LE TORRI DI BAGNARA, LUXURY CASTLES COLLECTION: “LA DOLCE VILLA” & PALATIAL EVENTS VENUE UNDER THE UMBRIAN SUN

ASSISI, Italy (03/2014) Le Torri di Bagnara (LTDB) is a world-class collection of exquisitely restored medieval castles set within the “Tenuta di Bagnara,” a superb, 1500-acre historic estate and nature reserve in Umbria, offering one of its five castles as a luxury villa and another as an exclusive venue for weddings and special events. The seven-bedroomed Pieve SAN QUIRICO Castle Villa (PCV), is available on a weekly basis to private groups, multi-generational families, groups of friends and those seeking privacy. Il Castello di Bagnara (CDB), the private residence of the Counts Giunta Tremi, is available as a palatial events space, offered without accommodations.

The Pieve Castle Villa (11^TH century historic residence), designed as a luxurious private home, but with the services of a hotel, comprises seven bedrooms (15 beds); nine bathrooms, a professional kitchen, a Renaissance-styled courtyard, and a saltwater pool. On the grounds is a large, 18^th century consecrated church. PCV is available from April through October and over the Christmas-New Year’s holiday – December 20 to January 10. Rates for the Pieve Villa start at Euro 7350 per week and include a maid, breakfast service, full gardening and pool cleaning services (Sunday excluded), with other services obtainable on an ad hoc basis. Groups needing additional accommodations can make use of the Bagnara Tower (11^th century historic residence)-- four apartments sleeping a total of 15.

The Castello di Bagnara (11^th- 15^th century historic residence) is an exquisite venue for weddings and special occasions. The fanciful castle is a complex of buildings: a dwelling space; a crenelated tower adjoined by a small, three-story palazzo with vaulted ceilings between ground and first floors; a stone mill containing an antiques-filled dining room and living room; a small, 17^th century consecrated chapel and an Orangery. The Castello features an immense park with an Italianate garden, a pool, covered dining veranda and an outdoor fireplace.

Since 1901, this exceptional estate, located near Assisi, has been owned by the Counts Giunta Tremi, a noble family descended from Napoleon Bonaparte via his oldest brother, Joseph (King of Naples, Spain and the Indies), and through a younger brother, Lucien (Prince of Canino and Musignano). Today, beautiful Zenaide Giunta, named for her great-great grandmother, owns and operates LTDB.  Commenting on the Pieve Castle Villa, she said, “This is not a simple house rental, but a life experience that speaks to all the senses and that guests take away with them.” She added, “We are pleased to extend our hospitality to those wishing to immerse themselves in the “Tenuta’s” enriching lifestyle – the beauty of this pastoral setting, the pleasures of our food and wine, the privacy of a heritage estate and the age-old culture of Umbria.”

The estate’s working livestock farm breeds hare, roe-deer and white Chianina beef cattle, and cultivates honey, herbs and vegetables, tasty provisions for the table. Among the structures on the estate are several to-be-restored medieval castles, including Castello di Pegliola, once the site of a casino or private club frequented by aristocrats. The scenery is a painter’s or a poet’s dream, a serene countryside of hills, plains, sylvan forests, flower-embroidered meadows, formal gardens and green pastures, all interlaced with small lakes, water features and crenelated castles.

A plethora of services and activities is available: in-house cooking (professional Chef); cooking lessons; massage; Wi-Fi; biking; hiking; golf (an 18-hole, Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed course is 10 minutes away); yoga, picnics; truffle hunts; wine tours; seasonal festivals (Spoleto in June; Umbria Jazz in July; Euro-chocolate in October) and visits to Assisi, Perugia and Todi or over the border to Tuscany or even to Rome.

For more information or bookings: info@letorridibagnara.it

WALK YOUR WAY TO HEALTH WITH ON FOOT HOLIDAYS

New York, NY (03/14) - We have good news about the bad news! The bad news is that obesity is expected to overtake tobacco as the leading preventable cause of death in America, where one third of the adults are considered obese. The good news is that one of the best ways to get your heart pumping and body toned is walking.

Self-guided walking tours specialist, On Foot Holidays, offers over 20 different tours that unveil little-known and charming areas of Europe. With routes ranging from easy to hard, it is now possible to get fit while on vacation without having to miss out on any of the culinary specialties of each village.

Each tour is created by a ‘route designer’, a local of the area with a strong interest in its landscape and culture. It usually takes a lot of time to get a handle on a place and get to know its hidden gems; this is why On Foot Holidays arranges your stay in small inns, farms or pensions, which allows you to get closer to the hospitality and the traditions of each region.

