The most well-known and probably most important vintage car show in the world is, without a doubt, the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Hosted every year in the last week of May on the shores of Lake Como in Northern Italy, it brings together the best cars ever made as well as new concepts and even unique, one-off models built to the customer’s precise instructions. Rolls-Royce and the BMW Group have been an important part of the venue for years and now you can experience it all like never before thanks to the British brand’s new Journey Into Luxury program.
The fancy name does reflect in what Rolls-Royce is offering, as does the price. For $42,167 you get the experience of a lifetime, starting on Thursday, May 24. On your north-westerly journey from Venice to Lombardy you will experience culture, the finest craftsmanship and unparalleled luxury on a grand scale. Your journey will begin in Venice, where you will be checking in at the renowned Danieli Hotel and then head out to explore the Bridge of Sighs and Rialto by gondola.
In the evening, a seat in the royal box will be waiting for you and your partner at Venice’s oldest theater, La Fenice (founded in 1853), for a performance of La Traviata by Verdi. On Friday, an exclusive invitation to Bottega Veneta’s Ateliers near Vicenza will allow you to get an insight into the brand’s craftsmanship. You will enjoy a guided tour of the Italian fashion Atelier, where artisans produce leather goods in intrecciato, the brand’s iconic signature leather weaving technique.
After savoring a private tasting menu at the Michelin-starred Ristorante Oseleta near Lake Garda, you will take to the skies by helicopter, to experience the magic of the Italian lakes from the air. After touching down in the grounds of The Grand Hotel Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como, you will check in your suite for the weekend. From here, you are perfectly placed to enjoy everything on offer at the exclusive Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
On Saturday, you will be one of a select few guests invited to enjoy the Coppa d’Oro Villa d’Este parade and award ceremony. After that, on Sunday, a thrilling Rolls-Royce Motor Cars driving experience on legendary lakeside roads is followed by a speed boat journey to Locanda Isola Comacina. A gala dinner and fireworks will conclude your weekend in grand style. Worth it? Tough for us mere mortals to say but it does look like a great way to spend an extended weekend.
