La PENINSULA
Chaos, Hope, and Pilgrims in the Eternal City
SHOPPING
Zerobarracento 8
Zero-waste Traceability
Silk’s Secret 10
How Elizabetta Keeps a Sustainable Lake Como Tradition Alive
5 Sustainable Brands for 2025 12
The Best of Italy’s Ethical Apparel
ON THE PENINSULA
Giubileo 2025 24
Chaos, Hope, and Pilgrims in the Eternal City
BEAUTY
New Aging 16
Italian Skincare by Gioovanotti Beauty
CĂ´te Cares 18
CĂ´te Beauty Expands Natural, Sustainable Routine
Profumo di Sale 20
Issey Miyake Discovers the Scent of Salt
Dalla Terra 30
The Bounty of Enio Ottaviani
ACCESSORIES
Silver is the New Black 36
Angelus’ New Silver Edition Welcomes a Chic 2025
TRAVEL
Rome’s Renovation Run-Down 14
What to Expect in the Italian Capital this Year
Beyond the Eras 40
Grand Hotel Timeo’s Taormina
JUBILEE 2025: ROME’S PILGRIMAGE TO THE VATICAN
Photo courtesy of Laurie Melchionne/La Peninsula
La PENINSULA
President/CEO
Laurie Melchionne
Editor-in-Chief
Director of Marketing Editor
Rome Contributor
Social Media Photography
Cover Photography Publisher
La Peninsula © is published by Laurie Ann Communications, LLC. laurieann.net
Laurie Melchionne
Geraldine Melchionne
Cyan Leigh Dacasin
Federica Bocco
Alexandra Salmieri @reelfocus_
Federica Bocco
Laurie Ann Communications, LLC.
4801 #11A-618
Linton Blvd, Delray Beach, Fl 33445 +1-609-618-9425
Photo courtesy of Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel
Editor’s Letter
Buon anno!
Whether you’re reading this in January or February, the heart of this issue pumps with 2025’s immediate changes, which will be felt all year long. If you haven’t already guessed it, we’re talking Roma. 2025 is the year of Jubilee, a big year for 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide—and perhaps an even bigger year for the Romans who will be welcoming them month by month. For the new year, I couldn’t be more thrilled about what this means. Jubilee 2025 has been dubbed the Pilgrimage of Hope, a message that resonates beyond the Catholic community to all walks of life and religious affiliations.
But the increase in visitors to an already touristy city means chaos—heightened by the city-wide renovations in monuments, roads, and buildings. With all of that to cover, we needed the help of an expert: Federica Bocco. Our new Rome contributor, Federica is a Naples native-turned-long-time Roman. She is a travel and entertainment writer for publications such as Lonely Planet, Cosmopolitan, and Conde Nast Traveler. She has also penned several guidebooks about Naples, Southern Italy, Tuscany, and Spain. Federica is a talented writer with invaluable on-location insight into what’s going on in Rome today, which she explores in this issue’s cover story. I look forward to sharing the Eternal City’s latest, through Federica’s eyes, throughout the new year.
I’m also excited to announce our new culinary category, Il Menu. Its debut story comes from the hills of Emilia-Romagna, at the Enio Ottaviani Winery. Since 1966, Enio Ottaviani has discovered the secret of viticulture, merging gastronomy, agriculture, and—importantly for this issue—sustainability.
I can’t wait to see what else 2025 has in store for La Peninsula in this season of growth and change. Enjoy the new year’s first issue!
Happy New Year,
Laurie Melchionne
NO WASTE ZERO BARRA
CENTO
“A
PLACE OUTSIDE OF GENDER, AGE, AND TIME”
Minimalism is a key component of a sustainable lifestyle. According to Sustain the Mag’s “The Intersection of Minimalism and Sustainable Living,” “minimalism asks you to thoroughly evaluate each purchase you make.”
From furniture and interior design, to textiles and apparel, to even food and household products, cutting back, identifying sustainable brands, and reusing before purchasing can make a significant impact on reducing one’s eco footprint. The first step in achieving the eco lifestyle is in what we wear, starting with fashion brands committed to ethical production, responsible materials, and consumer-facing traceability.
This empowers consumers to be selective with the brands they utilize in their shopping needs. At the same time, this forces brands to be innovative and exceed the consumer’s changing, eco-charged expectations.
Zerobarracento, the Italian-made apparel brand, is one of these labels. Second-place winner of 2021’s Sustainable Contest at Monte Carlo Fashion Week and selected for 2021’s Camera Moda’s Designer for Planet Project, Zerobarracento approaches sustainability through several key pillars:
Zero-Waste Design and Ethical Production
The textile and apparel industry is notoriously wasteful, which is why Zerobarracento regenerates fabric scraps during production. Zero-waste pattern making, a design technique that uses every inch of the fabric, contributes to this reduced-waste practice.
Quality does not get compromised, either; the technique does away with buttons or zippers and uses only a few seams.
This sewing method optimizes the garment’s structure, aesthetic, and longevity. Not only does this benefit production, but it elevates wearability for the end-user and minimizes their own future textile waste long after purchasing. From the cutting process to the production floor, scraps, water, and energy are conserved and reused. With every purchase and every wear, the end-user can strut in style with a clean conscious, knowing that their closet choices have not harmed the environment before, during, and after its sourcing, manufacturing, and production.
Zerobarracento regenerates fabric scraps during production. Zero-waste pattern making, a design technique that uses every inch of the fabric, contributes to this reduced-waste practice.
A COMMITMENT TO SELECTIVE MATERIALS
Even Zerobarracento’s materials are made in Italy, such as the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) Re.VerSo™ and the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Bemberg. Crafted from reused textile waste and biodegradable with an InnovHub SSL eco-toxicity certification, respectively, these materials create luxurious wool, baby camel, and cashmere while conserving production resources.
Zerobarracento also sources its yarn from Newlife™, a material spun from 100% recycled bottles regenerated exclusively in Italy.
Traceability
Without resources that stimulate traceability, consumer product brands risk the trap of greenwashing. Transparency is as key to sustainability as recycling or zero-waste methods.
Zerobarracento’s items come with digital product passports. With a list of the garment’s suppliers, each digital passport allows you to embark on the product’s journey.
From sourcing organic wool in Prato, to Xylene’s production monitoring and complete supply chain stops on the digital map, consumers get to glimpse every stop on the items’ journey to know exactly where it came from and make informed purchasing decisions into the future.
Zerobarracento has also joined #TheSustainabilityPledge from UNECE, further reflecting its commitment to providing full supply chain mapping through blockchain.
“Zerobarracento does not judge but welcomes,” said Founder Camilla Carrara. “It does not exclude but includes. It does not waste but enhances. The brand is founded on the idea of creating garments that last and can pass from mother to daughter, from generation to generation.”
“Clean, Italian lines” are essential to Zerobarracento’s Euro-elegant vibes. Its sustainable dedication benefits a distinctly Italian quality—even for the consumer who might prioritize haute couture more than sustainability and vice versa. Zerobarracento’s efforts to reduce pollution and CO2 emissions contribute to the pure, luxurious quality of its garments. Each item’s high-quality material reflects the ethical production process every step of the way. Hand-knitted wool scarves, Newlife trench coats, Bemberg kimono wrap dresses, and recycled white wool jackets, to name some examples, reflect the sleek lines of a garment crafted from a single, full-use fabric.
