A romantic start to the week with a post about one of our new members LunaRosa, planners of bespoke weddings and honeymoons in Italy. LunaRosa founder Emma Wood is on hand, along with Aimee & Glyn to take care of every tiny detail.....to find out more about LunaRosa you can visit their site http://www.lunarosa.co.uk/about-us/about-us, they are also quite like tweeting so you can also follow them at https://twitter.com/#!/LunaRosaEvents
Welcome to the LoveItaly blog where our members,the UK's Italian travel operators, will keep you inspired with ideas, tips and offers
Monday, 11 April 2011
Friday, 8 April 2011
ROUND OF GOLF with George Clooney in Italy?
They go mad for football, Formula 1, skiing, cycling and even back in the days, chariot racing. Strangely, when it comes to golf, they have a blind spot.
This manifests itself in the country's courses. Take Menaggio, a little gem by Lake Como in the northern region of Lombardy. It's elegant and stunning and has regular visits by George Clooney who has a villa nearby http://www.menaggio.it/
And how you rate in playing terms is expressed physically in the changing rooms, where three urinals are labelled for handicaps 0-9, 10-24, and 25-zappatori, the last being Italian for agricultural labourer.
The Menaggio clubhouse has more to offer than a great restaurant and view of Lake Como. It also houses a golf library with more than 1,200 volumes.
Unbelievably, this gorgeous course is just Euro 65 on weekdays and Euro 85 at weekends. Here you can also witness Italy's new golfing hero, Matteo Manassero, the youngest player, at 16, to grace the US Masters.
Sr Manassero has his name on the honours board at Golf Club Milano, a quietly plush club outside the city. (Viale Mulini San Girogio 7 Parco di Monza, http://www.golfclubmilano.it/). It welcomes visitors, but doesn't go out of its way to entice them in.
Which is a shame, because it is handsome course, winding through trees which means you play in virtual isolation.
The only indication of the outside world is from the famous Monza racetrack, and when I say indication, I mean screaming banshee madness at 100 decibels as superbikes streak past.
Other than that, it's peaceful – the silence broken only by groans of golfers as another putt slides by on the fast, tricky greens.
Designed in the 1920s by English architects Peter Gannon and Cecil Blandford, the course now has 27 holes. A weekday ticket costs between Euro 72 and 84 and lunch in the clubhouse restaurant probably the same.
Heading north towards Como, you hit another venerable course, Villa D'este, built in 1926. Circolo Golf Villa D'Este, Via per Cantu 13, 22030 Montorfano. http://www.golfvilladeste.com/
A par 69 (5,727m) overlooking Lake Montorfano, Villa D'Este has hosted several Italian Opens.
The front nine may seem short, but it opens up and the 18th is a fitting end. The food is pretty good too. Green fees on weekdays are Euro 100 with weekends at Euro 120.
Also recommended is Golf Club Bergamo, which costs Euro 55 for weekdays and Euro 77 for weekends. Golf Club Bergamo L'Albenza, Via Longoni 12, 24030 Almenno S.Bartolomeo, http://www.golfbergamo.it/
For more information on golf holidays in Italy and for operators who can organise your golfing holiday: http://www.loveitaly.co.uk/golf.asp
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Welcome to Tuscan Tennis Holidays
A warm welcome to our new member Tuscan Tennis Holidays. Founded by Ian Campbell, a leading Tennis coach in Scotland, TTH combine a great tennis holiday in great locations. With 75% of customers being repeat bookers they certainly seem to have found a winning formulae!http://www.tuscanytennis.com/
Monday, 4 April 2011
“The Baroque Train” taking you deep inside Noto Valley
Leaving from Siracusa, this picturesque train stops in Ragusa, passing by Scicli, Noto, Modica and crosses the striking Noto Valley (currently the largest world UNESCO site). The Baroque Train is a thrilling initiative promoted by Trenitalia which assembled a special locomotive with two wagons for passengers along with an exhibition wagon to admire architecture beauties and breathtaking sceneries.
The train operates all Sundays from March 27 until October 23 2011.
In connection with the train departure, every Sunday all museums and architectural sites spread along the itinerary will be open as well. The train will stop in Noto, Scicli and Modica allowing travelers to visit the Baroque historical centers.
Where to stay? soloSicily has the finest collection of luxury villas in Syracuse, click here
soloSicily - Sicily Villas to rent
website: www.solosicily.com
Tel UK: 0044 (0)20 7193 0158
Tel DE: 0049 (0)69 5960 3981
Tel IT: 0039 091 687 0639
To view this ABTOI member's profile, click here.
