There is just something about a destination getaway steeped in the history and charm of Europe, and there’s no place better to begin the summer season than at one of the 14 Rocco Forte Hotels across Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium and more. The beloved family-run hospitality group is celebrating 25 years of European hospitality, which all began 25 years ago when siblings Sir Rocco Forte and Olga Polizzi had a vision for their brand of delivering modern, sophisticated, and design-driven landmark hotels.
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This year, Rocco Forte Hotels is celebrating its 25th anniversary by offering new immersive and enigmatic experiences inspired by the fascinating cities their hotels call home. To mark the occasion, Rocco Forte Hotels created the European Grand Tour where guests can embark on authentic journeys interacting with local artisanal talent while receiving exclusive access to the best experiences each city has to offer – from a curated class with one of the Royal Family’s portrait artists at Brown’s Hotel in London, to spending one-on-one time with a certified gemologist and private jeweler for a personalized accessory in Brussels courtesy of Hotel Amigo.
Guests can book individual hotel experiences or to fully immerse in the “European Grand Tour,” travelers can select up to five different Rocco Forte Hotels and enhance their itinerary with one (or more) of the unique, curated experiences. While all package details can be found in the link above, please see below for a selection of the carefully curated experiences across various regions.
ITALY
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Villa Igiea - Palermo
Experience a turn-of-the-century palazzo at the perimeter of vivid Palermo, the foot of Mount Pellegrino and the Gulf of Palermo at Villa Igiea. Villa Igiea has curated an artistic guide to Palermo through the lens of the aristocratic Florio family, who originally transformed the private estate into a luxury hotel at the start of the 20th century. Guests will discover the history of Palermo through a city-wide tour which takes in the Norman, Rococo and Art Nouveau architecture of Sicily’s capital. Guests enjoy a private tour of the stunning 300-year-old Palazzo Gangi (frequently compared to Versaille’s Hall of Mirrors) by the princess of the palace. At the end of the epic architectural adventure, guests will be greeted with dinner in the hotel’s airy Louis XVI Hall, named in honor of the Florio family.
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Verdura Resort – Sicily
Situated in an exclusive 568-acre estate, amidst fragrant orchards and ancient olive groves, while overlooking the beautiful, blue Mediterranean Sea on the southwest coast of Sicily, Verdura Resort is an oasis that combines wellbeing, escapism and indulgence. Verdura Resort has curated a gold standard golfing experience where, upon arrival, guests will be welcomed with a personalized gift bag filled with state-of-the-art golf equipment, including a dozen professional standard golf balls and a Verdura golf shirt. In this package, guests will also experience a 30-minute training lesson with the resort’s PGA coach on the driving range and be treated to a three-course lunch meal following. For a relaxing respite, guests can enjoy locally-inspired treatments at the recently opened Irene Forte Spa or stay in one of the Rocco Forte Private Villas for an even more private getaway.
Want more to do in Sicily? Rocco Forte Hotels offers a Sicilian Railway Experience between Villa Igiea and Verdura Resort, which takes guests on a historic luxury train between the two cities, discovering western Sicily along the way with breathtaking views of the UNESCO world heritage sites such as the Scala dei Turchi and the Valley of the Temples.
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Hotel de la Ville - Rome
A lively 18th-century palazzo with a picturesque view, Hotel de la Ville embodies and overlooks life in the Eternal City. Hotel de la Ville is providing insight into the sins of the Eternal City, where guests begin their stay at the sumptuous 18th-century palazzo and embark on a two-hour guided tour through the dark streets of Rome’s heretics, traitors and ghosts. Crossing through the Sant’Angelo bridge, travelers will learn about Mastro Titta, the official executioner for the Papal States and travel back to the taverns where Caravaggio brawled in the streets and created endless stories still talked about in the modern day.