An array of its categories are featured online and in select Italian retailers, including Accessories, Denim, Knitwear, Blouses & Pullovers, Pants & Skirts, Dresses, Oversized Coats, Kimonos & Fitted Coats.
To learn more about Zerobarracento’s eco-responsibility, shop online at zerobarracento.com
TRACEABILITY THROUGHOUT EVERY CLEAN, ITALIAN LINE
SECRET SILK’S
HOW ELIZABETTA KEEPS A SUSTAINABLE LAKE COMO TRADITION ALIVE
Photos courtesy of Elizabetta
ON THE SHORES OF LAKE COMO BREATHES A CENTURIES-OLD SILK TRADITION.
Hand-made and digitally printed, the secret to Elizabetta’s silk scarf, tie, and ascot brand is in its sustainable traditionalism. Created by Elizabeth Perkins in 2004, the online boutique is run alongside her daughter, Francesca Dinardo.
Italy’s 20 regions all boast their own crafts. Campania’s tilework and ceramics. Tuscany’s leather. Friuli’s Venetian slippers. But what about the smaller towns and borghe?
Lake Como, shimmering in the heart of Lombardia’s Lake District, is known for silk. Silkwork is a centuries-old tradition, but unlike Tuscany’s rich leather goods markets or the rainbow world of Amalfitano ceramics, it’s a dying breed.
This is where Elizabetta comes in.
Here, Elizabetta charges Lago di Como’s mills and workshops with hand-designed, hand-crafted, and zero-waste silkwear.
When Elizabetta Perkins founded her namesake twenty years ago, digital shopping was not nearly as sophisticated as it is today. Elizabetta started with just one category: women’s scarves. Over the years it flourished to include mens scarves, ties, and ascots for all seasons, including lighter-weight modal wool for warmer weather.
While the offering of affordable, luxury neckwear consists of Old World slow production and hand craftsmanship, the Elizabetta of 2025 includes digitally-printed designs that utilize every piece of the fabric and defines a brand-wide, core principle: sustainability.
“Fast fashion is a major industry-wide problem,” said Perkins. “We refuse to produce anything cheaply from sweatshops in Asia. We will not give up on the quality of silk, printing, or hemming just to cut costs. Synthetics and chemicals you see in fast fashion harm your skin and the environment, not to mention the people
working on the garment itself. It’s going on your neck and you’re breathing it all day long. Clean materials are key.”
Perkins also explained how a scarf, by its very nature, contributes to the brand’s zero-waste values. “If you have a high-quality scarf, it will last forever,” she said. “It’s probably not being worn every day, but it will last you 20 years or more.”
Ethical materials are a must-have for Perkins. This is why she ensures that all items are crafted the traditional way: by hand in Como’s artisanal workshops, which have turned silk into works of art for generations.
LOMBARDIA’S LUXURY SLOW
“We’ve worked with the same artisans for decades,” continued Perkins. “When we design new collections and visit Como, we all go out to lunch and know about all of their kids and grandkids through the stories and photos they share with us. We’re a real family.”
Generational passion breathes through the silk, thanks to these families of craftsmen who treat production not as work but as a craft. While the average customer is 40-60 years old, Perkins’ background as an architectural interior designer and color specialist shades each bold pattern and youthful palette. Rich tones and lakeside elegance print the hand-rolled silk foulards and scarves. Elegance is timeless, and timelessness is always in style. No one throws out an accessory that is a work of art.
Speaking of art, the culmination of Eliza -
betta’s elegance is in the Collector’s Art Scarves line. Celebrating Firenze Art Scarf, available as a foulard or neckerchief, is printed with a glimpse of old Florence from Ponte Vecchio. Il Duomo looms above the red terracotta-roof cityscape and is bordered by intricate fleur de lis—Florence’s iconic symbol. An homage to the city’s Renaissance art heritage, the Celebrating Firenze Art Scarf is the first of many planned in the art collection. Up next for 2025 will be an homage to the island of Sicilia which, like the Peninsula itself, has its own art narrative. You’ll just have to stay tuned to see.
AN ODE TO THE PENINSULA
While silk is Elizabetta’s signature material, the blends of ultra-thin modal wool and light cotton keep styles cool and wearable all year long. Diverse designs also ensure that any scarf can pair with various style aesthetics, outfits, and occasions. Perkins grew up in Rome, but today lives in rural Le Marche where she is surrounded by her main, versatile inspiration: nature.
“Italy has so many beautiful motifs, from the ancient world to Milano’s modern industrial designers. It all plays a role in our design homage to the country itself,” Perkins said. “But through all that, nature is one of my biggest influencers, inspired by the rich gardens and countryside I call home. It provides endless color and patterns that tell a story on every piece and shares a unique wearability that anyone can flaunt.”
Discover your piece of wearable art at elizabetta.net
Photo courtesy of Harper Sunday on Unsplash
Five Sustainable Brands You Need to Know in 2025
WE SEARCHED THE PENINSULA SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO
By Laurie Melchionne
Of all the consumer product categories, textiles and apparel are notoriously wasteful. According to a recent study conducted by the European Parliament, “textile production is estimated to be responsible for about 20% of global clean water pollution from dyeing and finishing products.” This includes synthetic product waste that clogs the air, the water, and even the global food chain with microplastics. CO2 emissions, landfill mountains, and textile recycling rates as low as 1% contribute to this global cycle of waste.
Allora, do not despair! There is a world of sustainable fashion brands doing their part to offset waste, on both the production and consumption side of apparel. However, the average consumer doesn’t have time to dive into this impactful sect of fashion.
So we’ve compiled a list of the top five sustainable Italian brands redefining eco-responsible apparel.
Artknit Studios
Sourced and manufactured in Milano, Artknit Studios keeps its production close to home. Not only does this allow them to diminish CO2 emissions from shipping and transportation, but it also sews ethical materials across their mens and womenswear categories. Organic cotton, linen, and extra fine Merino wool keep garments luxurious and eco-responsible. The secret? Circularity. Artknit Studios thrives on reconditioning returned products, charging the industry in a cycle of reuse. Textile waste is practically non-existent, polishing Artknit Studios in the consumer-coveted zero-waste category.
Shenty
Also from Milano, Shenty is a unisex streetwear line that utilizes organic cotton and recycled polyester. Quality over quantity produces small-batch collections with more time for meticulous detail and ethical craftsmanship. Inclusivity is Shenty’s angle, driving its approach to slow fashion. Through sleep, minimalist styles, Shenty’s streetwear can be worn by everyone on any occasion and reduces the chances of a garment being forgotten in the dark recesses of your closet or worse, getting chucked into a landfill. Orders are sustainable right to your doorstep; wrapped in biodegradable packaging, Shenty ships with Gogreen e-commerce and recycled materials, right down to the paper tags and internal labels.
