Returning to Tuscany always feels familiar. Perhaps because this is where it all began — the first shoot, the first laughs, the first sunrises we saw together — or perhaps because Tuscany, after all, is our centre of balance.
This time, we are all here: me, Cristina, Ginevra, Silvia and, finally, Monica. Olive trees, sea and light await us in a villa whose name holds a promise: La Perla tra gli Ulivi (The Pearl among the Olive Trees).
The last stop of this second season of ICON Italy is not an ending, we already know that everything continues… Next year’s project, which is already in the works, awaits us. We will write new pages of this journey with a wealth of experiences that we have gradually transformed into ideas and a desire for discovery.
Tired but happy, a little nostalgic, with that desire to prolong the moment a little longer, we look around.
The villa welcomes us with a different energy; more mature, more aware. It is as if it reflects what we have become: true, luminous, with strong roots but curious and constantly searching for beauty in every place.
Day 1 – Between light and water
The road to San Vincenzo is like a short film: olive trees, winding curves, the sea peeking out from between the hills every now and then. We are in the car: soft music playing in the background; some of us talking, some looking out the window, some listening in silence. We are all absorbed in our thoughts, and, as mentioned, feeling a little nostalgic…
When we arrive, La Perla tra gli Ulivi literally leaves us speechless. It is modern, bright, open: clean lines, light-coloured walls, a scent of wood and olive groves wafting through the air.
Each room has its own light; each window, a different view.
The glass balustrades seem to float above the landscape, and there is this feeling of continuity between inside and outside, as if the villa were suspended in a space of its own.
Monica is already there, her smile, which always feels a bit like home, does not disappoint this time either.
‘If it had to be the last one, it had to be like this,’ she tells us. And in fact, she was absolutely right.
We leave our bags, look around and laugh together: ‘Okay, we’re happy to stay here.’ The comfort is total: a lit fireplace, oversized sofas, a kitchen scented with coffee and biscuits. Everything is perfect, but without ostentation.
Going upstairs, the panoramic terrace with a jacuzzi immediately became our favourite spot.
An impromptu aperitif: chilled white wine, olives, laughter mingling with the sound of the wind. Then, immersed in the warm water, we enjoyed the sun slipping down behind the olive trees.
It’s the kind of moment you want to pause so you can savour it whenever you feel the need.
We tried to resist, but the videos and stories of these moments are ultimately the reason we are here. So Cristina filmed Monica as she sipped her favourite Franciacorta and gazed at the horizon, while I immediately put down on paper the emotions of a place that is magical if only for the colours it is capable of producing. The warm sun had now painted the whole sky orange… we tried to capture it all… Who knows if we succeeded! We know that much will remain within us, waiting for guests who want to follow us by choosing to stay in this dream location.
When evening falls, we move in front of the fireplace. We recount the stages of our journey, remember the unexpected events, the behind-the-scenes of our adventure; we tease each other. It is our way of saying goodbye: grateful, complicit, a little melancholic.
The last stage begins like this: with the feeling of being in the right place, at the right time, together.
Day 2 – Balance, silence and an early Christmas
In the morning, we are all in our bathrobes: coffee cups in hand and our eyes fixed on the pool. Not a word is spoken, only the sound of the water gently lapping.
In the basement, the private spa awaits us: warm lighting, candles, light marble, oriental-style tiles. Our own little refuge, where time seems to stand still.
We treat ourselves to a massage. More than a treatment, it is a ritual. Between the scent of essential oils and a few whispered jokes, we all end up smiling.
Then we decide to do something different, a small symbolic gesture to end this trip on a high note: an early festive lunch. We know it will be a while before we resume our adventure, so why not exchange our most sincere wishes in advance?
We carefully set the large table on the veranda: linen tablecloths, light-coloured plates, a few candles, a touch of red here and there.
Cristina takes care of the wine, Ginevra cuts the bread, Monica prepares a salad “her way”, Silvia takes care of the details, and I take a few photos. It is a simple but fulfilling moment: the luxury of shared time.
We toast with the sun high in the sky, out of season, but perfectly ours.
In the afternoon, we go down to the garden. The centuries-old olive trees cast long shadows on the lawn, and the silence has a reassuring sound. Some read, some write, some just sit and watch. It is our idea of balance: each in her own “creative” space, but together.
Before leaving, we return to the terrace. We toast once more: to this journey, to the villas that welcomed us, to the five of us and to what we have built.
ICON is not just a project, it is a new lens through which we see things: more authentic, more real, more ours.
And as the light descends among the olive trees, we know that yes, this is the end of the journey for this year.
But our desire to tell stories can only grow and renew itself as we look forward to discovering new destinations and new landscapes.
