Destinations: Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

27 New Ways to Eat (and Drink) Local

Posted on by Rebecca Troyer

Natives of Buenos Aires will tell you that you haven’t fully experienced Argentina until you’ve enjoyed an authentic asado-style meal – a revered weekend dining ritual where families and friends grill meats, tables are filled with salads and appetizers, and local red wines flow freely. You haven’t tasted Indonesia, locals say, until you’ve sampled babi guling, aka roast suckling pig, from the beach in Bali. And in Florence, it’s an unwritten rule that la passeggiata (a traditional evening stroll) is incomplete without a scoop of creamy gelato.

The fastest and most enjoyable way for travellers to immerse themselves in the culture of any corner of the world is to dive into the culinary scene – order traditional dishes, explore food markets and local farms, and speak to chefs and home cooks about their favourite recipes.

Taste of Place, a new series of fine dining experiences from Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, is designed so guests can do exactly that. Its goal is to bring travellers and locals who have an appetite for exploration together with the flavours and cultures of places like Cairo, Koh Samui and Lanai.

During these epicurean adventures, you’ll visit markets and farms to sample and gather fresh ingredients commonly used in local cuisine. Many experiences include cooking classes alongside expert chefs, where you’ll learn how the traditions and customs of a region are reflected in the preparation and seasoning of its food. And each Taste of Place offering includes one or more chef-prepared meals, served in an unforgettable setting.

Scroll through the gallery above to get a taste of specific food tourism offerings around the globe.

Taste of Place joins an already extensive portfolio of Four Seasons culinary innovations, including the recently launched “Culinary Discoveries” itinerary on board the Four Seasons Private Jet. This new itinerary, developed in partnership with René Redzepi and the Noma team, is a once-in-a-lifetime cross-continental culinary journey through the finest kitchens, freshest markets and most exquisite dining experiences in the world. Learn more about how you can see Europe and Asia through the eyes of a Michelin-starred chef here.

YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE

Choose a destination that best suits your tastes

Bali at Jimbaran Bay

Your Ticket to the World’s Most Epic Culinary Adventure

Posted on by Veronica Chambers

Noma is considered by many to be the world’s most influential restaurant. In 2017, the Copenhagen restaurant’s team and Four Seasons partner for a nine-city, 19-day, once-in-a-lifetime Private Jet journey. Noma Chef René Redzepi curated the food tourism itinerary to connect guests with his culinary friends around the world.

Look behind the scenes


Noma Kitchen Copenhagen

One of two Four Seasons Private Jet Experiences available in 2017, the Culinary Discoveries trip introduces guests to top chefs and producers for discussions, foraging expeditions, cooking classes, communal meals and street-food adventures – each experience designed to reveal something not only about the destination’s culinary heritage, but about its culture.

As with every Four Seasons Private Jet Experience, the in-air services and amenities – from the hand-stitched Italian leather flat-bed seats to the latest vintage of Dom Pérignon – are unbeatable, helping to make the journey as enjoyable as the destinations.

SEOUL | May 27–29, 2017

Seoul Old City Skyline

A blend of historic tradition and modern accommodations, Seoul offers travellers an immersive cultural and culinary experience.

Photography courtesy Reabirdna / Thinkstock

Chef cooking duck in Seoul

At Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, dine at Yu Yuan, which features a Peking duck oven for preparing the restaurant’s signature dish.

Seoul Fermenting Urns

Temples use soy sauce and kimchi fermenting pots as a part of creating traditional temple food, which enriches the practice of meditation.

Photography courtesy Alex Barlow / Getty Images

In this burgeoning food destination, the journey begins with a truly exclusive experience: dining at the home of Chef Jong Kuk Lee, a pioneer in the city’s farm-to-table movement. Lee was trained as a painter, but his passion for authentic Korean food has made him a self-taught master of traditional cooking and fermentation. Although he’s more likely to shy away from a spotlight than to seek one out, he has gained renown among those in the know. “I’ve personally been to his home for dinner, and it’s a very sought-after experience,” Redzepi says.

