Essential Italy

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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Casa delle Antiche Rose Regello Firenze

The great owners of this super Tuscan property are “rose-crazy” and the villa stands in the most wonderful gardens filled with many varieties of roses from all over the world making it a true paradise.

Casa delle Antiche Rose stands alone in a truly spectacular setting. Trees and bushes line the gardens ensuring privacy, peace and tranquillity – the perfect requirements for the perfect holiday! The villa, on three levels, has been carefully furnished with an interesting mix of old and new giving it a rather trendy feel – in some rooms you will find amazing murals painted by the owner, Stefania and you will be more than satisfied with the spaciousness throughout the property.

The main entrance takes you into the hall on the first floor from which you will find a large and comfortable sitting room with huge picture windows and balcony looking over the parkland. The comfy armchairs and sofa may be used to escape the hot summer heat and is a great place to chill out with your book and a glass of wine. The covered and beautifully furnished balcony may be the most treasured spot at all times of day due to its shady aspect with superb outlook. There is a small shower room just off the main lounge area.

The master bedroom, also on the first floor, is home to an en-suite bathroom with shower, double Jacuzzi and sauna (payable locally) – a real luxury!

A modern kitchen will make even the most modest of cooks want to try their hand at some Italian fare. Stainless steel abounds and along with the double hob, oven, fridge/freezer and dishwasher , you will find a microwave, American coffee maker and toaster. Once again the kitchen affords great views that you may enjoy whilst waiting for your pasta to cook or your coffee to brew! For al-fresco dining or just a bit of care-free daydreaming, a covered pergola with table and chairs sits just above the pool – another idyllic location for long and languid Italian breakfasts, lunches and dinners (not to mention mid morning coffee and fresh cakes, early evening “aperitivi” and late night “digestivi”!!)

On the second floor under the roof, there is a further double bedroom with an en-suite shower room and going downstairs from the sitting room to ground level, there are 2 more double bedrooms, one with en-suite WC and then a separate shared shower room.

4000 metres of scented gardens surround the villa – a treat for all whether you are able to recognize some varieties of rose or not. Lawns, bushes and trees are plentiful and you may simply be happy to wander through this lush and perfumed greenery, taking the time to cool off every so often in the super pool. You would not be blamed for not gong any further from this little piece of Tuscan paradise.

Should you wish to be totally pampered during your stay at Casa delle Rose Antiche, you may even request the services of a cook who will come and create a fantastic local lunch or dinner for you – in these perfect surroundings you could not really ask for more.

New in Puglia for 2012

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

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