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The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
World's best holiday cities revealed and three of them are only two hours from the UK
THREE of the world's best cities are just a few hours away from the UK, offering sun and beautiful sights. 7 Florence came in a number 11 when it comes to the world's best cities Credit: Alamy 7 The Ponte Vecchio in Florence has beautiful views and is great for a picture Credit: Getty Voters praised the capital of There was an honourable mention of the Florence is considered a romantic city, full of beautiful architecture like the Read More on Going Abroad It's the ideal destination for art lovers too as its home to work by Michelangelo, Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci. Just because it's a hub of culture, doesn't mean that it's necessarily costly. In fact in Florence Florence is 80 miles inland, but you could still be at the beach in an hour and a half. Or even head over to Pisa which is an hour and a half by both car and rail. Most read in City breaks One Sun Travel writer You can fly directly from San Sebastian cider season 7 Seville is one of the most popular cities - and it two and a half hours away from the UK Credit: Alamy 7 There's plenty of beautiful architecture around the city Credit: Alamy It was described as offering a "window on thousands of years of history" with its best site being The Spanish city is famous for its Cathedral and Plaza de España. It's also famous for tapas, Seville orange trees and the traditional art of flamenco - if you're lucky, you'll catch some dancers in the street. Deputy Travel Editor For anyone wanting to visit Seville Cathedral, Kara discovered 100 free tickets are given out at a certain time of day. You can fly directly from London Gatwick to Seville in two hours 40 minutes. 7 Porto has plenty to offer and it's two hours and 20 minutes away from the UK Credit: Alamy 7 The city is famous for it's port production Credit: Getty The colourful city came in 24th place on the list of Top 25 best cities - and was awarded a reader score of 88.24. Porto is filled with restaurants and bars and, of course, is known for its port wine production. Readers of Porto is found on the When And of course there are vineyards aplenty and an opportunity to do tastings all around the city. Brits can fly directly to Porto from several UK airports, including London Gatwick, which takes two hours 20 minutes. These Are The 25 Best Cities For 2025 San Miguel de Allende, Mexico Chiang Mai, Thailand Tokyo, Japan Bangkok, Thailand Jaipur, India Hoi An, Vietnam Mexico City, Mexico Kyoto, Japan Ubud, Bali Cuzco, Peru Florence, Italy Seville, Spain Granada, Spain Istanbul, Turkey Siem Reap, Cambodia Mumbai, India Cape Town, South Africa Rome, Italy Santa Fe, New Mexico Agra, India Oaxaca, Mexico Mendoza, Argentina Siena, Italy Porto, Portugal Mérida, Mexico Here are Plus, the 7 Florence and Seville are some of the most popular cities in the world - and close to the UK Credit: Alamy
Vogue
22-07-2025
- Vogue
The Best Hotels in Florence Are a Slice of Tuscan Elegance
It's easy to be swept up in the romance of Florence. Whether it's a quiet stroll along the Arno River (gelato in hand, preferably) or an afternoon spent in awe of masterpieces by Botticelli and Michelangelo, the city that birthed the Renaissance has a way of seducing the senses. And after a day of sightseeing, checking into one of the best hotels in Florence is the perfect way to slip into the city's rhythm. Vogue's Favorite Hotels in Florence Accommodations in Florence are as glamorous and storied as the ancient city itself. Take your pick between centuries-old palazzos and elegant villas reimagined into modern luxury stays, each one imbued with a deep appreciation for Florentine traditions. Position yourself in the heart of the centro storico, or opt for a stay on the hillsides of Tuscany just outside of town for a quieter getaway. Ahead, 10 of the city's standouts for your next trip to Firenze.
