“E quindi uscimmo a riveder le stelle.”
“Thence we came forth to rebehold the stars.”
– Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy
As day one of Engage!25 Tuscany came to a close and the sun dipped languidly behind the hills, it was time for guests to gather in the medieval Borgo for our welcome party. Twinkling candles lit ancient stone pathways. The scent of woodsmoke lingered in the spring air, and the stage was set for a night to remember. Our theme was ‘Lucentia: A Journey Through the Ethereal World.’ It was inspired by Dante Alighieri’s Divina Commedia – Florence’s greatest literary gift to the world. As our attendees made their way through the Engage!25 Tuscany Welcome Party experience, they made a poetic ascent from Inferno to Purgatorio and onto Paradiso, with each realm brought to life through design, light, sound, and emotion. This was a pilgrimage of the senses, a celebration of Italian culture and creativity woven into every element.
Through Darkness to Light: A Multi-Sensory Journey in Three Acts
The excitement for the Engage!25 Tuscany Welcome Party began to build earlier in the day. Guests returned from the sessions to find sparkling envelopes in each room. These personal invitations to Lucentia’s radiant realm offered a roadmap of the evening, with each panel depicting one of the stages. Now, as they entered the Borgo, they found it transformed. Under the creative direction of Vincenzo Dascanio and his team, the hamlet became the stage for a bold reimagining of Dante’s poem. The narrative unfolded in real time as partygoers physically journeyed through Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso.
The experience began with an ominous gate. It bore the chilling inscription: “Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch’intrate” (“Abandon all hope, ye who enter here”). Beyond, drinks flowed from a fiery-hued bar, and guests could rest on raft-like benches that referenced Michelangelo’s Last Judgement. Clouds of red blooms glowed like embers, as shadows flickered on ancient stone walls.
As the walk continued, a soft shift in energy signaled their passage into Purgatorio. The second gate, inscribed: “Puro e disposto a salire le stelle” (“Pure and prepared to reach the stars”) ushered attendees into a world of reflection and rebirth. Terraced hills and flowing rivers decorated the bar front and lounge areas, while forest florals evoked nature’s quiet transformation. It was a moment to breathe, to reset, and to reconnect.
At last, Paradiso revealed its celestial splendor. Lights shimmered, ethereal fabrics floated in the breeze, and the final gate similarly welcomed all with: “L’amor che move il sole e l’altre stelle” (“The love that moves the sun and the other stars). As attendees emerged into a soft haze of blue, white, and gold, the atmosphere was triumphant. This final realm felt infinite and luminous, an otherworldly celebration of joy and engagement. In every detail, Vincenzo’s vision for the Engage!25 Tuscany Welcome Party honored both Dante’s epic and Tuscany’s timeless spirit. It was a multisensory masterpiece.
Feasting Through the Realms
No Italian festa is complete without delicious food, and Lucentia delivered a progressive culinary journey that mirrored the evening’s narrative arc. As guests moved from realm to realm, they grazed on a variety of bites, from rustic barbecue to fresh local delicacies and sweet gelato.
At each of the three bars, signature cocktails added depth to the story. The bold and sultry Virgilio (banana bourbon, coffee bitter, vanilla, chocolate bitters) was a nod to Dante’s steadfast guide through hell, while the zesty Caronte mocktail captured the fiery brightness of its namesake ferryman.
Serenades Among the Stars: Entertainment Highlights
Music guided attendees along their journey through the ethereal realms of Lucentia. Soft melodies floated through the Borgo as live musicians played in different pockets of the village, their songs an echo of the voices raised here before them. As guests reached Paradiso, a DJ took over, drawing the crowd into a lively celebration beneath the starlit Tuscan sky.
Dress Code & Attire
If Dante had walked a red carpet, it might have looked like this. Attendees embraced the ‘Lucentia Spring Festival in the Borgo’ dress code with signature Engage! style! It was an exciting interplay of forms, rich textures, and vibrant patterns that made the night feel like a fashion-forward fresco. From the drama of Inferno to the brightness of Paradiso, guests were certainly divinely dressed – proof that this community always brings la bella figura.
As the night ended, we carried the glow of Lucentia into the days ahead. With new friendships sparked and inspiration kindled, Engage!25 Tuscany was officially underway in the most magical way.
View the full gallery of the Engage!25 Tuscany Welcome Party here.