Kurinji
Natural dyes, hand craftsmanship, and artisanal fabrics are synonyms with Italian production—and Turin-based slow fashion brand Kurunji. Plastic-free, hemp-based accessories, and GOTS-certified organic cotton are key components of Kurinji’s DNA. It collaborates with NGOs like the Keystone Foundation and Treedom. Peace silk is also a signature fabric at
“EVERY PIECE IS BORN UNIQUE, CARRYING WITH IT THE FINGERPRINTS OF THE CRAFTSPEOPLE WHO POURED THEIR EXPERTISE AND PASSION INTO ITS CREATION.”
-Kurinji
Kurinji. Unlike normal silk, peace silk does not interfere with the silkworm’s life cycle. Traditional sheep rearing in India provides the wool. Kurinji also adheres to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Decent Work and Economic Growth (8), Reduced Inequalities (10), Responsible Consumption and Production (12), Climate Action (13), and Life on Land (15). Not only do Kurinji’s slow-batch, eco-packaged collections embrace almost every element of sustainability, but they elevate traditional craftsmanship with the aari, zardozi, and chikankari processes. These intricate hand embroidery techniques date back to South Asia’s Mughal Empire. Today, they are woven into Kurinji’s exotic, ethical designs in a slow, dedicated approach to sustainable haute couture.
Gimmi Jeans
Based in Vicenzo, Gimmi Jeans are produced, fiber by fiber, with hemp in a small workshop that handworks the garment. This slow method of production packs each garment with traceability, letting the consumer dress confidently with jeans crafted with the dedication of human hands and eco-fibers. Plant-based dyes ensure natural materials that are easy on the skin, while hemp and cotton denim utilize organic resources that shun synthetics, polluting polyester, and microplastic-producing waste.
Yvo et Moi
Made in Italy, Yvo et Moi is based in Lyons, France. Here, Italian and French expertise meet, exploding in a small-batch collection spun with delicate silk and Merino wool. How small-batch is Yvo et Moi? All Merino wool is sourced from a New Zealand spinner—who only produces once a year. The result? A drastically diminished eco-footprint for both the brand and the consumer alike.
Italian craftsmanship, known for its slow dedication to detail, blends seamlessly with sustainable fashion’s key elements. Quality over quantity, selective materials, and handwork define sustainable apparel. Overall, it cleans your closet with style that is not only ethical but high-quality and utterly inimitable.
Photo courtesy of Zerobarracento
GIUBILEO 2025
ROME’S JUBILEE RENOVATION RUN-DOWN
Restoration information courtesy of Roma Si Trasforma, the official renovation map of Rome’s Giubileo construction.
Castel Sant’Angelo. The Colosseum and Capitoline Hill. Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II’s horse and angel-led structure. Piazza Navona’s gurgling fountains. Saint Peter’s Square. Millions of tourists flock to Rome each year with cameras at the ready, about to make memories and snap selfies of Città Eterna alongside—
Scaffolding. Orange construction netting. Re-routing polizia cars and traffic jams waltzing to the blare of taxi horns and shouting pedestrians.
Rome in 2025 is not the tranquil la dolce vita capital savored by Julia Roberts in “Eat, Pray, Love” (2010). This year is Jubilee Year at the Vatican, a time of pilgrimage for Catholics celebrating 2,025 years of Christ’s Incarnation. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Rome should expect 35 million tourists, almost more than double its 2023 numbers. For Catholics, it’s the Pilgrimage of Hope. For Romans, it’s the year of chaos.
The city of Rome chose to renovate its monuments, fountains, and strade to prepare—but too little too late, as most of the construction chaos is expected to continue well into Jubilee year.
“A record 3,200 public construction
works are underway,” explains a July 2024 Reuters article, “Antiquated Rome revamps ahead of expected Jubilee millions.” The quote is a paraphrase of what was said by Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, who added, “This is an unmissable opportunity to make structural changes…and transform Rome. We are going to get a more sustainable, inclusive, and innovative city that enhances its extraordinary heritage.”
Whether or not it’s sustainable, the city-wide makeover will certainly transform Rome—to the tune of 1.3 billion euros. This does not include 3 billion post-COVID funds from the EU, nor the 4 billion euro it is costing to dig a third Roman metro line, which will link Saint Peter’s and Saint John Lateran’s Basilicas right through il centro itself.
But Romans and tourists alike will be rewarded for their patience. There will be results that will last the Eternal City, well, an eternity. Restored fountains, cleaned building facades, expanded pedestrian-friendly piazze, and a new metro line are on the horizon.
Ready or not, here is a run-down of Rome’s renovation ripples (as of January 1, 2025):
RE-OPENS
Baldacchino di San Pietro - The bronze Baldacchino housing St. Peter’s remains got a make-over in the fall of 2024, ending in October, which restored the glorious exterior to new life in its original gold leaf.
The Pantheon’s Fountain - Located in Piazza
Trevi Fountain - Temporary steel bridges were constructed around the fountain during renovations in the last half of 2024, an eyesore that tourists and residents alike are happy to do away with in the new year.
Piazza Navona Fountains (Fountain of the Moor and Fountain of Neptune) - The fully-restored fountains flank the main Fountain of the Four Rivers, Bernini’s 17th-century masterpiece that saw its own restoration project, completed in December 2024. The piazza’s full renovation will take up to 4-5 years, due to the construction of a new metro station.
Piazza Farnese - Here, the piazza got a full make-over, including restoration of monument profiles to reinforce surfaces, bacteria and algae disinfection, anti-graffiti coating, waterproofing water basins, antioxidant metal treatment, plastering inspection, and aesthetic touch ups, among others.
Photos courtesy of Tamal Mukhopadhyay on Unsplash
Fontana di Trevi
Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II in Piazza Venezia
della Rotonda, the fountain facing the Pantheon now boasts new, smoother-flowing waters and cleaner, sharper marble. The last time someone touched up the fountain was in 1575, when it was being sculpted by Leonardo Sormani himself.
RUNNING RENOVATIONS
Piazza Venezia - Stuffed with the most scaffolding, traffic dividers, and construction tape, Piazza Venezia is where Metro Line C is getting an all-new extension, as well as where archaeological sites are excavating. Expect blocked views of the grand Vittorio Emanuele II monument, well into the next decade. That’s right, decade.
Fountain of the Four Lions, Piazza del Popolo - The fountain’s brick and travertine roofs will be chemically and mechanically cleaned, treated with biocidal, and restored with “non-functional grouting,” along with anti-graffiti measures. Renovations are expected to finish in 2025’s second quarter.
Castel Sant’Angelo’s angel bridges - Completion of the statues’ restoration is expected in the first half of 2025, as its angels are wrapped in scaffolding so the stone sculptures can be cleaned and restored. While the project blocked views of the ancient papal fortress, it will soon be worth the enhanced statues and stonework along the bridge.
Fontana delle Tartarughe - The fountains will be cleaned and enhanced, using a “microclimate monitoring system” that will allow the city to track environmental data from the fountains to control its conditions and maintain preservation for years to come.