The next day, guests will visit Mount Bukhan and Jin-Kwan temple for a private demonstration of the centuries-old practice of creating temple food – meals designed to enhance meditation. A trip to the pioneering “New Korean” restaurant Jungsik, noted as the first restaurant to apply molecular gastronomy to Korean ingredients, rounds out your time in Seoul.

Between outings, guests will find that Four Seasons Hotel Seoul mirrors the city’s intoxicating mix of venerable history and modern sensibility. Here, Noma Managing Director Peter Kreiner will begin the conversation series with insights into innovation and creativity at Noma. As managing director, Kreiner has created a business model that prioritises the kitchen staff’s inventiveness and the guest’s experience. That deep respect for artisanship has proved wildly successful for Noma, and it is a value widely embraced in Korea.

TOKYO | May 29–June 1, 2017

Tokyo food vendor

Experience authentic, traditional street food in downtown Tokyo, and shop at the famous Tsukiji fish market.

Photography (right) courtesy Getty Images

Tokyo Ginza District

Home to flagship luxury stores and the latest in Tokyo fashion, the Ginza district promises a lively shopping excursion.

Tokyo Tea Ceremony

The Tokyo experience begins with a traditional tea ceremony, which involves the preparation and presentation of green tea made from matcha, the powdered form.

Photography courtesy fancy.yan / Getty Images

In 2015, the entire Noma team, along with their families, moved to Japan for six weeks to open a pop-up restaurant with an entirely new menu, new ingredients and new techniques. The Tokyo stop invites guests to see the city the Noma way, from foraging in the city’s outskirts to attending a private dinner with Chef Namae Shinobu at his Michelin-starred L’Effervescence.

For me, Japanese cuisine is on par with all of the greatest cuisines of the world. The range of food, the culinary traditions and the products are amazing. – René Redzepi

Here, you’ll get to explore the famous Tsukiji fish market, one of the largest in the world. “The best fish market I’ve seen is the one in Tokyo,” Redzepi says. “When you go to good ones – the ones that have all of the weird creatures that are in the ocean – it’s like watching a documentary of all of the shapes, sizes and colours of the ocean.”

From Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi, venture out to visit a Redzepi favourite, Switch Coffee, or take a private samurai sword-fighting lesson with the choreographer for the movie Kill Bill. Redzepi hasn’t tried the latter yet; he jokes, “I don’t think knife skills in the kitchen would get you very far in a sword fight.”

HONG KONG | June 1–3, 2017

Hong Kong Red Sailboat

Sipping cocktails at sunset, cruise across Victoria Harbour in one of the ancient Chinese sailing ships known commonly as red-sail junk boats.

Photography courtesy Yongyuan Dai / Getty Images

Hong Kong Street Chef

Taste fresh, local cuisine as you work your way through traditional food markets in downtown Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Temple Street Market

A bustling market filled with local delicacies and performers, Temple Street night market will appeal to all of your senses.

Photography courtesy Nikada / Getty Images

Hong Kong is the perfect next “course.” Although the city moves fast, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong is a luxurious getaway, with stunning views of Victoria Harbour, Kowloon and the mountaintop known as the Peak. Enjoy dim sum at the Hotel’s three-Michelin-starred Lung King Heen, cocktails in a red-sail junk boat and a traditional banquet with a whole suckling pig at Fook Lam Moon. “I’m personally very excited about Hong Kong, as it’s a place I’ve always wanted to go,” Redzepi says.

Excitement is certainly on the menu at Bo Innovation, where Chef Alvin Leung, Jr., hosts an “X-treme Chinese Dinner” to immerse you in the avant-garde intersection of molecular gastronomy and modern Chinese cuisine. Get a taste of more traditional local cuisine and culture with a visit to the labyrinthine market to purchase ingredients like dried seafood or the spiky-skinned durian fruit, or to grab a quick bite of roast chicken and an ice-cold beer.

