Urban Italy - The travel guide to contemporary Italy

Mikaela Bandini’s insider Italy

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Each new morning, I’ll walk the streets looking

Each new morning, I’ll walk the streets looking for colors.
That is what Piedmontese writer Cesare Pavese said, and it is not hard to do with all the exciting - and colorful contemporary art projects mushrooming up in the Langhe Monferrato Roero area of northern Italy.

I was lucky enough to meet David Tremlett and work alongside him to launch the tour of the wall drawings that adorn four chapels in the area; the chapels are scattered around the breathtaking scenery of the world famous Unesco heritage winelands.
Two exterior and two interior works, each with distinct colors, forms and patterns.

Starting with the with wall drawings at resort Relais San Maurizio in Santo Stefano Belbo, opened in 2019 - Open Space San Maurizio 1619 - in hues of strong, warm tones and deep reds - give new volume to the Chapel on the property.

Then onto the earth tones of the wall drawings on the outside of the tiny chapel in Coazzolo - Beata Maria Vergine del Carmine - that dates back to the XVII C and is perched on a hill amidst the Moscato vineyards, just one of the creative projects commissioned by visionary creative Silvano Stella and completed in 2017.

The third wall drawing is inside the chapel of the tiny town of Serravalle Langhe, we find ‘For the Langhe’ where gray and brown are prominent in the wall drawings and work beautifully alongside the late gothic frescos.

The fourth, actually the first on the timeline, dating back to 1999 and commissioned by the Ceretto family in La Morra is Cappella del Barolo with super colorful external wall drawings done by Sol le Witt and interiors by David Tremlett.

The tour gave me a chance to work alongside brilliant photographer Lea Anouchinsky again, all images are credited to one of the most talented photographers I know.

#visitlmr #langhemonferratoroero #walldrawings #unesco #contemporaryart #thebestjobintheworld

Blessed. #lovemyjob

Blessed.
#lovemyjob

48 hours in Berlin for South African mother to che

48 hours in Berlin for South African mother to check up on her Italian son after 4 days
in a Potsdam hospital.
EAT Mexican / Korean / German / Lucano
PARTY Techno / R&B
VISIT Jewish museum, Bauhaus museum
STAY Catholic youth Hostel
LEARN Uni Europe for Applied Science
TOUR rickshaw, foot, boat, car, bus

If this isn’t a melting pot then I dont know what is!
@francescolionetti I love you to the moon and back

Lu Portu If you have never been to Tricase Porto,

Lu Portu
If you have never been to Tricase Porto, Lu Portu in Salentino dialect, then go!
When you get to the tiny town of a few hundred residents It feels like you are lost in the seventies somewhere in a great old Italian movie; there are lovely trattorie serving amazing seafood, beach front bars, and beaches that pop up on practically any surface leading to water where people can dive in.
Tricase is way down on the heel of the boot, on the Adriatic sea in Salento with one of the most breathtaking coastlines in Italy.

Having recently renovated AREA 8 ROOMS I'm super lucky to get to Tricase Porto - and eat at the Trattoria del Porto - even off season 💫

#salento #tricase #tricaseporto #weareinpuglia #lecce #italyholiday #italytravel

STARSBOX. I was super lucky to sleep under the sta

STARSBOX.
I was super lucky to sleep under the stars in a Starsbox ⭐️
Somewhere between a tent and a log cabin, and not much bigger than a mattress on the floor, a really comfy one all be it, the Starsbox is a crazy experience.
The entire roof opens up with nothing but sky between you and the stars for a totally genuine, almost infantile experience.
The award winning project combines natural pine, and, well, not much else.. the super simple box like structure was designed by studio Officina82,and have been mushrooming up around Italy over the past few years where there is very little light pollution.

My Starsbox experience was in Alta Langa but I do hope that Antonella at the Fattoria La Maliosa will let me stay in hers too very soon 🙂

Thank you as usual to my man Alessio Chietera with so much patience who waited 4 hours in the car to the get the long exposure stars shot.

Hats off to Flore & Venezia, architects from Ostun

Hats off to Flore & Venezia, architects from Ostuni, the white city, who put on this extraordinary show!
Arte in Cantiere, literally art in the building site, is a collective exhibit of art and photography in a former oil press dating back to the 30’s.
The post industrial architecture was the perfect backdrop to the enormous prints by photographer Gianpaolo Sgura and works by artist Angelo Filomeno as well as drawings and numerous projects by the Architects themselves.

