L'AQUILA HOLIDAY RENTALS - ABRUZZO - ITALY

IN THE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS OF ABRUZZO, LESS THAN 2 HOURS FROM ROME, NEAR THE ROMAN TOWN OF SULMONA ,YET LESS THAN 1 HOUR FROM THE WARM ADRIATIC SEA RESORT OF PESCARA, THIS LUXURIOUSLY REFURBISHED HOUSE OFFERS NEARBY WALKING, MOUNTAIN BIKING & HORSE RIDING IN THE SUMMER, & NEARBY SKIING IN THE WINTER. SITUATED IN THE MAJELLA NATIONAL PARK & VERY NEAR THE ABRUZZO NATIONAL PARK, IT IS ALSO IDEALLY SUITED TO SEE WILDLIFE, IN MANY FORMS, VERY LOCALLY. PACENTRO IS ALSO WIDELY KNOWN FOR ITS WONDERFUL RESTAURANTS, WITH OTHERS NEARBY.

Sleeps: 8 - Bedrooms: 4 - Bathrooms: 3

This four bedroomed house has been recently completely refurbished to a very high standard. The front door opens to a short flight of wide stone steps, at the top of which is the door to the kitchen. The traditional tiled cooker and large stone fireplace remain but today all cooking is done on a modern gas / electric cooker. There is a modern sink, a large pantry, a fridge, a kitchen table and chairs and large Victorian dresser. The panoply of pans etc. will please any cook. There is also a balcony.

Leading off the kitchen is the large living room, beautifully furnished, with a dining table and chairs, settee and miscellaneous lounge chairs. There is also a working wood burning stove and two balconies. Most rooms in the house have at least one set of French doors leading to a small stone balcony.

The second floor consists of fully furnished double and twin bedrooms, a small WC and a spectacular designer bathroom with views extending across the valley. In addition to the stunning, long, deep bath, there is a separate shower, basin and WC. Heated towel rails in the bathroom and even in the small WC provide that extra bit of luxury. The bathroom and one of the bedrooms have balconies.

The third floor consists of the stylish, parquet-floored master bedroom. The picture window affords sweeping views across the valley. The walk-in wardrobe and en-suite bathroom with an exceptionally large shower, basin and WC offer the kind of luxury to be expected from a five star hotel. Also on this floor is a comfortably appointed double bedroom.

Laundry facilities and an extra sink are found on the fourth floor. A door leads from this area to the incredibly large roof terrace which has spectacular views to the Maiella mountains behind the property and across the valley to the Abruzzo National Park.

SPECIAL OFFERS FOR BOOKINGS BEFORE 31/7/8.

PATIO:

Large roof terrace faces south & west. Although the railings are sturdy, surround the terrace & are about a meter high, given the ability of children to climb over & squeeze through anything, we advise that this is not a property to bring children to.

PARKING:

Parking is next to the property, on the road.

KITCHEN:

The large kitchen contains a large sink, electric oven, gas hob, with 4 rings, kitchen table, with 4 chairs, large pantry, fridge & open fire. A full range of eating, drinking & cooking equipment is provided, to a very high standard.

UTILITY AREA:

There is a separate utility area, below the roof terrace, with a large sink & washing machine. There are drying facilities here, or on the terrace. There is also an iron & ironing board here.

DINING AREA:

A large living room houses a large dining table with 6 chairs. The 4 kitchen table chairs can also be utilised. We have dined a dozen people around this table.

LIVING/LOUNGE AREA:

A large living room houses a large dining table with 6 chairs. The 4 kitchen table chairs can also be utilised. We have dined a dozen people around this table. In another part of the living room is the lounge area with a large settee, 2 large Oxford chairs and other chairs. There is also a log burning stove.

BEDROOMS:

On the first floor are large double & twin bedrooms. On the second floor are a large double bedroom & a very large master bedroom, with a double bed & en-suite facilities. (See separate notes for details of the en-suite). There are also 2 additional fold-away beds which can be set up in any of the (non-master bedroom) bedrooms, for a small additional cost.

All bedrooms are luxurious & 2 have balconies.

CLEANING INFORMATION:

The house is normally cleaned in-between change-overs, when the bed linnen is also changed. If guests staying more than 1 week want bed linnen changed weekly, then arrangements can be made without extra cost. The same applies to towels. Please note that the towels are not beach towels, which are not provided.

CHANGEOVER NOTES:

Changeovers on Saturdays, please.

LINEN NOTES:

The bed linnen is normally changed in-between change-overs. If guests staying more than 1 week want bed linnen changed weekly, then arrangements can be made without extra cost. The same applies to towels. Please note that the towels are not beach towels, which are not provided.

PET NOTES:

No pets please.

BABY FACILITY:

None.

ACTIVITY EQUIPMENT:

Modern, up to date mountain bikes can be hired in the village, as well as in nearby Sulmona.
Modern, up to date skiing equipment can be hired at any of the nearby ski resorts.