CHIANG MAI | June 3–6, 2017

Chiang Mai Strawberry Field

In Chiang Mai, strawberry fields are plentiful, surrounded by beautiful mountains and filled with delicious fresh berries.

Chiang Mai Elephants

Explore the verdant jungle of Thailand as you ride atop an elephant to a nearby hill tribe village.

Shopkeepers and rice bowls in Chiang Mai

Discover fresh, organic food with a visit to the bustling Warorot Market (at left) and the Royal Project farm, where Thai jasmine rice (at right) is grown.

Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, surrounded by a lush mix of jungle and mountains, offers a distinct change from the urban destinations. Former Noma Chef Garima Arora, whom Redzepi describes as “one of the super talents that has been through our kitchen,” joins the group here for a meal and a visit to a Royal Project farm to see sustainable farming models under development in Thailand. The Royal Project is an initiative of the king’s to replace opium farming with agricultural production that provides far-reaching economic and social benefits to the communities in the country’s highland areas.

Guests will begin their stay in Chiang Mai with an elephant excursion to a nearby village, and at the end of the first day they will embark on another local adventure: the nightlife. Bo.Lan restaurant founder Duangporn “Bo” Songvisava, recently named one of Asia’s best female chefs, hosts a “Not Your Average Curry” dinner and a night on the town.

MUMBAI | June 6–8, 2017

Mumbai Rooftop Bar

Take in the views of the vibrant city from 34 storeys above it at AER, the rooftop bar at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai.

Mumbai Indian Spices

Learn about spices from an expert as you prepare traditional Indian specialties with former Noma chef Garima Arora.

Photography courtesy Natasha Breen / Alamy

Mumbai Dabbawala

Mumbai’s dabbawala workers pick up freshly made meals from their clients’ homes daily and deliver the containers to the workplace in time for lunch.

Arora, originally from Mumbai, joins the journey here too. “I wanted her to become one of the lead managers in the kitchen at Noma, but alas, she was homesick,” says Redzepi – and this colourful and flavour-filled conclusion to the Asian portion of the adventure will explain why.

Guests can head out from Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai to find some of the most innovative street food in the world. Arora leads guests through Crawford Market to sample kebabs, mutton biryani and other beloved dishes, and then leads them through the preparation (and enjoyment) of a meal of traditional Indian food. Back at the Hotel, cocktails and conversation await: Noma Chairman Marc Blazer will share his thoughts on the behind-the-scenes workings of Noma as a global business model.

FLORENCE | June 8–10, 2017

Florence Skyline Duomo

During your stop in Florence, admire gorgeous views of the main monuments, including the Duomo.

Photography courtesy Nuno Alves / 500px

Florence Butcher Dario Cecchini

For the last 40 years, butcher extraordinaire Dario Cecchini has been perfecting the art of cutting and cooking meat.

Photography courtesy SFM ITALY A / Alamy

Florence Vineyard

With hills, vineyards, olive groves and farmhouses, Tenuta di Valgiano offers both beautiful views and delicious wines of Tuscany.

Photography courtesy Tenuta di Volgiano

From an optional day trip to Damiano Donati’s bistro in Lucca to a deep exploration of history and terroir at Tenuta di Valgiano winery, together Noma and Four Seasons Hotel Firenze present the best of Tuscany. Meet a member of the extended Noma family: eighth-generation butcher Dario Cecchini in Chianti. “Dario comes from an amazing tradition of craft and skill, something that is increasingly rare these days,” Redzepi says. “There is always something to learn from him through watching and appreciating his craft.”

Your time in Florence includes a tour of the city to see such landmarks as the Duomo museum and the Uffizi Gallery, and a private opening of the Galleria dell’Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David. On the way back to the airport, you’ll stop to hunt truffles – a perfect final souvenir of your time in Florence.

LISBON | June 10–12, 2017

Lisbon skyline

In Lisbon, enjoy Portuguese delicacies as well as exciting street food, all while soaking up views of the beautiful city.

