Yoga in Italy’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites

IT'S hard to imagine a more fitting place to which to retreat for a yoga holiday than a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whether it is famed for its aesthetically pleasing landscapes captured by Renaissance painters (as is the case in Tuscany’s Val d’Orcia) or for its distinctive mountains and exceptional natural beauty (as in the Dolomites). Simply being in these unspoilt natural surroundings instils calm, regenerating both the body and mind, which is further intensified through specific yoga exercises. 

Adler Spa Resorts is very fortunate to have hotels in these two Italian locations of note and both are offering yoga retreats in November/December 2017, with Adler Thermae repeating its retreats in February/March 2018. Adler Mountain Lodge is in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Dolomites.  Adler Thermae in Tuscany has three yoga holidays planned for November and December, which will then be repeated in February and March 2018. Yoga is an integral part of Adler Spa Resorts’ offering – complimentary classes are offered week in, week out by the in-house team at all the hotels, with dedicated yoga holidays such as those described above taking place at specific times. 

www.adler-resorts.com/en/yoga-retreats-italy

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Enjoy the view without the hard work

ENJOY the view without any uphill struggle thanks to #cycling #holiday specialists Cycling for Softies and BSpoke Tours who have introduced the option of e-bikes on all 2017 tours, in addition to two brand new gourmet ‘E-bike Safaris’ in #Tuscany and Umbria.

Treasures of Tuscany & Umbria E-Bike Tour enables cyclists to comfortably explore historic hill top villages and explore the ancient highway of the Roman Empire in to Umbria. A rest day in Assisi provides ample time to wander the cobblestone streets whilst marveling at the medieval architecture.

Tuscany & the Chianti Hills E-Bike Safari, the route winds its way through some of the choicest wine producing lands in Europe. Wine tasting is a must throughout this spectacular journey that takes in hills, lakes and mountains.

The Golden Pass Line tour from BSpoke Tours makes it very manageable, for almost all fitness levels. This ten-day amble from close to Zurich to Lucerne with ease, passing through Alpine pastures, valleys past lakes with perfect mountain views along the way. For those who really want an easy ride, let the train take the strain: the route follows the majestic Golden Pass train route.

Cava to Coastlines in Catalonia tour from Cycling for Softies can soak up the heat of the day in one of Europe’s sunniest spots without breaking a cycle-induced sweat. Starting in the town of birthplace of Salvador Dali, Figueres and heading to Palamos, the tour meanders through medieval villages and past secluded sandy coves - ideal for a spontaneous sea swim.

www.bspoketours.com

www.cycling-for-softies.co.uk

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Sleep with history

HOLIDAYMAKERS can plunge into the past with Tuscany Now & More, and have the chance to sleep with history, be it in a castle, a country residence, or an old farmhouse.  Guests can lay their heads in the homes of important historical figures and discover Italy’s history and heritage.

The agency has compiled a shortlist of some of their most historical properties:

The Historical Charm: Visentium – Steeped in history, there are stones in the walls of Visentium which were cut more than 3,000 years ago. 

The villa has a dining room for 20 and an arched loggia overlooking the swimming pool. The 10-bedroom property sleeps up to 18. From £4,784 a week.

Live like a king or queen in Castello di Tizzano – The historical home of an important Florentine family, the villa is surrounded by uninterrupted views of hills and Florence. It has a walled garden and a large swimming pool on a lower terrace with views of the Duomo. The nine-bedroom property sleeps up to 18 people. From £7,999 per week.

Villa Zambonina – Built in the early 17th century, Villa Zambonina is a manor house set on a farming estate close to Verona. The property is decorated with frescoes and trompe l’oeil paintings. It has 12 bedrooms and costs from £3,839 a week.

 www.tuscanynowandmore.com

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Book now … for 2017!

TO #TUSCANY is selling holidays for 2017 and is urging guests to move fast to secure the property of choice.

‘One-bedroom cottages with private pools are always the first to sell out,’ cautions the villa agency’s Sean Caulfield. ‘Big villas for large gatherings are also in high demand. As for timing, the school summer holidays are obviously high season, but the weeks around Pentecost, late May, and early June, are also a very busy period.’

