Friday, May 18, 2012

SALENTO BICI TOUR




Salento Bike Tour was created with the aim of supporting the use of bicycles as a way to get acquainted with the Salento region and to promote cycling as the future for urban mobility and tourism.



Salento Bike Tours offers to both visitors as well as local residents the opportunity to slowly wander through the territory, to know it for the first time or rediscover it, with all the senses according to each one’s different strength and energy. Too many important things are missed from the close compartment of a car – smells, sounds, views…. With Salento Bike Tours we can give them back to you!



Salento is a very friendly land to cyclists: the region is almost flat, the temperatures are mild from March to October, it is crossed by a dense morphology network of rural roads, through which it is possible to entirely avoid the more trafficked roads. It a pedals lovers’ paradise!




In Salento cycling never took off and local government has not supported it so far, notwithstanding its great potentials.





For what concerns urban mobility for example, Lecce the capital of Salento is the ideal city for cyclists, yet, it is still choked by a senseless and maddening traffic.




Salento Bike Tour promotes a lifestyle focused on reducing consumption of energy, and centered on the bicycle as one of the means to a wiser and fairer world. Sustainable farmers and artisans, who work respectfully of the territory, landscape and culture, are involved in Salento Bike Tour.


Wednesday, May 16, 2012

CONVENTO NOVOLE



Dating from 1450, Novole is a group of houses nestled in the green hills on the border between Umbria and Tuscany. It consists of three original buildings, converted into four independent apartments: the farmhouse, the chapel, the convent and the cottage, each with its own heating system and attractive external surroundings.



Situated 10 km from the ancient Etruscan town of Cortona, Novole offers easy access to the nearby towns of Arezzo, Siena, Florence, Montepulciano, San Gimignano and Perugia, and it is only 15 km away from Lake Trasimeno.



It is an ideal spot for a quiet holiday, in total contact with nature, where walks or mountain bike rides can be alternated with visits to nearby historical towns.



Novole is also a small organic farm with animals and terraced vegetable gardens. It is a perfect place to slow the pace of our lives and have a genuine and authentic experience of the landscape, food and culture of our country. If you are looking for slow food & slow life, here you've found it!


Tuesday, May 15, 2012

CASALE SATRIANO


The ancient Casale Satriano is located in the centre of Umbria, near Montefalco. It is the perfect place for a relaxing holiday in natural surroundings, easy reach of the historic towns of Spoleto, Assisi, Todi, Spello, Perugia,Orvieto and Gubbio.The Casale has been recently restored and forms part of the Antonelli San Marco wine estate. 



The property has vineyards for the production of the famous Sagrantino, di Montefalco and Grechetto wines, as well as olives trees for quality extra virgin olive oil. There is also a wood with age-old oak trees and magnificent views of the Monti Martani. 



A large garden with swimming pool, traditional wood oven and a children’s playground complete the facilities at guests’ disposal.The apartments sleep between 4 and 7 people. Each is fully furnished, with its own kitchen, autonomous heating, fireplace and colour TV. Bed linen and towels are also provided.


AGRITURISMO LA SVOLTA


Our farmhouse is situated in that side of the tuscan Maremma, which has maintained his original wild character and is still remained untouched from mass tourism and from the evident intervention of the man on the nature.

Our biologic organic farm estate includes fields of olive trees, wheat, wild rose, a wineyard, a saffron garden and a big vegetables and fruit garden with all the typical herbs and vegetables which we employ for our regional cuisine.

You can also share with us the experience of the olives, saffron, grape and fruit harvesting and also learn making wine and olive oil and of course enjoy the presence of our farm animals as well.
The hospitality is offered in comfortable and polished apartments and double-rooms. Every apartment has got the name of one of the four element of nature and their colours harmonize with the colours of the respective element.

In a few time you can reach the famous thermal baths at Saturnia and also the picturesque tuscan villages, the coast of Tuscany and Latium, three different protected natural parks, the castle and the etruscan site of Vulci.


SEXTANTIO ALBERGO DIFFUSO SANTO STEFANO DI SESSANIO




Santo Stefano di Sessanio is a fortified medieval village. It is located in the mountains of Abruzzo at 1250 meters above sea level, inside the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga national park. The village is a classic example of an Italian medieval hill town, with perimeter walls encircling houses and squares. 



During the last century the “modernisation” of rural Italy compromised the architectural heritage of many of its countryside villages and towns. But Santo Stefano, like many more remote Mediterranean mountain villages, was deserted when its impoverished inhabitants left in search of work. Paradoxically, the abandonment saved the town from architectural abuse.



The project to conserve and revive Santo Stefano as an “albergo diffuso” involved a detailed plan to preserve the integrity of the village and its surrounding landscape. 



Working alongside local organizations such as the town mayor and the national park, we proposed special laws to prohibit any new construction. Our aim was to bring the village back to life and to welcome tourists,but without sacrificing Santo Stefano’s identity. To retain Santo Stefano’s local character all modern technology is hidden. We searched out original architectural materials, and our furniture and textiles are authentic items from the Abruzzo mountains. 



