We originally chose Villa Vistarenni for its beautiful interiors and we weren’t disappointed—the place was so stunning, and everything was so authentically Florentine

in the last. Once there, we went straight to our temporary abode for the next eight days.

We stayed at a 16th century mansion, Villa Vistarenni, which was situated an hour away from Florence, in the Chianti region. We chose the villa for its interiors and we weren’t disappointed. The villa even had a small chapel, pool, and tennis court. The grounds, combined with the unending vistas of vineyards, made for some spectacular imagery.

Because of the villa’s antiquity, we all wondered: could it be haunted? Although we did not sense any spirits, we scared each other silly just imagining them. Jojie brought salt, garlic, and holy water to repel the ghosts, placing these elements under his bed; we all got a kick out of that.

Every morning, everybody would gather for breakfast (except for Kit, who would be busy exercising), and the chatter never ceased. We’d relive what happened the night before and get updates from friends and family back home. This morning ritual proved to be one of the most embedded scenes in our memory. There were a lot of cooks in this group, but not enough cleaners. Ina proved to be a whiz in the kitchen, while Pops would always forget to brown the garlic, and once even thought it would be fun to cook the eggs on the stove and not the pan. I’m not much of a morning person, so just hearing the loud banter from the kitchen made me want to crawl back to bed. However, by the end of the trip I had gotten used to it; in fact, after I got back home I found that I missed it just a tad.

We began our trip with a food and wine tour, which we all highly recommend. We got to taste, see, and experience the country’s wonderful offerings: wines, burratta, oils, cheeses—you name it. In the evening, we took a spontaneous side-trip to the Tasso Hostel (which is run by our food tour guide, Romina Diaz) for some drinks. The bar—which was styled like a school theatre—must have reminded us of our IS days, because in a blink of an eye we were singing and dancing on stage. Everyone forgot their fatigue, especially those who were complaining that they were feeling feverish or suffering from the worst jetlag! It felt great just being silly with the group, and for those who think that 50-year-olds can’t party, I have photographic evidence (plus videos for blackmail) that proves otherwise.

Some of the more unforgettable parts of our trip happened during our tour around the city and to the San Gimignano and Sienna. We were treated to one of the most famous museums in the world—the Uffizi Museum—by the Ferragamo group, which donated a new wing. I also got to meet and interview Ferruccio Ferragamo, whose profile is also in this issue. Of course, a trip to Florence is never complete without a visit to the Accademia Gallery, where the most famous inhabitant in residence is Michaelangelo’s David.

Another highlight was our visit to the Marchesi Antinori vineyards in Chanti, organised by Bacchus’ Alex Lichaytoo. We were given a private tour of the vineyards, wine tasting, and capped off with a sumptuous lunch at the estate overlooking the vineyards. “I was blown away by the design of the Antinori Winery,” Ina says. “You can’t tell where the landscape ends and the architecture begins. It is truly nature and architecture in complete harmony.” We also managed to visit the home of Laudomia Pucci, a good friend of Fernando and Kit Zobel. The 5,000-hectare land also serves as a museum, as it houses the works and archives of the Pucci family.

Joining us in the tail end of our trip was lifestyle designer Ian Giron, who brought with him his own brand of humour that left us in hysterics, especially when he would copy certain society ladies’ signature poses. We also bumped into Tessa Valdes, who was in Florence for a luxury tour; had lunch with Mai Mai Cojuangco; and reconnected with Tini Ferragamo, who I met when we did a shoot at Il Borro about seven years ago. Making a last minute appearance was Laurie’s husband Matthew Westfall, who is launching his artisanal gin in Manila called “Archipelago.”

Our combined memories of this getaway as well as photos on our group’s WhatsApp conversation won’t fit in this article. So you’ll just have to believe us when we say that it was close to perfection. Each of us have our own highlights and will always treasure this time together. Here are quotes from them: “This trip was defined by reuniting, bonding, and renewing relationships with friends you’ve known for years, and even forging new relationships. The laughter that emanated from the seriously comical conversations exchanged and the day-to-day experiences living in a villa are what made this trip special and unforgettable. ” “Travelling to Florence with a close group of friends is a must! Your personalities must be somewhat the same but not identical to give the trip a colourful yet fun and loving flavour.” (Clockwise from left) Mela Gozon, Anton San Diego, Kit Zobel, Pops Fernandez, Ina Ayala, Marianne Po, Laurie JimenezWestfall, Lizette Cojuangco; Four Seasons Hotel lobby; Botticelli’s Birth of Venus at the Uffizi Museum; Salumeria, cold cuts at our food tour; The ornate and magnificent doors at the Duomo