LOCAL AMENITIES/ATTRACTIONS:

Nearest International Airports: Pescara 45 minutes, Rome 1 hour 45 minutes

Nearest Beach: 45 minutes

Nearest motorway junction: 10 minutes

Car: recommended

Local Train Station: Sulmona approximately five minutes drive

Amenities: shops, restaurants, bank within a few minutes walk

Other Information

Pacentro

Caldora Castle (which dates back to the 10th - 11th centuries)

I Canaje (ancient open air laundry, built with slabs of stone)

La Preta tonna (scandal stone, is a large hollowed-out rock used as an unit of measurement for grain, on which insolvent debtors were obliged to sit nude in front of the passers-by as a form of public humiliation) Piazza del Popolo

- Church of Santa Mari a della Misceric ordia (16th-century Mother Church. Its imposing façade, embellished with a sculpted cornice, is graced by a charming sundial. The original entrance door is preserved inside, the remarkable work of a local artist, carved entirely out of wood. The church vaulting is completely covered with stucco-work.)

Chiesa San Marcello (1047, is the most ancient in the village. It houses interesting frescoes and presents a wooden portal carved by local craftsmen on which the date 1697 can still be read)

Convent of the Minorities Observant Friars (now a youth hostel)

Chiesa SS. Concerzione (in Baroque style, extending along the entire length of one side of the Convent of the Observant Minors, founded in 1589. A majestic painting dedicated to the Virgin dominates the wall above the church's high altar, work of the Flemish painter Spranger. Certain particulars worth noting: in the lower part of the painting, the Franciscan friar holding a book represents the Franciscan philosopher Duns Scoto; in the upper part, the author's self-portrait gazes at the female figure on the opposite side of the painting, perhaps his beloved.)

Chiesa Madonna delle Grazie

Chiesa San Filippo Neri (17 th century)

The Old Quarter

Piano dell’Aringo Contrada (Contrada = neighbourhood)

“Piazza delle Botteghe” Contrada

“Fonte del Vallone” Contrada

“Case Cadute” Contrada

“Ospedale di san Marco” Contrada

“Colle” Contrada

“Guardiola” Contrada

“Convento” Contrada

“Castello” Contrada

Casa della Corte

Loco detto di sotto il Castello

“Antera” Contrada

Colle Ardinghi (3 coloured rock – Start of the annual Zingari race)

Other churches

- Chiesa San Marco

- Chiesa Madonna di Loreto

- Chiesa Madonna Angeli

- Chiesa Madre

- Chiesa Annunziata (disused)

Where to eat

Rist. Taverna de’Caldora (T 086441139)

Rist. La Furnacella (T 086441537)

Rist. Zio Carlo (T 086441220)

Rist. Celidonio (Passo San Leonardo) (T 086441138)

Pizzeria Emesto (T 086441284)

Pizzeria Stella (T 086441207)

Pizzeria Saeculum (T 086441393)

(Nearby)

- Costa del Gallo (T 086455666)

- Masseria La Rocca (T 086453447)

Bars

- Del popolo (T 086441677)

- De Martinis (T 086441681)

- La Fonte (T 086441284)

- Lucci (T 086441385)

- San Marco (T 086441284)

Sulmona

A medium-sized, bustling, medieval town. Amongst its attractions are:

- Corso Ovido

- Palace of the Annunziata (13 th century)

- Museo Civico

- Church of the Annunziata (re-built 18th century)

- Via Matteotti

- Church of San Panfilo (built over a Roman temple)

- Piazza del Carmine

- San Fransecesco della Scarpa (13 th century portal)

Via Stella

- Church of San Gaetano (containing remains from 2 nd – 4 th century A.D.)

- Via Mazara

- Remains of a house: 1st century B.C. – 2nd century A.D.

- Via Petrarca

- (As above)

- Via corfinio

- (As above)

- Via dell’Ospedale

- Fontanna del Vecchio (1474 aqueduct)

- Ovid’s Villa (ruin)

- Confetti

- Markets on Wednesday & Saturday

Where to eat

Al Quadrivio (T 0864.55533) Via Mazara, 38

Calimero Notte (T 0864.33952) Via Staz. Introdacqua, 58

Casa Lumiere (T 347.7059704 Via M. Torcia

Casa Lumiere (T 393.7470984)Palazzi Celidonio

Casa Lumiere (T 328.0066743)