We have preserved traces of bygone countryside life in the fabric of the buildings - symbols of hardship which evoke the spirit of ancient rural life. One of our aims is to reflect Abruzzo’s rural traditions. This heritage has strong roots among the mountain people who cherish their pastoral culture. Part of our mission is to rediscover regional gastronomy. We have bought neighbouring land to produce local food, which is available from a restored building (a former cellar) in the centre of the village. In researching local culinary heritage and rituals, we have discovered a local cuisine where resources were few, but mixed in a great number of different recipes. Working with the Museum of the People of Abruzzo - and with the help and advice of the older residents from the area - we have revived artisan skills which go back centuries. Using only traditional raw materials, Santo Stefano’s weavers are producing hand made fabrics for use in our rooms, and to offer to the public directly from the workshop. 



Artistic and cultural events are an essential part of life in Santo Stefano. In partnership with the classical orchestra the Officina Musicale, we are developing a project called Ensemble in Residence, where we ‘adopt’ musicians and offer a season of concerts or events. The money raised from these performances will be used for non-profit initiatives. Our hope is that these events at Santo Stefano will become a beacon for an alternative way of enjoying both popular and high culture - a different approach to the clichéd and folkloristic tourism which has overtaken many Italian hill towns.While you are visiting Santo Stefano, why not take advantage of some of the excursions we have on offer, including trips into the countryside, mountain biking, trekking in the mountains and horse riding. 



We offer a variety of excursions and trips into the cowntryside mountain diking, trekking in the mountains and horse riding. Santo Stefano di Sessanio is inside the beautiful Gran Sasso National Park.The area is rich in natural, unspoiled countryside. Since the war the dignity and character of many southern Italian hill towns has suffered at the hands of unsympathetic tourist development. New houses built on the periphery of historic villages have compromised the relationship between the urban landscape and the countryside. Many ancient town centres have suffered from poor quality development. Original features were often removed, stripping buildings of their history. A lack of proper planning meant that new buildings did not reflect the local architectural style.



The national government failed to intervene; preferring to focus on Italy’s classical heritage and unwilling to recognise the importance of rural architecture and its relationship with the landscape. Where poverty led to the villages being abandoned no new construction took place. This has left an opportunity for conservation – the chance to preserve these historic hill towns for the future.

IL SOLE DEL SODO


Il Sole del Sodo is a small and cozy Bed & Breakfast with 6 charming rooms and  5 cousy apartments—allowing you to sleep-in and relax by the pool while being surrounded by our stunning Tuscan countryside. Situated outside the ancient Etruscan walls of Cortona – only 1 ½ miles from the town centre.




Our property is named after the neighborhood in which it is located and the sunshine that illuminates our gardens during the day. We offer the ideal holiday location, making our property the perfect base for daytrips to valleys and charming towns in close proximity to Cortona – from Valdichiana to Val D'Orcia, Montalcino to Pienza, spas to churches frescoed by Piero della Francesca and to nearby Umbria with its enchanting landscapes.



And after a busy day you'll be able to relax next to the pool or in the garden courtyard and watch the sunset, while sipping on a glass of wine accompanied by a tasty selection of local foods. Il Sole del Sodo is the fulfillment of Claudia's dream. With the help of her family, she successfully converted the old farmhouse into a comfortable Bed & Breakfast—combining her Roman sense of style with her own inspirations from her many family trips to Tuscany.


SEXTANTIO ALBERGO DIFFUSO LE GROTTE DELLA CIVITA



The Sextantio Albergo Diffuso Le Grotte Della Civita offers eighteen unique historic rooms - each with over 100 square meters of space. The breakfast/lounge area is situated in an ancient rock church.



We have room for forty guests. Accommodation is located on three levels which are connected by staircases and terraces. Each room has access to the outside area where there is a fruit and flower garden and a view across the Murgia Park river valley with its characteristic cave churches. The hotel rooms have been restored according to our philosophy. Internal features capture the essence of the historic setting: furniture is crafted from antique wood by local artisans; linen comes from centuries-old dowry chests and is made by hand. In accordance with the principles which inspired our project and the atmosphere of the hotel, we have chosen not to put televisions or fridge-bars in the rooms.



Guests will find complimentary fresh water, seasonal fruit and traditional sweets in their rooms. Each evening liquors are placed on your table, the bed is prepared for the night and the room is warmed by candlelight and scented with traditional local essence. Breakfast is served in the ancient rock church. We offer traditional cakes, biscuits, marmalade, cheeses and ham prepared by a local organic food producer. Guests can also try local wines and produce. Each room is fitted an under floor heating system and is cooled in the summer. Internet connections are available.


MATERA – From Stone Age Settlement to UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Sassi of Matera are a fascinating complex of rocks, caverns and grottoes - a hidden world which you enter from the underbelly. They are a stark contrast with the city of Matera - the traditional Mediterranean town with its monuments, palaces and great churches that look down on the underworld of the Sassi. Shoulder hugging, precipitous alleyways snake though the stony Sassi city, creating an unmatchable cityscape. The houses, with their varied architecture of windows, arches, balconies and terraces, have a disparate charm – a city of light, colour and shade where man and place come together in elegant harmony. In 1993 this unique environment became Southern Italy’s first UNESCO world heritage site – and the first in the world to be declared a “cultural landscape”.