Photography courtesy J.M.F. Almeida / Getty Images

Seafood in Lisbon

Situated near Morocco and Spain, Lisbon has a rich culinary tradition marked by fresh seafood and delicate spices.

Photography courtesy Lissette Giron / 500px

Lisbon Sidecar

See some of Lisbon’s most spectacular sites – Alfama, Castelo de São Jorge, Bairro Alto – through the lens of a camera and in a vintage moto-sidecar.

Photography courtesy Cheryl Howard

See how a seafood-rich culinary tradition has evolved into something new and exciting with the influence of neighbouring cultures. Join acclaimed Chef Nuno Mendes for a petiscos dinner, much like Spanish tapas; he can also introduce you to Lisbon’s nightlife and the street food that sustains it.

From Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, depart in a motorcycle sidecar for the Hotel’s Extraordinary Experience – a tour with a professional photographer who gives guidance on how to capture the best images of Lisbon’s most impressive miradourous (sites). A customised Street Art Tour reveals large-scale murals created by local and international artist collectives.

The last night in Lisbon concludes with a gala dinner at Belcanto, José Avillez’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant in the historic Chiado district.

COPENHAGEN | June 12, 2017

Boats in Copenhagen

The Danish capital offers a mix of Old World charm and modern architecture, complete with an incomparable culinary experience with the renowned Noma team.

Photography courtesy Peter Zelei / Getty Images

Noma Chef Rene and Interior

Chef René Redzepi, one of the most influential and innovative chefs in the world, takes you behind the scenes of Noma during a private dining experience.

Photography courtesy Laura L.P./HdG Photography (left) and Mikkel Heriba (right)

Noma dish

At Noma, enjoy innovative dishes that feature ingredients foraged from the surrounding land.

Photography courtesy Laura L.P./HdG Photography

Redzepi welcomes the group to Copenhagen for a truly special Noma experience. Up until its final night of service on February 24, monthly reservation requests at Noma’s original location numbered around 100,000. Getting a seat at the Noma table has historically been a nearly impossible feat, and Noma’s new urban farm location is expected to be just as in-demand when it opens this summer.

Guests on this journey will forage with the Noma team for ingredients like samphire and beach coriander, and share aperitifs on the beach. And during an intimate conversation, Redzepi will take guests through the evolution of Noma from a modernist formal dining setting to its next incarnation.

PARIS | June 12–14, 2017

Paris Eiffel Tower

Thousands of years of history, art and fine dining converge in the cultural hub that is Paris. Take in the beautiful view of the city from Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris.

Le Cinq in Paris

At Le Cinq, dine on exquisite cuisine to celebrate the final night of your journey.

Paris Le Cave Wine Bottle

Designed in 1928 in a former quarry 14 metres below ground, La Cave wine cellar is filled with vintage treasures and modern classics.

The trip ends in Paris with a stay at Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris. Redzepi is excited about Parisian food right now: “Paris is very much at the forefront of what’s called ‘bistronomy,’ a sort of mix of fine dining and a bistro. It’s a new type of restaurant with a new comfort feel to it, but the food being very focused and not driven necessarily by traditional foodstuffs like a normal bistro is.”

Noma offers a curated list of the team’s favourite Parisian eateries to explore. At the Hotel, guests on this journey will visit La Cave, the historic 50,000-bottle wine cellar. And on the final night in Paris, the Hotel’s own three-Michelin-starred Le Cinq, led by Chef Christian Le Squer, is the perfect spot to toast your adventure and enjoy a farewell dinner.

YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE

Select one of the destinations on the Culinary Discoveries itinerary to learn more

Woman with Four Seasons tree logo

Scents of Tuscany

Posted on by Stephanie Epiro

When scent maker Lorenzo Villoresi recalls his childhood home, the 800-year-old Villa Villoresi nestled in hills outside Florence, the scenery isn’t what comes to mind. What he remembers most distinctly is its smells: the air thick with sweet fragrance when the orange trees flowered, wild rosemary that sprang up between the rose bushes, and the sage his mother would pluck from the garden to season Sunday lunches.


