by Alessandra Busacca @alessandra_busacca

There is a particular style of residence, which is composed of exotic images and bizarre visions, where every object, from the furniture to the color palette, has a narrative code studied down to the smallest detail, and where every room tells the most incredible stories.

Marvel at the charming views of the lagoon. Choose Il Palazzo Experimental, a stone’s throw from the Squero San Trovaso and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The Experimental blends Gothic charm with Venetian classicism, with a skillful touch of contemporary experimentation. Once the home of engineer Giovanni Stucky, the palace dates back to the 15th century and stands out for its decorations, its striped upholstery, a tribute to Venetian gondoliers, and glazed tiles ranging from sky azure to coral. The hidden garden on the inner calle contributes to the magical atmosphere. Suddenly, you find yourself in a Tintoretto painting.

On the horizon, just beyond the gentle inlets of Lake Orta that embrace fishing villages, the Moorish architecture of Villa Crespi stands out with its bright colors, arabesque stuccoes, and Middle Eastern-inspired decorations. It started out as a private holiday home for the Crespi family, but over the centuries it soon became an exclusive landmark and resort for poets and prominent European figures. Once considered an ominous place and the home of dragons and great snakes, Lake Orta is home to one of chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo’s treasures: his 3-starred restaurant, which will transport you to a fairy tale from “The Arabian Nights”.

With a privileged location in the Ville Lumière, the Hôtel Particulier Montmartre expresses all the bohémien charm of the 18th arrondissement. Said to be the smallest hotel in Paris, with only five original rooms designed as real cabinets de curiosités, it is also the hotel with the largest garden in the city.

This wonderful corner full of greenery and light is also perfect for a long brunch with croissants au beurre et oeuf parfait,and a glass of champagne, bien sûr.

The capital of Art Nouveau is Bruxelles. Here, in the pleasant district of Etangs d’Ixelles, stands Maison Flagey, a charming hotel openly inspired by the creations of Victor Horta, an architectural genius active at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Most rooms have a panoramic terrace overlooking the city, and each space has been designed with original furnishings that respect the art nouveau heritage. A hidden gem worth bringing to light.

In a place where time is marked by the waves of the ocean, in Biarritz, is a mysterious mansion where the past is still embedded in the present: Villa Magnan.

Let’s return to Ville Lumière, in the heart of the Marais. Under the arcades of the splendid Place des Vosges, in a private courtyard, the hotel welcomes guests with an ivy-covered façade, an elegant atmosphere and discreet luxury that seduces the chicest globetrotters on the planet in search of tranquillity and discretion.

In the infinite light of Arles, a city of art and history, every traveller is seduced, whether while they are strolling through its cobbled streets or being enraptured by the charm of its ancient palaces. The Hôtel Particulier is a prime example of this fatal attraction, with furnishings that range between chic, modern, and rustic, a fireplace that welcomes you with warmth on colder days, and a charming view of the garden and private pool. At a stone’s throw from the hotel, on the banks of the Rhône River, you can visit the Roman thermal baths and enjoy activities such as horse riding and hiking.

In the magical aura of Provence, dear Gou Gous, you’ll find an unskippable gem just half an hour’s drive away. It is La Maison Vime, home to the eponymous atelier, art house, vintage objects boutique, and wickerwork workshop: an excellent example of an 18th-century hôtel particulier revisited as a delightful Gourmode-style shop project.