Switzerland & Italy: Luxury Company Visits, Easter Weekend in Pisa, and Tuscany Gardens
Hi friends!
This week is my last full week of school before the end of my studies for my Masters in Luxury and Design Management. I can’t believe how fast my time in school has flown by and I’m very excited for my first Summer in Paris.
A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to go on a school trip for company visits in Switzerland and Italy. Both countries have been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember and I was so lucky to have a rare insider sneak peek inside of luxury’s top brands and manufacturers.
Day 1: Omega Factory Tour
Our trip to Switzerland started literally at midnight by catching our tour bus. It was about an eight to nine hour bus ride to our first destination, Biel/Bienne, a small watchmaking town located in North West Switzerland. After killing a few hours of the morning sun in a local church, we headed to the new Omega watch factory. Designed by award-winning Japanese architect, Shigeru Ban, I was impressed by the contemporary design and luxurious little details of Omega’s new factory.
We started off our visit with an “All about OMEGA" presentation covering the brand’s history, heritage, and current list of star-studded ambassadors. Afterwards we were welcomed with tea and refreshments before beginning our insider tour of the watchmaking factory. Since no photos were allowed, I took these moments to soak in every minute of the technologically advanced process that goes into producing every Omega watch.
Our visit concluded with a brief Q&A session followed by a few minutes to enjoy the beautiful entryway. As a last cherry on top, we were each gifted a souvenir bag with a special edition catalogue and special bar of Swiss chocolate for Easter.
Day 2: Longines Museum Tour
The next day, our bus took us through the Swiss countryside to Saint-Imier where the Longines Museum was waiting for us. Personally, I was unfamiliar with the brand until my dad mentioned to me that my grandmother once owned a Longines watch.
It was fascinating to study the intricate matrix of gears and complications encased in a time capsule of Longines watches displayed in one of the first galleries. It was a beautiful experience to learn about the heritage of Longines and how its timekeeping devices have played a role in history.
Day 3: Cappellificio Cervo & Zegna Group Tour
Our first night in Milan was off to a rough start. After a mechanical delay by our bus driver, we missed dinner and arrived tired, hungry, and late to our hotel. But by the next day, I was so excited to discover some of Italy’s finest manufacturers.
Cappellificio Cervo is a family-owned hat factory located in the Italian mountainside. We were greeted by Benedetta Borrione who showed us the hat making process with the help of her father. By turning wool and other fibers into hats, the family showed us the traditional techniques and know how that goes into developing a hat from scratch. This hat factory may seem small, but it is not to be underestimated. Cappellificio Cervo has produced hats for nearly every major fashion house from Prada to Louis Vuitton (see sneak peak image below). Of course, I couldn’t bare to leave without trying on a few hats myself.
Zegna Group is an Italian luxury house specializing in fine textiles and fabrics. We were very lucky to get a rare glimpse inside the textile making process from sourcing the wool to weaving the threads into silky fabrics. With a long history of community, family, and innovation, the Zegna Group tour was a very special experience.
Day 4: Prada Foundation
Due to a last minute change in our itinerary, our school organized for us to visit the Prada Foundation. Originally, we expected to see some of Prada’s most iconic fashion pieces but as it turns out, the Prada Foundation is a truly spectacular contemporary art destination. There was so much art to see in one place. Even the bathrooms were so contemporary we almost couldn’t find the toilet. Since there was so much to see here, I plan on doing a separate blog post to showcase the Prada Foundation in all its glory.
Day 5: Vintage Shopping in Milan
As a regular follower of Jenny Walton, the queen of luxury vintage fashion and Milanese living, I was so excited to go vintage shopping in Milan. My expectations were high but realistically, my budget was small so I was prepared to shop around to find something I truly loved. After going to six or more vintage stores, I was disappointed to walk away nearly empty handed. Though I did find some of the vintage shops to be experiences worth having in themselves, I didn’t have the heart flutter moment that I was hoping for. In the end, I bought a vintage cotton scarf for eight euros knowing I could at least wear it a few times this summer.