Sample Walks:

Slovenia (The Karst- culture and landscape)-  Ideal for the casual walker, this eight-night tour explores the Slovenian Karst, one of Europe’s most diverse landscapes that ranges from sharp edges of limestone caves surrounded by the greenest pine trees to disappearing lakes and rivers. Explore the woodlands and meadows from Ljubljana to Trieste, and indulge in the villages’ wild beauty and culture. After all the walking you will be rewarded; staying at local farmhouses that produce their own wine, hams and honey, makes this tour a great fit for foodies. You will have the opportunity to taste the unique and local Teran wine, famous for its rich and robust character, that pairs perfectly with the local prosciutto (Prsut). Rates per person sharing start at $1,160 and include accommodation, breakfast daily, five evening meals, six picnics, luggage transfers between hotels and detailed “walkers’ pack”. Level: Easy (three to five hours of walking per day).

Sabine Hills (Italy) – This seven-night self-guided walk through  old woods, paths and tracks in the Sabine Hills is more challenging, but you will have lifts available to get over the steep sections. Starting in the historic medieval village of Contigliano, the route will pass through several delightful Italian villages where cuisine will be exceptional, and with all that walking you will not feel guilty about having a taste of everything. In Casperia you will even have the chance to sign up for cooking lessons and learn how to make fresh pasta from scratch. Accommodation is among the highlights of this route– from charming B&Bs and a small palace, to the house of a local artist and an organic working farm, you will experience Sabina at its fullest. The tour ends in the Eternal City, Rome, where you will stay at a wonderful B&B with an excellent location, close to Campo di Fiori and Vatican City. Rates per person sharing start at $1,136 and include accommodation, breakfast daily, four evening meals, two picnics, luggage transfers between hotels and detailed itinerary and supporting material for walkers to follow the routes. Level: Medium (three and a half to six hours of walking per day).

For more information contact On Foot Holidays at (011)44 1722 322 652 or visit www.onfootholidays.co.uk

WALK THROUGH THE REMOTE AND CULTURALLY RICH PATHS OF THE ITALIAN ALPS

NEW YORK, NY (01/2014) On Foot Holidays, a specialist in self-guided walking tours that stands out for its unique and carefully designed routes through remote areas of Europe, offers a seven-night journey to the Italian Alps’ dramatic rocky mountain chain, the Dolomites. You can take this tour anytime during July, August or September. Once you choose your set off date, On Foot will create a detailed itinerary and arrange your stay in typical inns and boutique hotels. While walking with your partner, friends or solo, On Foot’s staff will transfer your luggage from town to town so you can enjoy a hands-free excursion.

The Dolomites (from remote South Tyrol to sophisticated Cortina) is of medium- hard difficulty to walk with three to six hours of walking per day. Combining the most attractive areas of this World Natural Heritage site, the tour will take you not only to explore the highly distinctive mountain landscapes, but also to experience the rich Tyrolean culture.

The Dolomites, famous for their dramatic vertical and pale-colored peaks, are among the most attractive mountain landscapes in the world. Route designer and ten-year walking expert of the area, On Foot’s Isabelle Basso, ensures the journey is full of unforgettable landscapes and experiences.

Stroll through the dreaming meadows of the South Tyrol, spend a night in an isolated mountain refuge, tour the distinguished Tre Cime Circuit and enjoy the picturesque scenery the Lake at Misurina offers. The tour ends in worldwide known gourmet destination, Cortina, where you’ll be delighted by exceptional dining. Throughout the whole trip you will experience the gastronomic richness of this region; enjoy fresh milk from mountain herds and Italian wine from Veneto. From dumplings to pasta in a week, your palate will be exposed to both German-Alpine and Italian-Alpine cooking.

Rates for seven nights per person sharing are from $1,400 for the early July holidays and include accommodation, breakfast daily, six evening meals, detailed itinerary and supporting material and luggage transfers. 

For more information, and questions regarding customized variations of the trip and low/high season prices, contact On Foot Holidays at +44 1722 322 652 or visit www.onfootholidays.co.uk

CLIFF-TOP WEDDINGS ABOVE THE AMALFI COAST AT MONASTERO SANTA ROSA

Perched high atop a cliff on Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa practically floats over the sparkling Gulf of Salerno below. The former monastery features a variety of unique venues to make for a dream-like wedding or reception. From small, intimate fetes to large, festive affairs, weddings may be held anywhere on the property, day or evening.

The gardens comprise four levels of lush landscape and terraced walkways – any of which can be easily transformed into an aisle for an al fresco “I do”. The lower lawn and infinity pool deck, hovering over the Gulf of Salerno, make a perfect location for a reception. Guests can gather to toast to forever while they watch the sky transform as the sun sets.

