Five Senses Hotels recommends : Hotel Villa di Piazzano

Villa di Piazzano Cortona
The Hotel Villa di Piazzano is a manor house of the 1400s located in the countryside just outside of Cortona, the town on the border between Tuscany and Umbria made famous by the American writer Frances Mayes with her book and later the movie, Under the Tuscan Sun. The Villa was acquired some years ago by an Italian-Australian family with a tradition in hotels, the Wimpole family, who carefully transformed the Villa into an exclusive hotel, with that warm and intimate atmosphere that only a family run property can provide. The Villa is surrounded by a garden of 1 hectare, with a beautiful Italianate garden, a driveway lined with cypress and linden trees, a large swimming pool and private parking for guests. The menu of the restaurant changes with the seasons and offers dishes which are traditional of this region, based on local and genuine products.

Wine & Dine Italian Style
Maratea, mediterranean tastes on the menu of the Hotel Villa Cheta. Maratea is a delightful little town located on the nly small stretch of the Tyrrhenian sea coast belonging to Lucania region, a region mostly mountainous. This meeting of land and sea gives birth to the typical cuisine of the region, based on fresh, genuine produce. The menu of the Hotel Villa Cheta offers the tastes of the Mediterranean in tune with the keynotes of nature and the season. Anchovies, emblematic “blue fish”, in a simple marinade or “ammullicate” in bread scented with mint and wild fennel, served with colorful mixed salads or with spaghetti or linguine and excellent dried tomatoes..

Unusual walks
There are many trails in the area for enthusiasts who want to see the amazing and magical places which look onto the volcano. For example you can go up to the Bove valley or the most recent eruptive vents, or take the high-mountain trail, accessible to all, or follow the nature trails of the Messina Nebrodi Park. Going by mountain bike, you might as well make the most of the tarmac roads to enjoy the stunningly beautiful panoramas around Etna or along the Messina coastal paths. Bikes can be rented and guided tours are available on Etna. Assoetna (www.assoetna.it) recommends ten culture and nature trails: you can go with a volcanologist to discover the secrets of a terrifying force of nature, or with a nature guide to enjoy bird watching, or with a master golfer to make the most of the only 18-hole golf course in Sicily. You can also combine sea and mountains, switching from enjoying the mountain slopes to a relaxing boat trip. And finally, you can relax in Taormina, at the VILLA DUCALE HOTEL.

Hot Deals in Umbria
Italian cookery is famous world-wide for being delicious, healthy and full of imagination. The Italian cooking courses take place in a large newly furnished and fully equipped kitchen. We are also running a special Christmas course of one week for amateurs