To Tuscany has more than 760 #villas and apartments in the region, ranging from budget studios to an 11-bedroom, 15-bathroom villa sleeping up to 23.

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Tuscany escapes

#TUSCANY NOW & MORE has added three holiday properties to its portfolio:   

Casale Il Melograno – This converted farmhouse, close to the medieval city of Cortona, has three al fresco dining areas for entertaining on balmy summer evenings. It sleeps six and has a private pool. From £2,634 to £4,637 a week.  

La Sugheraia – A villa, sleeping up to 16, minutes away from the white beaches of the southern Tuscan coast. It’s surrounded by lawns filled with olive trees. From £4,057 to £9,167 a week. 

Spini Bianchi – Offering total privacy on a remote point, this house provides views of the coast and the island of Giglio. It has a pool and a tennis court, and a private road to the shore, where there is a platform for sunbathing and swimming. It sleeps up to eight people. From £3,552 to £6,089 a week. 

The agency is offering a 5% summer discount to previous guests.

www.tuscanynowandmore.com

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Florence food tours

EATING #ITALY is expanding its portfolio by launching a new #food tour in #Florence, taking visitors through the neighbourhood of Oltrano – the Florentine equivalent of the Left Bank in Paris.

Says Kenny Dunn, managing director of Eating Europe Tours, parent company of Eating Italy: ‘Florence has such a strong culinary influence that we felt it was the next logical step in our expansion in Italy.’

On the Other Side of Florence Food tour, guests will taste what makes the city’s cuisine unique in Italy, and meet the families who have been serving up the food locals have loved for generations. 

Through food and wine tastings, guests will learn how to make Italian cantucci (biscuits), sample the local salami, and experience the neighbourhood’s Bohemian vibe. Tuscany’s wine, Chianti, is part of the tour.

Tours run Monday to Saturday, 10am to 2pm. 

www.eatingitalyfoodtours.com/florence/tours/oltrarno

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To Tuscany launches Chianti Classics trail

VILLA-BOOKING website To #Tuscany has created a free trail to mark the 300th anniversary of the delineation of the Chianti wine-growing area by Cosimo III de Medici. 

To Tuscany's '10 Chianti Classics' is a selection of new and recommended activities and experiences to help guests make the most of their holiday during this anniversary year … from wine-tastings to star-gazing and open-air concerts to ice-cream-making demonstrations.

A highlight of the trail is the chance to follow in the tyre tracks of the professional cyclists competing in the 2016 Giro d'Italia. Italy's premier cycling race will include a special time trial through the Chianti vineyards on May 15. 

There's also the chance to taste some of the best wines produced in the region and tour a world-class collection of art at Castello di Ama, where visitors can combine tastings of renowned vintages and see works by artists such as Louise Bourgeois and Anish Kapoor.

www.to-tuscany.com/10-chianti-classics 

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Simpson Travel expands its Secrets portfolio

SPECIALIST villa and boutique hotel operator Simpson Travel has expanded its Simpson Secrets portfolio, offering a range of hidden gems across the Mediterranean. 

Company chairman Graham Simpson says: 'Over the last two years, we have seen a definite increase in demand for off-the-beaten-track properties, or as we like to say, those on 'the road less travelled'.  All our Simpson Secrets properties are somewhere you can really escape to, get away from daily routine, switch off and unwind.  We call it the Simpson Secrets state of mind. 

‘Traditionally, our Simpson Secrets properties were smaller and more suitable for couples, so we're delighted to now be able to offer the same type of properties to larger groups – be these families or friends travelling together.'

New destinations with Simpson Secrets include Andalucia, France, Italy, and Ibiza, with additional larger properties also being added across the portfolio in Greece, Turkey, and Corsica.  The collection, which was initially launched in 2011, now comprises a range of properties, from one-bedroom hide-aways to grander houses and even a French chateau.

Highlights include:

El Castillo (Andalucia): Set in tranquil countryside close to the village of Gaucín, this house blends traditional Moorish styling with modern-day comfort, plus added extras from cooks and childcare to yoga, guided walks and massage. Sleeping up to 14 people, the house has a private pool and a grand piano.

