Always in Season

Once you have seen Asolo, it is impossible not to fall in love with this ancient walled fortress town, a maze of Renaissance palaces and grand squares, Gothic churches, and shady arcades.

Sitting atop the commanding Monte Ricco, surrounded by a romantic panorama of rolling hills, cypress trees, olive groves, and vineyards, timeless Asolo has inspired and seduced travelers for centuries, yet remains one of Italy’s best-kept secrets, even though it is barely an hour’s drive from Venice.

English poet Robert Browning declared Asolo, “the place dearest to my heart,” while famed explorer Freya Stark escaped here when not traversing the globe. Miraculously, it is still delightfully unspoiled. Every second weekend of the month, the immense 15th-century Piazza d’Annunzio is transformed into a teeming open-air antiques market displaying jewelry, silverware, paintings, furniture, and porcelain, with bargain hunters taking a well-earned break in the majestic mirrored Caffè Centrale. Instead of a classic Bellini, follow the locals sipping a Tintoretto – bubbly prosecco and fresh pomegranate juice.

The Mercatino dell’Antiquariato is just the tip of Asolo’s shopping iceberg – there are dozens of chic, creative stores hidden in the town’s maze of historic arcades. Don’t miss Boutique 181, a fashion and accessories showroom dedicated to the finest made-in-Italy creations, housed in a wood-beamed, 16th-century mansion, and Trame Asolo, an artisan textile workshop that is a treasure trove of luxury handwoven silk, linen, and mohair fabrics.

The necklace of undulating, vine-clad hills encircling Asolo produces a prosecco that has been awarded the most prestigious DOCG recognition. The innovative winery Tenuta Baron has opened the chic Bonsai Sushi Lounge in town, perfect for pairing raw fish with prosecco, while the cellar of its opulent 18th-century villa, a short drive away, boasts a cool, contemporary tasting room, perfect to discover its full range of wines accompanied by local specialties such as sopressa salami and tangy Asiago cheese. 

It can be easy to mistake an afternoon in Medellín for a jungle adventure when you’re sailing over green forest canopy in a gondola or strolling beneath swaying tropical trees as squawks of scarlet macaws ring out.

Colombia’s “City of Eternal Spring,” where the temperature is enjoyable year-round, offers more than just natural beauty. Co-existing alongside lush pockets of forest are Michelin-Starred restaurants, open-air museums, upscale shopping, and stylish rooftop nightclubs.

The people of Medellín, often called Paisas, are warm, friendly, and excited to show off their city – it’s charming, laid-back, and filled with the sounds of reggaeton.

Plaza Botero is the place to see voluptuous sculptures by Fernando Botero. Meanwhile, for street art, visit the Comuna 13 part of town. Overhead, the Metrocable gondola takes locals and visitors to Parque Arví, a vast nature reserve with great views and a farmer’s market.

Don’t miss the El Poblado neighborhood, where shoppers can pick up tropical prints at Mon & Velarde or Pardo, duck into Makeno Concept Store for unique accessories, or check out 902 Showroom for furniture designs.

Medellín has one of the most exciting food scenes in the world right now, with a cadre of young chefs leveraging local ingredients to create dishes that can’t be replicated elsewhere. Standouts include Elcielo, known for its 11-course molecular gastronomy tasting menu; seven-table Sambombi; or Mar y Fuego, the new, buzziest restaurant thanks to its bright ceviches and relaxing vibe.

No trip would be complete without a taste of the coffee this region of Colombia is famous for. In the upscale Laureles neighborhood, try Cafe Revolución or Pergamino Cafe, offering small-batch beans in settings that make you want to linger.

Split is a paradox perfected. Once the residence of a Roman emperor, it’s now a city that never sits still. Within its 1,700-year-old palace walls are cobblestone alleys packed with chattery cafés and inventive restaurants – the ideal setting for the famed fjaka, the Dalmatian art of doing nothing. Split is ancient yet electric and keeps its cool while captivating at every turn.

Mornings are best spent where the locals start their day: at the Green Market (Pazar) and Fish Market (Ribarnica). Stalls brim with seasonal finds, from just-picked figs to aromatic citrus and heady herbs. Fishers shout over silver-scaled sardines and bargaining is second nature. A pork-filled feast at Gudin Pigeria is the perfect pit stop post-Pazar shopping. Dig into decadent slow-roasted pork belly or grab a group to tackle a whole suckling pig.

Divide your time between style and art. Zlatarije Dvornik has been crafting traditional Croatian jewelry since 1933, including Split’s very own košarice, a basket-like design decorated with pearls, coral, and gold filigree. Your wardrobe will also love designer store Krug, which champions slow fashion from the country’s boldest new designers.