#contemporary #contemporaryart #weareinpuglia

The best job in the world! La Bursch is a small f

The best job in the world!
La Bursch is a small family run boutique hotel in Ciervo Valley near to Biella, with stunning themed rooms that make you feel like Alice in Wonderland for a moment.
I'm so blessed to be able to discover breathtaking spaces in corners of the world with amazing people, great food and good vibes.
Thank you for being there for the ride 💫
@clara.que.sii
@edvige_vizz
@alessio.chie
@francescogiase_gfpictures

#boutiquehotel #italytravel #thebestjobintheworld #vallecervo #labursch #hospitality

Angelo Milano. Disruptive creative that rocks the

Angelo Milano.
Disruptive creative that rocks the small Apulian town of Grottaglie with his hyper creative projects like the exhibit space for contemporary art and events - Studio Cromie (dont miss the Paul Kremer exhibit until September 14th) and his insane artisanal printing studio.

#contemporary #art #weareinpuglia #grottaglie #print #creative #disruptive #genius

Im so excited to finally launch my new project - A

Im so excited to finally launch my new project - AREA 8 ROOMS, cool living spaces for rent around offbeat towns in southern Italy
Welcome to Nardò, Salento, the heel of the boot.
And welcome to our pilot project, a 75 square meter apartment, lovingly renovated and decorated with XXC design furniture, an insanely beautiful terrace to enjoy your morning coffee and sundowners in the evening in the shadow of the baroque churches.

A huge thank you to the amazing team that worked on the building site, especially to @egidio_muci, young Salentino architect who delivered exactly what I was hoping for. And then some… 💫

Follow the project @area8rooms

Coming soon - AREA 8 ROOMS in more southern Italian towns off the beaten track:
December 2023 Matera
April 2024 Grottaglie
July 2024 Manduria
Watch this space 💫

#weareinpuglia #italiatravel #hospitality #vintage #XXCdesign #southernitaly #holidayhome #nardo #salento

And then, when you least expect it, you find yours

And then, when you least expect it, you find yourself catapulted in a 1970’s world on the Salento Coastline, the small town of Santa Caterina, rocky inlets and crystal clear water, tiny fishing boats and lovely seafood restaurants.. and then boom.. the coolest house belonging to the coolest architect in the coolest studio..
Hats off guys!
#architecture #vintage #architecturelover #weareinpuglia #santacaterina

The place I escape to when I am happy, when I am s

The place I escape to when I am happy, when I am sad, when in need a shoulder (with or without a glass of Prosecco), some time alone or a chat with Fausta.
Super lucky to have The Masseria - and Fausta - so close by, a true sanctuary just a few kilometers from Matera.

#fontanadivite #masseria #friends

David Hockney comes to life in Monforte d’Alba…
My day job creating travel marketing campaigns is truly a blessing; I get to travel from the tip to the toe of the boot, meet amazing people and do insanely creative things (while working equally insane hours..).
Since founding Cant Forget Italy back in 2011 with our Digital Diary of Italy series I have worked on campaigns for single tiny hotels to huge projects for entire countries like Italy and Switzerland.
One of the regions where I get to work most frequently is definitely Piedmont.
Here directing for the stunning area of Langhe Monferrato Roero I could not help but see how very similar the set was to the David Hockney’s 1972 Pool series….
#davidhockney #travelmarketing #monfortedalba #lmr #langhemonferratoroero #visitpiemonte #art

here are worse jobs, I have to admit it. Owning a

here are worse jobs, I have to admit it.
Owning a restaurant and event space I get to eat and drink my way through so many places in the name of research and development, experimenting exciting new eateries and chefs, checking the latest trends in mixology… BUT FOR WORK!
Just back in Antwerp for the design week with a couple of architect friends we did the rounds, it was amazing to be back at some of my favorite hotspots in the city and get to know a couple of new ones.

We started off with aperitivo at Vincent van Duysen stunning complex August - A former Augustinian convent converted into a modern-day sanctuary with bar, restaurant, spa and hotel and gardens.