The Sunset Terrace, located on the highest level of the hotel, features a full panorama overlooking the coast with views stretching from Amalfi to Positano. The expansive terrace has a number of individual seating areas as well as retractable canopies for shade.

For an indoor event, Monastero Santa Rosa has several of spacious indoor suites, luxuriously decorated in contemporary Italian style, all with windows overlooking the sea and many with their own private outdoor terraces.   

Those interested in religious ceremonies will delight in the choice of four local chapels in the charming town of Conca dei Marini. The helpful Monastero Santa Rosa staff is able to take care of all the church arrangements. 

As for dining, Monastero Santa Rosa’s Michelin-starred chef and his culinary team will create a custom-designed wedding menu. Whether it’s Mediterranean cuisine like homemade pasta and freshly caught seafood or personal dishes that convey individual tastes, the team will whip up a multi-course meal comprised of the highest quality ingredients.

After the festivities, the couple can retire to the comforts of one of the suites. The Sea View Premium Terrace Suite, in particular, has been dubbed as the most romantic. The bedroom features a king-sized bed swathed in fine Italian linens while the extraordinary stone bathroom features a walk-in shower and a double-wide tub. The living and dining room are adorned with one-of-a-kind antiques and the enormous outdoor terrace comes complete with a dining table, lounge chairs, lemon trees and a retractable canopy for shade.

The entire property – all guest rooms and suites, restaurant, and spa – may be privately reserved, turning the hotel into a fully equipped Italian villa.

Monastero Santa Rosa’s Special Events Concierge is available to provide guidance and inspiration for all aspects of planning. All arrangements may be left to the dedicated team of staff who will immaculately execute every tailor-made detail for the ceremony, interior and exterior decorations, floral arrangements, photographic and video services, tailor-made dining, guest accommodation, exclusive hire of the spa, childcare and babysitting, limousine and car hire, musical accompaniment for the ceremony and reception as well as make-up application and hair styling. 

Rates at Monastero Santa Rosa start at $480* per room per night and include breakfast. To rent the entire 20 rooms and suites in the low season (April 18 – May 20, October 7 – November 4) the net total daily rate will be $ 28,801* plus VAT & city tax. During the high season (May 21 – October 6), the net total daily rate will be $ 37,762* plus VAT and city tax.

The above mentioned rates are inclusive of full breakfast daily, complimentary daily use of the Thermal Spa Suite (including the Stone Sauna, Domed Herbal Steam Room, Hydrotherapy Pool, Experience Shower, Crushed Ice Fountain and Tepidarium), complimentary use of the fitness facilities, free Wi-Fi internet throughout the hotel, and free shuttle service to Amalfi. Spa treatment packages can be arranged upon request as can meal plans and special menus. 

For further information on getting married or honeymooning at Monastero Santa Rosa visit www.monasterosantarosa.com

*Based on the exchange rates on 11/20/12

A SANCTUARY ON THE AMALFI COAST

Features Santa Maria Novella Products & Treatments
Monastero Santa Rosa (MSR), the new ultra-luxe hotel set into a cliff above the Gulf of Salerno on the Amalfi Coast, has opened a sybaritic spa featuring sublime beauty and health treatments using the renowned products of Santa Maria Novella.  MSR is one of only a handful of hotel spas in the world to offer these beloved products, made for centuries by one of the oldest pharmacies on the planet from the flowers and botanicals of Italy and the Mediterranean. The Spa is open to guests of the hotel as well as to visitors. 

The Spa, like the hotel, is an excellent example of adaptive re-use:  it has been built within a 17^th century monastery*, preserving the vaulted ceilings, ancient walls, and exquisite architectural details of the historic building. Throughout the conversion of the space, the goal was to draw upon the convent’s unique character – not to follow a pre-determined formula that a branded spa would impose upon the space.  A focus on enhancing the ‘integrity of place’ allowed the building to show what suited it best. Thus, spaces were joined together to form a seamless flow.

The Spa is designed for extraordinary experiences and suffused with a spiritual dimension in keeping with the building’s heritage. The Italian tradition of bathing within a series of thermal rooms is re-created within the Spa.

Thermal Suite, a sequence of historic monastic spaces interconnecting the various warm rooms via arched openings, comprises:

• A double-heighted, vaulted Tepidarium with pomegranate-infused foot spas and heated mosaic loungers
• Aromatic Steam Room
• Rock Sauna
• Crushed Ice Fountain to refresh between thermal bathing
• Hydro Pool
• Emotion Showers. 

Treatment Suite, an exceptional private double suite (a Spa within a Spa), boasting a magnificent

861-square-feet double-heighted vaulted space includes:

• Rasul
• Steam Room
• Double Wet and Dry Treatment Couches
• Manicure/Pedicure Relaxation Lounge
• Private Dressing and Grooming Space
• Garden Terrace

Outdoor treatments are available under the shade of a pergola within the privacy of the Treatment Garden or within a single Treatment Room.

