peninsula istanbul | the pen 1 boatcruise

photography. Pietro Savorelli

If you believed Florence was exclusively Donatello and Ferragamo, you’d be mistaken. While the touristic hoards flock and queue, struggling to follow in the footsteps of the Renaissance masters, a wider part of the ancient city has experienced a youthful rebirth.

Beyond the city walls, on the outskirts of the city centre, is the Manifattura Tabacchi; the Truman Brewery of Florence. Once a former tobacco factory, closed in 2001, the site has been reborn as a thriving and enterprising mix of education facilities, shops, restaurants and luxury apartments. 

A few stops on the tram from Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station, Manifattura Tabacchi is worthy of the adventurous detour for its clean Art Deco lines and generous proportions. In 2027, the city’s new T4 tram line will directly link the complex to the city centre.

An ambitious urban regeneration project, the development was started in 2018 with full completion scheduled for 2028. Covering 110,000 m2, it is currently nearly three-quarters complete and home to such distinguished establishments as the Polimoda fashion school and LVMH’s Métiers d’Excellence.

photography. Pietro Savorelli

The former industrial site’s masterplan was developed with the contribution of several renowned designers including Sanaa, q-bic, Piuarch and landscape architect Antonio Perazzi. The factory site’s original architecture has been sympathetically restored with minimal changes and a focus on efficiency and sustainability. The buildings are heated and cooled by means of a complex geothermal plant, called a condensation loop, which connects a series of wells, collecting the natural heat and coolness of the groundwater.

location. ‘Puro’ apartment
photography. Valentina Sommariva

For fashion students, Polimoda opened its second city campus in 2024 alongside the Polimoda Library, housing over 29,000 books, designed to become not only the most important fashion library in Europe, but also an international hub for research and comparative studies. The complex houses a hall of residence with accommodation for 384 students, as well as a hostel for 136 guests, designed for travellers and tourists who desire to discover the more innovative side of Florence without the Gucci price tag.

location. Archivi Sartoriali
photographer. Sofie Delauw

Experience some of the most exciting young brands in Florence: Manifattura Tabacchi is home to tailoring by Archivi Sartoriali, workwear reinterpreted by Captain Santors and artisan streetwear brand, Cool Farm by Mauna Kea. It’s also home to the first European outlet of Puebco, a Japanese brand known for products made with upcycled materials or discarded items, and leading hat label SUPERDUPER, which specialises in tailor-made headwear and is the perfect place to pick-up a stylish souvenir.

location. SUPERDUPER
photographer. Sofie Delauw

For the gastronomes, the Manifattura Tabacchi experience ranges from local specialities to international cuisines introduced to the city for the first time. Most notably is Hiroko Bentō e vini fatti a modo, the first bentō bar in Florence, and Bulli&Balene with its many gourmet specialities. Po’Stò is a gastro bakery open from breakfast through to aperitif time with the VIVIDO entertainment area offering live music, a DJ set, refined cocktails and a menu with the emphasis on Tuscan flavours.

location. Hiroko Bentō e vini fatti a modo
photographer. Sofie Delauw

location. Bottega Biologica
photographer. Sofie Delauw

The campus-like old factory is an enclave of creative energy while also letting its historical roots shine through. The ‘Caveau di Manifattura Tabacchi’ – booking is required – is a place where machinery, window frames, objects and materials left in the factory are retained and offered to design engineers, artists and designers wishing to give them a second life.

A modern and refreshing alternative after the Uffizi, Manifattura Tabacchi is the most exciting thing to happen to Florence since David was taken inside and out of the rain. Grab a lacquered bentō box from Hiroko, or a recycled tote bag from Puebco, and enjoy a few unrushed hours at this revitalised and creative addition to Tuscany’s magical city. 

To learn more, visit manifatturatabacchi.com.

photography. Pietro Savorelli, Valentina Sommariva + Sofie Delauw
words. Marcus Jaye

Orville Peck has always had a flair for the theatrical. The Grammy-nominated singer—known for his ever-present mask, bold charisma, and sweeping songwriting—has created one of the most memorable artistic personas in recent memory, marrying soul-baring songwriting with an enigmatic image. Earlier this year, Peck shed his signature mask to take on a new dramatic role: as the Emcee in ‘Cabaret’, in which he made his Broadway debut. Peck’s performance as the Emcee generated glowing reviews over his 16-week run, marking an exciting new era for an artist who has already proven himself keen to evolve in both theatre and his own music. In November, Peck released a seven-track EP, ‘Appaloosa,’ that included an homage to the 1972 ‘Cabaret’ film, in a fitting signifier of his recent evolutions as a performer. 

Peck is now bringing that versatility to a collaboration with W Hotels, as the latest star of their ongoing “Hotel Tales” series. Just as Peck’s onstage persona invites audiences into a world of theatricality, grit, and romance, W Hotels’ immersive environments provide an ideal setting for individual expression and sweeping adventure. “Hotel Tales” has featured some of today’s most exciting creatives at W Hotels locations around the globe, and their collaboration with Peck places him at the recently transformed W Austin, in a playful short film that depicts him chasing a lost mask around the hotel. 

