Think Sicily wins Best Villa Company in Conde Nast Traveller Readers Awards

Readers of the prestigious travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller have voted Think Sicily the top villa rental company in the world.

Huw and Rossella Beaugié, the founders and managing directors of the company, picked up the award at the ceremony in London on Wednesday night.

"After ranking in the top ten consistently over the last few years, we are hugely proud to receive this accolade," said Huw. "Our thanks go to everyone who voted for us, to all those who have travelled with us over the last 10 years, to our fantastic team and to our wonderful villa owners."

In the voting, Think Sicily never scored less than 82 and sealed the win by receiving top marks for its range of villas and presentation of villas.

In the same awards, readers voted Italy as their favourite country for holidays, while Sicily was voted 11th best island destination in the world. In the overall Top 100 listings, Italy came 5th and Think Sicily was the only specialist Italy operator to make the cut, coming in at a remarkable 83rd.

Think Sicily was founded in 2002 after husband and wife team Huw and Rossella gave up their careers (engineer and cell biologist respectively) to pursue a passion: they thought that Sicily had the most impressive mixture of history, culture, gastronomy, climate and natural beauty of anywhere they had ever visited and they wanted to share it with other discerning travellers.

Think Sicily rapidly grew into the leading up-market villa rental company for Sicily, offering the most desirable villas, specialist knowledge and an on-the-ground support network that was voted the best of any villa company by readers of Condé Nast Traveller a few years ago.

In 2010, the company's passion for the south of Italy saw the launch of Think Puglia, now provider of the most desirable luxury masserie, restored trulli and sea-front villas with pools in the region.

“We've come a long way in 10 years,” said Rossella. “Our clients and our owners have given us so much encouragement and satisfaction and it is thanks to them that we have achieved what we have. Our goal is simple: to hear our clients tell us that they've just had the best holiday of their lives.”


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The Most Expensive, Exquisite Food in the World!

In the world of gourmet foods, there is one treasure that is literally worth its weight in gold. Truffles are the pinnacle of gourmet.  As one of the most sought after foods in the world, is only used in the highest of high cuisine, except in parts of Northern Italy and Umbria where Tartufi are a key ingredient in local dishes.

Truffles are related to mushrooms with their root-like structures but never emerge from the surface. They form below the soil close to a tree's root system, living off its nutrients like another type of ‘fruit'.  The reason why it is so unbelievably expensive is that once the fungus is attached to a root, it produces just one truffle per year from that tree.

Harvested from late summer to early spring by experienced gatherers known as trifolau, they are a secretive lot that keep their special truffle groves to themselves, often taking long winding paths at night or in the early morning fog to confuse those that would try to follow. They have very guarded conversations with each other, lest any "trade secrets" are leaked. These men are the masters of the poker face; you can never tell if it had been a good harvest day or bad - they would never give out that kind of information. This secrecy has ensured that these rare edibles are still around for us to enjoy and not ravaged by poachers, who would not dig with the care to preserve the truffle forming fungus underground. The trifolau does have some help in his hunt, as the actual finding of the truffle is done by either a trained pig or by a mongrel dog (it is said pedigree dogs cannot smell truffles) with its superior sense of smell. Without these four-legged friends, truffles would be virtually unheard of.

Harvested in a time-honored tradition that has little to do with gourmet sophistication, harvest season is a time of celebration for both truffle harvesters (trifolau) and the towns that host the ever-popular truffle festivals. A visit to Piemont or Umbria in autumn will reward you with culinary gold in the form of a variety of regional specialties graced with freshly shaved truffles, probably harvested that very morning.  A gastronomique treat for all who are lucky enough to take part.

Quick - Special Offer details for a Gastronomique Weekend:

We give you a fantastic chance to spend a week end on a truffle quest at the 27th Santagatafeltria National Truffle Fair where the village main square is turned into a huge eating area and all the local restaurants will serve their best traditional dishes using only the best truffle, porcini mushroom and other local autumn produce. You will also have a choice of a Gastronomique Tour Bonanza with wine, cheese and olive oil tasting and lunch in local trattoria or a chance to go back in time with the Cultural and Historical Tour visiting the Medieval Towns of Santarcangelo and Verucchio with their museum, fortress and historical caves. A rare opportunity to enjoy a pure week end of Gastronomique enjoyment and cultural discovery.  http://www.loveitaly.co.uk/special-offers-more.asp?Offer=290

 

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LUCCA IS ON THE RISE

Lucca is the only Tuscan city to see an increase in tourist numbers.

New figures just announced from the Tuscan tourism authorities show that Lucca is the only Tuscan city that has increased tourism in the last three years. 

Visitor numbers this year are already up by 12 percent. The Mayor, Marco Favilla, thinks it reflects well on the whole city, and is not just due to the popularity of key initiatives, such as the summer festivals although there have seen some wonderful events appealing to a global audience .


