Archive for 'Central Italy'

This week, we're focusing on the lovely Tuscan city of Cortona. An excellent holiday destination, steeped in history and charm, it has plenty to see and do and the most picturesque surroundings in which to do them. We have a selection of great rental properties in the area so here are more of the best places to stay as you explore this stunning city...

4. Cortona Oroselli Apartment (Available from €65 per night)

Located in the centre of Cortona, this apartment in housed in a nice stone building on a quiet paved street. Spacious, with high ceilings, but still cosy, the minimalist interiors boast terracotta floors, exposed ceiling beams and stone features walls, elegant pieces of furniture (both modern and vintage), and tasteful touches added to finish the property to such a high standard.

Cortona is not quite an unsung hero but it is definitely one of the cities in Tuscany that we hear of less often and what a shame! This beautiful, historic gem is full of charm and a wonderful place to escape to on a Tuscan vacation. Luckily, we also have some exceptionally beautiful holiday rentals in the city so why not browse some of our Cortona gems and get planning a trip today...

1. Casa Zeni-Signorelli (Available from €120 per night)

This stylish two bed and two bath gem is conveniently located in the centre of Cortona, in a beautiful stone building with air conditioning and WiFi internet.

The Flaiano Prizes are often simply referred to as a film festival. However, this incredible series of events that take place annually in Pescara, Abruzzo is that and so much more. The Flaiano Prizes, or Premi Flaiano, are a set of Italian international awards in various fields including creative writing, cinema, theater and radio-television.

Established in honour of the Italian author and screenwriter Ennio Flaiano in 1973, the awards have been given out at the Teatro Monumentale Gabriele D'Annunzio in Pescara since 1974. The actual event itself is comprised of exhibitions, conferences, shows and more, culminating in an awards ceremony in June and July each year.

The Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park was established in 1991 and covers a surface area of 150,000 hectares or 2,014 square kilometres. It is one of the largest parks in Italy, located almost entirely in the region of Abruzzo and is one of the largest protected areas in Europe. Composed of the mountains of Gran Sasso, the Monti della Laga and the so-called Twin Mountains, it is a diverse and beautiful area that is predominantly alpine plain but is dotted with vast pine, beech and birch forests, streams, waterfalls, ponds, prairies, pastures and pretty Middle-Age villages.

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Caggiunitti, or caggionetti, are deep fried almond fritters that are normally filled with chocolate and chestnuts that come from the regions of Molise and Abruzzo in Italy. While they are typically made as treats around Christmas, they are really tasty and comforting desserts that are perfect during the cooler months. Varying in exact ingredients and shapes and styles depending on where and by whom they are made, they are a typical cookie of the area and something that you must try if you have found a vacation rental in Abruzzo and are planning a visit during the winter.