For Rome’s full renovation map, including budgets, third-party partnerships, and project duration, visit Roma Si Transforma at romasitrasforma.it/en
Fontana del Pantheon
New Aging
ITALIAN SKINCARE BY GIOOVANOTTI BEAUTY
Beauty defies definition. At Gioovanotti, it is a timeless abstraction perfected by Italian skincare ex-
perts. Cleanly-sourced and 100% vegan, Gioovanotti is dedicated to purifying, rejuvenating, and healing beauty at any age. With a strategy as natural as aging, Gioovanotti’s holistic wellness applies sustainability to all aspects of a skincare plan. Made in Italy and approved by dermatologists through clinical testing, Gioovanotti mixes science with wellness. Crafted to heal the effects of sun and weather exposure, Gioovanotti offers pure, water-based ingredients throughout many product offerings. Paraben- and cruelty-free, Gioovanotti’s timeless routine includes creams, masks and scrubs, serums, and soaps.
The Ritual Hyaluronic Acid Serum glows with glycerin and hyaluronic acid to regenerate elasticity and smooth wrinkles. With only a handful of ingredients, the serum complements all skin types and is gentle enough for daily use. Morning application drenches the skin in all-day moisturization, allowing you to start the day with a revitalized glow. Related to this glow category is the Skin Brilliance Glow Mask. A thermal charcoal mask, this detoxifying formula purifies the skin of dead cells, dirt, and makeup residue. Cleansing, refreshing ingredients include white binchotan and organic mineral compounds like quartz, china clay, and sea salt. For a nighttime ritual ahead of the next day, apply a generous amount to the skin and avoid the eye area. Wait five minutes, then activate the mask with a warm water rinse. Finish with your favorite bedtime moisturizer. Day or night, used as scheduled regimens or random pick-me-ups, Gioovanotti’s core values stem from nourishment. The Vitality Embrace Collagen Moisturizer tightens the skin and soothes
wrinkles. A blend of aloe, vitamin E, and colloidal oatmeal, this collagen formula promotes increased blood flow throughout the face. Applied as a nighttime rehydrator to soothe the effects of a long day, this moisturizer returns youthful vitality to the skin and radiates ageless beauty.
While Gioovanotti targets facial signs of aging, it doesn’t forget about the hands. The Nourish Hand Cream is lightweight, grease-free, and portable for all-day use. Fragranced with delicate botanical oils, an ingredient list with avocado and grapeseed reduces pigmentation and wrinkles. Boosted with vitamins A, C, D, and E, the hand cream is the ultimate solution for silky-smooth, youthful hands.
Natural beauty comes from natural production, from formulas to packaging. All Gioovanotti products are packaged with recyclable materials, promoting reduced waste and sustainable manufacturing, consumption, and end-user application.
This holistic approach to skincare also manifests in Gioovanotti’s dedication to customization. As we age, skin types shift along a spectrum. Everyone’s needs vary, something Gioovanotti recognizes and serves through its client-tailored skincare quiz. The quiz takes a deep dive into varying skincare needs. Whether you seek a revitalized overall routine or simply a single product, Gioovanotti gathers information about age, skin type, and specific hydration, blemish, or texture-correcting goals. From there, the quiz asks if you prefer oils, creams, serums, or liquids. Right down to fragrance, the quiz generates a product results page tailored just for you. Each recommended product is accompanied by an ingredients and benefits summary, streamlining your skincare journey to optimize fast results.
Italy is known for its dedication to the bespoke. Slow-made, clean craftsmanship is a core component of Italian skincare, which feeds its definition of healing. Gioovanotti is not about anti-aging; it’s about revitalizing beauty that has always been there, utilizing an organic approach that synonymizes aging with timelessness. Take the skincare quiz and discover your Italian routine at gioovanotti.com
CaresCĂ´te
CÔTE BEAUTY EXPANDS SUSTAINABLE, NATURAL ROUTINE
By Laurie Melchionne
As any Italian beauty guru will know, cosmetics should be as natural as you are. This is the foundation for Côte Beauty, which redefines the beauty space with its non-toxic formulas. Free from silicone, sulfates, parabens, PEGs, phthalates, and a concoction of other toxins all too common in today’s fast beauty brands, Côte provides a natural, healthy routine from head to toe.
Launched in 2013 by Co-founders Leah Yari and Mary Lennon, Côte Beauty hit the cosmetics world as a nail care brand. The pair populated New York and Los Angeles with retail nail salons, setting the category ablaze with the demand for their non-toxic nail polish that strengthens rather than damages nail beds over time. From a line of pinks and nudes to smoky metallics like Alchemy and bright yellows like Songbird, Côte’s nail polish line offers a shade for every preference.
Today, Côte’s umbrella expands to hair, body, and lip care. Sustainability is Côte’s identity; its eco-friendly, 50% post-consumer recycled packaging and
100% cruelty-free formulas have been Leaping Bunny-certified.
As phrased on Côte’s website, “Côte Beauty embodies a carefree, wanderlust spirit, where self-care becomes a ritual of empowerment rather than a chore.”
The Hair Essentials Gift Set, Body Essentials Gift Set, and Necessity Lip Bundle include natural ingredients like shea butter, black cumin, aloe vera, and jojoba seed extract. The body care cleanses and moisturizes through smooth application and subtle fragrance. The Peptide Enriched Lip Treatment plumps lips to a natural lushness and pairs perfectly with the lip bundle (peptide shimmer glosses in shades Mulberry, Tempted, and Euphoria). The Nourishing Daily Shampoo and Hydrating Daily Conditioner cleanse the hair and scalp while fortifying strands down to the root. Vitamin A, E, and D3-rich baobab seed rinses away product buildup, prevents breakage, and luxuriates hair to a healthy, luminous shine.
Nourishing
Peptide Enriched Lip Treatment
The expansive body category includes the Nourishing Hand and Body Wash, Hydrating Hand and Body Lotion, Organic Argan Oil, and the ReTreat Seaside Salt Soak and Detox Body Polish. Bacuri seed butter and jojoba seed extract supercharge skin cells with long-lasting nourishment as found in the Hydrating Hand Lotion, while caviar lime gently exfoliates to eliminate dead cells and cultivate optimal hydration post-wash with the Nourishing Hand and Body Wash.
Transparency pulses at the heart of any sustainable brand, which Côte demonstrates through its extensive ingredients list attached to every product. Côte Beauty partners with the Eden Reforestation Project and Trees For the Future. Every purchase with Côte plants a tree, helping to reverse the global effects of deforestation and re-populate Earth’s forests through responsible beauty that cares. The Côte Beauty Recycling Program also eliminates packaging waste, a key contributor to textile pollution. A member of the PACT Collective, a non-profit providing beauty industry packaging and recycling solutions, Côte formulated its nail polish so not only are the bottles and caps recyclable, but so are the polishes themselves.
“Nail polish bottles should not be rinsed out,” Côte’s recycling program explains, “as the polish itself can be recycled into paint.”
This category-spanning reusability also goes for the pumps and bottles of hair, body, and lip products. If pumps and nail polish bottles are not accepted by your local recycling facility, CĂ´te has a solution to that, too. All items may be shipped to the address below:
CĂ´te Beauty Recycling Program 11601 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1750 Los Angeles, CA 90025
Overall, it’s full-circle sustainability, defining Côte Beauty with traceability, circularity, and consumer-, animal-, and environment-based ethicality. For more of the cleaner, safer, and responsible beauty routines, visit cotebeauty.com.
