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Travels to Tuscany and Northern Lazio
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webmaster
Elegant Etruria -
©
All content is copyright of
Mary Jane Cryan -
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Elegant Etruria Friends
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The
Royal Cardinal’s Route
What
was travel in central Italy like 250 years ago?
The
answer can be found in “Travels
to Tuscany and Northern Lazio” which follows the travels of an
important member of the Papal court, Cardinal Henry Stuart, the
Duke of York and last member of the exiled English royal family.
Locating
the Cardinal’s manuscript diaries was a moment of serendipity, but even more
exciting was discovering that some of the places offering hospitality to the
Cardinal and his retinue, over two centuries ago, are still providing
hospitality today.
Present-day
travelers are invited to explore central Italy tracing the Cardinal’s 1776
journey through Northern Lazio, his long, leisurely holidays at the spas and
hill towns of Tuscany, and on the road to Bologna and Le Marche. After more than
40 years living in Italy these are the places (and the people) I can heartily
recommend to friends and fellow travelers.
 Map by Justin Bradshaw
The
Royal Cardinal’s Itinerary
This
historic “on the road” through central Italy is a perfect companion for a
leisurely journey, enjoying hospitality at palaces, villas and spas like those
that hosted the Royal Cardinal and his entourage 250 years ago.
Clicking
on the links and photos below gives direct
access to the websites of our partners - special accommodations in
historic villas, palazzi, farmsteads and spas of Central Italy.
Contact
the owners of the historic accommodation directly to book your stay and
tell them Elegant Etruria sent you.
You will be treated like royalty and will find copies of “Travels to
Tuscany & Northern Lazio” on hand.
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Domus La Quercia
This
September Pope Benedict XVI will be staying at the huge, historic monastery
complex of La Quercia during his visit
to Viterbo and Bagnoregio. For seven centuries this has been a stopping
place for high ranking ecclesiastics including Cardinal Henry Stuart who
visited in 1776. The church ceilings are decorated with some of the first
gold brought back from the Americas. Perfect place for conferences,
groups and pilgrims.
website
www.domuslaquercia.com
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Villa Palazzola
is a magnificent estate
located at Rocca di Papa, near
Ciampino airport on the southern
side of
Rome. Dramatically perched on
the edge of
Lake
Albano near the Pope’s summer
residence, the historic Villa,
property of the
Venerable
English
College in
Rome, offers
a quiet alternative to
Rome
for pilgrims, travellers,
retreats, meetings and weddings.
English visitors will
feel very much at home here, as would Cardinal Stuart
who was Bishop for 30 years
in nearby Frascati .
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Villa Palazzola |
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La Torretta
Casperia
Take the train from Fiumicino airport
and step directly into the past in the car free village of Casperia
to enjoy a stay with the Scheda family in their recently restored
15th century palazzetto La
Torretta located in the historical center of the romantic
medieval village of Casperia . Cardinal’s coat of arms have been
found frescoed in the guests’ lounge are now being studied .
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Viterbo
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Perfect country getaway near train station (Rome-Viterbo line) on
the historic pilgrims’ route and surrounded by olive groves. The
Sansoni-Cau family will make you –and your children- feel welcome at
their biological farm
Podere La
Branda set on a hillside overlooking the town of
Vetralla. The estate is beautifully appointed with well-designed
independent cottage apartments, swimming pool, children’s playground
and mature enclosed gardens. Perfect for nature lovers, bird watchers
with resident donkeys, geese and other animals.
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Villa
La Cerretana
luxury B&B
near Viterbo
Villa
La Cerretana,
set on a hillside near Viterbo,
has
only
recently become a luxury
B&B offering 4 suites
with
views
over
peony gardens and as far away as Umbria.
Among the services offered : a pool
pavilion, hot tub and
helipad.
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Tenuta di Santa Lucia
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The Trua di Guardavalle family
recently restored
the family’s farm estate changing
the 19th century silk worm barn into a luxury restaurant and adding
5 elegant
suites. The
result is Tenuta di Santa Lucia
one of the Viterbo area’s nicest places for special dining
and a special weekend hideaway
for visitors from all over the world.
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Locanda La Chioccola
- Orte
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Locanda La Chioccola
located on a hilltop near
Orte overlooking the Tiber
river valley
was one of the first country
houses offering hospitality in
the Viterbo province and
since opening has
won a place in many prestigious
guidebooks. The
multilingual owners Roberto
and Maria Cristina have recently added a spa and wellness center
which, along with the restaurant
and swimming pool , are perfect for
guests looking for relaxing getaways.
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Villa
Chiarini wulf
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For
easy country living and very special wines, we recommend Villa
Chiarini Wulf, a
farm estate in the
Etruscan countryside near Vetralla. A
warm welcome is assured
from this international
family in renovated
country bungalows surrounded
by acres of vineyards,
oaks and olive groves.
