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Montecatini Val di Cecina, Pisa
This impressive
farmhouse occupies twenty hectares of private land providing the
chance of leisurely walks around the countryside and private lake. Set
at the top of a track road, it has been furnished to a high standard
throughout whilst outside a barbecue area and large covered terrace
boast panoramic views across Tuscan hills. The delightful pool has a
lovely terrace with views which are unquestionably the highlight of
this property where the unique beauty of Tuscany can really be
appreciated. |
Vinci, Florence
Close to the city of Florence, Vinci is the birth town of one of
history's favourite icons Leonardo da Vinci. This beautiful hilltop
village dates back to the early middle ages and brims with warmth and
charm proudly sharing its link with history to the many tourists
visiting each year. The village is dominated by a castle now housing
the Leonardo museum which is said to hold one of the largest and
original collections of machines and models of Leonardo the inventor.
Leading up to the castle you will find a maze of cobbled streets with
quaint eateries and pavement cafes offering numerous wines from the
region and delicious delicacies. |
Lustignano, Pomarance, Pisa
Pomarance stands on a small hill, south of
the river Cecina, on the road from Volterra to Massa Marittima. Its
surrounding terrain offers an interesting combination of historic and
naturalistic elements, marked by the geothermal steam jets, now used
to produce electrical power. The wooden hill-top villages of Micciano,
Libbiano, Montegemoli, Serrazzano, Lustignano and San Dalmazio
surround the territory where you will find many attractions such as
the ruins of the Norman-Romanesque church, the fortress of Sillano,
and finally the fumaroles and the Geothermal Museum of Larderello |
Sinalunga, Siena
This pretty village is located in the heart of Tuscany making it an
ideal place to explore the many fascinating towns and cities Tuscany
is proud to offer. The village itself provides a good variety of shops
for your day to day to needs, with many selling local produce such as
cheese, salamis and wine. The magical city of Siena is only half an
hour away with its enchanting cobbled streets and medieval square;
famous for its Palio horserace, while one of Italy's finest regions
Montepulciano is just twenty minutes away by car. |
Chose your region
Italy is a country that blends beauty and
history, from the classical cities of Rome and Venice to the undulating
hills of Tuscany and the rugged coastline of Amalfi.. Italy boasts
soul-stirring cities, world famous art and waist-expanding food and wine.
The only difficulty you've got with holidays to Italy is deciding
which slice of this gorgeous country to plump for.
You could take the scenic drive along the
breathtaking Amalfi Coast, and discover Italian gems like Amalfi, Positano
and Sorrento or h ike through the breathtaking Tuscany countryside en
route to Pisa or Florence. Or maybe give the cities a miss and make for
the golden sands gilding the Tuscany Coast?
Renaissance heritage is rife, magnificent
works of art, sculpture and architecture line the streets of almost every
city while medieval hill towns are scattered liberally among the lush
fruit groves of orange, lemon, olive and chestnut. Verdant vineyards
produce some of the world’s finest wines, and the legendary gastronomic
delights of fresh fruit, seafood, pasta and pizza are sure to make your
mouth water.
You might head to Venice for a romantic
gondola ride through its shimmering canals or head to the beaches of the
Venetian Riviera or visit one of the greatest cities on earth – Rome,
where the Vatican, the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain are waiting to wow
you.
If you've been there and done all that, perhaps you're ready to discover a
more unspoilt side of Italy. If that's the case, take a look at remote and
rugged Calabria or Puglia, a hidden region almost unknown to tourists.
Its food is faultless, its art sublime, and
pretty much everywhere you look there's a new sigh-inducing sight to fall
in love with. Then you've got island dreams like Sicily and Sardinia to
think about, too.
Birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is
one of the world's most exciting and exuberant cities, with architectural
treasures around virtually every corner. It is also blessed with the
breathtaking scenery of the surrounding Tuscan countryside.
Lake Garda has long inspired poets. Clear waters, picture postcard
scenery, stylish villas and medieval castles all vie for attention. There
is literally something for everyone here; from leisurely strolls around
the shores and cobbled streets and people-watching from the many lakeside
cafes, through to a host of activities and watersports and a variety of
theme parks. Whether you choose to stay in the lively south, the lush and
hilly heart punctuated by olive and lemon groves, or the spectacular north
nestling in the rocky foothills of the Dolomites, you’ll find each resort
has its own particular charm.