Matera can trace its history back to the Stone Age. The earliest signs of human life were
uncovered in the ravine which runs though the area – in a place called the “Bat’s Grotto” which dates back to the Palaeothic era. In the Bronze and Iron Age - near a rocky spur inside a natural rainwater reservoir - a rupestre village developed. A rock habitation, four hundred metres above sea level - the first settlement on the Civita area of the Sassi of Matera.



During the Greek and Roman era there was no development in Matera, and the city became little more than an agricultural outpost. But in the Medieval period the Lombards arrived, and the city grew, reinforcing its strategic position on the edge of Byzantine Puglia. High walls surrounded a thriving centre, a fortress populated by administrators, politicians and soldiers. During this period the area consolidated. Benedictine monks created a series of chiese rupestri - some 120 stone churches which can be seen in and around Matera. Anchorites from the east arrived - the solitude of the stony hills an ideal place for their mystic, hermetic lives.


The meeting between the Latin and Byzantine culture in this area - known as the Murgia – was given artistic expression in a beguiling mixture of architecture that fascinates the modern visitor. Churches developed with a combined architectural heritage - using strict geometric Latin lines, but bedecked with lively, colourfully tinted frescoes that reflect the artistic styles of Asia Minor. From 1000AD, with the arrival of the Normans, the city moved into a new phase of development. Farmers’ houses sprang up around the Civita, and the town split into two distinct areas: the Sasso Caveoso and the Sasso Barisano.


In the 14th century city walls circled the town, and the Romanesque cathedral which still
dominates the city (later remodeled in Baroque style) was built. Churches grew up around the city, including the beautiful San Giovanni Battista and San Domenico, as well as the cave churches known as rupestri and a series of Puglian-Romanesque monasteries. In the 15th and 16th centuries the town moved beyond the city walls, taking on the appearance it has today. The populated centre around the cathedral expanded into the valley where the Piazza del Sedile was built.


This process continued over time, with powerful and thriving religious orders creating some exceptional monuments - including the churches of San Francesco D’Assisi and Santa Chiara. Of particular note is Palazzo Lanfranchi; built as a seminary at the end of the 17th century, it has been restored as The Museum of Medieval and Modern Art of Basilicata. During the 16th century Count Giancarlo Tramontano built a castle next to the Piazza del Sedile, but when he was assassinated the work stopped. Today several towers are still standing. In the 16th century the two areas of the Sassi changed profoundly. The urban centres developed, taking on their familiar shape. The need for new homes meant that every space was utilized. Houses spread along the rocky hillside of the Civita, reaching down to the bottom of the ravine.



With limited means, the peasant classes adapted the rocky terrain into living spaces, with built facades covering cave houses. The Sassi became urbanised, abandoning their rural aspect - trees and allotments gave way to construction. Some fine buildings were created - with porticos, balconies and elegant balustrades. Over the coming centuries the city grew, and Matera – the principal town of Basilicata - took its place at the heart of the region. New neighbourhoods grew up, and the city became the largest centre in Baslicata with 12,000 inhabitants.

 

During the 18th century, however, the Sassi’s economy and ecology – which had sustained people for centuries – started to decline. Urban overcrowding and an agricultural crisis reduced the standard of living for the inhabitants. Population growth in the Sassi was unsustainable. This led to problems with water as wells and cave reservoirs were converted into habitations. A lack of a proper drainage system and the cramped living conditions - with man and animal living alongside each other - meant that the ancient cave churches were frequently used as houses. Conditions continued to worsen, and in the 1940s the writer Carlo Levi vividly described the rank and miserable poverty of Matera in his classic novel Christ Stopped at Eboli. The pitiful existence in the Sassi reached its nadir; a baby born here had poor prospects. In 1940s Italy an average of ten babies in a hundred died at birth. In Matera the infant mortality rate was 46 per hundred. Nearly 50%.


Carlo Levi’s book brought the squalid conditions in the Sassi to national attention. Cultural figures and politicians were shocked. The Italian communist leader Palmiro Togliatti visited in 1948 and Prime Minister De Gasperi came in 1952. De Gasperi signed special legislation to transfer the residents of the Sassi to new houses. Fifteen thousand people, two thirds of the residents, were expected to leave their houses and move into a new neighbourhood created for them.



Homes in the Sassi became the property of the state. The two historic neighborhoods were left completely empty. From the 1960s the area was abandoned and falling apart, with local politicians unable or unwilling to take care of this extraordinary heritage. It was only in the second half of the 1980s that the need to intervene, save and conserve this historic area came to public attention. In 1993 the Sassi were placed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites – the first place in the world to be declared a cultural landscape. The Sassi were seen as a model of how man can live in balance with the environment – an example of sustainable living. Today if someone wants to restore a house in the Sassi they must follow a strict code which sets down procedures for the conservation of historic buildings. A philosophy designed to preserve this extraordinary heritage.