Santa Maria Novella treatments draw upon the ancestral traditions dating back to the 14^th century of Italian monastic herbalists, who used local plants and flowers renowned for their healing powers. Treatments range from Santa Maria Novella facials (including back facials and facials for men) to honey hair and scalp treatments, and from massages, aromatic scrubs and wraps to manicures and pedicures. Prices vary depending on the selection, but an average 60-minute treatment costs $150. Some sample treatments:

Candle Massage uses an aromatic powder scrub of iris or bitter orange to soften and prepare the skin for a deeply-focused, relaxing massage with Santa Maria Novella candle wax made of pure plant oils and prime emollient butters.

Iris Drizzle Hydrating Body Wrap Warm iris oil is drizzled on to the body and blended with iris powder.  The idrasol body mask deeply enriches the skin during a scalp massage and layers in moisture and fragrance.

Polline Hydration Deep hydration with Crema Polline, a regenerating cream formulated with pollen and extra virgin olive oil to improve the appearance of a flat, dry, non-reflective surface and to inject skin lustre.

Amalfi Blue offers no fewer than 3 3/4 hours of treatments – Pomegranate Foot Bathing; a 60-minute Santa Maria Novella facial; Aromatic Powder Scrub and Spa Life Massage for 60 minutes; and a choice of a Manicure or Pedicure treatment.

The aromatics of Santa Maria Novella range from summery oils of lemon, bergamot, petitgrain and iris to such sweet-smelling herbs as rosemary, lavender, sweet orange as well as the special fragrance of pomegranate created for Catherine di Medici. 

The Spa is open seven days a week from 9 am until 7:30 pm.

For additional photographs contact: phealy@montcom-ny.com

For more information:  contact Francesca Speroni:  francescas@monasterosantarosa.com

Email bookings:  spa@monasterosantarosa.com

Or visit: www.monasterosantarosa.com

*In the English language, “monastery” usually refers to a building for monks.  But the broad sense of “monastery,” used by Italians, refers to a community of people, whether male or female, bound by vows to a religious life.  

TUSCANY’S HOTEL LE FONTANELLE JOINS THE ELITE MANTIS PORTFOLIO

Castelnuovo Berardenga, ITALY (3/2010) The stunning Hotel Le Fontanelle, nestled into the hills of the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany, is the latest addition to the Mantis Group. Located just 15km from Siena and 70km from Florence, the five-star hotel is the perfect countryside escape.

The foundations of Le Fontanelle date back to the 13th century, with the original internal stonework still visible in the hotel today. In fact, the name of the hotel, ‘Le Fontanelle,’ was derived from the long-standing water fountains and stone fonts, that were formerly used for gathering spring water when the area was home to the Etruscans, the Romans and, in the early Middle Ages, the Longobards. The ancient property eventually became a simple working farmhouse until restorations began in 1999 to transform the building into the luxury hotel it is today.

The beautiful Hotel Le Fontanelle comprises 25 rooms, with Classic, Prestige, Deluxe, Junior Suite and Suite options. The traditionally Tuscan rooms boast exposed wooden ceiling beams, Florentine terracotta floors, elegant and simple furniture, and crisp flax linens. Many also offer private gardens or terraces with striking views over the soft and rolling hills of Italy. Every room features en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, mini bar, free Sky TV, in-room safe and free internet access. Guests will also enjoy daily newspaper delivery, twice daily maid service and permission to bring small dogs.

The PEVONIA spa offers treatments from around the world including Shiatsu massage, Thai facials, and Chinese reflexology treatments. Guests will also enjoy the all-natural body scrub made with clay, honey, bran and essential oils. The serene spa experience comes complete with outdoor panoramic swimming pool, indoor heated swimming pool, Whirlpool, sauna, steam bath and fitness center.

The Chef at Le Fontanelle enhances traditional Tuscan dishes with artistic flair and refined taste. Diners may choose to eat indoors at La Colonna, with spectacular vistas of the surrounding region, or outdoors on the charming Belvedere Terrace. A master sommelier will steer guests through the extensive wine list to find the perfect wine (or wines) to accompany their meal.

La Fontanelle also offers activities and excursions throughout Tuscany. From handpicked wine tastings, to wanders and bike rides through the surrounding countryside, to visits to the nearby cities of Siena, Florence, St. Gimignano and Monteriggioni, La Fontanelle offers a perfect pastime for everyone.

Rooms at Le Fontanelle begin at $461 for a shared Classic room. For more information or to book, please visit the website at www.hotelfontanelle.com.