The Slow Fish Festival - a GASTRONOMIC thrill!
Gorgeous Liguria, Italy, gets even better when it hosts the 5th Slow Fish Festival from 27 – 30 May in Genoa, capital to this thin region that sits along the top of the Italian boot looking out to sea. Otherwise know as the ‘Italian Riviera', its where you will find many celebrities and the largest yachts you will ever have seen in your life.
And Genoa is one of those cities that you don't know is fabulous until you walk around its lovely cobbled streets down to the Marina and Harbour whilst discovering some amazing historic facts. Apparently the very first cheque was written in Genoa!
The Slow Food network is vast and spans members from 150 countries. The Slow Fish festival features events and activities along side its huge market of fish in every shape and form where you can taste and buy products from around the world.
And whilst you are ogling the 20 international top cooks preparing mouth watering dishes for you to try, don't forget to visit the Slow Fish Enoteca which is the space dedicated to good quality wine so that you can try from more than 800 bottles.
BA fly from London Gatwick, prices start from £49pp including all taxes and charges in April and May. http://www.ba.com/
Ryanair offers flight out of Standsted to Genoa from £31pp including all taxes and charges in April and May. http://www.ryanair.com/
For short breaks tour operators, http://www.loveitaly.co.uk/regions.php?id=9&r=Liguria
For more info on Liguria, http://www.turismoinliguria.it/
For more info on Slow Fish, http://www.slowfish.it/
Award Winning Organic Farm Holiday - SICILY
CONGRATULATIONS: Il Glicine has been awarded the “Case & Country” magazine's “Best Agritourism of Charm” award 2010 !Near Piazza Armerina, Il Glicine is a 4 hectare organic fruit and vegetable farm with two cottages and a pool, in an
enchanting setting, in the very heart of Sicily. Ideal and only for couples, this is a perfect haven for getting away from it all. As one client said, this is "a real place", difficult to find in the hurly-burly of modern life. Choose it for its individuality, stylish comfort, wonderful location and fantastic vegetarian food.
From £578 per person , including flights from Gatwick to Catania, a cottage for 2, self-catering and car hire (based on two people sharing for one week 19th September-26th September)
Better hurry - this place is going to be booked up.
http://www.long-travel.co.uk/holidaysearch.aspx?words=il%20glicine
Long Travel 01694 722193
To view this ABTOI member's profile, click here.
Friday, 1 April 2011
Quality Villas reveals luxury market boom
Quality Villas Ltd, a luxury villa rentals agent have reported a large increase in sales to Tuscany, currently at 100% up on 2010 figures. As a whole the company has seen a resurgence in interest in Italy and France together, which is generally attributed to unrest in other destinations in the world at the moment (Tunisia, Egypt, Japan).
However, strategic positioning in the past 12 months have enabled the company to take full advantage of this interest including the release of a new website and larger, taster style brochure.
Average villa rentals are £4000 per week, which looks favourable against St Tropez for example, which records average rentals of £7000 per week, thus it can be suggested that Italy is still showing value for money at the higher end, although it is debatable if the products are comparable.
A typical villa in Tuscany could be Villa Angelica, near Volterra, sleeping 8, this property enjoys a private pool, air conditioning, spectacular views and is walking distance of local shops. Prices range from £2530-£4430 for the complete property per week.
Quality Villas is currently in its 25th year of business, still independant and family owned. Tel 01442 870055 or visit their website for more Italian villas.
To view this ABTOI member's profile, click here.
However, strategic positioning in the past 12 months have enabled the company to take full advantage of this interest including the release of a new website and larger, taster style brochure.
Average villa rentals are £4000 per week, which looks favourable against St Tropez for example, which records average rentals of £7000 per week, thus it can be suggested that Italy is still showing value for money at the higher end, although it is debatable if the products are comparable.
A typical villa in Tuscany could be Villa Angelica, near Volterra, sleeping 8, this property enjoys a private pool, air conditioning, spectacular views and is walking distance of local shops. Prices range from £2530-£4430 for the complete property per week.
Quality Villas is currently in its 25th year of business, still independant and family owned. Tel 01442 870055 or visit their website for more Italian villas.
To view this ABTOI member's profile, click here.
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
A Perfect Italian Lakeside Holiday
Gorgeous Italian Lake Caldonazzo deserves an airing. The largest lake in Trentino offers waterskiing, sailing, windsurfing, peace, tranquility and of course, clusters of fabulous Italian villages perfectly set around the lakeside.