Masseria Torre Maizza – Puglia
Situated in the most glamorous destination on the Italian Adriatic coast, Masseria Torre Maizza has curated a journey through Puglia on a plate. At the Grandmother’s Table, guests will enjoy a Sunday lunch with Apulian dishes hosted by local mothers and grandmothers. A chance to be immersed in local culinary tradition, guests will also be surrounded by the typical landscape of the region with a communal table set among monumental olive trees and seasonal flowers. Beyond this experience, guests have access to the hotel’s 9-hole golf course, private beach club and Irene Forte Spa, which is housed in an old olive mill.
United Kingdom
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The Balmoral - Edinburgh, Scotland
The Balmoral is celebrating the 25th anniversary with a curated ‘Scottish Gold’ experience in Edinburgh. Where Old Town meets New, this legendary hotel provides guests exclusive access to Edinburgh’s finest jewelers and private access to The Balmoral’s rooftop to view the famous Clock Tower, a symbol of its city. This unparalleled experience begins with a behind-the-scenes visit to the city’s most iconic jewelers of all time, Hamilton & Inches, the designers behind Edinburgh’s iconic Balmoral clock. Once returned to the hotel, guests can visit The Balmoral’s private rooftop and discover the history of the timepiece. Following, travelers can enjoy a whisky tasting at the Balmoral’s cozy bar, Scotch, which offers 500 whiskies to choose from. A perfect nightcap, guests will sip on a thoughtfully selected sample from a variety of distilleries, while learning about the history of the local liquor of choice.
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Brown’s Hotel - London, England
Brown’s Hotel is enduringly distinguished and is known as the very first hotel in London. In the heart of sophisticated Mayfair, Brown’s is a short walk to Buckingham Palace and over the decades the hotel has welcomed several members of the Royal Family through its doors. In true royal fashion, Brown’s has curated a regal experience of a lifetime where guests can enjoy a bespoke class with one of the Royal Family’s portrait artists and discover painting techniques and composition ideas to hone one’s artistic style. To complete the experience, guests will also have a chance to sit down for their own personal portrait – an unforgettable souvenir.
Want more to do in London? To celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Brown’s Hotel is offering a Great British Jubilee Journey including a bespoke royal inspired walking tour which makes stops to Royal Warrant boutiques along the way. Available from now through the end of July, the hotel also created “The Jubilee Gintini” mixing the perfect balance of gin, pink champagne, and bitters.
GERMANY
The Charles Hotel - Munich
The effortlessly elegant Charles Hotel in Munich is where contemporary style meets traditional Bavarian hospitality. The Charles Hotel has curated a private night at the museum – once the doors to the Lenbachhaus museum have closed for the day, contemporary art treasures are exclusively available to guests. Taken on a private tour of the museum, visitors will get to experience the Expressionist collection by The Blue Rider group, founded by Wassily Kandinsky and Franz Marc. This unparalleled experience is followed by an exclusive dinner among the most famous art pieces which include Wirbelwerk, a specially curated artwork by Olafur Eliasson which spirals down from the ceiling like a light-filled tornado.
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Hotel De Rome - Berlin
Located on historic Bebelplatz, Hotel De Rome is one of the most prestigious luxury hotels in Berlin. For the 25th anniversary, the hotel is providing a behind-the-scenes experience at the State Opera, which finishes with champagne and canapes in the Meyerbeer salon. This historic room is rarely open to members of the public and guests will get exclusive access to this elaborately decorated space, usually only accessed by the director of the opera. After this unique experience, guests can return to the hotel and be enjoy luxurious accommodations at Bebel Suite, which offers direct views of the pastel pink opera house.
BELGIUM
Hotel Amigo – Brussels
Found in the heart of the capital of Belgium, Hotel Amigo perfectly blends art, culture, heritage and creativity and looks forward to sharing an insider’s look into the glittering art of fine jewelry to celebrate the 25th anniversary. Under the expert guidance of a certified gemologist and private jeweler with more than 20 years in the trade, this curated experience allows guests to learn about bespoke jewelry and the intricacy of the craft. As a departing gift, guests will be given a precious stone of their choice. To further elevate the experience, guests can even commission a unique piece of jewelry as a keepsake – a timeless souvenir from Brussels.