Miami Herald
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Review: Long-missing man turns family's life upside-down in ‘The Original'
The title of "The Original" refers to: A. The painting its heroine, Grace, copies. B. Grace's cousin, Charles, who disappears and then (allegedly) returns, more than a decade later. C. The idea that we are all constantly changing and that trying to revert to a previous version of ourselves dooms us to failure. I'm sure there are more interpretations of that title in Nell Stevens' ("Briefly, a Delicious Life") tricky novel. Set in the late 19th century, it's a gothic tale that opens with a double bang: We're introduced to a family curse (because of a broken promise, Grace's family lacks male heirs) and a haunted, indestructible painting (the family burned it - only to have it "reappear" in what we know is actually Grace's re-creation). The instigating event in "The Original" is Charles' return. Is he who he claims to be or a fortune hunter, bent on claiming an inheritance? But the spine of the book is Grace's story, as she figures out what she wants in a society that forbids her to do much of anything. Grace's singular quality is that she cannot recognize faces. It's a disaster when she attempts to paint portraits but a superpower when she turns to forging great works by Vermeer, Velázquez and others. Instead of worrying over facial expressions in canvases, she simply reproduces brushstrokes and colors with a kind of paintographic memory. She does something similar with the people around her, whom she learns to recognize by voices and mannerisms. Our narrator, Grace seems able to tumble immediately to the central truths of things. Maybe it doesn't matter if Charles is an impostor if he's essentially a good person? And maybe it doesn't matter if that painting hanging in a collector's home is a real or fake Botticelli - as long as they find it beautiful? Like TV's "Mad Men‚" "The Original" exists in a between place that takes place in its own time but asks us to weigh its depiction of the past against the present. Stevens' book, divided into brief cleverly-titled chapters, is attentive to the language and manners of England's late Victorian era while also looking ahead. We're aware that bygone times can be disconcerting (expectant mothers smoking on "Mad Men," anyone?) but also that plenty of stuff happened that never made it into the novels of Thomas Hardy or Oscar Wilde, who wrote in the period when "The Original" takes place. This wouldn't have made their books, for instance, but when Grace falls for a noblewoman named Ruby, the love that dare not speak its name is depicted with restraint and secrecy: "'Are you like me?' she said. 'I nodded. 'Yes.' 'Good.'" When a century dawns, there's always talk of new ideas and trends, but Stevens knows that many of them have always been there, waiting for us to recognize them. Her Grace is a fascinating, un-self-pitying heroine, who tells us she will be ready for the world when it is ready for her: "Surely, surely something now had to change. I thought this daily. I tried to stay warm. I planned my own plans, worked on my own work secretively, as I did everything." ____ The Original By: Nell Stevens. Publisher: Norton, 328 pages. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Telegraph
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
The perfect summer weekend in Florence
Firenze, the cradle of the Renaissance, is one of Europe 's great art cities. With frescoes by Giotto and Ghirlandaio, canvases by Botticelli and Bronzino, and sculptures by Michelangelo and Giambologna, there is so much exquisite art and architecture within its ancient walls that it's easy to become overwhelmed. But, there is more to handsome Florence than just museums and monuments. It is bursting with quirky shops and quality crafts; a living city with an eclectic cultural life that embraces opera, classical music and contemporary art. The restaurant and nightlife scene is also very much thriving. Escaping for some downtime is rather convenient, given the city's proximity to the vine-covered hills of Chianti, as well as other Tuscan art towns such as Arezzo, Siena and Lucca. Florence's diminutive size means everything is very accessible, with most of the main sights lying within walking distance of one another. All in all, this is one of Europe's most civilised long-weekend destinations. And for more Florence inspiration, turn to our guides on the city's best hotels, restaurants, nightlife, attractions and shopping. In this guide What's new in Florence this season How to spend your weekend When should I visit Florence? Where to stay in Florence What's new in Florence this summer Dance: Watch performances at Florence Dance Festival The Florence Dance Festival, which runs through June and July, is based in the atmospheric great cloister of the church of Santa Maria Novella, and in other venues around the city. It features established dancers, choreographers and dance companies, as well as young emerging talents in the world of contemporary dance. Look out for Compañía Antonio Gades' 'Carmen', among the highlights of the 2025 festival. Relax: Hang out at The Social Hub's rooftop pool The fifth floor of