Cooking Classes with a View

24 April 201624 March 2016 admin

Visiting Rome and looking for some unique cooking classes? Let Countess Concierge organize a once-in-a-lifetime experience with an Italian aristocrat in the comfort – and beauty – of her own home. Begin by hitting the markets to experience the sites and smells of Rome’s world famous open-air markets, where many Italians still do their daily grocery shopping. Then head back to her home and learn to cook some of Rome’s most beloved recipes overlooking the rooftops of the stunning Eternal City. Contact Countess Concierge now for pricing and itineraries!

Mountain & Ski Vacation in Italy

27 February 201624 March 2016 admin

Heading to the mountains in a foreign country can be risky – but it’s hassle-free with Countess Concierge! Italy has some of the best places for skiing, and not necessarily far from Rome! Travelling just an hour or so can take you to a snowy wonderland where you’ll be suiting up in no time! And like any vacation in Italy, there is plenty of history and culture to take in when you’re not hitting the slopes. Check out castles and ruins, or learn about traditional foods from local producers!

mountain family vacation by Countess Concierge Barbara Lessona

Experience the magic of Via Margutta

24 February 201624 March 2016 admin

The artists’ street – it’s like nowhere else in Rome. Effortlessly elegant and serene, this cobbled, ivy-draped lane feels like a village despite its glamorous artistic and cinematic history. It’s a friendly, local haunt, with families who have have lived here for generations, yet just around the corner are the Spanish Steps, Piazza del Popolo, and all the designer brands you could desire, like Prada, Gucci, Bulgari, Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, Chanel, and many others.

Via Margutta is truly a hidden gem in the center of Rome. It’s a small side street that parallels Via Babuino and offers a respite from the chaotic and busy streets of the Tridente District (the triangular shaped area that connects Piazza di Venezia, Piazza del Popolo, and Piazza di Spagna). The steet is characterized by the plethora of independent art galleries, small cafes and shops, and very characteristic, vine-covered buildings. Just walking the quaint little street, you can feel the history and lives lived there. Now you can experience the magic of Via Margutta in a whole different way, staying in converted artist studios turned vacation apartments.

In 1858, Francesco Patrizi Montoro built a beautiful Palazzo housing artists’ studios on Via Margutta. It’s still owned and lived in by his descendants, so there’s a sense of family history here. The owner of Margutta Glamour Studios, his great-grand daughter, is an interior designer, who has created four stunning apartments occupying the former studios and part of the palazzo.

Picasso and Stravinsky once worked in Via Margutta’s studios, and film director Federico Fellini lived here. In the movie, Roman Holiday with the iconic Audrey Hepburn, the character played by Gregory Peck also lived on Via Margutta. The street was a centre for film stars in the 1950s and 60s at the height of the Dolce Vita era and there’s still an important dubbing studio here today, as well as art galleries, antique shops, art restorers, and a marble engraver.

Margutta Glamour Studios are a collection of 4 apartments: the Luxury Loft, Visconti Bright Apartment, Margutta Roman Apartment, and the Charming Apartment. They vary in size, but are all located in the lovely and historic Patrizi palazzo where Pablo Picasso worked and passed some of his time while in Rome. The largest of the four, the airy and bright Luxury Loft, was once the studio of famed Italian sculptor Fausto Melotti.

The large, 3m high windows that perforate the facade are historic indication of late 19th century invention, and highlight the building’s use as a place for artists and makers. Many of the spaces are still used for this purpose – a fabulous art historian has his studio just beside the Luxury Loft. You can often see him working on the restoration of some classical masterpiece. Where else in the world can you experience something like that!?

Organize your vacation at Margutta Glamour Studios, and book a package with Countess Concierge by Barbara Lessona. I can organize NCC transportation, vespa or golf cart rental, walking and personal shopping tours, and of course, in-home chef experiences or cooking classes. You’re limited only by your imagination with Countess Concierge!

Experience the magic of Via Margutta by Countess Concierge by Barbara Lessona

Luxury Loft by Margutta Glamour Studios

Visconti Bright Loft by Margutta Glamour Studios

Charming Apartment by Margutta Glamour Studios

Margutta Roman Apartment by Margutta Glamour Studios

The famous fontana degli artisti on Via Margutta

The stunning gate into the couryard of the Patrizi studios where Margutta Glamour Studios are located

Traditional marble engraver on Via Margutta

The magic of Via Margutta is especially fabulous in full bloom!

Portiere for Margutta Glamour Studios

Tranquil Roman Getaway: Lake Bolsena

15 February 201624 March 2016 admin

Arguably one of the most beautiful lakes in central Italy and just an hour outside the city of Rome, Lake Bolsena is a fabulous location for a romantic Roman getaway or the not-so-traditional family vacation to Rome. The lake is volcanic but it’s perfect for bathing and water sports and located near an old village that’s full of beautiful and interesting history. Being located so close to Rome, the weather is pleasant all year round . There are plenty of charming options for accommodations, such as a Visconte Palazzo with incredible rooms and frescoes. Take a walk along the Francigena, the road the ancient romans used to make their way France.

During the summer months, the lake is the perfect place to relax away from the chaos of most of Rome’s beaches, or play in the water (equipment for water sports are available to rent).or head to the beautiful Umbrian town of Orvieto for a walk in the small city center, it’s all just 15 minutes away. In fact, you can reach several interesting little towns, such as Val d’Orcia which is just about 60 Km north. Countess Concierge can organize special wine tastings, Olive oil tastings, a visit to a peonia garden (a very unique experience!), local restaurants and other off-the-beaten-path history tips.

Discover Lake Bolsena with Countess Concierge by Barbara Lessona!

Beautiful Roman Getaway at Lake Bolsena near Rome in Italy. Book with Countess Concierge by Barbara Lessona

Go horseback riding in Rome’s Backyard

9 February 20169 February 2016 admin

Don’t give up horseback riding just because you’re on vacation in Rome! I know a place just outside the city where you can meet with an instructor and have a lesson, or just take a horse out for a refreshing, gorgeous ride around the Roman countryside. The stables and polo track are located right next to an ancient part of the Roman acquaduct, adding to the experience that you could only have in a place like Rome. The owner is an Italo-American, so speaking English is no problem. But then again, planning your excursions through Countess Concierge with me, you’re sure to have a smooth ride through Italy.