Essential Italy

Type of accommodation:

Please select... Villa Apartment Hotel

Region:

Please select... Tuscany Umbria Amalfi Coast Puglia Sardinia Sicily Anywhere

Number of people:

Please select... 2–6 6–10 10+

We know car choice is important for the enjoyment of your holiday, our supplier – Maggiore Car Rental – will guarantee the following:

• highly competitive prices
• no major tour operator is working with them, therefore we are quite sure that queuing will be kept to a minimum, even in high season
• all cars have air conditioning
• a full and comprehensive back-up system

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We do not book flights, we leave it to you to choose the best departure point and flight times to suit your party. We have compiled a list of airlines flying to those regions in which we offer accommodation.

Flights are from the UK, if you are travelling from elsewhere, please don’t hesitate to contact us, we will recommend an airline flying from your departure point. If you are unsure which airport in Italy is closest to your accommodation, please call us on 01223 460100 or email

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Borgo Elena Cortona

Essential Italy has known Mario (the owner) for many years now and are sure that our clients will enjoy and share his love for this enchanted corner of Tuscany. Borgo Elena, perched high above the valley floor, enjoys a truly peaceful location. The old farmhouse maintains the ‘higgledy-piggledy’ structure and each apartment has its own garden.

We have chosen four apartments and the interiors are full of character and charm as well as being comfortable and welcoming. All the kitchens have gas hobs, oven and fridge. All bathrooms have showers.

Il Balcone (sleeps 2)

Access is by an external stone staircase, at the top of which a small patio is the perfect position to read a book and nod-off. The large kitchen/living room is well equipped and from here a few steps lead to the comfortable double bedroom and bathroom. This is the apartment closest to the pool.

Le Olive (sleeps 2)

Ground floor. Kitchen/living room. Double bedroom and bathroom. The garden table and chairs are directly in front of the door.

Il Castagno (sleeps 2)

This charming apartment is slightly separate from the rest of the house and is furthest from the pool. From a charming kitchen steps lead up to the living room, which has access to the garden outside. Further steps lead to the double bedroom and bathroom.

La Quercia and La Scaletta (sleeps 2)

Kitchen/living room, double bedroom and bathroom. Both apartments have a private patio and La Scaletta has an internal wooden staircase up to the bedroom.

Il Camino (sleeps 4)

This apartment is on three levels. Entry is into the kitchen/living room. From here a few steps lead to the two bedrooms – one double with en-suite bathroom and one double/twin bedroom. There is a second bathroom. Steps from the kitchen also lead to a sitting room with original fireplace. Il Camino has a private patio.

Il Focolare (sleeps 4)

This two bedroom apartment has its own patio and a stunning fireplace in the living room, kitchen, two bedrooms (one double and one twin/double). There is one bathroom.

Borgo Elena provides a great base from where to explore the gems of southern Tuscany and Umbria. Towns such as Montepulciano, Pienza, Arezzo, Assisi and Perugia are all within a short drive. If the train is your preferred means of transport, the local station is a few kilometres away. Cortona is on your doorstep and will provide hours of entertainment, whether in its museums, the host of restaurants (nearby Il Falconiere being a top class restaurant and owned by Mario’s family) or simply strolling the piazzas and backstreets. We are sure Borgo Elena will quickly feel ‘home-from-home’.

New in Puglia for 2012

Helen & Sarah have just returned from a very fruitful trip to Puglia...

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