Thematic Hotels of Perugia: Jazz, Wine & Chocolate

If you are planning to join a Music of Fashion tour in Italy with Men’s Fashion by Francesco and Varna International, I would like to present to you the choice hotel and venue for the inaugural Fashion Jazz tour.

In 1992, the Guarducci family of Perugia inaugurated their first hotel with the theme of wine, dedicating the décor and name of each room to a wine variety.

In 1998, the family opened the doors to a second hotel: the Etruscan Chocohotel, which, as you can see by the name, is dedicated to the savory theme of chocolate. Some furniture in the rooms like lamp shades is even eatable!

Timely and appropriate, the opening of the Chocohotel has enhanced the city of Perugia, which is home to the Eurochocolate Festival.

Finally in 2007, the Guarducci family opened the doors to a third hotel, which is devoted to the theme of jazz—another appropriate theme, which accompanies the city’s Umbria Jazz Festival.

In the jazz hotel you can find pianos dating back to 1740, LP records, listening areas, saxophone lamps, and other jazz-related amenities.

With a 700-seat auditorium, the hotel is the perfect venue for the Fashion Jazz event, to which Men’s Fashion by Francesco would like to extend a warm welcome!

See more of all that jazz here.

Photos Copyright Apicehotels.

Perugia: the City of Jazz

After our meeting at the city hall in Spoleto, the director of Varna International and I hopped into our rented car and sped to the city of Perugia.

Located in the center of the Umbria region, Perugia has come to be known as the artistic city of Italy and, since the early 70's, the city of jazz.

Umbria Jazz was born in 1973 as the Festival took jazz music from around the world to the medieval streets of Perugia.

Throughout the years, famous artists have performed at the festival, including Dizzy Gillespie and Keith Jarrett.

Now, fashion lovers will also be able to join in on all the jazzy fun, too!

In conjunction with of Varna International, Men's Fashion by Francesco is launching a new program entitled “the Music of Fashion,” in which students of design and professionals can join fashion tours throughout Italy.

Our first tour is entitled Fashion Jazz, at which time models will strut down the runway to the rhythmic sounds of a live jazz band!

Models, designers, students of fashion, and fashion lovers—if you would like to be a part of this exciting event, send me an email and sign up now!

See more shots of the city here.

Photos Copyright Men’s Fashion by Francesco.

Under the Shade of Umbria

Located in central Italy between Rome and Florence, Umbria derives its name from the ancient tribe, the Umbri.

The Umbri are one of the oldest tribes that settle central Italy in the 6th century BC.

The Umbri were invaded first by the Etruscans and later by the Romans, who established the colony of Spoletium, or Spoleto—my first stop on this trip.

Although Umbria passed from the Romans to tug-of-war between the Byzantines and Ostrogoths, the region finally fell under the rule of the Pope.

Besides Spoleto, other prominent cities of Umbria include Assisi and Perugia, where Men’s Fashion by Francesco will kick off the festival tour called Fashion Jazz, in conjunction with Varna International.

Photos Copyright Men’s Fashion by Francesco.

Etruscan Men, Etruscan Fashion

While there is a notable Roman influence to be found in Perugia, what I like most about the city is its Etruscan past.

Although little is known about ancient Etruria, we do know that the Etruscans had developed an extensive civilization before the Romans conquered the peninsula.

Historians pinpoint the Etruscans’ arrival to the Italic peninsula as early as 1,000 BC, originating from Asia Minor and bringing customs and costumes that were similar to those of the ancient Greeks.

In Greek, Etruscans were known as Tyrrheni, from which we have derived names like Mediterranean and Tyrrenian Seas. The Romans called them Tusci or Etrusci, leading to names like Toscana or Tuscany in English.

Etruscan men wore loin skirts and tunics similar to that of the ancient Greeks. They also sported a short cloak made out of wool that was called a lacerna.

Later in history, the Etruscans donned something called a tebenna, which entailed a long cloak-like garment that was draped across the left shoulder and pulled around the chest to be tucked under the right arm.

Often the tebenna was striped with assorted colors according to the social status of the man who wore the garment. Historians think that the Romans actually modeled the toga after this Etruscan garment.

Jewelry was very common among Etruscan men. Hair was often braided.

Photos Public Domain.