CASALE IL BARONETTO, ABRUZZO

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Here at "Casale il Baronetto" your holiday is really eco-friendly!  We respect the environment reducing waste and Co2 emissions and supporting actively energies. We eat and cook in a eco-friendly way the products we grow. We believe in electric mobility and we support bartering. We dispose of many well equipped apartments: " Il Sole" e " La luna"  are annexed to the main building and  "Il Covo" and " Il Nido" are instead located in the beautiful medieval village of Penne.

It´s time to walk new roads.

  New buildings are no longer an option and we have to recover  existing structures. We have to produce energy in different ways, reuse water and cultivate sustainable . 

Changing life is really possible, it doesn't take much. We just need to cut down on our consumption, living in  low- cost places where houses are affordable and then make them comfortable and sustainable, wit our own effort.

We produce most of what we need: food, energy, water for our vegetable garden and surely we can and we will do even more, because this is only the beginning.

Since when I stopped to go every morning in the office,  I live with less and I  try to use my time as best as I can. I am feeling different and better, because the time I dispose now is all about my projects, my dreams,   it´s for me and for the people I love the most.

CASCINA RODIANI, DEZZO - COMO, LOMBARDY

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Cascina Rodiani is a family run eco Room & Breakfast with a low environmental impact. Its eco sustainable touristic activities date back to the renovation of a colonial house in the 1600's and the repossession of its surrounding grounds.

Located on top of a hill within the Spina Verde Regional Park, the farmstead features stunning panoramic views, especially at sunset, over the valley and eastern Alps.  At the same time you can enjoy long relaxing walks, hiking, bike rides and horse riding, due to start shortly, in the park, along the alps or around Lakes Como and Lugano.

These well known Lakes offer numerous water sports, sailing activities and the opportunity to visit the neoclassic country homes and botanic gardens. Casina Rodiani is an ideal choice for a healthy, relaxing holiday in a historical and natural setting. 

This ambitious project, which dates back to 2011, is the result of creative minds and the different passions of those who have envisioned it.

During the restoration works, particular attention was paid in maintaining and further enhancing the unique style of the building. At the same time the concepts of “reuse, repurpose, recycle and reduce” were applied both for building materials, furniture and the everyday running of the farmhouse ranging from water to food, waste and electrical systems. In the future we intend to turn the farmhouse's 3 acres into landscape and agriculture requalifying projects.

All essential elements for what is known as Green Hospitality.

STELLA OROBICA, LOMBARDY

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This mountain farm that is also an agritourism, brings the values and traditions of the hearth and the manual works. Young and dynamic, it heads an ancient and poor craft that belongs to the circle of life. 

We are set in Valtellina, where we as family are living and educating ourselves in respect of the principle of sharing and sustainability. We are glad to help travellers to rediscover an attitude for life that brings tastes, scents that in our society are vanishing. Every member of our family is the secret of our business.

Flavio is the one who is responsible for all that involves practical activities; Elisabeth, who is from Swiss origin, is the soul of the house.

Their two sons are working in different fields: Giuliano is the brain that has implemented numerous projects and Luca is the master of cheese, expertise that he has learned as self-taught with extraordinary results.

From our beloved vegetables garden, that is grown by experienced hands, we are able to provide most of the vegetables we are cooking at the agriturism. But when the production goes beyond our expectations, we do as grandma taught us: we turn all into conserves and purees and we do the same both for fruits and wild fruits. Meat is, of course, handled with the same care.

Since a couple of years, we are planting corn to get flour and soon we will also have wheat to produce bread and polenta. 

In cooperation with others tiny enterprises, we care about both vegetables garden and little fruits to get extraordinary final products: organic and high quality.

Every day we try to preserve and to improve the environment the area and the biodiversity that surrounds us.

TERME STUFE DI NERONE, CAMPANIA

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Thermal spas can be dated back to Baia in the 2nd Century B.C. Le Terme Stufe di Nerone, originally known as the Terme Silvane, help us re-discover the importance in taking care of ourselves, of curing ourselves, inspired by the concept of otium that was so dear to the Romans.

Our springs of salt-bromide-idiodine alkaline and earthy thermal waters, which can be up to 80°C in temperature, are rich in precious elements which help the body to remain toned and supple, as well as being an excellent treatment for rheumatism  arthritis and for rehabilitation in general. 