Body Essentials Gift Set
“CÔTE BEAUTY EMBODIES A CAREFREE, WANDERLUST SPIRIT, WHERE SELF-CARE BECOMES A RITUAL OF EMPOWERMENT RATHER THAN A CHORE.” Necessity
Profumo di Sale
ISSEY MIYAKE DISCOVERS THE SCENT OF SALT
In 2025, the authentic urban man steps out in bold fragrance with the never-before-imagined scent of salt. Le Sel d’Issey Pour Homme is the mens fragrance produced by perfumer Quentin Bisch. The fragrance also marks the last time Miyake touched a fragrance under Issey Miyake Parfums prior to his passing in 2022.
Dubbed “the next generation of Issey Miyake,” the masculine aroma exudes salt’s many identities. A seaside nostalgia of the wayfaring man, Le Sel’s sprays top notes of sea salt and ginger. Layered with seaweed and vetiver, with a forest base of cedarwood and oakmoss, Le Sel is the outdoors reimagined.
Designed by contemporary artist Tokujin Yoshioka, the bottle itself crystalizes like a salt pillar forged by brooding ocean waves on a gray, stormy coast.
Masculinity naturally protects, an element Le Sel cloaks in responsible environmentalism through its refillable 50ML and 100ML bottles. Unlike typical bottles across the fragrance industry, this reusability reduces carbon emission by 59%, energy consumption by 59%, and water consumption by 52%. With every spritz, Le Sel preserves for the environment and selectively cultivates resources through responsible production.
Salt’s scent, a previously inconceivable sensation, honors Issey Miyake’s legacy of innovation. For 2025, it perfumes the modern man in rugged natural elements, sustainable values, and inimitable aura.
Photos courtesy of Issey Miyake
Photos courtesy of Federica Bocco
Giubileo 2025
CHAOS, HOPE, AND PILGRIMS IN THE ETERNAL CITY
There’s never a bad time to visit Rome. Throngs of tourist crowds are synonymous with Città Eterna. 2025 is the Vatican’s pilgrimage year for millions of Catholics worldwide. Dubbed the Pilgrimage of Hope, Jubilee has already transformed the Italian capital. But questions remain: is it for the better or worse? How will Jubilee affect residents’ daily lives? For Rome’s tourists, is 2025 worth a vacation? Roman local Federica Bocco breaks it down for us.
By Federica Bocco, Rome contributor
Federica Bocco is a Rome-based journalist covering travel and entertainment. Her articles have been published by Lonely Planet, Conde Nast Traveler, Business Insider, among others, and she is the author of several guidebooks.
Three million people live in the Eternal City and we rarely agree on anything. However, if there is one word that manages the unique feat of sparking the same emotion in all denizens of Rome, it’s “giubileo.”
2025 is the year of the Jubilee, also known in the Catholic Church as a Holy Year; every 25 years pilgrims from all over the world are encouraged to visit the seven papal basilicas in Rome to receive pardon for all sins. For their part, tourists will be blessed to walk through renovated streets, freshly painted buildings, and maintained monuments when they visit Rome in 2025. But not all that glitters is gold. Not to everyone, at least.
This Jubilee seems to be designed to test the patience of Romans. We expect 35 million pilgrims, and everything in the Eternal City has seemingly revolved around this fact… if only for the past year. As it befits a city that is expecting such an event, monuments needed to be maintained and cleaned, street pavement fixed, and very road circulation changed to favor pilgrim routes. All to the inconvenience of locals. About 400 construction sites were opened in 2024, and roughly half of them were completed by December 24, the official start of the Jubilee. Some sites will not even be finished by the end of this Jubilee, estimating an end date for 2027, which is halfway through to the next Jubilee. In fact, in 2033, we shall have a “special edition” in celebration of the 2000th anniversary of the death and resurrection of Christ. We have that to look forward to, but hopefully, less titanic reconstruction will be needed in 8 short years. The construction of a metro station and underground museum in the iconic Piazza Venezia are expected to last a full decade.
The answer is mostly to be found in political reasons: nobody wanted to take responsibility for these money-squandering plans during election times, at the national, regional, and city levels. Apart from the logistical hell they caused, the amount of public funds spent on bettering Rome for the Jubilee amounts to 4.8 billion euros, according to info reported by Italian magazine L’Espresso. Not exactly great for campaigning.
We did not ask for this, nor did our elected officials, who just had to go along with it and did their best to prepare the city. So much ado about nothing or, rather, something nobody seems to want. As it were, the tradition of calling a Jubilee belongs entirely to the Pope, and it started in 1300, back when there was no Italy, no government, and no local administration outside of the papacy here in Rome. It is an understatement to say that times and circumstances have changed. So why shouldn’t the Vatican take ownership of this titanic undertaking and shoulder more economic and logistic responsibility, other than providing hot meals for a few thousand pilgrims staying nearby?
“THIS JUBILEE SEEMS TO BE DESIGNED TO TEST THE PATIENCE OF ROMANS. WE EXPECT 35 MILLION PILGRIMS, AND EVERYTHING IN THE ETERNAL CITY HAS SEEMINGLY REVOLVED AROUND THIS FACT...IF ONLY FOR THE PAST YEAR.”
As far as tourists are concerned, Vatican City is, for all intents and purposes, not its own country, with its own laws and treasury, but a tiny neighborhood in Rome, Italy. One of the many to visit, one so small that nobody can lodge there, is just an important step in a varied itinerary that includes many parts of Rome. At the heart of this year’s pilgrimage, the area surrounding the Vatican has undergone significant renovations to prepare for the pilgrim route to St. Peter’s Basilica. On Christmas Eve, 2024, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door, the first time a pope has done so in 24 years.
What is hard to grasp is why most of the constructions only started in 2024, when this event has been in the plans for about seven centuries. Yes, that’s right. It’s been known since 1470 that the Pope would order a Jubilee in 2025.
While it harkened to the official start of Jubilee, it also meant that pilgrims could no longer enter the basilica from just any part of Piazza di San Pietro. It started with just a single entrance, which meant slimmer paths to the Holy Door and longer lines that zigzag to Piazza Pia and its views of Castel Sant’Angelo over the Tiber River. More crowds and fewer places to put them led to an unexpected
silver lining: the transformation of Piazza Pia from busy car lanes to a fresh-paved, car-free piazza that welcomes safe pedestrian traversing.
Through all of this, the administration of Rome has to take the brunt of the challenge and rise to the occasion. And the people of Rome - not of Vatican City - have had to live in purgatory for it in 2024. And when the city will be bursting at the seams with over-tourism for all of 2025, it will be pure hell.
Romans are accustomed to making do with chaos, and we certainly are no strangers to tourists. We are more than used to dreadful traffic, the occasional pothole, public lights not functioning at night, and the average crime rate of a big metropolis. We’re just not used to chaos being systematic. Picture thousands more tourist buses roaming the tiny streets of the city center, trash everywhere, B&B locks ruining the facades of centuries-old buildings, and noise in all holy and profane places.
Don’t forget the economic consequences of the real estate market exploding, and prices skyrocketing for everything from food to transportation. And with the ongoing construction sites that have taken over the city, blocking and altering dozens of streets, traffic has become ontological, a perennial state of being, rather than a possibility, making it impossible for anyone to get anywhere on time.