Vibrant Milan – a city at the forefront of
fashion and home to some of the world’s greatest art treasures.
Cosmopolitan and lively, Italy’s second largest city is a great
destination for a break.
Naples combines classical history with a
charming character and vibrant culture. Overshadowed by Mount Vesuvius, it
is not only a fitting base for visiting the ruins of Pompeii, but is also
the self-proclaimed birthplace of the original pizza.
Nestling along the cliff-tops of the
southern-most arc of the Bay of Naples, the Sorrento Peninsula or
Neopolitan Riiviera is the largest and most popular of the Campanian
resorts. The scenery becomes yet more dramatic on the other side of the
peninsular, where the Amalfi drive takes you around tortuous bends and
through tunnels in the rocky cliff side to beautiful Positano
The ‘Eternal City’ of Rome lives and
breathes history. Wherever you look there are reminders of a glorious
past, yet it is also very much a city of today,
Sicily’s location has led to a wonderful
blend of cultures, with an African influence and the evidence of numerous
occupations being reflected in the island’s rich mixture of historic
sites, architecture, cuisine and local wines. Sicily is still inexpensive
in comparison to mainland Italy
The setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and
Juliet, Verona is a romantic city with medieval squares and arched
bridges. It’s also vibrant, prosperous and home to a world-famous opera
festival.
Magical Venice, with its lattice-work of
islands, canals and bridges, enchants all those who visit. Its
labyrinthine streets, opulent palaces and tiny squares are fascinating to
explore
Beaches
When it comes to a beach holiday in the Med, you don't automatically think
of Italy. But there is more to Italy than just Roman temples and
Renaissance art. Italy is, in fact, home to some of the most spectacular
beaches in the Mediterranean like the Venetian Riviera which boasts miles
and miles of golden beaches and lapped by the Adriatic Sea.. Beautiful
Sardinia, meanwhile, boasts startling blue waters and eye-popping sands
and down in the toe of Italy, in Calabria, you'll find beaches and
hideaway grottoes backed by mountains. And let's not forget the Tuscany
Coast. It rivals the South of France in terms of exclusivity.
Dining out
The birthplace of pizza and pasta, Italy is renowned the world over for
its fine cuisine. It's also one of the world's biggest wine producers is
known in particular for its light and crisp varieties. The range of
eateries available in Italy reflects the national passion for food - from
cheap and cheerful 'hosterias' and 'trattorias' to smart and sophisticated
'ristorante', it's hard to find a bad restaurant in Italy.
Dinner, in particular, should never be rushed. You'll often see
restaurants full until well after midnight with Italians gathered together
sipping 'digestivi' or 'espresso' coffee. Most Italian meals consists of
at least three or four courses - 'antipasti' (starters), 'primo' (first
main course, usually a pasta dish), 'secondo' (second main course, usually
a meat or fish dish) and dessert rounded off with a coffee or a digestive
drink such as 'grappa'.
One the culinary joys of travelling through Italy is the regional
variation when it comes to food. Whether it's a plate of steaming
'risotto' from the north or a thin and crispy 'pizza margherita' from the
south, Italy is a paradise of fresh produce, tempting regional
specialities and delicious wines.
With the Adriatic and Italian Lakes offering a wide selection of seafood,
fish dishes, rather unsurprisingly, dominate menus in the northeast of
Italy. From 'brodo di pesce, a type of fish soup infused with saffron, to
'spaghetti alle vongole', pasta with clams flavoured with a spicy
chilli-pepper sauce, there's plenty to tempt you along the Venetian coast.
While pasta is eaten throughout Italy, the
northeast tends to consume 'polenta', made from maize flour, or 'risotto',
the famous Italian rice dish. Risotto comes in a variety of forms such as
the staple 'risi e bisi', rice with peas and bacon, or the startling
'risotto alle seppe', rice coloured black with cuttlefish ink. Desserts
are just as tempting. 'Tiramisu', literally meaning 'pick me up', is
perhaps Italy's most famous sweet and is a rich blend of light marscarpone
cheese and sponge fingers soaked in coffee and dusted with chocolate
powder. The Veneto also produces large quantities of good quality wines,
including the well-known white variety of 'suave' and sparkling 'prosecco'.