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Podere
dell’Arco Country Charme Viterbo
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A
beautifully restored ancient
monastery overlooking a typical
Viterbese panorama and splendid
fields of lavender, Podere
dell’Arco Country Charme is a
perfect place for exploring surrounding Etruscan sites, for romantic
getaways or honeymoons.
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B&B la
locanda del riccio
Viterbo
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B&B
"La Locanda del Riccio", is in a small restored medieval
palace, that is found in the historical center of Viterbo. The
property is about 180 square mt. on three levels.
B&B offers different options: double room, double room single
use, queen-sized bed room, studio with queen-sized bed room, all
come with private bath, extra beds provided
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Casale del Molino- between Montefiascone and
Marta, Lake of Bolsena
Casale del Molino
is a newly restored private villa in the midst of a 250 acre olive farm
on the rolling hills that surround Lake Bolsena. With all amenities for
self catering, a private pool and absolute privacy, it makes a perfect
summer hideaway for a family of 6 or a group of friends.
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Palazzo Monaldeschi, Lubriano between Cività di
Bagnoregio and Orvieto
Cività di Bagnoregio, well known to foreign tourists as “ the dying
city”, is a stone’s throw across the valley from little Lubriano. From
here one has the best view of the calanchi but this little known
jewel of a town is rarely visited by outsiders. Here the majestic
Baroque Palazzo Monaldeschi , offers several self catering
apartments enclosed in its peaceful hanging gardens with swimming
pool. Catering for wedding receptions and banquets, private dinners
and exclusive meetings for up to 200 persons .
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Buriano Country House, Lubriano between Cività di
Bagnoregio and Orvieto
Buriano
is
an ancient country house offering several self-catering apartments
and swimming pool on a hilltop between Lazio and Umbria, just outside
the town of Lubriano. A former Benedictine convent with a frescoed
chapel the Buriano farmhouse estate was first inhabited around
the 10th century. Beautiful views over 40 acres of wheat
fields, sunflowers and olive groves all the way to Orvieto make this a
perfect unspoilt environment for relaxing holidays.
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With over a
thousand years of history and a spectacular setting, Montalto Castle
is a unique place for special events, weddings or a relaxing country
holiday. Make your home in one of eight beautifully furnished
self-catering apartments, guests of the Coda Nunziante family.
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- Cardinal Stuart,
Lorenzo the Magnificent, Pope Pius II , Michelangeo and many other historic
travellers took the waters at thermal baths in Tuscany in their search for
wellbeing. The historic hot waters at Bagno
Vignoni are still being utilized by modern visitors at the Adler Thermae
which offers healing hot pools and wellness according to traditional
techniques in modern facilities.
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Adler Thermae
Bagno
Vignoni
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Locanda dell’Amorosa
- Sinalunga
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One of the most romantic country inns in Tuscany is
definitely Locanda dell’Amorosa , a hamlet of red brick
at the end of a cypress-lined avenue just outside the town of
Sinalunga. The Citterio family are proud of their award-winning
restaurant, top notch service and exquisitely appointed suites.
Perfect place for honeymooners and other VIP guests.
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Villa
Gamberaia
Florence
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Near Florence at
Settignano the exacting traveller can discover Villa
Gamberaia, the ultimate Tuscan villa with splendid gardens overlooking
Florence and the Arno valley. The property belonged to noble Zanobi Lapi in
the 17th century and the characteristic cypress avenue and other garden
features were added by Marchesi Capponi in the 18th century. Nowadays it is
a perfect setting for weddings , conferences or as a romantic weekend
hideaway.
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Albergo Villa Marta
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Lucca
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Lucca is a well known destination for garden lovers for
some of Italy’s famous historic
villas are located here: Villa Reale at Marlia, Villa Torrigiani
and the Villa Mansi to name just a few. This year the special
celebrations for Puccini will draw even more music fans than
usual. To make a stay in Lucca even more special we recommend
Albergo Villa Marta
in
a countryside setting but near to the city.
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Madonna
del Piatto
Assisi
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Madonna
del Piatto ,
a small inn located in the
hills above Assisi, is famous for its hospitality and cooking classes. Guests of
Letizia and her multi-lingual family enjoy
nearness to central Umbria’s many interesting towns, superb food and magnificent views over
Assisi and St. Francis’s basilica
.
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“Borgo
di Acquaiura”
The
“Borgo
di Acquaiura”
is
our recommended
place to stay in
central Umbria near
the town of Spoleto.
The houses of this
former hamlet
are set in
the cool hills and offer a peaceful escape in
beautifully renovated and furnished
spaces surrounded by gardens and a swimming pool |
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Villa
San Raffaello
Sarnano
- Damien
and Sharon Conrad warmly welcome visitors to their lovely country villa on
the outskirts of the historic hilltown Sarnano in Le Marche. The four well
appointed apartments, gorgeous pool and interesting surroundings make Villa
San Raffaello an excellent base for relaxing holidays near the Sibillini
National Park.
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| Fulvio's
Recipes
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