Lorenzo Villoresi’s childhood garden

The garden at Villa Villoresi was filled with aromatic herbs, which today Villoresi uses for inspiration in his contemporary yet nostalgic fragrances. 

Photography courtesy Lorenzo Villoresi

“Our garden was full of Tuscan herbs: wild fennel, tarragon, savory, thyme, marjoram, peppermint and sage – herbs that most Tuscans have kept in their vegetable patch for hundreds of years,” Villoresi says. “They certainly helped me develop a curiosity and an interest in all that is fragrant.”

A perfect match


lorenzo villoresi firenze perfumes

Villoresi encapsulates the essence of Italy through the masterly development of his fragrance collection, making him the perfect person to create products that help guests of Four Seasons Hotel Firenze remember their time in Tuscany.

Photography courtesy Lorenzo Villoresi

Before Four Seasons Hotel Firenze opened its doors eight years ago, General Manager Patrizio Cippollini and his team worked to ensure that every detail of the Hotel – from the menu at Il Palagio to the original frescos adorning the walls – provided an opportunity for guests to immerse themselves in the spirit of Tuscany.

For the in-room amenities, Cippollini wanted to find products (think luxury soaps and shampoos) that captured the distinctive fragrances of Italy so that guests could take home a small part of Florence after their stay.

He needed to find the right person to create a custom amenities line, and the search led him to Lorenzo Villoresi. The perfumer has been bottling the scents of Tuscany for guests of the Hotel ever since.

“Guests want to absorb the Tuscan experience, and [Lorenzo] knows how to communicate that in a very special way,” says Patrizio Cippollini of Four Seasons Firenze. “His fragrances are an integral part of their memories of the Hotel and Florence.”

Formulating Italy’s fragrance


Lorenzo Villoresi perfume making

A Villoresi scent is more than just a perfume – it embodies an experience, a place and a time.

Photography courtesy Lorenzo Villoresi

Places – like food, flowers and even people – carry with them distinct aromas that represent what life is like there. When these scents are encountered, even months or years after visiting a destination, they have the power to transport us back to an exact moment in time.

“Scent touches an emotional part of the brain, it triggers memories,” says Villoresi, who is often asked to create personalised scents for clients that recall cherished places. “The aim is to gently suggest the evocation of certain places without really imposing their exact scent. It has a lot more impact,” he says. “I know I have captured the scent of a place perfectly when clients are moved upon smelling it.”

 

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

Book Now

The master perfumer has his own geographical olfactory connections, associating Cairo, for instance, with tobacco, molasses, rose water and amber; Jerusalem with cumin and curry. Many of Florence’s signature scents – rosemary, clary sage, thyme, wisteria, magnolia, mimosa and jasmine – reside deep in the city’s abundant hidden gardens.

Tuscan spices and herbs have roots in the first eaux de cologne created in the 1600s, and were handpicked not only for their bold odours but also for their health benefits. Today they bring a distinctive Mediterranean tinge to contemporary fragrances lining shelves from Florence to San Francisco.


Lorenzo Villoresi Products

Crafted to elicit impressions of Italy, Villoresi’s products give guests a sensory recollection of their time there.

 Photography courtesy Lorenzo Michelini

Villoresi uses Tuscan ingredients in small doses “because they are very powerful.” For one recent fragrance collection, he selected sea rosemary, found growing on Tuscany’s coast, to infuse the freshness of the Mediterranean as a contrast to the fragrance’s heady oriental notes of frankincense and amber.

According to the award-winning nose, the art of recreating the scent of a city is not to overwhelm the fragrance with a single note, but to add that note as a nuance in a more complex formula.

Memories in a bottle

Villoresi’s dedication to Tuscany’s native ingredients, together with his passion for eclectic spices, come to the fore in the Museum and Academy of Scent he has created in Florence’s centre, set to open in the fall of 2016. Within the remodelled space, a pair of 15th-century houses close to the Ponte Vecchio, is a 2,000-square-foot (186-square-metre) garden where Tuscan herbs grow alongside aromatic plants from all over the world.