While olive oil is used in most Italian cooking, the cuisine of the
northwest tends to use butter instead. This has resulted in a range of
rich, hearty dishes such as 'fagiano tartufato', pheasant stuffed with
truffles and wrapped in bacon, 'pansoti', spinach-filled egg pasta
drizzled in a sumptuous sauce made from walnuts, garlic, herbs and ricotta
cheese, and 'manzo brasato al barolo', beef loin stewed in red wine and
garlic until tender.
Two of the region's most well known dishes
include 'ossobuco', veal marrowbone dressed with lemon, garlic and
anchovies and 'costolette alla milanese', fried veal covered in
breadcrumbs. 'Grissini', the long Italian breadsticks, originated in Turin
and are now found on nearly every restaurant table in Italy. The lush
pasturelands around the Italian Alps produce a host of cheeses including
blue veined 'gorgonzola' and creamy 'marscarpone'.
Central Italian food tends to be quite simple, based on peasant cooking
that relies heavily on tomatoes, olive oil and beans. Antipasti from this
region often include wild boar salami and Parma ham, made from pork reared
on the whey left over from Parmesan, the region's most well-known cheese.
Pasta dishes are a particular favourite. 'Spaghetti alla bolognese', pasta
topped with a tempting sauce of plum tomatoes and ground beef, hails from
this area, as does 'cannelloni', pasta tubes stuffed with mince, covered
with a cheese sauce and then baked 'al forno'.
'Bistecca alla Fiorentina' is popular in and
around Florence and is a steak grilled over an open fire that's served
with rosemary and bay leaves. The region's vineyards are among the best in
the world and yield a wide array of tempting varieties including the fresh
Umbrian white, 'orvieto', and the fruity red, 'chianti classico'.
Roman cuisine centres around the fresh
seasonal produce of the day - rocket leaves in summer, mushrooms in autumn
and artichokes in spring. 'Spaghetti all'amatriciana', pasta with tomato,
bacon and onions topped with 'pecorino' cheese, and 'tagliatelle alla
carbonara', pasta ribbons smothered in a creamy sauce of eggs.
Parmesan cheese and bacon, both hail from
Rome as does the famous meat dish 'saltimbocca', veal wrapped in ham and
sage served with a light gravy. Local white wines include 'frascati' and 'marino'
and are the perfect accompaniment to any meal. Coffee is a key part of
Roman life - breakfast almost always includes a 'cappuccino', a 'caffelatte'
in the afternoon while 'espresso' is usually taken after lunch and dinner.
Southern Cuisine
From wafer-thin, mozzarella-laden pizzas, to pasta tossed in rich tomato
sauces, from fresh 'caprese' salads to velvety Neapolitan ice-creams,
quintessential Italian food tends to come from the south. Rustic yet
sumptuous, sourthern cuisine incorporates fresh ingredients expertly
blended to make mouth-watering dishes. Try 'maccheroncini con le sarde',
sardines, pine nuts, saffron and fennel presented on a bed of piping hot
macaroni, or 'pesce spada', a pan-fried swordfish steak served with capers
and a squeeze of lemon. 'Spaghetti Nepolitana', pasta with a basic garlic,
onion and tomato sauce, is a perfect example of how simplicity often
results in the best food.
Shopping
Milan and Rome are internationally renowned as fashion capitals; their
shopping streets are lined with smart boutiques and big name fashion
houses including Versace, Gucci, Armani, Dolce and Gabbana, Valentino and
Prada. Florence has a reputation as a top producer of leatherwork and is
well known for its fashion accessories including handbags, shoes, belts
and briefcases. The city is also well regarded for its jewellery - many of
the workshops overhanging the Pontevecchio house expert goldsmiths.
Italy is also a hotbed for interior design
and technology. Whether it's cutting-edge chairs by Vico Magistretti,
sophisticated tables by Achille Castiglione, classic Venetian glass from
Murano and Burano or elegant coffeepots by Bialetti, Italy's creative
flair turns mundane, everyday objects into works art.
Some great buys include tall bottles of
extra virgin olive oil, large bags of handmade pasta, frosted bottles of
Neapolitan 'limoncello' and even blocks of fresh Parmesan cheese. Italian
wines are also great value - from full-bodied 'chianti' to sparkling 'prosecco',
there's so much to choose from.
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Casa Louise