Florence's newly opened The Social Hub Belfiore is now the largest terrace space in the city. The 7,000sq m masterpiece has knock-out views over the city to the Duomo. It incorporates a public park and sinuous Mediterranean gardens, lots of seating and socialising spaces and a bar serving all-day drinks and snacks; morphing into a cocktail bar in the evening, with pop-ups offering street food. The USP is the 50m pool, stretching the length of the building, which is open to the public in the evenings offering swims with views. Experience: See a show in a Roman amphitheatre The spectacular 2,000-seat Roman amphitheatre in Fiesole, just to the north of Florence, is the setting for the eclectic Estate Fiesolana arts festival, from June 6 to September 11, featuring a line-up of international artists from the worlds of classical music, jazz, dance, theatre and cinema. There is even the Greek tragedy, Agamemnon, on July 13. The venue alone makes the trip worthwhile (bring a cushion – the stone seats are hard), but you could also catch the likes of Paolo Fresu and Igudesman & Joo, plus a series of sunset concerts by young musicians from the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole. How to spend your weekend Day one: morning Get an early start on your first day to tick off some of the busier sights. To get a feel for the layout of the city, tackle the 414 steps to the top of Giotto's Campanile (Piazza del Duomo). The bell tower offers magnificent views over the sea of terracotta rooftops in the centro storico, divided by the Arno River. Back on street level, size up the set piece that is Piazza San Giovanni with the vast bulk of the Duomo, the Baptistery and the Campanile – Florence's spiritual heart. The Duomo is worth visiting for the sheer size of the place and to climb inside Brunelleschi's Dome (another 463 steps). At the southern end of Via Calzaiuoli lies Piazza della Signoria, Florence's political power hub past and present, with its imposing town hall and monumental statuary. Highlights include Benvenuto Cellini's Perseus, shown brandishing the severed head of Medusa under the Loggia dei Lanzi. Take a cappuccino break on the terrace of historic Café Rivoire (recently – and controversially – revamped under new ownership) and brace yourself for what is arguably the world's greatest haul of Renaissance art at Galleria degli Uffizi. To view the entire collection at leisure, you need at least four hours. Must-sees include the three great Maestàs by Giotto, Cimabue and Duccio, Gentile da Fabbriano's Adoration of the Magi, the Botticellis and Caravaggio's Medusa. Advance booking is essential.
Vogue
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Lena Dunham Is Living Her Botticelli Meets British Icon Nigella Lawson Fantasy
The cherry red dress features one draped shoulder on a strapless bodice, with draping that cascades over the hips into a train. The back is a tied corset with interweaving draping. It feels romantic, yet powerful and full of movement. Misner's sensual signature look speaks in service to the contours of the body, using draping techniques to extend and celebrate curves. 'I noticed Lena liked the corseted pieces that had drape work on top, one of my signature methods—each piece is one-of-one,' says Misner. 'This method helps me manipulate silhouette, adding volume to hips and accentuating a corseted waist. Originally, we were going to do a midi dress with a boned hoop, but switched to a full length to make it more red carpet-worthy. They really trusted me and let me do my own thing, so when it was finished, it was the first time they had seen what it would look like.' Misner prioritized both Lena's comfort and support in the dress, making an internal boned base, with a hand-sewn drape put on afterwards. 'I knew she would be wearing the dress for a whole evening, and I didn't want it to feel uncomfortable or constricted, regardless of the corsetry,' she explains. As the designer does with each custom piece, she built Dunham a mannequin to match her measurements and then worked directly off it as a body double. 'Together they made possible the most striking Botticelli fantasy; a little bit early Renaissance, a little Nigella Lawson—my curvy British icon,' says Dunham. 'It embraces what I love about my body, drapes in inventive ways, and makes me feel both powerful and innocent. It's such a gift to wear. Michael and Ellie are both so young and have such vision.' Lena's custom Ellie Misner dress fitted on a mannequin made to her measurements by the designer. 'Every piece from Ellie is truly one of a kind. Her dedication to individuality and creativity—paired with an unwavering commitment to size inclusivity—is what makes Ellie herself so unique,' says Handler. Fitting, however, had to happen digitally—with a lot of yapping and quicktime getting to know each other. Misner FaceTimed Lena, Handler, and his team in New York when the dress got to them, and a week later for her digital fitting. The dress fit perfectly, and they decided to go bolder and make a long, detachable train. Handler sourced a matching fabric and built it in New York under Misner's guidance. 'It's something that gave her that red carpet 'wow' moment,' says Handler.
