Brigitte's Escape

Nov 7, 20225 min read

Escaping into the culinary and sensory experiences of Italy, our Creative Director, Brigitte MacGowan, immersed herself in full Italian flair. From the food, language and the colour palette of her surrounds.

Now returned, refreshed and sun-kissed, Brigitte shares her moments of spontaneity, discovering pockets of the country’s beauty and of course the simple delights of a bowl of pasta.

I was craving a European immersion after a very long hiatus. Just the simple things: pasta (like only the Italians can do), coffee, saltiness of the Mediterranean ocean, listening to the chatter of another language and the rich patina of crumbling buildings.

Stop 1: Ischia Island

Ischia had a restorative low-key energy, even during the busiest month of the season there was a quiet calamity as our days unfolded.

Our nightly view over the Castello Aragonese was a humbling reminder of our existence. Built in 474 BC, it’s still privately owned and cared for by the Mattera family. A must see to experience its fascinating history, beautiful artworks, imposing structure and view for miles.

Stop 2: Procida Island

To say I was mesmerised by the tiny island of Procida, located in the Bay of Naples, is an understatement. It was my colour heaven. There’s an old tale they painted the houses different colours so the drunk fisherman could find their way home.

I must have taken 100 photos in an hour. Everything had a beauty worth documenting. The fishing boats, stacks of textural fishing nets, doorways, random chairs, arches, signage. It’s a tiny island, but of mighty stature. Forever captured in my memory.

The colours were mind-blowing. Layer upon layer, shape upon shape, structure upon structure.

Stop 3: Amalfi Coast

Unusually, for Amalfi I made no plans. No bookings, no reservations. With this, I rediscovered spontaneity and some of our best meals and experiences. It was liberating in a time when we have so much information at our fingertips.

The changing colours of the coastline were mesmerizing, the shimmering reflections off the water in the morning to the sultry warmth of the setting sun.

A well-travelled path that you can’t escape on social media, for very good reason, Amalfi's beauty is truly astounding. We stayed in an Airbnb in the small town of Minori, away from the hustle and bustle. It served as the perfect launch spot. Hiking was our preferred mode of travel amongst the lemon groves, olive trees and vineyards as we visited neighbouring towns. It was exhausting (I’ve never seen so many stairs) but there was so much to be discovered on foot and the bowl of pasta at the end never tasted so good.

Stop 4: Martina Franca Puglia

Reunited with my sisters and close friends, we explored the beauty of Martina Franca in Puglia. Around every corner was another place of beauty in this incredible neutral palette; the sun always glowing off the whitewashed walls. We walked, to the annoyance of many others, with our heads in the air. Taking in all the exquisite detailing of the Baroque architecture, we got lost in the maze of winding alleyways filled with ornate windows and alleyways.

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Brigitte's Escape

The colours were mind-blowing. Layer upon layer, shape upon shape, structure upon structure.

The changing colours of the coastline were mesmerizing, the shimmering reflections off the water in the morning to the sultry warmth of the setting sun.