Immerging your body in the thermal waters provides a feeling of total renewal - this is due to the remineralization of skin tissue and the removal of impurities combined with the intensive sweating from the natural heat of the waters.

The large spa park with its many natural springs is a beautiful place for a day of relaxation. Pass from a sauna to a hydromassage in the thermal baths, a therapeutic Kniepp walk to a delicious organic aperitif, a swim under the stars to an aubergine parmigiana. 

Le Terme Stufe di Nerone is a family run establishment, in existence since the 1970's. We have always conducted scientific research, making structural improvements to our facilities, acquiring the European certificates ISO9001 and ISO14001, and sought to work in ways that our environmentally friendly. 

We put particular emphasis on using materials that reduce our impact on the land for the construction works and cleaning products, and we offer to our guests food that is organic and seasonal.

Once you enter you will have access to the entire spa - the pools, the tanks, the saunas, the thermal showers, the fields, the terraces, at any time of day or night. You may also have massages, beauty treatments and vaginal health treatments. Our greatest satisfaction is the well-being of our guests.

AGRITURISMO DIDONE, SARDINIA

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The Agriturismo Didone, situated in the area of Dorgali and surrounded by the agropastoral farm of 40 hectare managed by the same family from generations, starts its activity in the 2002.

The ambient is hilly and typically Mediterranean: indeed the agriturismo is surrounded by the countryside that overlooks the magnificent beaches of the Orosei’s Gulf, from where it is possible to depart for a short trip with the rubber boat and discover the breathtaking secrets and riches of the Gulf.

Besides the breeding farm (with the rearing of courtyard animals, ovine, pig and goat races) and the agricultural activity (composed by the cultivation of wheat, barley and fodder crops) the agriturismo includes, in its additional and nearby location, the vineyards and olive grove of recent installation.

The milk that we drink and offer to our guest comes from animals grow up in the farm; anyone who will be interested, can not only be present during the milking but also during the cheese’s production.
In addition to the cheese, are also produced different types of cold cuts and typical Sardinian fresh pastas as, for instance, malloreddus, ravioli with saffron, culurgiones.

In the Agriturismo Didone, with its simple and fresh12 rooms, all equipped with independent bathrooms, is not only possible to stay: what we offer is in fact the opportunity to eat well as well as to take part of different kind of activities as, for example, boat trips, excursions on foot or by jeep, or climbing by following the not less fascinating paths of the Gennargentu’s mountains.

Open during the entire year, the Agriturismo Didone, with its Bio certifications, is the perfect destination for those who love nature and not artificial.

TORRE DEI BELFORTI, TUSCANY

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About two years ago I decided, along with my family, to develop a country house in Torre dei Belforti which my family has owned for over 40 years. It was my  father's uncle who renovated it, a coffee merchant and philanthropist who  ended up donating his factory to his workers  and his art collection to the Brera gallery in Milano. 

In order to renovate the Torre he contacted one of Italy's greatest architects, Franco Albini, a team of stonemasons to work on the stones and he made them open an old quarry. What they produced was of an incredible beauty: an unusual mix of old ( the tower was built in 1345) and new. In 1989  my father inherited the Torre and since then we have used it, as well as the  two houses  overlooking  our garden, almost exclusively for holidays.

The idea of turning it into a place for tourists and visitors has always existed because beautiful things demand to be seen. The right occasion came along in 2012; I had been toying with the idea of leaving my job as a TV political journalist in order to dedicate myself to environmental and naturalistic themes. So I accepted a generous liquidation and got stuck into the task. During the summer my brother and I, along with our wives, renovated the tower so as to make it more comfortable, cosy, better connected and then we started renting it out.

Prospects for the future relate to the fields and the other houses. We have around two hectares of  fruitful olive trees and fruit trees surrounded by rows of cypress trees; we would like to make the land more productive along  permaculture principles ; big vegetable gardens without plowing, berries, herbs and other fruit trees, a high level of biodiversity, chicken coop, ponds with fish, bees, mushrooms. At the same time we would like to renovate the other houses, which would allow us to increase the number of beds fourfold and to construct a swimming pool for the guests.