Cesidio (T 0864.52724) Piazza Solimo

La locanda del fattore (T 0864.251539) V. F. D'Amore, 10

Clara (T 0864.56568) Via Cavour, 29

Clemente (T 0864.52284)Vico Quercia

Corte del Dragone (T 0864.51595)Via Ciofano

Da Pasquale (T 0864.55479)Via Incoronata

Di Mattia (T 0864.52768)Piazza Garibaldi

Europa (T 0864.251260) S.S. 17

Frangio (T 0864.212773) Via E. Ciofano, 51

Gino (T 0864.52289)Piazza Plebiscito

Hostaria Dell'Arco (T 0864.210553) Via D'Eramo

Il Vecchio Murco (T 0864.50595) Via D'Eramo

La Roverella (T 0864.55366) C. da marane S. Lucia

Le Metamorfosi (T 0864.32570) V. le Matteotti

Mafalda (T 0864.34538) Via Solimo, 20

Meeting (T 0864.251696) S.S. 17

Ovidus (T 0864.53824) Circ. Occidentale, 177

Panorama (T 0864.34181) Via Torrone

Rigoletto (T 0864.55529) V. Staz. Introdacqua

Salvador (T 0864.210447) V. le della Republica

Silver (T 0864.251019) V. le dell'Agricoltura, 9

Stella (T 0864.52653) Via Mazara

Villa Elena (T 0864.251097) Via Badia, c. da Quadri

L'Aquila

Gran Sasso (2914m/9560ft)

Via Santa Giusta

- Church of Santa Giusta (1257)

- Martyrdom of St. Stephen (1615)

Via Paganica

Santa Maria paganica (14 th century façade & carved portal)

Piazza del Duomo

The Duomo (1257)

Piazza di Collemaggio

The church of Santa Maria di Collemaggio (13 th century)

- Tomb of Pope Celestine V

Via di San Bernardino

Church of San Bernardino (1454 – 1472)

Via San Iacopo

Fontanelle delle Novantanove Cannelle

Castle

Museo Nazionale d’Abruzzo

(North of L’Aquilla) Ruins of a theatre & amphitheatre of ancient Amiternum

Scanno

Santa Maria della Valle (built on the remains of a pagan temple)

Lago di Scanno

Parco Nazionale Maiella

North of Sulmona. Pacentro is one of the gateways to it. From Pacentro continue away from Sulmona on the N487. Eventually it forks with the N487 continuing north & the N84 going south. Northwards the N487 goes 1 st to the Passo San Leonardo (1282m) where there is a restaurant & ski run(s). Continue northwards through Caramanico Terme (600m) and other villages. Then either turn left towards Tocco da Casauri or continue along the N487 to Scafa. From either Tocco da Casauri or Scafa turn left along the N5 towards Sulmona or join the A25 motorway, again towards Sulmona.

Alternatively, at the N487/N84 junction, turn right along the N84 towards the skiing resort of Campo di Giove (1064m). From here you can turn right to Cansano and back to Pacentro, or you can continue along the N84 to Pescocostanzo and back to Pacentro through Cansano. Pescocostanzo is very close to the villages of Rivisondoli and Roccaraso. Roccaraso is the area’s largest ski resort.

Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo

South of Sulmona, the N83 from Pescina to Castel di Sangro goes through the spectacular national park (since 1922). A great round trip is to drive from Sulmona to Pescina (on the A25 motorway), take the N83 to Lago di Barrea, then double back along the N479, through Scanno & Anversa degli Abruzzi to Sulmona.

Pescasseroli

A major information centre for the area

Just east of Opi (at the confluence of the F. Melta & F. Sangro) are golden eagles. Slightly further west is the Rist. Nat. Fuedo in Tramonti e Colle di Liccio, a well known beauty spot. Slightly further west again, at Casone Antonucci is a track leading south, past the Rif. Alb, to the Rif. Belvedere Della Liscia, which is somewhat of a centre for wildlife. Further west on the N83 is Lago di Barrea. This is an artificial lake, caused by the damming of the F. Sangro. There are many walking & trekking possibilities from here.

Lanciano

Civitanova Quarter

Church of Santa Maria Maggiore (14 th century portal).

Sant’ Agostino (14 th century).

San Biagio (begun c.1049).

Porta San Bagio (11 th century).

Duomo (17 th century bell tower) above Roman bridge

Ripa Sacca (Jewish Quarter/Ghetto)

Torri Montanara (city walls)

Pescara

Only 45 minutes drive away is the adriatic coast and mile after mile of beautiful tendered beaches and (normally) completely flat, warm, sea. Behind the coast itself is a large cosmopolitan city with a port and a fishing fleet and ferries to take you accross the adriatic to Croatia.

Rome

2 hours away by car. Slightly longer by train or coach. We will leave you to decide what to see and do there!

Naples

Just over 2 hours away by car. again, slightly longer by train or coach. Again, we will leave you to decide what to see and do there! Note that Naples is very close to Vesuvius, Pompei, Herculaneum ant the Amalfi coast

BOOKING NOTES:

Payment by (sterling) cheques, cash or PayPal please.

BATHROOM/ENSUITE:

Adjacent to the double room, on the first floor, is a large, luxurious bathroom, with balcony. It contains a large bath, separate shower, basin & wc.

Adjacent to the double room, on the first floor, is a wc with basin.

In the master bedroom, on the second floor, is an ensuite shower room with an extra-large shower, basin & wc.