La Dolce Vita

As my best friend so eloquently put it, today I’m focusing on the beauty in the world that inspires me and the people I cherish.

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend my best friend’s wedding just outside of Rome with all of our closest friends. I pinch myself just saying that! We have been looking forward to this quality time together for many many months and I am so grateful that we were able to experience this as a group. Many of those friends have been in my life for almost two decades and they are truly like family. The whole wedding felt like a family reunion and I left with a massively grateful heart.

The Details

The amazing couple hosted the group at La Posta Vecchia which is a beautifully restored Villa just Northeast of Rome on the sea. It was previously owned by the Getty Family which means every single room is dripping with history, glamour and art. It may have been one of the most inspiring places I’ve ever been. That stay really had me thinking about the joy of curating antiques in your own home and ever since I got home, I’ve been on an Italian antique hunting journey. I mean, can you handle pieces like this and this? And this bed?? I mean!! In the meantime, I’ll stick to my love for affordable vintage wood boards and pots (coming soon to OW!)

After we finished up the wedding festivities, we headed up the coast to Il Pellicano. This hotel has been on my bucket list for quite a while, ever since first seeing Slim Aaron’s photographs of the iconic property. We made zero plans other than when to meet for meals, and spent the days having deep conversations and jumping in the sea. There may have been some Vermentino involved as well. To me, the definition of a true vacation. I was able to read two books (this one and this one), write in my journal, enjoy coffee in bed, and truly disconnect. I will, absolutely & unequivocally, be back to Il Pellicano. It’s rustic charm mixed with the exceptional yet never ostentatious customer service, combined with the sea access and beauty around every corner is not to be missed. A trip of a lifetime.

At both hotels, we stayed on the property for all of our meals. This was not an adventure trip by any means, we were there to spend time with our loved ones and enjoy incredible food and relaxation. And all of the meals were 10/10. I’d highly recommend staying on property and enjoying the beautiful coastal Southern Tuscan fare.

La Dolce Vita

One thing I thought about a lot on the trip was how to integrate the feeling of vacation into our everyday life. Whether that’s taking our time drinking our coffee, lighting our favorite candle for dinner, opening up a special bottle of wine, or enjoying a date night with your loved one in the middle of the week rather than rushing to heat up a frozen meal. There is something to be said for the time that Italians take to do things (truly the opposite of how I usually live) and I am trying to bring back with me The Pursuit of Pleasure as a Priority.

If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a note. You can catch up on more pictures of Il Pellicano here and here, and see details from La Posta Vecchia here and here. I’ll be referring back to these often for inspiration. All of my outfits from the trip are linked here.

Arrivederci! xx

travelSophie Collins