With the holiday season fast approaching, it is hard not to think of beautifully decorated tables, resplendent with shiny silverware and laden with delicacies. Throughout the world, most cultures like to celebrate holidays with unique traditions and special recipes handed down from generation to generation, rich in taste and memories.
Here is our selection of properties to experience different traditions around the world.
Holy Deer San Lorenzo City Lodge
Rome, Italy
The splendid baroque church in Piazza Navona is the incomparable location of this phenomenal apartment. Its history is without equal: from the ashes of the apartment built for Pope Innocent X (by request of his alleged mistress, Donna Olimpia) has risen the exquisite phoenix of Italian art, style and design. The restoration work is a masterpiece of craftsmanship, where no expense has been spared to breathe life into a new renaissance in design and interior decoration.
This spectacular property has incredible views overlooking the square where Romans gather to celebrate and conclude their holiday season with the traditional “Befana Romana" - eating candy apples and sugar “charcoal”.
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Chalet Perla - LV 02
Cortina, Italy
The region of Cortina d’Ampezzo is the birthplace of one of the most traditional Italian Christmas cakes, Pandoro, which means “golden bread”. Only eaten during the holiday season, this delicious sweet sponge is best eaten warm, perhaps sitting by a cosy fireplace. No need to worry about the extra calories though: in the stunning chalet Perla in Cortina guests will find a pool, a private fitness area and a spa (not to mention the kilometres of slopes outsides; some of the best in the Dolomites) to burn off the excess sugar… and start again!
This luxurious property is located in Cortina’s top area and offers eight perfectly-appointed bedrooms, sophisticated interiors, stunning views and plenty of entertainment built in, like a soundproof cinema room and a games room, perfect to keep the whole family entertained.
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The Grosvenor Penthouse Suite
London, UK
London at Christmas time is nothing short of magical. The city is a whirlwind of beautiful lights shining on the streets, warm, inviting shop windows, carollers singing at almost every corner, and dressed-up party goers. From the stuffed turkey to Christmas pudding with brandy sauce, from the glittering Christmas trees to Dickens’ Christmas Carol, a lot of the way we celebrate Christmas today dates back to Queen Victoria and was first established in England.
Why not, then, celebrate a traditional Christmas in its birthplace? The Grosvenor Penthouse suite offers 5 luxurious bedrooms, a private lift, a butler, an extremely elegant living and dining room, and an unparalleled location on Park Lane with a private terrace offering wonderful views over Hyde Park; an ideal position to enjoy the marvellous fireworks display on New Year’s Eve.
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