Schön! spoke to Peck about life on the road, his collaboration with W Hotels, and more. 

Over the years of touring, how has travelling inspired or influenced your music?

Having the opportunity to travel, tour, and experience new parts of the world has been instrumental to who I am as an artist. Each destination and experience on the road gives me a new perspective that I hold onto. Meeting people from all walks of life inspires me for my music and projects. There’s a rhythm I get into when travelling that feels a lot like music, always searching for the next inspiration. 

What drew you to this collaboration with W Hotels?

Hotels are fascinating, in-between spaces. You arrive, you settle, you move on – and for a moment, you’re part of something transient yet meaningful. W Hotels has an energy that’s alive, bold, and always evolving. It’s the kind of environment where stories take shape, and I wanted to be part of that.

The “Hotel Tales” series reflects how the W Hotels brand is constantly evolving. Have you found that different environments have inspired evolutions or new directions in your own work?

Yes, without a doubt. When I’m in a city like Austin, there’s this buzz – an energy and creativity that pushes me to try new things and take chances. Other times, being somewhere remote and quiet helps me slow down and reconnect, blocking out the outside noise. Your surroundings seep in whether you notice it or not, and those shifts find their way into the music.

Amidst your various projects and travelling, what steps do you take to maintain a sense of routine while on the move?

Touring can be chaotic, so I try to keep a few things constant. I like to travel with my journal, my film camera, and of course my masks. I try to carve out small moments for myself, like coffee in the morning at a shop that everyone loves or music to ground me. It’s easy to lose yourself on the road, so I rely on rituals that help me stay present, even in motion. 

What’s the first thing you do when you arrive at a hotel?

Even though the stay is temporary, I like to make the space my own. I’ll put on some music (the rooms at W Hotels always have an incredible sound system) and unpack. It’s about settling in and letting the room feel like a temporary home away from home for me. 

Where do you want to visit next?

I’ve got my eye on W New York – Union Square. It’s such an iconic property that’s been newly redesigned, and I like the idea of experiencing the brand’s roots in one of my favourite cities.

Learn more about W Hotels at w-hotels.marriott.com and check out more Hotel Tales on Instagram.

interview. Juliana Ogarrio

Usually, a Bespoke Rolls-Royce commission involves colour-matching a specific flower from a private estate or sourcing wood from a centuries-old forest. But for Goodwood’s latest client – a tech entrepreneur with a serious case of 1980s nostalgia – the brief was a little different: make it play.

The new Black Badge Ghost Gamer is the first-ever Rolls-Royce inspired by the ‘Golden Age’ of arcade gaming. It is a gloriously retro-futurist love letter to the 8-bit era, transforming the world’s most luxurious motor car into an immersive, deep-pocketed tribute to the digital worlds of ‘Space Invaders’ and ‘Pac-Man.’

While the marque has previously flirted with hidden codes in the cryptic Wraith Kryptos collection and its vehicles have long been digital status symbols in franchises like ‘Forza Motorsport,’ this marks the first time Goodwood has physically engineered the 8-bit universe into a bespoke commission.

The exterior sets the mood immediately. Finished in a dual-tone Salamanca Blue and Diamond Black, the car mimics the neon-lit aesthetic of a dark arcade hall. But look closer at the hand-painted Coachline and you’ll find the commission’s mascot: the “Cheeky Alien,” a green, 8-bit character composed of 89 individual pixels.

However, the real cheat codes are found inside. The interior has been designed as a hands-on game of exploration, filled with hidden Easter eggs. The tread-plates greet the driver with ‘INSERT COIN’, ‘PRESS START’ and ‘LEVEL UP’ in pixelated fonts. The seats are embroidered with Player 1 through Player 4, stitched in electric hues that mimic the flicker of a vintage CRT monitor against the Black and Casden Tan leather.

“This brief was particularly exciting,” says Joshua McCandless, the Bespoke Designer behind the project. “Over the course of a month, we immersed ourselves in the 8-bit aesthetic that defined late 70s and early 80s gaming. We wanted the client to feel that the motor car itself was an immersive experience – and that every time they stepped inside, it would recreate the same thrill they felt when they pressed ‘start’ on an arcade machine for the very first time.”

The roof, however, is on another level. The famous Starlight Headliner has been reprogrammed into a ‘Pixel Blaster’ formation. Instead of a silent night sky, the fibre-optic lights form 80-bitmapped battlecruisers and its signature shooting star feature is now re-coded to simulate laser fire pulsing across the ceiling. 

Even the craftsmanship gets a digital remix. The Waterfall between the rear seats features a hand-painted lunar landscape with stainless steel “flying saucers,” while hidden aliens are tucked away on the air vents and picnic tables, waiting to be discovered.

Delivered to a client who clearly believes that who dies with the highest score wins, the Black Badge Ghost Gamer proves that even the most serious luxury brand on Earth knows how to have fun.

Discover more here.

photography. courtesy of Rolls-Royce
words. Gennaro Costanzo