Lucca is now mainly a non-car city where it is more the norm to use a bicycle rather than a motorized vehicle.  There is something very continental about cycling around an historic old walled city, through its pretty paved streets and piazzas with your gorgeous deli lunch sat up front in the basket.   Currently bike hire for half a day costs approx Euros 7.50 per person from the local Tourist Board offices dotted around the city.

New flights to Naples for 2012

BMIbaby announce new flights from East Midlands to Naples which are already available online, book early to avoid disappointment

Flights are operated every Thursday and Sunday between April and October

Thursday flights

East Midland to Naples   dep. 08:00, arr. 12:00
Naples to East Midlands  dep. 12:45, arr. 14:45

Sunday flights

East Midland to Naples   dep. 06:30, arr. 10:30
Naples to East Midlands  dep. 11:15, arr. 13:15

For more information click on  http://www.bmibaby.com/bmibaby/flights/home.aspx

Naples, an ideal city break on its own, is the gateway to the breathtaking Amalfi Coast, the islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida and the steaming Phlegraean Fields.

Few destination in the world can offer such a high concentration of history, beautiful scenery, world class sights and of course excellent food.

Check what's happening in Naples on Qui Napoli Magazine >>

See our selection of hotels on the Neapolitan Riviera >>

As a fully bonded tour operator (ATOL 1249), ExpertoItaly.com can book any schedule, charter and low-cost airline to your favorite destination.

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Win a week in a Tuscany Villa with To-Tuscany!

    Win a week in a Tuscany Villa with To-Tuscany!

                                     The To-Tuscany Foodie Blogger Competition has launched!

The To-Tuscany Foodie Blogger Competition has launched!

Tuscany Villas specialist, To-Tuscany is challenging foodie fans to a Tuscan cook-off with its Foodie Blogger Competition!

If you consider yourself a bit of cooking connoisseur and have your own blog, you have the opportunity to enter and win a week in a beautiful Tuscan villa, plus £150 towards flights.

All you have to do is prepare a Tuscan-inspired dish, which includes three key ingredients: olive oil, tomatoes and parmesan cheese, and create a blog post about it. Entries will be posted on the To-Tuscany competition page and the public will then vote for their favourite entries. The most popular three entries will then go through to the final round.

Nico Atrigna, the chef of one of Tuscany's finest restaurants, Osteria Le Logge in Siena will be judging the entries in the final round, and highlights what he is looking for:

"Dishes should demonstrate real cooking expertise, Tuscan authenticity, creativity and innovation. Presentation is key too, entrants should consider not just the dish they create, but how they present their entry. There are some fantastic prizes to be won so I'd encourage anyone to try their hand at the cook off!"

For an added incentive, all competition participants will be automatically entered into a random prize draw to win a Tuscan cookery book and a bottle of authentic Tuscan olive oil from a local farm in Tuscany. There will be 10 of these prizes up for grabs, so everyone has the chance to win something!  

Foodie fans who want to follow all the action on twitter can use the hash tag - #TTFBC.
The competition is now open for entries and will run until midnight on Monday 15th August 2011.

To see the full information on how to enter, visit the Foodie Blogger Competition page. Full terms and conditions can be found on the To-Tuscany website.

About To-Tuscany
To-Tuscany is a family-run business offering a wide range of holiday rental properties in Tuscany and Umbria, with private swimming pools and gardens. The company has been established for 10 years, offering self-catering accommodation in small cottages, villas and farmhouses, apartments and luxury estates. For more information visit http://www.to-tuscany.com/.

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For an added incentive, all competition participants will be automatically entered into a random prize draw to win a Tuscan cookery book and a bottle of authentic Tuscan olive oil from a local farm in Tuscany. There will be 10 of these prizes up for grabs, so everyone has the chance to win something!

Foodie fans who want to follow all the action on twitter can use the hash tag - #TTFBC.

The competition is now open for entries and will run until midnight on Monday 15th August 2011.

To see the full information on how to enter, visit the Foodie Blogger Competition page. Full terms and conditions can be found on the To-Tuscany website.

About To-Tuscany

To-Tuscany is a family-run business offering a wide range of holiday rental properties in Tuscany and Umbria, with private swimming pools and gardens. The company has been established for 10 years, offering self-catering accommodation in small cottages, villas and farmhouses, apartments and luxury estates. For more information visit www.to-tuscany.com.

                              

Surprising Sicily

Hi - I'm Nigel. I've been leading tours with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays since 2004. 

I don't think it's any one thing that makes a destination so special. It's the rich combination of the natural beauty, the history, the architecture, the food, the people; all the different layers contribute to the real spirit and personality of a place. There is such an incredible wealth of varied scenery and culture within Europe I think there's really almost no need to venture further afield!

My upcoming tour to Sicily is one of my favourites to lead, I love walking in Italy. The history is absolutely fascinating; successive Greek, Carthaginian, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Norman, Spanish, Neapolitan, British, Piemontese, Fascist, American and Mainland Italian occupations have all left their mark. I absolutely love the way that on a single walk, one can spot evidence of these periods scattered at random in the countryside.