These are just some hints of collateral damage we are facing at the moment and will be facing all year. It goes unsaid that 35 million pilgrims are positive for the economy, but they can also be rather disruptive for the lives of locals, drying out resources and negatively impacting housing, pollution, transportation, and healthcare.
TODAY BEFORE
The Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, has certainly worked to prepare Rome for the Jubilee in myriads of ways, but will it be enough to sustain Romans and all visitors? Rome’s fragile transportation system has been strengthened by replacing all city buses with state-of-the-art hybrid and electric buses. The left-wing city administration also financed thousands of new trash cans all over Rome to try and limit the damage.
However, tourists hardly care to toss plastic bottles into any bin, let alone sort their waste (recycling is mandatory in Italy, but no one fines tourists for not cleaning up after themselves). Similarly, public hospitals are free, but the right-wing national government keeps cutting funds from healthcare, and the system may very well collapse, with ERs constantly being packed and understaffed. It’s also impossible for locals and students to find housing, as the vast majority of landlords decided to turn their apartments into B&Bs with the juicy prospect of the Jubilee.
The hospitality industry is certainly thriving, and thousands of new jobs have been created to meet the high demand, but what will happen when the Jubilee ends? Will these people go back to unemployment, once the curve goes down? And other than hospitality workers and landlords, who else is truly benefitting from this wave of tourists more than they are hurting?
Sure, much renovation work in Rome would have been done at some point; old monuments needed maintenance anyway, and we just got them out of the way now. Jubilees have always called for renovations in Rome and always will. Once, famously, we got the Sistine Chapel out of it. The issue in 2024 was how everything was rushed and done simultaneously, creating no escape for locals.
What was initially conceived in 1300 as a year of indulgence turned into an over-tourism nightmare in 2025. Do not get me wrong: we are happy to welcome tourists and pilgrims and to share the beauty of our city.
We just ask for respect and understanding; the Eternal City is not a playground, but home to 3 million people, and our landmarks are heritage to all of humanity. We all need to take care of it collectively.
With origins in the 8th century, the fountain in Piazza Santa Maria has undergone an extensive structural and aesthetic makeover. Notable refurbishments include: restoration of bronze wolf heads, waterproofing basins, access steps, and fountain drainage systems. Worth 403,000 €, completion of the full restoration is expected in the first quarter of 2025.
PIAZZA SANTA MARIA IN TRASTEVERE
Piazza del Campidoglio (pictured above), nestled between the Roman Forum and Campus Martius, is the scenic crest of the Capitoline hill. Here stands the Capitoline Museums, Palazzo Nuovo, and Palazzo dei Conservatori. Home to the oldest public museum in the world, and what was once a significant ancient political site, it is no surprise that Campidoglio, too, has been wrapped in renovation tape.
Managed by the city body Roma Capitale, in collaboration with Rome-
owned event planner Zetema, Campidoglio’s notable plans include new considerations for visitors with audio, visual, and physical impairments throughout the museums, exhibits, and piazza. This includes the installation of ramps, slides, and stairlifts.
With an allocated 488,017 €, the more inclusive Campidoglio will be open to the public in the third quarter of the year.
IL MENU
A culinary journey is more than dishes on a menu. It tracks ingredients from their origins in the soil until it is a finished tale on the table. Food is the story of family, hearth, and home—and how these eternal values are captured by the restaurateurs, trattorie, and hotels across the peninsulas.
DALLA TERRA
THE BOUNTY OF ENIO OTTAVIANI
Kissed by Adriatic breezes, San Clemente’s hills brim with bounty. Nestled in Emilia-Romagna, nicknamed “The Food Valley” for its iconic cuisine, San Clemente boasts a viticulture gold mine.
Enio Ottaviani Winery.
What began as a family of wine sellers in 1966 by Founder Enio Ottaviani skyrocketed into what is now a wine producer, end-to-end supply chain, and exporter to over 30 countries thanks to cousins and partners Davide and Massimo Lorenzi and Mileno and Marco Tonelli.
GLOBAL VITICULTURE
In 2004, Massimo Lorenzi took the winery to new heights with his vision to transform it into a global exporter. He started small; he hit the road in a van full of wine crates, driving it all over Europe and expanding Enio Ottaviani’s notoriety town by town. By 2013, Enio Ottaviani was exporting to over 30 countries including the U.S. and the Caribbean. A year later, they breached Asia, Africa, and even Australia.
WINE TOURISM, ROMAGNOLO STYLE
Enogastronomico, wine and food in Italian, defines Emilia-Romagna’s tourism. At the winery, it is the vehicle of the visitor experience. The Cellar, Enio’s tasting hub, faces views of lush green vineyards. Contemporary architecture brings a modern flair to the Enio Ottaviani experience. It also escorts visitors to the barrel room, where rows of cultivated Chardonnay, Romagna Sangiovese, Merlot, and sparkling wines. Here, visitors glimpse behind-thescenes how Emilia-Romagna produces its best wine, honey, and olive oil. In addition to the immersive barrel room, a showroom and meeting area foster Enio Ottaviani’s signature “wine for friends” experience.
Tasting experiences vary from wine type, land, and food pairings.
The Local Wines: An immersive tour in the enogastronomia of Emilia-Romagna, this itinerary introduces the region’s best flavors. Local wines are the star of the show: Caciara, Dado, Strati, and Sole Rosso. Flavor pairings come with local cured meats from Sgambato di Mercatello sul Metauro, salami from Macelleria Stringati butchery, Cau & Spada cheese, and Enio’s own house-produced olive oil.
Led by Enio’s winemaker, visitors will tour the barrel room and explore the vineyards in the heart of the Conca Wildlife Oasis. Goodie bags include a Pantone kit and a wine handbook for aspiring viticulturists to take on the go.
Territorial: With the same offering as The Local Wines, this tasting tour incorporates grape varieties that thrive in Romagna’s unique climate. These include Mada, Clemente Primo, 928, and Merlot.
White Wines: Visitors get to sample the region’s best whites in the Wine Shop, with an itinerary of five types: Strati, Clemente I, Mada, and Rebola.
E-Bike Tour: Enio pairs with Romagna Bike, a cycling tour company, so visitors can explore just what makes San Clemente so special. Trails stretch to the beaches of the Adriatic, with cycle and pedestrian paths that zigzag through the Conca River Valley, between the River Conca and Morciano di Romagna, grazing Misano, Cattolica, and San Giovanni in Marignano and San Clemente. Before visitors depart, the winery will pack their group picnic baskets of wine, cheese, cured meats, and olive oil sourced from the bike routes’ surrounding landscapes.
Each tour is one hour long, offered from Monday through Sunday to groups of 10 or less. Small dogs and children aged 15 and above are permitted.
“During
tasting and Wine Tasting Experience, you will find a selection of local products and producers. We have become friends over time, we chose them because we have a lot in common: the love of our territory and the deep knowledge of the raw materials each of us works with every day. But, people themselves are the real wealth of a territory.”
