If you’re looking for a romantic retreat in Romagna, you’ll love Le Case Antiche: an extended hotel in the tiny little town of Verucchio.

Here, amidst the narrow lanes of the historic center, travelers experience a different kind of hospitality, staying in two lovingly restored period homes, complete with fully equipped kitchen, living room and 2 or 3 bedrooms.

Another reason
If you fancy a day on the beach, the fashionable seaside resort of Rimini is only 30 minutes away!

A surprisingly contemporary 4 stars hotel in Padua, Le Camp Resort & Spa occupies the elegant Palazzo Mazari – right in the heart of the city’s historic center.

For wellness with wow! factor and pampering with a capital P, slip into the hotel’s seriously sensual spa.

Need another reason?
Domenico De Palo’s stunning 45sqm suites, with bedside bathtub and super cool, hi-tech, living space

Ingredients for a dream holiday in Tuscany: beautiful landscapes, delicious food and wine and a traditional rural residence transformed into an elegant country house in Maremma.

Add a wellness corner with pool, hot tub and Finnish sauna, and you’ve got La Fornicina: a fantastic farm stay nestled amidst the rolling hills of Saturnia.

Need another reason?
Fancy feasting on the finest Tuscan fare? No problem: your private chef is just a phone call away!

To discover Baroque Sicily, you’ll need to head to the south of the island, and the sun-drenched Val di Noto.
This is where, between the beaches of Cava d’Aliga and the town of Scicli, you’ll find hidden gems like Villa U Marchisi: a beautiful B&B with pool.

A great choice for a holiday by the Sicilian sea, the area is an absolute must for art lovers too: home to the great baroque cities  of Modica, Ragusa Ibla and, of course, Noto.

Some places are more beautiful than you could have ever imagined. Places such as the Parco del Conero: characterized by unspoiled nature, a sparkling sea and little gems like Hotel Giardino!

Five minutes: that’s all you need to get from the hotel to the property’s private beach; from your suite to the crystal clear sea washing the Riviera del Conero. Of course, if you’d rather be pampered by a professional massage therapist than caressed by the sea breeze, there’s nothing to stop you from spending the whole day in the hotel’s brand new spa.

You’re in a hotel in the Parco del Conero, one of Italy’s most important regional parks. You’re in Marche: where to visit towns like Numana, Sirolo, Loreto and Recanati and the city of Ancona, the region’s busy administrative capital, by the sea.

At Vitignanello, a country house in Tuscany designed for holidaymakers keen to experience a taste of life in the countryside, whilst enjoying all the creature comforts of a hotel.

And, when you want to savor the local cuisine, you can call on the services of your very own personal chef or join a tour of the wineries in the vicinity of Castelnuovo Berardenga… I can’t wait!

Need another reason?
The fabulous wine produced in Vitignanello’s own vineyard!

Imagine a holiday in the Val di Merse. Imagine leisurely days spent strolling through fragrant, flower-filled gardens, swimming in a panoramic pool and bathing in the Italian sun.

Imagine staying in your very own apartment in a little medieval hamlet and having the choice of cooking in, or dining out in a restaurant famous for its flavorsome local cuisine.

Imagine Bosco della Spina, your country residence in Tuscany.

Looking for a luxury B&B in the heart of Puglia? You’ll love Villa Magnolia! Four fabulous en-suite bedrooms, a Romanesque style swimming pool, a sunken Jacuzzi, solarium, even a spa temple – for outdoor massages - what more could you want?

If you fancy dinner in the villa, want to join a cooking course, attend a wine tasting or learn how to make pizza in the villa’s wood burning oven – all you have to do is ask!

From first thing in the morning ‘til late at night, in Italy the opportunities to indulge in delicious sweet and savory Mediterranean morsels are never ending!

Breakfast?

Insisting that breakfast is the most important meal of the day will fall on deaf ears in a country where the vast majority of people set off for work (and even school) on an empty stomach.