Lorenzo Villoresi’s new store in Via de Bardi

Villoresi’s new store in Via de’ Bardi showcases a collection of perfumes, soaps and candles – as well as Villoresi’s dedication to designing luxurious custom fragrances.

 Photography courtesy Guglielmo de’ Micheli

“Every fragrance is a vision. It’s the representation of a different kind of world,” says Villoresi. “In perfumery, when you smell something there is no possibility to stop the emotion.”

Hear more from Villoresi about the art of perfume in the video below and meet more of Italy’s artisans here.


Your Journey Begins Here

Start planning your getaway to Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

Explore

Souvenirs That Will Change Your Life

Posted on by FourSeasonsMagazine.com

For the traveller, destinations are far more than the sights they see or the mementos picked up along the way. The places they visit offer new perspectives and unforgettable experiences with the power to enrich their lives long after they return home.

This November, embrace your inner traveller and embark on a Cultural Escape aboard the Four Seasons Private Jet. During this 19-day journey, you’ll travel to six destinations across three continents, including Dubai, the Seychelles, the Serengeti, Florence and London. Follow a customised itinerary and experience the art, history, landscapes, food, traditions and people of each unique destination.

The difference between a tourist and a traveller lies in the way they perceive their destination. For the tourist, their destination is a place, an endpoint on an itinerary that offers access to a checklist of attractions and souvenirs.

At the end of this incredible journey, you’ll carry home with you new passions, tastes, lessons and perspectives forged from intimate interactions with local cultures—which only Four Seasons can deliver. Here, we highlight some of our favourite souvenirs.

Spiritual serenity in Seychelles

Seychelles yoga

Take home a new feeling of tranquility and sense of spirituality after a yoga practise in Seychelles.

In the Seychelles, all paths lead to beauty. The African nation comprises 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, and it’s a favourite destination for romance, outdoor adventures, wildlife sightings and relaxation.

From your base at Four Seasons Resort Seychelles, located on the archipelago’s main island of Mahé, you can dive, snorkel, hike through nature preserves and shop local markets. Yet it’s difficult to find a better way to soak in the spirit of this beautiful setting than through a yoga session.

At sunset, accompany an expert yogi on a short hike through the forest to a mountaintop overlooking the ocean. Your yogi will guide you through peaceful meditation and yoga, teaching you breathing and relaxation techniques to the sights and sounds of nature. You can also practise a hatha flow out on the open water during a one-on-one paddleboard yoga session. It’s a great way to lose yourself in the tranquility of the sea.

What you’ll take home: Once you’re back in the real world, summon your new meditation techniques, pranayama breathing exercises and Technicolor memories as a reminder to slow down, find peace and live mindfully. “At its core, yoga means union of mind, body and soul,” says Arun Dev, one of the Resort’s yogis. “Union of ego and the spirit, union of the mundane and the divine.” Embrace that unity to find solace in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Four Seasons Resort Seychelles

Check Rates & Availability

A rekindled love for Mother Nature in the Serengeti

Maasai Serengeti

Appreciation for nature is deeply rooted in the Maasai people. Learn why it is so important to have a profound respect for the wildlife during your stay in the Serengeti.
Photography courtesy Robb Aaron Gordon

Most who travel to Africa’s fertile plains seek views of the Big Five: lions, leopards, Cape buffalo, elephants and rhinos. If, after your game drive or hot-air balloon safari, you still crave a deeper understanding of the Serengeti and its wildlife, look no further than the Maasai.

The semi-nomadic Maasai tribe inhabits the Great Rift Valley region of southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. Members are known for their athleticism, craftsmanship and superior knowledge of and respect for the landscape and its animals.

During your stay at Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, accompany a Maasai warrior on a walking safari to learn how to identify animal tracks, plants and insects, or venture out with your guide for a full-day visit to a Maasai village. In the evenings, the Resort’s Maasai guides congregate for traditional dance ceremonies.

What you’ll take home: The Maasai are known for masterful beadwork, particularly ornate and colourful necklaces. You can buy one of the locally made varieties, but your true souvenir is a newfound appreciation of nature inspired by the Maasai people. Before formal religion was introduced to East Africa, nature played a large role in the Maasai faith. Plants and animals hold a cultural significance for the Maasai, and many plants are still used in traditional medicines. Learn about the importance of living alongside and preserving nature, as well as the Maasai’s high respect for local wildlife.

Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Tanzania

Check Rates & Availability

Tuscan flavours in Florence

Florence food

At Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, and throughout Italy, food is meant to be savoured and prepared only with the finest ingredients.

In Italy, food is more than just fuel for the body. Italians take pride in preparing cuisine, using the finest and freshest ingredients to produce dishes that rival works of art. In homes and restaurants from Florence to Palermo, mealtimes are never rushed. Instead, they are savoured moments for tasting and enjoying every flavour together.

During your three-day stay in the city, you’ll gain exclusive access to exhibitions and artisan studios, and travel to the vineyards of the Chianti wine region. But gourmands shouldn’t miss the full-day culinary excursion at Villa Monteoriolo, a 15th-century estate that has been producing olive oil for more than 200 years.

Using the estate’s homemade olive oil and locally sourced ingredients, an expert chef will teach you Tuscan cooking techniques and guide you through the preparation of a multi-course dinner, which you’ll enjoy in the villa’s intimate dining room.

What you’ll take home: Tuscany’s climate and soil produces a low-acidity olive oil that is one of the freshest and most flavourful in the world. Pick up a bottle at Villa Monteoriolo so you can practise your new Italian cooking skills for loved ones at home, using only the most authentic ingredients.

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

Check Rates & Availability

Evolved coffee rituals in Dubai

Arabic coffee in Dubai

In Dubai, coffee is more than a caffeine fix—it is an art and a symbol of joy, carefully tasted and enjoyed.
Photography courtesy Bateel International L.L.C.

Though this seaside metropolis is decidedly modern, with its steel-and-glass skyscrapers and over-the-top attractions, Dubai’s multicultural population imbues it with charm and character.

Throughout the city, you’ll find cafés serving Arabic coffee, a blend of coffee beans and spices such as cardamom, cloves, ginger, rosewater and saffron. The coffee is often served with dates rather than sugary confections, and it’s poured from a dallah, an ornate pot made of brass, steel, silver or gold.

The drink is traditionally prepared to welcome guests, and it plays a distinct role in your most exhilarating adventure while in Dubai: a journey by 4×4 into the desert for a royal dinner under the stars. You’ll be welcomed by a traditional Arabic coffee service before you go sandboarding, watch a falconry demonstration and feast on an elegantly prepared dinner.

What you’ll take home: Arabic coffee, dallahs and finjaans—the small round coffee cups that accompany the traditional service—can be found at Dubai’s souks and luxury shopping centres. Even if you don’t purchase a set for yourself, take home the spirit of community inspired by the Arabic coffee ritual. Bring the symbol of hospitality to life for guests in your home for years to come, sharing your understanding of coffee-drinking etiquette with every sip.

Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre

Check Rates & Availability

Trip details

Four Seasons Private Jet

Throughout the journey, travel aboard the Four Seasons Jet, a retrofitted Boeing 757 that is spaciously configured with only 52 seats – leaving ample room for you and the souvenirs you pick up along the way.
Photography courtesy Robb Aaron Gordon

Your cultural escape through Europe, Africa and the Middle East begins and ends at Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane. From London, you’ll travel aboard the custom-designed Four Seasons Jet and enjoy Four Seasons accommodations and renowned service at every step of the journey. The trip begins on November 4, 2016.

Discover more about the Cultural Escape itinerary and begin your journey >

YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE

Select a destination and start exploring

Ponte Santa Trinita