HotelChatter

Byblos Art Hotel (near Verona)

In the fall, bene featured a story about an American woman who falls in love with an Italian--only to realize that his huge group of male friends basically ran his life. She soon found out that the situation is so common that there's an Italian word for this influential group of buddies: the butei. For the story, bene sent photo director Gemma Hart Corsano to Verona to photograph a group of young twenty-something Italians. Once in Verona, Gemma bravely went to meet this wild set of guys. She met them in the city, and they were just as goofy and crazy (and charming) as she expected; she snapped some shots as they flirted and teased, and she was relieved when she could finally head back to a hotel for some rest.

So when Gemma stepped into the Byblos Art Hotel, she was in paradise. She recounts: "The exterior and gardens looked traditional, but the lobby was completely insane. We felt like we were in an awesome cartoon. The ceilings soared, and a huge chandalier--the biggest I'd ever seen--hung above the room. We were greeted by giant Vanessa Beecroft paintings on all four walls. The art was a mix of modern and traditional, but all the colors went together beautifully. The bright color palate was like a wedding cake."

The hotel offers luxurious, five-star service, "which was great," says Gemma, "since it rained the whole time we were there." The spa has a Turkish bath theme, scented showers and a mosaic pool; and the restaurant serves upscale Italian cuisine.

For travelers, like Gemma, who want to visit romantic Verona and walk through the countryside, but still want a five-star aesthetic experience, Byblos Art Hotel is the perfect fit.

[Photo: Sander Groen]

Related Stories:
· The Italian Entourage [Bene Magazine]
· Byblos Art Hotel Villa Mista [Jaunted]