Photos
EMILIA ROMAGNA’S MENU
SINCE ITS CONCEPTION IN 1966, ENIO OTTAVIANI HAS BEEN SELLING, BOTTLING, AND SHARING THE UNIQUE CULINARY RESULTS OF EMILIA-ROMAGNA’S LAND.
ENIO’S ECO-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT
All crops are cultivated with a regenerative method. Integrated crop management, which optimizes crop productivity without chemical, biological, or cultural intervention. Quite simply, the winery’s harvest is au-natural.
They were even awarded the SQNPI certificate for their compliance with the Regional Integrated Crop Management Guidelines. In the vineyards, weeds are controlled through copper, sulphur, and zero glyphosate or mechanical methods that are known for their harmful impact on the environment.
“We aim at fulfilling the concept of CLIMAT, which is reached when a portion of land where the interaction between the subsoil, the soil and man’s know-how create a unique vineyard. The result is a wine immediately recognizable and balanced over time.”
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
The land feeds Enio Ottaviani, but Enio Ottaviani feeds it right back. Nestled in the Conca Wildlife Oasis, the vineyards stretch across 18 hectares of land, from the Adriatic’s coast to San Clemente. These hills are propped at a high altitude, which increases crop UV exposure and boosts grape health. The winey’s lands themselves stretch from the Wildlife Oasis to Morciano di Romagna.
Here, biodiversity thrives. Hundreds of flora and fauna species flourish in the valley’s lush soil, an environmental element that Enio Ottaviani strives to preserve, protect, and nourish through its eco-responsive farming practices.
“The link between all of these mentioned elements determines the great majority of the characteristics of our wines, and can tell our story much better than just a glass of wine... it is the story of our territory.”
Bees are also used to pollinate crops with a natural, anti-pesticide method. Bee pollination also promotes healthier soil rich in nutrients, as the winery plants flowers through its lands to sustain bee food and habitats.
This method also promotes regenerative farming that gives back to the earth as its resources are utilized, minimizing waste and optimizing Enio’s sustainable impact on Emilia-Romagna itself. The best part? Enio’s bee hives allow the winery to produce its own honey, too.
Right down to the packaging, Enio Ottaviani embraces sustainable foresting practices. All packaging is also plastic-free. Any printed material utilizes Fedrigoni X-Per paper, which is pure cellulose and ECF, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®)-certified.
SINGULAR WINES: DADO ROMAGNA SANGIOVESE
Among Enio’s barrels and barrels of whites, reds, sparklings, and rosé, its most notorious bottle is Dado Romagna Sangiovese. “A tribute to the tradition of Sangiovese di Romagna,” Dado is the result of years of cultivation and testing.
Dado’s grapes are gathered separately from the main harvest; its conception began to “liquify” Enio’s overall identity.
The winery chose to harvest Dado in targeted oils at high altitudes to maximize the benefits of sun exposure: between 60 and 260
“Bees improve the whole production process: when flying, they carry yeast to grapes skin and prevent the spreading of diseases thanks to their cicatrising action on the grape.”
meters above sea level. Planted on a truly lucky Sangiovese plot, Dado’s surrounding elements also cocoon its production in ideal growing conditions.
Its Adriatic climate fosters mild winters and cool summers, which nourish rather than suffocate crops. This year-round mild climate provides the perfect habitat for the final product, cultivating an overall cradle of healthy, vibrant origins in the earth.
Right down to the soil, Dado’s environment is perfect: untainted yellow ochre clay allows
vine roots to take firm hold of the earth and thrive among pebbles, silt, and clay.
The result? A red that effortlessly balances typically contradicting profiles. A sapidity that hits the tongue conjures the Adriatic’s sea-salt wind, acquainting flavor with coastal minerality. Sharpness is softened to a delicate overall taste, a fresh flavor that packs a punch but is earthy enough for sophisticated sipping.
Its body also flashes a deep blue in some lights, reflecting on a violet-purple backdrop. This rich tone reflects Dado’s acidic balance with fruity notes of black cherries, raspberries, and strawberries. The earthy element grows from violets, black pepper, and tamarind.
Dado’s culinary pairings are evergreen. From summertime spirits with a plate of light seafood to mid-winter dinners of hearty stews and white meals, Dado is the ultimate red that merges luxury and easy versatility. These endless culinary pairing options reflect Dado’s origins in its Adriatic altitudes, where that year-round climate perfection provides the foundation that will ultimately create a wine that can be enjoyed all year long, in any setting or temperature.
As stated in the Enio Ottaviani Catalog, Dado Romagna is a singular experience: “Dynamic in the mouth, with an energy and sapidity that makes everybody fall in love with it. Dense and elegant tannin texture is perceived when paired with: fish in the oven or en papillote, white meats, stews. This Sangiovese goes well with almost everything.”
THE FUTURE OF WINE
Enio Ottaviani is the traditional Italian winery for the modern palette. Ever-changing and adapting to the fast-paced global wine industry, the winery caters to expectations in eco-responsibility, agritourism, and quality of ingredients for a truly unique cellar. Through this spirit of innovation, every glass poured at the winery honors the legacy of Enio Ottaviani, the creator of it all.
Enio Ottaviani, the all-around singular winery experience, can be discovered for tourists and wine experts alike at enioottaviani.it.
“The link between all of these mentioned elements determines the great majority of the characteristics of our wines, and can tell our story much better than just a glass of wine... it is the story of our territory.”
Silver is the New Black
ANGELUS’
NEW SILVER EDITION WELCOMES A CHIC 2025
The omnipresent grey of titanium extends into the sunraybrushed grey of the “Magnetic Silver” dial. Chronodate Titanium expresses its technical sophistication in an ensemble where deep black contrasts with a hint of red. With this ultra-sporty, understated, and intense new color scheme, Chronodate Titanium catches the eye and draws it toward the horizon.
Chronodate by Angelus, the luxury Swiss watchmaker since 1891, launches the brand’s latest silver edition. “Magnetic Silver,” a tone-on-tone effect timepiece, features a harmonious blend between a titanium case, titanium bracelet or black rubber strap, and rhodium-plated hands with a dial surface that creates a technical monochrome impression.
This grey continues into black, revealing the movement container and then the carbon composite push-pieces. This black ensemble culminates in the two counters, one a 30-minute chronograph totalizer and the other with small seconds.
Chronodate is a fusion of two styles: Angelus, the historic brand and its Swiss watchmaking heritage, and Angelus, the technical, modern brand with a penchant for complications. The house presents the most striking version of this chronograph collection with this color combination.
Chronodate Titanium embodies the neo-retro approach of Angelus sports chronographs. It offers the highest standards of modernity and comfort with a multi-structured modular case.
The movement is housed in a container machined from a rigid yet lightweight carbon composite. The chronograph push-pieces, made from the same material, are applied directly to this case.
Around this container, Angelus has designed an open-worked cradle that unites the case middle and lugs in a single line. It also houses the bezel marked with twelve notches. This modular superstructure can accommodate one or more materials.
The energy emanating from its chamfered profile and the alternating straight and curved lines give the Chronodate collection a sporty feel. Finally, there is the bracelet, also in titanium: vintage in appearance, with its single, wide links, modern in construction, and very comfortable to wear.
