Piemonte is Wine, Castles, and great Food – Hotel Castello di Sinio

Piemonte has it all; great wines, extravagant culinary compositions, cheeses, tartufo and culture. Usually you will have to visit at least a couple of different locations to get the full immersion in true Italian life. In the land of Nebbiolo, Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera you can find it all together at the Hotel Castello di Sinio. Hotel Castello di Sinio is a renovated Medieval Castle nestled in the hills of the Langhe.

The XII century castle maintains the allure of times past while offering modern amenities. The hotel has 18 rooms furnished with epic furniture. The floor to ceiling stonewalls and heavy chestnut beams create an atmosphere of opulence and protection. Beds are all extra large with double mattresses and are fitted with down comforters, one for spring and one for winter. All rooms have large private bathrooms with spacious glass shower stalls, beautiful stone tiles and completely modern fixtures and electricity. You will find we have the most up to date conveniences such as individual room heating and air-conditioning, satellite TV, direct dial telephones, Internet & fax to make your stay ultra comfortable and hassle free.

The restaurant provides traditional regional cuisine with the flair of a King’s court. Denise and Jay, the restaurant owners and chefs, open from Thursday through Sunday. Denise tells of their passion:

“Our menu selections tend to be limited but are always prepared with the finest ingredients we can find. While the fare is very, very traditionally Piemontese it almost always holds some surprises of less well known recipes or combinations that have been inspired from research and always based on precedence. From ancient Piemontese rural recipes that we love resurrecting to hidden mountain valley traditions to the cuisine of nobility that comes straight from the royal court of the House of Savoy (the long time rulers of Piedmont), we strive to add a memorable dimension to your Piemontese enogastronomic experience.”

The wine cellar includes some of the best wines in the world. Interestingly the hotel has brought in Wine Specialist and Author KERIN O'KEEFE. Once a month she takes hotel guests to the major vineyards and producers in the area. Hotel Castello di Sinio is located right in the heart of the Barolo and Barbaresco wine producing areas. The area is home to about 750 wineries that produce 2 of the 10 most important wines in the world. The Castle is located within 5 to 10 minutes of all the major Barolo producers and within about 20 minutes of all the major Barbaresco producers.

The Hotel Castle di Sinio is the perfect destination to live and learn the Piemontese lifestyle. It is a great base. Within a few minutes by car there are 100s of marvelous unknown restaurants and 100s of wineries. Cultural events like the symphony and opera are just a few minutes away in Alessandria. The views of the hills of the Langhe are truly unique. It is a great place to hide from the world and rejuvenate the soul with great food and wine.

Hotel Castello di Sinio
Vicolo del Castello 1
12050 Sinio (CN)
Piedmont, Italy
Telephone: 0173.263.889

ags: Italian Vacations Alba Piemonte Travel Tips Travel Italy Wine+Vacations Hotels

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Castello di Compiano – Vacation at a Medieval Castle near Parma

In the hills surrounding Parma there are numerous castles. Many of these properties have been transformed into hotels while maintaining their aura of mystery. Parma is famous for its prosciutto and Parmesan cheese. These products alone are a great reason to spend a few days in the area. Parma is also a land of scenic views and Medieval towns. Castello di Compiano is the anchor of the town of Compiano, recently recognized as one of the Borghi piu’ Belli del Italia, the most beautiful towns of Italy.

The town of Compiano develops inside the walls of the castle making this a perfect destination for a 3 or 4 day stay. Local shops, restaurants and products are all within walking distance of primary unit of the castle. Only a few areas have been dedicated to lodging. The major portion of the castle is a museum. Most of the rooms are on the upper floor or in the towers creating a suggestive atmosphere and beautiful views of the surrounding area. Rock walls and original fishbone wood floors take you back to the 1100s. The rooms are filled with antique furniture completing the experience.

From the third floor rooms a turn around the corner takes you out onto the walkway of the upper fortifications. As you stroll the sounds of battles past whisper in your ears. The breeze carries scents of the surrounding forests and agricultural lands. Castello di Compiano takes you into the times of princes and kings, sumptuous banquets with extravagant festivities and armored knights riding powerful horses. The elevators and centralized heating, while masked, somehow seem a bit out of place but after a long day of activities are greatly appreciated.

In the late summer, the swimming pool, located in the castle’s gardens, is a great way to cool off before visiting one of the trattoria. The local cuisine is heavily influenced by the bordering Emilia Romagna. Dried meats and Parmesan cheese as appetizers followed by fresh pasta and savory meats dominate the local tables. This is not a wine producing area but wines from Veneto and Tuscany are widely available as are some local farmer’s wines.

