by IsHotel | Lifestyle
“Life in Blue” Marco is the head of the diving centre of the island of Cavallo and has collaborated for many years with the Hotel & SPA des Pecheurs. His life is split between two continents but united by one constant passion: the sea and its depths. Your life is split between Thailand and the Island of Cavallo: what does each of these enchanting but very different places give you? Looking back at the time I’ve spent in each of them, I can honestly say that my experience has been wonderful in both cases. The places where I spend my time are characterized by a special relationship with nature and the sea. Cavallo is unique in the world, for its ecosystem is completely different to that of any other place I’ve had the chance to visit. Life on that island is controlled by the wind, everything there depends on sea conditions. The granite you find there – with its massive solidity – certainly plays a role, influencing the mood and state of mind of inhabitants and visitors. The feeling of peace and harmony with nature you get is truly unique. On the other hand, Thailand is dominated by the sea and by the rain forest, which is almost entirely unexplored. The centuries-old culture of Thai people is among the most hospitable and tolerant ones in the world, it makes you feel at home anywhere. The Thai are a proud and resolute people, and they have made hospitality the defining characteristic of their relationships with other people. In both cases, the climate is optimal: Cavallo in the summer and...
by IsHotel | Lifestyle
“In the Heart of the City of the Lily” A collaborator of IsHotel, Costanza Barlondi is a tourist guide in her hometown of Firenze. Together with Emiliano Cribari, she skilfully and meticulously researches the most picturesque and less known parts of the city. An exciting interdisciplinary journey that offers a novel viewpoint on the city that never stops surprising you. Hi Costanza, if we had to meet in Florence, what place would you choose? The Chiostro dello Scalzo, a wonderful cloister housing 16th-century frescoes by Andrea del Sarto, and often unknown to Florentines themselves. I’d choose it for two reasons. First, because it is a peaceful and beautiful oasis in the midst of the city centre; and second, because people often forget that Florence offers way more than just the Galleria degli Uffizi and David di Michelangelo There’s so much more to discover: hidden art treasures, culinary traditions, local handicrafts… Several cities in the world are nicknamed “The Magic City”. How magic is your hometown of Florence, and why? Florence is a magic place to me because, even though I’ve always lived here, there are so many things that keep surprising me, such as the light at sunset, something in the window of an artisan workshop, or finding some new detail in a work of art that I have seen many times… And I find myself taking photos, like a tourist (but I will never join the selfie stick craze!) Your profession as a “guide” and art historian entails an extensive and detailed knowledge of the city. Have you concluded your research or do you still have a lot...
by IsHotel | Lifestyle
“A Journey of Wonderful Discoveries” Gaining knowledge through play and having fun with culture, art, science and gastronomy. This is the main focus of VIK (Very Important Kids), a company that provides its services to families who come on holiday in Italy, organizing activities that are suitable for children and enable them to learn through fun. The concept behind VIK is that of edutainment (education and entertainment), that is, educating and entertaining children and young adults aged 4-16 during their travels: a super enjoyable journey through history and art! Besides being the name of a Florentine company providing a comprehensive range of services for “young travellers”, VIK is also the name of a lovely character: a happy, bespectacled child ready to jump in a balloon and travel the world. VIK features in a series of environmentally friendly gadgets created with recycled materials to ensure maximum quality and environmental sustainability. Curious and attentive, VIK looks at the world like only a kid can do: with wonder. For each age group, the cultural tours on offer are written in a suitable language. Tales and stories are built around important historical figures that will one day become a part of the memories treasured by our young adventurers, adding to their store of knowledge. Activities include treasure hunts whose aim is to help kids experience cities through play, looking for secrets and hidden details that are part of the territory and its history. Art, pottery and science workshops led by a skilled professional graduated in astrophysics will help children discover the secrets of energy and the mysteries of the cosmos; culinary experiences and...
by IsHotel | Lifestyle
“Photography, from Florence to the South” Emiliano Cribari was born in Florence in 1977. His eclecticism immediately attracted our attention and he is now one of our closest collaborators. He is the author of the photos depicting Villa Tolomei and the event “Hero a Firenze”. In this interview, we have asked him about the world of photography and images. Hi Emiliano, what is the current state of photography? If you look at it from the viewpoint of end users, well, photography is in great shape. There is a proliferation of images, exhibitions, courses, cameras… Photography has never been so popular! However, if you look at it from the point of view of photographers (by which I mean professional photographers), you come to a different conclusion: digital photography is literally killing the professional market, tricking people into thinking that taking photos is easy, or that it’s just a game… Today images are viewed at a crazy speed, which belittles the work of photographers and the long time they dedicate (or should dedicate) to each image. Quantity has become more important than time and quality. It is mortifying. From Florence to “Piccolo Sud”: why the South? Because it is in my blood and in my memories: my father is from Calabria, and I have been lucky enough to spend almost every summer of my life somewhere in the South, in many different places that touched me deeply. So many years later, I am trying to tell the stories of those places through the photographic filter of memory. Do you consider the decision to use of photography as a narrative medium as a...
5 suggestions for capturing Cavallo Island Corsica
