A journey through the summer places cherished by creatives, filled with personal memories, hidden corners, and lesser-known spots to discover
Summer has just begun, bringing with it a desire to slow down, travel, and reconnect with places that—even when far away—make us feel at home. There are locations that somehow belong to us: views that evoke childhood, freedom, and light promises. Places of the heart and memory, where returning feels like a comforting ritual.
We asked a group of creatives—designers, curators, architects, and collectors—to share their favorite destinations: personal places rich with memories, routines, and inspiration. This resulted in a collection of sincere postcards accompanied by tips and secret recommendations, meant to be read with curiosity and saved for later. Perhaps they will inspire you to discover and enjoy new destinations.
Here is Raffaella Mangiarotti, an architect and designer based in Milan, working in product design and art direction. Her approach is guided by empathy and kindness, aiming to convey these values through the form and function of her work—whether it is furniture or more technological objects.
Your favorite summer place?
Arenzano, on the Ligurian Riviera. A place of memory and soul. My grandparents bought a house in the Pineta when it was still a pioneering area, in Marina Grande—a complex designed by Vico Magistretti. It is a utopian microcosm of understated elegance, nestled between sea and pine trees, where nature and architecture coexist in harmony. There, I learned to observe and appreciate the slow rhythm of life.
Five places to discover in Arenzano:
The Pineta of Arenzano is a largely undiscovered architectural experiment dating back to the late 1950s. From Magistretti’s Villa Arosio to Gio Ponti’s Villa Ercole, Ignazio Gardella’s Portichetto, and the houses designed by Luigi Caccia Dominioni, Anna Castelli, Gianfranco Frattini, and Roberto Menghi. This development took place in a private context, free from building regulations, allowing absolute creative freedom. One place worth visiting is the golf club, which features beautiful glass walls overlooking the greenery and houses vintage Bellini furniture, all distinctly ’70s style. I also enjoy going down to the village to grab focaccia at Terralba or ice cream at Gran Sasso.
Your secret spot?
Via del Gabbiano, which runs alongside houses I particularly admire architecturally, while the other side drops steeply down to the sea. The vegetation is wild and rugged—typical Mediterranean scrub, with resinous scents, spontaneous and rough nature, but stunning in its simplicity.
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