Villa delle Favole (Tuscany): This former monastery – first inhabited over 1,000 years ago by Camaldolesi Monks – is in a private forest of olive, oak, and beach trees.  Translating as 'Villa of Fairytales', it's a base from which to discover the natural and cultural treasures of both Tuscany and Umbria.

Montpalach (France): This manor house, dating from 1750, is in the peaceful hamlet of the same name. The villa's pool is a gem and the entire garden is enclosed, creating a wonderful retreat.

Villa Lygia (Epirus, Greece): The Epirus coast has been described as one of Greece's hidden secrets, and this house makes the most of it, having been designed to maximize views, light, and the sound of the sea. One of its joys is a path that descends to a sand and pebble beach 98ft below the terrace. It’s possible to hire a boat and moor it here.

http://www.simpsontravel.com/simpson-secrets

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Retreat to Tuscany!

#LUXURY self-catering holiday agency Natural Retreats is now offering a selection of traditional properties in some of the most popular areas in #Tuscany, including Lucca, Pisa, Sienna, and Florence.

Il Maniero – Ripoli, Monterchi – Province of Arezzo (sleeps 14) –Il Maniero is a three-storey, seven-bed, 18th century manor house in a hilltop village. Almost on the border between Tuscany and Umbria, this private villa is two miles from the picturesque village of Monterchi and the medieval hamlet of Ripoli and is equipped with its own private pool and Jacuzzi in garden. Prices from £291 per night, villa only.

 Il Colle, Antico Podere Di Pomaio, near Arezzo (sleeps 10) – A recently-restored five-bed farmhouse, Podere Il Colle has terracotta floors, beamed ceilings, archways, and stone walls throughout. On a hillside with breathtaking views, it is part of the farm estate comprising olive groves, vineyards, and woodland. Prices from £356 per night, villa only. 

Villa Ianni – Monterchi, Province of Arezzo (sleeps 8) – Villa Ianni is a four- bed stone farmhouse on a hillside in the Tiber Valley. Amid woodland, the house is ideal for lovers of the outdoors, with long walks in the unspoilt Tuscan countryside. The swimming pool is the eye-catching focus of the garden. Prices from £243 per night, villa only. 

Villa Roberto – Montaione, Province of Florence (sleeps 12) – This detached stone house is on a hill just under one mile from the village of Montaione. A short, private track gives access to the property, which is surrounded by a large garden. There’s a swimming pool, and a chef who can prepare dinners and arrange cooking courses. Prices from £301 per night, villa only. 

The agency’s Xplore team can help guests make the most of their Italian escape by finding Renaissance art and culture in Florence, enjoying the historic streets of Sienna, finding the local beaches, visiting the Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccilo National Park, or hunting down the best tortelli lucchese, a delicacy in Lucca. 

All of its Tuscany properties are within a 40-minute radius of Pisa Airport. 

Natural Retreats operates 32 destinations in Britain, the US, and Europe.

www.naturalretreats.com 

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Take a break ... with Bond

ANOTHER 007 movie … and another opportunity for holiday companies and exhibition venues, among others, to try to cash in on Bondmania.

UltraVilla has three privately-owned holiday homes that have been seen – perhaps only briefly – in #Bond movies: Roaring Pavilion (Jamaica) was glimpsed when Ursula Andress emerged from the sea in  ‘Dr No’;  Corfu 1D (Greece) made an appearance in ‘For Your Eyes Only’; and Torre di Talaminaccio (Tuscany) was in ‘Quantum of Solace’.

Corfu 1D was also the summer house of the last king of Greece, and the birthplace of Prince Philip, (also known as the Duke of Edinburgh). On eight acres of gardens and woodland in Kanoni, the villa is 80-feet above the Ionian Sea. With a sea-water swimming pool, it sleeps 12 in the main house, four in the guest house, and two in ‘The Nest’. Eight full-time staff are on hand to shake and stir cocktails.