The beautiful medieval burgh, whose genuine structure may still be admired to this day, with its cobblestone streets and buildings bearing ancient friezes and sculpted architraves on the doorways. From the walls surrounding the picturesque medieval square you can admire a beautiful view on Isola's plain, across which the River Taro runs on its way down from Monte Penna.

At the end of Via Duca degli Abruzzi stands the Porta delle Monache, for centuries the main entrance to the fortified burgh, while only the foundations of the towers which once guarded the burgh still stand. Compiano is a place of exceptional beauty that has remained untouched over its 400-year history.

Castello Compiano is located about 90 miles from Milan and 90 miles from Bologna. The closest airport is Genova.

Castello di Compiano Museo e Relais
Via Marco Rossi Sidoli, 15 43053 Compiano (Parma)
Tel. 0525.825541 - Fax. 0525.811106


Tags: Italian Vacations Castles Agriturismo Parma Travel Italy

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The wine Trail of Lake Garda – Wines, Food, Entertainment, and Agriturismo

Getting off the beaten tourist path and knowing what to do, where to go and what to eat is difficult. Most of us will use the Michelin Guide, the Gambero Rosso, or some other well known published book to identify a restaurant or a hotel in an area we do not know. Because the places are published they are usually not the best deals or most interesting solutions. I have found that when living in an area for about six months the locals have their secret places. For one reason or another these places never made it on the numerous publications that can give us insight into an area.

Chatting with one of my buddies this week he mentioned that he had recently joined an association made up of small producers in the area of lake Garda. The association is made up of 80 members. Their businesses include: vineyards, olive oil, agriturismo, hotels, restaurants, artisans, cultural associations, and museums. Through the members you can find local foods and wine including: Olive oil with low acidity, cheeses, fresh water fish, dried meats, and Garda wines. Looking at the Strada dei Vini e Sapori website, I realized this is the perfect guide to find those out of the way, little known, family run places that just are not big enough to make it into the national scene but are usually the best solution for a vacation that delves into Italian life and culture.

The site is entirely in Italian but do not be put off. Navigate around the site and take note of the phone/fax numbers indicated. The association can be contacted by email and the location and contact information for each establishment is right next to a small photograph. Some places also have a write-up about the history of the location or the establishment. Getting your trip together may take a little more work, contacting individually each place but the end result will be well worth the time.

Tags: Italian Vacations Veneto Garda Food and Wine Travel Italy

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Taormina Sicily – Hot Vacation Spot on the slopes of Mount Etna

Have you ever thought of playing a round of golf in the shadows of an Active Volcano? Think about putting on the 14th green, snow covered mountain slopes visible in the distance and continuous fireworks show sparkling over the peak of the towering giant. A cool breeze carries hints of salt from the early morning waves on the beach just below. Golf is not your game, how about an after-dinner game of tennis in the Mediterranean gardens on a warm summer night? Ok, I get it, sports and vacation is not your thing, how about a relaxing in an open-air arena, built in 200 BC, overlooking the peaceful bay with the wind in your hair and the sun warming your body? Still not convinced? How about strolling down the streets of medieval architecture chatting with local artisans presenting their wares created with the passion of ancestral tradition?

For those who have visited the Amalfi Coast or Montecarlo Taormina will seem strangely familiar. The city, settled in 396 AD, maintains the primary infrastructures and architecture built during the Roman Empire. Over the centuries Taormina, as most of Sicily, has been powerful and then conquered to again regain its prominence. In the 1800s Taormina was the favorite vacation destination of the American and European aristocrats, a colony of expatriate artists, writers, and intellectuals. D. H. Lawrence stayed here at the Fontana Vecchia from 1920 to 1922, and wrote a number of his poems, novels, short stories, and essays, and a travel book, Sea and Sardinia.

Today, the David di Donatello Taormina Film Festival has been held for over fifty years, with international film stars viewing films on a screen erected in the Greek theatre. During the Festival Taormina becomes a “one stop shopping” destination for the who’s who of cinema. This is a weeklong opportunity to hob knob at a local bar or restaurant with your favorite star.

Carnival in Taormina, usually the first three weeks of February, Friday, Saturday and Sunday have numerous events and parades. The final week of Carnival in Taormina translates to festive parties, feasts and costume balls.

Taormina can be expensive. This is more true in the peak periods as Taormina is one of Italy’s most famous destinations. It is extremely important to plan well and make reservations significantly in advance.

One of my spots is an antique home of nobility in the heart of Taormina, the Hotel Villa Taormina, The Sicilian garden is incredibly relaxing, this is a small luxurious residence of total Sicilian character. The atmosphere is exclusive, decorated with antique furniture in an original mix of Baroque, Neo-classic and Imperial styles with refined elegance. Villa Taormina, among the hotels in Taormina, is a hidden jewel. The hotel only has 8 rooms and is located walking distance from the primary destinations. Breakfast on the terrace is rejuvenating with fresh squeezed juices, fruit, and pastries consumed with a breathtaking view and a cool morning breeze.