MALVARINA, ALBERGO DIFFUSO DI CAMPAGNA, UMBRIA

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The ancient ‘Malvarina’ source, a short way from St. Benedict Abbey (XI century), gave its name to a lovely small strip of land between Assisi and Spello, that overlooks a panoramic valley embracing Perugia and Spoleto.

Stables, barns and outbuildings have been renovated and turned into cottages, studios and rooms with private bathroom, totally dipped in the green of oak woods and well furnished, in a classic country style. Part of the old cellar has been turned into an intimate dining room with a large fireplace where to enjoy meals in warmth and sympathy. About 70% of the products we offer customers are of our production.

The Malvarina farm is a 'green' company, with an organic production IMC certified (Istituto Mediterraneo di Certificazione), able to offer  a wide range of products: sausages, Pecorino cheese, ricotta, meat from farmyard and vegetables from organic garden.

Other products to enjoy are jams, Millefiori honey and extra virgin olive oil. Our property is powered by solar and thermal panels, and all our rooms and apartments are equipped with water saving showers. To relax lovers the Malvarina farm is the ideal place. Nature is the true protagonist of these places involving all the senses in a continuous rediscovery of a dimension wherein man and nature blend together, away from the neurosis of everyday life.

CASTELLO DI GARGONZA, TUSCANY

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Located on the hills of Tuscany, Gargonza is a thirteenth century fortified village. From the late 1600s until the ‘50s of last century, Gargonza was inhabited by a community who worked for the namesake farm. It is no coincidence that the "Houses of Gargonza" are inspired by the ancient inhabitants, Argentina, Boccio, Niccolina and many other wonderful characters, and reflect the genuineness of the people who have inhabited them and have tied their name to them. Enclosed in the ancient walls the apartments have the imprint of rural life that a careful restoration has kept. Roberto Guicciardini Corsi Salviati’ precise purpose was to save the structure of the village from inexorable decline following the rural exodus and to restore in Gargonza a new form of community that could give new life to the village.

 
After 40 years, since the first guest has arrived in Gargonza in 1972 to attend the "rebirth of a village", the entire village has been restored. Today we have 22 "small houses" that we rent weekly with the self-catering formula or the B&B formula for shorter stays. Located on an estate just outside the village and surrounded by olive trees overlooking the Val di Chiana, the property has a refreshing swimming pool, relaxing gardens where you can read a book, drink a glass of Chianti wine of our production or enjoy the silence, and a traditional Tuscan restaurant serving homemade pasta and grilled Chianina meat. In Gargonza you can carry out a variety of activities, walking along paths, biking or horseback riding, wine tasting, participating in the olive harvest or learning the secrets of Tuscan cuisine, guarded by our chef Susi Brogi.

 
Gargonza is an ideal base for visiting the cities of Siena, Arezzo and Florence, for cultural meetings, for company team buildings or family weddings. Gargonza is surrounded by 450 acres of woodland and, thanks to it, a project has begun to convert the old gas and oil boilers in wood fired boilers to be able to power the houses without fossil fuel.
See you there!

ROME FOR YOU, LAZIO

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The love and the admiration for our city, has brought us to create an organization with the aim of offering to travellers a new face of the city, authentic and genuine at the same time.

In order to visit a city like Rome – where history becomes experiencable in multiple layers, the urban tissue is a labyrinth composed by little streets and alleys, where behind every corner a picturesque glimpse or a real artwork is hidden – it is not convenient to use crowded touristic buses, but agile and light vehicles with even a scent of antiquity.

Using a romantic old Vespa, or a robust and practical mountain bike or, why not, walking with our own legs, will allow us to dive into this beautiful capital, as long as we can feel its millennial and immortal breath. Experienced guides will make you feel as a real Roman and they will transform your visit into an unforgettable and unique experience.

We have studied pathways which are far away from the busy streets and are able to offer a complete image of the city by crossing and admiring the most picturesque and singular places in Rome.

The cycling tours are marked by a leisurely rhythm that increases the pleasure of every ride and allows to catch small but important details. Breaks for testing a delicious white pizza or a refreshing coffee in one of the typical bars frequented every day by the locals will not be missed.

