house, the gardens and pool area is the most astounding ever imagined at such an immediate distance from city life. On clear days one can see as far as the islands of Sardinia and Corsica! The entire property has been immaculately upkept over the years and both of its farmhouses were completely restored and renovated in 1998. The 3 hectares of gardens and olive groves also house a 3-storey main villa, a two-storey guesthouse, a 6×12 m infinity swimming pool and pool house overhanging a vantage point unique in all of Lucchesia.

airy salon

A one-of-a-kind offer is being made through Ariella’s Villas to a discerning clientele who would fully appreciate such a special location and structure.

The house is beautifully styled and furnished, 100% ready for new tenants to move into, very much unlike any other property in Tuscany! For more information please call +39 339 898 09 80 or e-mail ariella@ariellasvillas.com

Our loveliest villa in Ansedonia on the peninsula of Monte Argentario off the coast of Tuscany, the Villa Acacia, is still free for one week this August!

With five airconditioned ensuite bedrooms, plenty of indoor and outdoor living areas, spectacular views over the Tyrrhenian Sea, a large swimming pool surrounded by groomed gardens and a dining veranda the property has absolutely everything one could wish to find in a villa by the seaside.

Great deals for the first clients to enquire by contacting us on +41 79 549 97 05 or ariella@ariellasvillas.com!