Everyone has heard of Lakes Garda, Como and Maggiore but we think Lake Caldonazza is worthy of much more publicity than it currently receives. The great news is that its off the main tourist trail and offers idyllic Italian picture postcard scenes year round.
The beautiful lakeside villages such as Caldonazzo, Calceranica al Lago, San Cristoforo, Ischia or Santa Caterina host mainly Italian holidaymakers (its one of their biggest secrets). Its for this reason that prices have remained moderate by Italian standards. The Dutch appear to make up the remainder of the tourist numbers.
The lake is home to a large variety of wildlife and fish species, including trout, perch and tench, making it very popular with fishermen. It is also possible to spot various species of birds of prey, especially in the afternoon hours.
There are also a number of camping areas around Lake Caldonazzo with families generally preferring to locate on the lake's southern section. Bathing is possible from June to September, when the lake waters are between a pleasant 20 and 24 degrees Celsius.
Its also great for hikers. A trip to the Rifugio Casarota – a refuge
run by the Alpine Club and situated at an altitude of 1,572 metres.
The route winds its way past the small church in Campregheri, then up a narrow country road and through a forest. In summer, temperatures can climb quite high but refreshments are available at the Al Bosco guesthouse. The climb to the refuge is steep and takes up to three hours but the trek is well worthwhile, not least just to sample the cooking talents of hut-keeper Goretta Zambon.
The panoramic view of the Valsugana valley with its lush green forests are fabulous, Lake Caldonazzo can also be seen glimmering in the distance.
Ask one of our ABTOI members for more information www.loveitaly.co.uk
Everyone has heard of Lakes Garda, Como and Maggiore but we think Lake Caldonazza is worthy of much more publicity than it currently receives. The great news is that its off the main tourist trail and offers idyllic Italian picture postcard scenes year round.
The beautiful lakeside villages such as Caldonazzo, Calceranica al Lago, San Cristoforo, Ischia or Santa Caterina host mainly Italian holidaymakers (its one of their biggest secrets). Its for this reason that prices have remained moderate by Italian standards. The Dutch appear to make up the remainder of the tourist numbers.
The lake is home to a large variety of wildlife and fish species, including trout, perch and tench, making it very popular with fishermen. It is also possible to spot various species of birds of prey, especially in the afternoon hours.
There are also a number of camping areas around Lake Caldonazzo with families generally preferring to locate on the lake's southern section. Bathing is possible from June to September, when the lake waters are between a pleasant 20 and 24 degrees Celsius.
Its also great for hikers. A trip to the Rifugio Casarota – a refuge
run by the Alpine Club and situated at an altitude of 1,572 metres.The route winds its way past the small church in Campregheri, then up a narrow country road and through a forest. In summer, temperatures can climb quite high but refreshments are available at the Al Bosco guesthouse. The climb to the refuge is steep and takes up to three hours but the trek is well worthwhile, not least just to sample the cooking talents of hut-keeper Goretta Zambon.
The panoramic view of the Valsugana valley with its lush green forests are fabulous, Lake Caldonazzo can also be seen glimmering in the distance.
Ask one of our ABTOI members for more information www.loveitaly.co.uk
The Independent's Big Six in Sardinia
In case you didn't catch it at the weekend the Independent ran an article on luxury hotels in Sardinia, picking out 6 of the best. Included in the round up were Villa del Parco (Cagliari), La Casitta (Santa Maria Island), Faro Capo-Spartivento (Chia), Petra Segreta Resort (San Pantaleo) La Coluccia ( Santa Teresa di Gallura) & La Maddalena (Maddalena)
Read the full article here: http://goo.gl/r7tPd
Read the full article here: http://goo.gl/r7tPd
Monday, 28 March 2011
Great news on flights to ITALY
Still thinking about booking a holiday to Italy? Here's some flight info that will help you get a handle.Sicily:
From 25 June, it will be easier to get to Catania, Sicily. Easyjet has introduced an extra service, making that 3 flights per week out of London Gatwick.
Juliet's Balcony?
Another new flight from London Gatwick to Verona will begin on 3 June. The flight will operate daily. http://www.easyjet.com/
Direct into Florence? Now there's more choice!
At last, CityJet Airlines has introduced a direct flight from London City airport to Florence. The flight operates six times a week (no Saturdays). http://www.cityjet.com/
Venice Alert
Its good news – Treviso Airport will be closed for improvements during June, July and August which means the Ryanair flights will be flying into Marco Polo Airport in Venice – much nearer and far more convenient.
For hotels, advice and tour operators, check the ABTOI members http://www.loveitaly.co.uk/
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