Our proposals do not exclude the suburban Rome, the Roman countryside with its harmonic aspects and where the time seems to have stopped by disseminating its wonderful signs (catacombs, aqueducts, ancient tombs and patrician villas).

You also get in touch with the Castelli Romani’s area, which is the famous destination for outdoor excursions. In these places the nature, the culture and the cuisine compete in order to gratify who, accompanied by experts of mountain biking, is willing to "make just a little effort”.

IL NIBBIO, CALABRIA

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A cluster of houses around a Norman Castle, this complex assumes the form of a village with all its structural and architectural characteristics. It comes back to life after years of complete abandon. 

The Nature Centre we call the ‘Nibbio’ (the Kite) comes into being. In continuous development the village now consists of fifteen buildings, each of which with its own particular function within the whole, so that all are interrelated.

Thus it becomes possible to achieve a full immersion in the Pollino range Flora and Fauna in a visit to this Nature Museum, a living laboratory for studying and teaching Nature. Numerous houses have been reconstructed with enormous care for detail, with simple furnishings, authentic testimony to a dignified country tradition, in a typical Neighbourhood. 

Visitors are enabled to participate in the many activities connected with the diffusion of a Southern Italian New Cuisine which aims at evaluating to the full Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge (IK). Its function is to recuperate and repropose old-fashioned tastes and flavors within a new form of creativity capable of adding significant variety which will catalyze attention on the long history of food. Classical craftsmen’s ‘botteghe’ are also present. 

They constitute a real and genuine example of village craftsmanship. It is not a money-making project and visitors are made aware that their contribution to a stay at the Nibbio Centre is an intrinsic part of a socially relevant project.

TERRE DI TRAIANO, APULIA

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The idea behind the Masseria Terre Di Traiano project was that of telling the story of the Adria region through the eyes of one of its oldest families, the Spagnoletti-Zeuli, an ancient italian family originally from Rome and Naples, now in its 8th generation.

The family's relationship with Adria dates back to the end of the 1700's, when, as personal administrators to the Duke Carafa of Andria, they accumulated considerable stretches of land on the Via Traiana.

This uncultivated land, which had been used as pasture for centuries, was eventually transformed into olive, almond groves and vineyards by the following Spagnoletti-Zeuli generations, until, in the 1800's, with Italy's unification, the family considerably expanded the main property, the Posta Torre Di Bocca, adding more farming out-buildings, a granary, a chapel, barns and stables.

Eventually, in between the great world wars, the stables were transformed into an oil mill and the cellar was equipped with modern machinery, an update which saw the family through the hardships of the 30's recession, and after the Second World War brother and sister Ascanio and Teresa Spagnoletti-Zeuli maximised the potentials of the local well to irrigate all 140 hectares of the Masseria.
And now we come to the latest generation, who, in 2004 introduced the new Agri Tourism, in harmony with the family's heritage and with nature, which is why we have embraced organic and biological certifications from the start. 

Our restaurant serves dishes exclusively made with locally sourced ingredients and our extensive system of solar panels throughout allow us to be completely self sufficient energy wise.

his uncultivated land, which had been used as pasture for centuries, was eventually transformed into olive, almond groves and vineyards by the following Spagnoletti-Zeuli generations, until, in the 1800's, with Italy's unification, the family considerably expanded the main property, the Posta Torre Di Bocca, adding more farming out-buildings, a granary, a chapel, barns and stables.

Eventually, in between the great world wars, the stables were transformed into an oil mill and the cellar was equipped with modern machinery, an update which saw the family through the hardships of the 30's recession, and after the Second World War brother and sister Ascanio and Teresa Spagnoletti-Zeuli maximised the potentials of the local well to irrigate all 140 hectares of the Masseria.
And now we come to the latest generation, who, in 2004 introduced the new Agri Tourism, in harmony with the family's heritage and with nature, which is why we have embraced organic and biological certifications from the start. 

Our restaurant serves dishes exclusively made with locally sourced ingredients and our extensive system of solar panels throughout allow us to be completely self sufficient energy wise. The Masseria Di Terre Traiano was amongst the first to be signed to the Regione Puglia  "Masserie Didattiche" registry and has been featured in many international travel publications, signalling its cuisine, ambience and architecture as an example of best practice.