When Italians do have breakfast, it’s usually a pretty meager and, uncharacteristically, hasty affair: consisting of something sweet and sticky washed down with a shot of espresso coffee or a cappuccino, all  consumed standing at the bar.

Cappuccino: a large cup of hot frothy milk with a dash of coffee and a sprinkling of cocoa powder to taste, is the Italian morning drink par excellence. Although you can order a cappuccino at any time of the day, it’s rare to see Italians downing the creamy concoction much after 10am.

Where to eat

Trattoria, Osteria, Pizzeria, Ristorante. Once upon a time, the difference between the various types of eateries in Italy was clear-cut and categorical.

If you were looking for an informal, family-run restaurant serving generous portions of traditional, home cooking and had no qualms about the eventuality of having to use a W.C comprised of little more than a wash basin and a hole in the floor, then a Trattoria was your best and most economic bet.

If all you wanted was a platter of cold cuts and a glass of wine superior to the usual house plonk served in the trattorias, you would head for an Osteria.

Pizzerias served… pizzas (and were the only establishments authorized to do so).

You’d only go to a ristorante if 1. You were dressed for the occasion, 2. Intended to eat at least 3 if not 4 courses, 3. Had sufficient finances to fund the whole expensive experience.

Times have since changed and the differences between the categories are now far less pronounced. Trattoria’s now boast extensive, well researched wine lists, Osterias are producing increasingly exciting contemporary cuisine, and even the classiest of restaurants will serve a two course meal (and perhaps even pizza!) without the slightest grimace.

When to eat

Although lunch is no longer the lengthy affair it was in the past, for many Italians it is still the most important meal of the day and restaurants often stay open from 12.30 well into the afternoon.

Italians tend to eat dinner significantly later than your average Northern European and, except in major tourist cities, few places will be ready to serve evening meals much before 20.00. As a general rule: the further south you travel, the later restaurants will open…and stay open.

What to eat

Traditionally, meals in Italy start with an antipasto (starter), followed by a primo (usually pasta or rice), followed by a secondo (meat or fish) and conclude with a dolce (dessert).

If you like your meat with two veg, it’s worth remembering that vegetables (including potatoes) almost always need to be ordered separately.

When to tip

Service is already included (under the ‘coperto’), so don’t feel you have to tip. Only tip those who you consider have made an extra special effort to be pleasant or helpful.

Once you’ve paid, feel free to insist on being given a receipt – the restaurateur is obliged to issue you one, by law.

Child friendly?

Although Italians are famous for their unconditional love of children, they are not so famous for the services they provide for them (and their parents). So yes, your little Jack or Polly will be welcomed, cooed at and perhaps even patted on the head by the charming waiter, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the restaurant will have a high chair, baby changing facilities or a kids menu, so if these are important for you… check first!

Strapped for cash?

If you’re on a budget, there are plenty of cheap eating options. From North to South, street food is a long standing Italian tradition and, wherever you are, you’ll always find a stall selling piping hot delicacies, for just a couple of euro: pizza slices, panini, chestnuts, fried rice balls, the list is endless.

P.S. Don’t buy readymade rolls from the bar, rather pop into your local ‘alimentari’ (grocery store) and get them to make you one fresh!

Credit Images: paPisc, jnshaumeyer, pizzodisevo.

Five suites and the sea. Art, tradition, design and technology: Resort Bufi has all the ingredients for a dream holiday in Puglia, including soft drinks, Wi-Fi and transfer included in the price of your room!

Freebies aside, what makes this stylish Italian B&B truly unique is the property’s private beach: a peaceful patch of paradise, so beautiful that even those staying in the most luxurious of hotel’s in Puglia are made green with envy.
And then there’s the spa: an exclusive wellness center with hydromassage pool, Turkish bath, emotional showers, and relaxation area.

Why resist the irresistible? Book your suite at Resort Bufi now!