Then onto dinner at The Jane - two star Michelin star eatery in an unconsecrated church and unprecedented fusion flavors.

Next day lunch back at Graanmarkt - laid back bistrot, concept store and apartment in a single (stunning) building and dinner at Het Pomphuis, where we finally got to eat outside of this huge triple volume former water pump station right in the heart of the industrial port, quite surreal being surrounded by wind … and passing container ships.

Last night we did aperitivo at the vibrant summer beaches on the Maas and then finally managed to get a table at Le Pristine, where contemporary Zeeland meets Italy inside a 1960’s modernist complex. Thank you @carlacel for the amazing time together 👯‍♀️

Just another day at the office.. on shoot at the

Just another day at the office..
on shoot at the stunning Tenuta Marchesi Alfieri and winery in the Monferrato area of Piedmont. The estate dates back to 1696 and is now run by Giovanna, Antonella and Emanuela San Martino di San Germano who lovingly follow in the footsteps of their ancestors producing award winning wines. You can stay at the gorgeous small relais on the estate and wake up this..
#lmr #piemonte #monferrato #italy #italytravel #marchesialfieri

From the house to the universe and back. Last week

From the house to the universe and back.
Last week I was super lucky to get to visit the extraordinary Futurist house in Rome where Giacomo Balla lived and worked from 1929 until his death together with his wife and two daughters. A veritable living work of art created over thirty years, painting on walls, furniture, utensils, clothes and many other objects creating a unique and kaleidoscopic total project.
Balla was the founder and forefather of the Futurist movement- curiously enough the shortest art movement in Italian history that emphasized dynamism and technology, with a unique doctrine that glorified modernity.
Tickets are practically impossible to find, so you need to book way in advance.

#casaballa #futurism #art #modernart #giacomoballa #rome #eternalcity #viaggidiarchitettura

Even if the weather has not been great, together w

Even if the weather has not been great, together with my bestie Carla we picked up a vintage convertible and made our way through the olive groves and vineyards to Manduria right on the heel of Italy’s boot.
Famous for the stunning Masseria farmhouses and Primitivo wine, which we indulged in - all in the name of R&D, we spent the night at Palazzo Donna Elisabetta in the center of town with one of the most stunning pools I have seen in a long time designed by super talented architect Nino Filotico & Partners

Sunset view from the terrace of my new hospitality

Sunset view from the terrace of my new hospitality project in Nardo’ - way down in Salento on the heel of the boot. Superexcited for the opening in spring. Hopefully the first of many to come 💫
#salento #areaottorooms #areaotto #nardo #weareinpuglia

Serendipity is when you are looking for a needle i

Serendipity is when you are looking for a needle in the haystack and you find the farmer’s son.. That is kinda like what happened over the past few days in Catania and Marzamemi. Here are a few precious lessons that I learned along the way…

1. you do NOT go into a food coma if you eat over 2 billion calories a day
2. Etna spritz is made with Amaro Amara instead of Aperol
3. you can celebrate a birthday even if it is not your birthday
4. you can still feel good about yourself even if you DONT make the pitch
5. LIOTRO means elephant in the local dialect
6. A song dedicated to you on the local radio by a Swiss-Portughese deejay is wonderful even if you hate Abba!
7. Im totally blessed to have such brilliant women around me
@meritaly @lauraiorio1 @d_iorio73 #escapetosicily #casadariacatania
#sicilia #marzamemi_sicily #friends #birthdaygirl

Glamping in Procida, a small island off Naples - t

Glamping in Procida, a small island off Naples - the 2022 Italian Culture Capital.
While the rest of Matera was busy with a G20, I was really lucky to get some quality time in with my fav gal @swallow my sideswipes and super @francesco_lionetti_
Lovely weather, great food, super glamping situation.
Exactly what I needed to recharge before a crazy season ahead on all fronts !
#procida2022 #family #campaniadavivere #procida #island.

Back home to South Africa traveling to Oudshoorn,

Back home to South Africa traveling to Oudshoorn, here is a pit stop at the lovely Karoo Moon Hotel and diner Diesel & Creme in Barrydale famous for their signature milkshakes served from an airstream 🌙
#holiday #homecoming #southafrica #barrydale #boutiquehotel #vintage #travel #thecape #milkshakes #dieselandcreme

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