Our tours look at the close intertwining of the surviving relics of radically different historic cultures in an awesome natural landscape. For example, on the morning of the first day at Francavilla, we head up the hill to the ruined Norman castle, from where there is a fabulous view across the Arab citrus orchards and the Greek citadel of Castiglione to the stately, smoking, snow-capped bulk of Mount Etna. It is truly magical.

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Land of the Trulli

Discover the history, traditions and unique flavors of the land to the south east of Bari From the portual city of Monopoli, with its castle and city walls on the sea, there are spectacular and enchanting Castellana Caves, karstic complex that you can visit in a guided tour of 3 km among multicolor stalatthytis and stalagmythis, caves and formations with mythologic names until you reach the "White Cave", the most beautiful cave on the planet.

Conversano will fascinate your spirits with its legend related to the famous and dreadful Earl Giangirolamo, and will conquer your heart with its castle, siege of a strong and powerful county, its churches, its palaces and alleys; Polignano a mare will offer a breathtaking scenery for an unforgettable evening with its historic centre "on the sea", the wonderful Palazzese cave, the balconies and the nice nightlife ambiance.

One can visit the archaeologic site of Egnazia, with its acropolys, its necropolis, the ancient Trajan Way remainings, and also go through the 400 meters high "Selva di Fasano", overlooking panoramic scenery made by trulli, fields and beaches. And from Locorotondo, named this way because of its white houses arranged in concentric circles, you will finally reach the heart of the "Land of Trulli", Alberobello. Its historic centre, unique for its typical houses called "Trulli", part of UNESCO heritage, will frame out the end of this great experience to tell and relive.

Interested in a tour?  Contact  http://www.discoverypuglia.com/en/tour-offer/theme-tours/south-east-of-bari

Noblesse Oblige - Apulian Castles

Dreaming of a kingly experience? Discover the most fascinating castles of Puglia!

Let the mystery of Castel del Monte unfold, summer residence of Frederick II of Swabia and today part of the UNESCO heritage, built according to astrological calculations that have not been unveiled yet.  The wonderful area of Barletta, known for the Disfida, battle between French and Italians in 1503, for its cathedral and its majestic castle wait for discovery.  Through Bisceglie, one can go south to the castle and the old city of the Apulian capital Bari, well known for its St Nicholas, worshipped by Catholics and Ortodox. Then the infamous earl of Conversano will capture your attention with his legends whilst in Monopoli one can walk between the castle and the sea.

Part of the Apulian experience, one can also enjoy the area around Brindisi with the fortress of Carovigno and a visit to the Messapian centre of Mesagne, the fairy tale city of Oria, and the massive castle of Massafra will complete your appetite to be king of your holiday!

Interested in a tour?  contact -  http://www.discoverypuglia.com/en/tour-offer/theme-tours/noblesse-oblige

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The Secret Pearls Of Lecce, Apulia

The elegant seduction of Lecce's baroque will make you live a crescendo of emotions in a fabulous long weekend.

Take a brief stop in Conversano, where the nuns of the Crucified keep the little gem of the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, stroll through the streets of Martina Franca, which will frame the evening. Enjoy a pleasant walk in Massafra which, with its clock tower, the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Scala and the Monastery of St. Benedict, will prelude the apex of your trip: Lecce.

The extreme adaptability of that particular stone, used to decorate those monuments, allowed architects and artists to build these unique masterpieces: the Basilica of Santa Croce, the church of S. Irene, the Duomo, Piazza Sant'Oronzo and patrician houses of the city will be the setting for an enjoyable day of beauty and artistic culture.

Admire Corigliano d'Otranto, with its noble palaces, Melpignano, home of the famous Night of Taranta, Galatina with its Mother Church, superb example of Baroque art, and finally the beautiful Nardo', rich in baroque examples including baroque Piazza Salandra, the city palace and the church of San Domenico, a worthy completion of this journey into the fascinating subtleties of Lecce's Baroque.

You can do all this and more - http://www.discoverypuglia.com/en/tour-offer/theme-tours/secret-pearls.

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Where is the second best coast in Italy?

With 180 kms of coastline and 26 seaside resorts, LE MARCHE was awarded no less than 16 Blue Flag Awards for 2011!

Blue Flag Awards recognise an area that meets exceptionally high standards, testing the quality of the water, the natural clean environment and many other related services.

From Gabicce Mare to San Benedetto del Tronto, the forms and colours of the coastal landscape are constantly changing. The white cliffs facing onto the Adriatic Sea alternate with the deep green of the hills, spotted with the venerable villages and the ochre hue of the long beaches. The coast runs along in two straight and almost perfectly flat portions divided by the Monte Conero promontory.

Those in the know come to Le Marche in search of authentic Italy, idyllic scenery of snow capped peaks, rolling hills and meadows of olive groves and vineyards with its fair share of charming old villages.

Now there is another reason to come to Le Marche – its fabulous award winning beaches, from the lively seaside resort of Pesaro to the smaller resorts such as pretty Sirolo on the Conero peninsula.

Ask our experts about Le Marche. http://www.paradisepossible.com/


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