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For the wanderers

Lake Como…Relais Regina Teodolinda

Lake Como.

George Clooney just sprang to mind didn’t he?…and not a bad ambassador for this breathtaking little piece of the world I must say.

George aside for the moment, this magnificent piece of Italy absolutely must be added to your list of places to visit while there. Why? It’s simply breathtaking for one, and if you have fabulous accommodation right on the Lake, deep blue water sparkling in the sunshine, a warm breeze on your face…well you may just feel you’ve died and gone to heaven.

20120408-180337.jpgAt least we did, the experience quite possibly enhanced by the sleek jet boat and it’s handsome driver who gave us a tour of the Lake, let us loose in the petite village of Bellagio, ferried us to a most memorable luncheon experience at a lovely little cliff clinging restaurant in celebration of Donna’s birthday, discreetly pointed out places where many movie scenes have been shot and celebs have taken up residence, before finally returning us to the waterside door steps of the Relais Regina Teodolinda.

At your request, continuing the series of Fabulous Finds…Chateaus, Maisons and Villas series…you may wish to add this one to your itinerary…

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                                                                     Via Vecchia Regina 58, 22010 Laglio, Italy

Venice…Palazzo Giovanelli

Venice has long been on my travel agenda, same for my traveling companions Jenny and Ross and thus we found ourselves toting luggage from the carparks to the water bus to find our way to our Venetian accommodation…this part of our European journey alone worthy of great reward for managing with elegant aplomb…a very stiff G&T, but I digress…

20120404-220051.jpgImagine our relief when we stepped off our water bus on the Grand Canal, right at the door step of our latest digs…the beautiful Palazzo Giovanelli. An historic building, dating from the 1500s, painted with mythological figures by Zelotti, rich in charm and with a history that includes tenants such as the Mozart family and the King of Denmark, Frederick Christian IV and…us!

Yet again Jenny had excelled in her selection of interesting places to lay our weary heads. What’s more, