Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland1/46Goodbye rainy England! Our Italian adventure awaits.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland2/46Our bedroom in Forte dei Marmi. I love the double pink toile and frilled curtains. Old-school Forte at its best.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland3/46A bicycle made for three! Nobody drives in Forte, which is one of the reasons this place is so magical. Everybody rides charming bicycles instead. Here are Tom, Billy, and Nancy making their way around town.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland4/46During an early morning beach walk, I pass this rhapsody in blue, Bagno Piemonte.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland5/46At the chicest of lunch spots, Bagno Piero, with artist Rachel Lee Hovnanian. She introduced me to Forte dei Marmi. We order food family style here as the menu is too good to choose just one dish.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland6/46Charming wooden canoes at Bagno Piero.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland7/46The market in Forte has amazing things. (In the summer, it’s every Sunday and Wednesday.) This nightie was made so beautifully in a sheer, dotted fine cotton. I couldn’t resist buying a few for friends in England.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland8/46I spent ages talking to this lovely lady who had a stall in the market specializing in vintage linens: old tablecloths, nighties, and lace curtains. It was quite the treasure trove.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland9/46More market delights. I adore these ceramic butterflies.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland10/46Classic Forte charm. Spot the bicycles.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland11/46Fresh vegetables are always a delight in Italy.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland12/46I wish these lemon trees could have fit in my suitcase.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland13/46A snap inside Bagno Vittoria. The decor is super chic—all blue and white, with a hint of yellow from fresh lemons lining their tables. There are baskets galore and quirky touches like these straw hats.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland14/46Spaghetti with vongole and bottarga. A must at Bagno Vittoria. Nice plate, too.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland15/46With Pietrasanta behind us (a few miles from Forte), I’m in Isolda with the lovely Violet Henderson.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland16/46A sky of floating umbrellas! More than a thousand umbrellas were installed in Pietrasanta as part of an installation on Via Mazzini.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland17/46La dolce vita.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland18/46Green on green, in Dolce & Gabbana shades and Ancient Greek Sandals.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland19/46My favorite! Bordallo Pinheiro, found in a tiny ceramic shop in the center of town.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland20/46Hydrangeas, rosemary, and roses lined the table at our friend Adriana’s wedding celebration in the forest of Pietrasanta.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland21/46Breakfast club! Ella Vestey and Nancy enjoy babyccinos and mini croissants.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland22/46Firm friends. Nancy (in my favorite Alice Kathleen frock) and Ella head for the sea.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland23/46Back in Pietrasanta for our last night, in an old Topshop dotty number.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland24/46Good morning Florence! We made it. Nancy, in her nightie, taking it all in.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland25/46In an old Marosa lace dress and Supergas, I was ready to explore this exquisite Renaissance city.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland26/46Giotto’s campanile and Brunelleschi’s dome.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland27/46I have always longed to go to Richard Ginori’s shop in Florence, and it didn’t disappoint. I love these plates in particular. A modern and colorful take on a traditional design.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland28/46And look at the packaging! Here’s what your little Ginori treasures will come home in.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland29/46Our favorite restaurant in Florence—Alla Vecchia Bettola. Simple, Florentine foodie heaven.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland30/46Another Florentine must: checking out the famous Loretta Caponi. Known for dressing gowns, linens, and baby bits, the beauty of the store alone is worth a visit. Here are some of their gorgeous hand-smocked night dresses.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland31/46Even the Caponi changing rooms are fab! This little passion killer came home with me.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland32/46A perfect pairing—my Rae Feather basket and A Piedi pom-pom sandals sitting pretty on these Florentine tiles.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland33/46A shady spot in our hotel to escape 40-degree (Celsius) Florence.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland34/46With Florence in all its glory behind us, we were headed to Trattoria Cammillo to try their famous ribollita soup.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland35/46Orange is the new black?
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland36/46On our way to Sovicille, we stopped by enchanting Lucca. This is a view of the town from the tower with the tree.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland37/46A short drive from Florence. We arrived at Casa Fabbri, part of the Cetinale estate. Spot Billy waiting for his lunch.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland38/46Two of my favorite things: my Alice necklace that is so old it has now faded and my beloved Vilshenko frock.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland39/46Billy among bougainvillea-filled terra-cotta pots and the rolling Sienese hills at La Cerbaia.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland40/46Quite the feast of canapés at the Gettys’.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland41/46On our way to see a glimpse of the Palio in Siena with Lucy Delacherois-Day.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland42/46Siena! What a city you are.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland43/46Tom with the wonderful Sabine Getty at our beloved Osteria Le Logge in Siena. Try their bistecca alla fiorentina.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland44/46Pool bound in my Kamba bikini and Aranaz raffia basket.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland45/46Father and son explore the woods of Cetinale on our last day.
Photo: Courtesy of Alice Naylor-Leyland46/46Arrivederci Italia!