 Set on the beach where Ursula Andress walked from the sea to meet Sean Connery in the first James Bond film, Dr. No, the Roaring Pavilion has more than 8,000 square feet of living space to accommodate up to 10 guests in four king-size bedrooms and one additional bedroom with a twin bunk.  The villa has a home theatre and games room. Celeb guests have included Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, and Jack Nicholson.

 Filmed as Mathis’ house in Quantum of Solace, Torre di Talamonaccio was originally a medieval watch tower. It sleeps 12 in six bedrooms, and has a swimming pool and a walkway down to a rocky beach.

 www.ultravilla.com

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The other side of Tuscany

TRAME DI LUNIGIANA, a non-profit making platform for booking #tours and cultural experiences in Tuscany's north-western Lunigiana region, has launched in the UK, enabling first time visitors to sign up for off-the-beaten track experiences through one central website.

Lunigiana is a less well known region in #Tuscany, stretching from the coastal town of Lerici to the Renaissance village of Fivizzano in the Apennine Mountains. The mountain scenery, more than 100 medieval castles, and the 12-mile coastline can now be explored by visitors with ease.

Central to the platform are experiences that enable guests to take in the highlights of the region on horseback, by foot, cycle, or Vespa tour. These can all be booked directly on the website.

www.tramedilunigiana.it/en

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Wine estate opened to mountain bikers

TO TUSCANY'S guests can take a two-wheeled tour of one of Chianti's top wine estates with the opening of a natural path which leads deep into its vineyards and olive groves.

Ancient by-ways once used by labourers to move around the farms have been restored using re-cycled materials to form the newly-opened route on the Dievole Estate. The 12-mile circuit can be expanded to 16 miles by following its 15 side trails. It has been marked according to difficulty, length, and altitude, with viewpoints suggested and sights such as an 18th-century stone aqueduct along the way.

The terrain of the 11th century vineyard is ideal for #mountainbikers, with its challenging mix of uphills, downhills, and fords. But walkers, horse-riders, and cross-country runners are welcome to follow the path.

to-tuscany.com

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Luxury in Tuscany

A NEGLECTED 800-year-old Tuscan estate – once home to the Medici family – has been redeveloped and reborn as Toscana Resort Castelfalfi. 

In the 1960s, the 2,700-acre estate was abandoned by all but five of its residents in a countrywide rural exodus. In 2007, travel group TUI AG discovered the property. 

Says TUI director Stefan Neuhaus: ‘From the outset, the idea was to restore the ancient village and bring it back to life. We are preserving the site’s original structure and re-instating part of Italy’s heritage, but with all the additional modern services and standards that you would expect from such an upmarket resort. ’

Work on transforming the estate into a luxury resort began in 2011. The renovation of the borgo – the outskirts of the castle walls – started with the restoration of the residential complex comprising 41 apartments completed in 2013, and with the development of the first of three planned hotels.

Scattered throughout the estate are 26 original farmhouses, or casali, four of which have been dismantled and re-built using the same stones. The buildings’ wooden beams have also been preserved and each farmhouse has a traditional terracotta tile roof. With the capacity to adapt each interior according to its owner’s specifications. Several of the properties also line the resort’s 27-hole golf course. Some of the farmhouse are available for weekly rentals.

The estate is also a hunting reserve, with wild boars, deer, and foxes.

‘We searched for this place for a long time,’ says Mr Neuhaus. ‘What we are developing is not a typical resort; it’s a new approach for the international luxury travel market that offers apartments, a range of farmhouses, a luxury club concept and four-and five-star hotels.’


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Cook in Tuscany

TUSCANY NOW, with 180 rental properties, has a concierge team which can give guests directions to local markets and set up cookery classes with local chefs.

One of the food experiences is a cooking session with Anna Bini at her school in central Florence, a short distance from many of the Tuscany Now properties. 

She has specialized in Tuscan cuisine for more than 60 years. Her course includes a visit to San Lorenzo market to buy produce and learning how to make fresh pasta from scratch.

Guests can also take part in truffle hunts in the hills south of Siena.

www.tuscanynow.

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Picture Credit: "greeneries" by Helge Høifødt - Own work via Wikimedia Commons.