Chronodate serves as a historical reminder of the brand’s origins. Angelus was a leading manufacturer of chronographs from the 1940s to the 1960s. These timepieces were small in diameter, in keeping with the taste of the time, and had particularly large and legible counters. It is only fitting that Angelus now presents a Chronodate with large, easy-to-read counters.
The 30-minute chronograph totalizer and the small seconds are adorned in metallic black with a snailed texture that adds to the modernity of the design. The dominant color, “Magnetic Silver”, is applied with a fine, matt sunray-brushed effect, set off by applied hour-markers and Arabic numerals with a 1940s aesthetic.
Angelus has fitted Chronodate Titanium with its chronograph movement, the A-500 caliber, which displays the small seconds at 9 o’clock and the 30-minute totalizer at 3 o’clock.
A pointer-type date display runs around the periphery of the dial. The caliber, oscillating at 4 Hz, is driven by a column wheel. Its self-winding system operates with an oscillating weight with a design taken from the brand’s archives: a capital letter “A” above a star, evoking a bell and its clapper. It alludes to the early days of Angelus, right at the heart of the mechanism.
For more information, visit angelus-watches.com.
Photos courtesy of Angelus
Eras Beyond the
IN MOUNT ETNA’S SHADOWS LIVES A VERDANT GEM OF SICILIAN ANTIQUITY. GRAND HOTEL TIMEO, A BELMOND HOTEL, OVERLOOKS THE IONIAN SEA IN TAORMINA, SICILIA. HERE, WE EXPLORE SICILY’S CENTURIES-SPANNING GLORY, THE BELMOND WAY.
From a crumbling Greek amphitheater and year-round Sicilian florals, to Michelin-starred dining and cliffside presidential suites, Grand Hotel Timeo transports visitors to the golden age of Italian glamor.
Accommodations
The La Floresta suite is the ultimate VIP experience for those who want a flavor of bespoke Sicilian hospitality. With 180-degree panoramas of Mount Etna’s volcanic heights, this signature suite has two bedrooms, a living room, and two marble bathrooms. A private terrace with its own jacuzzi immerses guests in nature-framed seclusion. The suite even comes with its own shuttle service to Timeo’s sister hotel, Villa Sant’Andrea, and its private beach.
Propped at Timeo’s highest point, the Greek Theatre Suite is one with Sicily’s iconic jagged cliffs. Overlooking the glittering Ionian, with Hellenic views of the theater, the suite boasts its own terrace and lush living room beyond the sunny king-sized bedroom.
The Deluxe Sea View Suite with balcony or terrace flaunts breathtaking views of the Bay of Taormina. Available with king or two twin-sized beds, these suites blend Sicilian opulence with seaside tranquility.
All junior suites and double rooms feature sea or garden views, luxurious marble bathrooms, and spacious balconies or terraces.
Tastes of Taormina
Sicily’s menus are as iconic as the rest of Italy’s food regions, something Grand Hotel Timeo captures in an endless list of dining options.
Otto Geleng, named after the famous German painter inspired by Taormina’s rugged coastal beauty, is helmed by Executive Chef Roberto Toro. Its Michelin-star menu is Mediterranean with a sophisticated flair. Culinary highlights include three tasting menus from the sea (Il Mare Intorno
Siciliane), the land (Le Tre Valli Siciliane), and vegan/vegetarians (Orto Una Scelta di Gusto). Tuna Belly with cooked must, hazelnuts, and marinated red cabbage is a seafood entree with a unique flair. From Sicily’s three valleys, Plin with rabbit, pumpkin, goat blue cheese, and white truffle boasts flavors of the land. For vegetable palettes, Risotto with black cabbage, star anise, grapefruit, and white truffle round out Otto Geleng’s diverse plates.
“If you can start with exceptional raw materials, you don’t have to alter the ingredients, you just have to know how to enhance them,” said Chef Toro.
Ristorante Timeo, framed by Mount Etna and the Naxos Bay, is open for lunch and dinner. Paired with a menu of regional wines, Ristorante Timeo’s alfresco terrace lets guests dine on traditional fare merged with elegant outdoor aesthetics.
Bar Timeo offers Sicilian aperitivo, with an antique atmosphere surrounded by a 19th-century winter garden. A signature cocktail is the Sunset Spritz, a chic take on a classic drink infused with passion fruit, strawberries, and Sicilian rosé sparkling wine. Light snacks include the Ionian scampi salad, a trio of red tuna from Favignano, and red prawn carpaccio from Mazara del Vallo.
The Timeo Grill and Pool Bar provide a rustic poolside fare for summertime dining between laps. Refreshing salads, pizza, barbeque skewers, and other light meals round out the options. This includes the flaming Fire and Wine Menu, which grills fresh seafood, meats, and vegetables in front of poolside loungers that pair with carefully curated spirits.
Sicily’s Luxury Side
A lively events calendar and activity brochure let guests embark on the ultimate Sicilian adventure. Ceramic painting classes, scenic yoga sessions, and cannoli-making lessons are just some of the ways Grand Hotel Timeo immerses guests in la
Photos courtesy of Grand Hotel Timeo, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina
dolce vita siciliana. Seasonal updates are also added, including fall’s weekly “Autumn Scents: Chestnut Roasting,” “Sicilian Olive Oil Tasting,” and “Sicilian Wine Tasting,” both with Timeo’s in-house Wine Ambassador and sommelier Veronica Bonelli.
The activities brochure is divided by land, sea, air, and dining. A walking tour of Taormina and Teatro Antico is a favorite highlight. The not-so-touristy glimpse of the charming town and its ancient Greek Theatre acquaint visitors with Taormina’s heart, both past and present. Jeep tours and wine tastings at the foot of Mount Etna get visitors up close and personal with Europe’s most active volcanoes--and its unique resulting flavors. Embark in Sicily’s time capsule to the ancient world with tours of 5th-century ruins in Syracuse, baroque UNESCO architecture in Noto, and Hellenic temples in Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples.
By sea, Cyclops Riviera sails guests through rocky inlets north of Catania, where Ulysses fought a cyclops in Homer’s Odyssey. Boat tours to the nearby Aeolian Islands, Syracuse, and Taormina Bays are also part of the brochure’s oceanic options.
Helicopter tours reveal a side of Sicily not seen by many, providing a seagull’s view of its cliffs, inlets, and islands.
While Timeo’s on-site dining options allow guests not to leave the premises should they choose, the brochure outlines the best on the island’s eating scene. Dining experiences include a list of top restaurants frequented by locals for truly authentic cuisine. Categorized by Cocktail Bars and Nightlife, Pizzerias, Typical Sicilian Trattorias and Restaurants, Sicilian Upscale and Fine Dining, and Around Sicily, there is no shortage of options near and beyond Taormina.
Brizza, Timeo’s exclusive offering, sits just six tables on the shores of a natural rock pool at the Bay of Mazzaró. Chef Agostino D’Angelo’s curated menu of locally-sourced ingredients and fresh, seaside catches make for an unforgettable dinner that takes “exclusive” to new heights.
Grand Hotel Timeo, a Belmond Hotel, Taormina will reopen for the season on May 2, 2025. For more information, visit https://www.belmond. com/hotels/europe/italy/taormina/ belmond-grand-hotel-timeo/