Taormina is a great stop on a vacation initiating in Catania, visiting mount Etna and some of the great Agriturismo on your way to Messina. Take a few days and relax, eat foods from the local markets and pamper yourself in the fantastic taverns.

Tags: Catania Food and Wine Taormina Golf Theater Italian Vacations sicily Travel Italy

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Vacationing on the Sicilian Volcano – Agriturismo Il Ciliegio del Etna

Vacationing in Sicily is a bit different than the rest of Italy. The breathtaking landscapes, the rich cultural traditions, and the balance in life are part of the experience as the rest of Italy however the distances between locations are greater. Knowing your way around the island and the places to stay and eat is also extremely important as one can easily find themselves in an expensive structure that does not meet their expectations. This is more true in the large cities of Catania and Palermo. Over the years, with the help of Sicilian friends, I have found some interesting solutions that are both reasonably priced and where the service is excellent.

Outside of Catania, at 300 meters above sea level, on the slopes of the volcano Etna there is a great little agriturismo. When staying in the city is not a requirement this is a great destination. The internal restaurant prepares traditional recipes and is worth a visit even if you do not lodge in the rooms. The structure was initially built in the 1800s and recently restructured maintaining the original characteristics. Located in San Giovanni Montebello in the city of Giarre the Agriturismo Il Ciliegio del Etna is only 20 minutes from Taormina and overlooks the Sicilian coast of Catania.

The complex is in the middle of a citrus and fruit orchard. Needless to say the fruit, when in season, is heavenly. The restaurant is not sophisticated. It is like coming to dinner at your Italian cousin’s home. Homemade pasta, Mafalda bread, free-range meats, fruit preserves, Sicilian Pecorino, vegetables under oil, and the Olive Oil from the orchards of Etna. The Olive Oil is unique. The minerals and ash from the volcano, still active, enriches the land and gives the Olives from this area their flavor.

The agriturismo offers numerous activities. You can engage in cycling around the mountain, tennis, ping-pong and horseback riding. They also organize day trips for snorkeling in the Sicilian waters, deep sea fishing, hiking toward the mouth of the volcano, and boat tours through the caves along the coast.

This is a vacation into Sicilian life. The rooms are not luxurious, but they do have air conditioning. This is an opportunity to experience the rugged but beautiful island of Sicily through the flavors of the foods, the smell of the land, and the taste of the wine.

Agriturismo Il Ciliegio del Etna
Via F. Meda, 88/90
San Giovanni Montebello - Giarre (CT) - SICILY


Tags: Catania Food and Wine Agriturismo Italian Restaurants Italian Hotels Italian Vacations Sicily Travel Italy

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Hotels - B & B - Agriturismo

- Agriturismo – Tourism and Agriculture for a new business

Emilia Romagna
Parma
- Castello di Compiano – Vacation at a Medieval Castle near Parma

Lazio
Rome
- Hotel Cavalieri – Restaurant La Pergola
- ArtDeco – Cool little hotel in Rome
- Hotel Inghilterra – Exclusive Hotel – Restaurant of the Stars
- St. Regis Grand Hotel Rome

Viterbo
- Agriturismo Casa Caponetti – Wine, Olive Oil, Cooking School in Northern Lazio

Lombardia
Milan
- Hotel Anderson – Contemporary Hotel in Central Station Milano
- Hotel Michelangelo – Business lodging at a reasonable price
- Hotel Prinicipe di Savoia – Regal in Name and in Service

Piemonte
Alba
- Agriturismo Villa la Favorita –Alba – Wine, honey, and Cucina Piemontese
Cuneo
- Relais San Maurizio - Hotel del Monastero A week in the Langhe - Fantasy Vacation in a Monastery
- Hotel Castello di Sinio - Piemonte is Wine, Castles, and great Food

Puglia
Manfredonia
- Gargano - Baia delle Zagare – Sun, Fun and the Sea

Sicily
Palermo
- Grand Hotel Villa Igiea – A palace in Palermo

Catania
- Agriturismo Il Ciliegio del Etna - Catania – Vacationing on the Sicilian Volcano
- Taormina Sicily – Hot Vacation Spot on the slopes of Mount Etna

Toscana
Arezzo
- Il Borro – Traditional Tuscany with all the bells and whistles

Montalcino
- Poggio Antico – Not just a winery – Visit Montalcino

Prato
- Capezzana Wine and Culinary Center - A new meaning for B & B

Siena
- Borgo Monastero – Resort in Siena Tuscany

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