Day 6: Wandering the Local Markets of Florence
From Milan, I took the train to stay with my dear Italian friend, Bianca in Florence. I was a bit exhausted already from all of my previous travels but nevertheless, I was so excited to be reunited with my friend. The first day in Milan, Bianca took me all around Florence to see the main sights: Ponte alle Grazie, Basilica of Santa Croce, Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, and a never-ending list of famous plazas.
The sunny beauty of Florence spoke much more to me than the stark gloomy weather I experienced in Milan. Crossing the river in the morning was a refreshing way to start the day and seeing the famous Ponte Vecchio glowing in the springtime sun was like a painting come to life.
I loved wandering through all the artisanal jewelry stores on the bridge selling the most beautiful cameo, opal, and coral jewelry I have ever seen. There were thousands of little shops selling every kind of leather good imaginable and I absolutely fell in love with Florentine stationary. The first day in Florence was truly magical. Better than the Lizzie Mcguire Movie if I dare say so myself.
Day 7: Easter in Pisa
We woke up early so Bianca could drive us to her grandfather’s home where her family was meeting us for Easter. I tried my best to help in the kitchen as she made pasta and her dad prepared the meal. It was a local experience that Anthony Bourdain himself would have enjoyed.
Eventually, lunch was served over a fresh tablecloth and delicately placed plates. For starter, there was crostini with chicken liver. The second course was Bianca’s delicious homemade pasta and ragù. Third course was oven-roasted lamb with herbs and potatoes. Lastly, for dessert, the family served a lightly sweetened homemade pistachio cheesecake. By the end of the meal, I was so full I could have skipped dinner.
Since Bianca’s sister is highly experience with showing tourists around, she was kind enough to lead a few family members and I for a walk through Pisa. Little did I know that we would be taking an ancient and narrow walk through the walls of Pisa to get a panoramic view of not only the Leaning Tower of Pisa but also the Piazza del Duomo and Battistero di San Giovanni.
It was a perfectly crisp and sunny day to walk through the streets of Pisa and enjoy the simple pleasures that the town has to offer. No one really mentions how beautiful the surrounding buildings are around the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Though it’s a touristy moment for sure, the Leaning Tower is worth a visit.
Back at the family home, we had dinner (I was still full from lunch) and enjoyed a festive tradition of breaking huge chocolate eggs. I was simply moved by Bianca’s family hospitality and thankful to feel so welcomed into such an intimate family gathering.
Day 8: Boboli Gardens and Uffici Gallery
Inside the Pitti Palace lies the massive grounds of The Boboli Gardens. From 16th and 17th century sculptures to iconic fountains and scenic views, the beauty of The Boboli Gardens was probably one of my favorite parts of the trip. I had dreamed so long of visiting Italy and when I looked out into the brightly colored landscape from the Knight’s Building and Rampart, I could have shed tears of happiness.
After wandering through the gardens, Bianca and I went to the Uffici Gallery. Now I’m fully aware I did little to no research before visiting this museum so pardon me when I say that I was shocked by how nearly ninety percent of the artwork featured in the museum was mainly featuring the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus.
The ceilings covering every main hallway of the gallery were far more interesting than most of the historical representations of Christ. Each with a unique theme and set of symbols, the ceilings were works of art in itself. Out of all of the pieces of art, the Birth of Venus was one of my personal highlights.
To end my last day in Italy, Bianca took me to Piazzale Michelangelo to see one of the best aerial views of Florence. Passing by the Sistema delle Rampe del Poggi fountain felt like being transported back in time. As the sun slowly set into a purply-blue sky, I tried to soak in every second of life in Italy. Though my trip was short, I was so grateful to experience so much alongside my dear friend. Tuscany in the springtime didn’t disappoint. I will treasure each moment forever.
Closing:
My time in Italy and Switzerland felt like a journey of a lifetime. After dreaming of these places in my head for so long, it was a dream come true to experience more cities in the EU. Many thanks to my school for organizing such an enriching series of company visits and my friend Bianca and her family for hosting me. Grateful is an understatement.
xx
Kiana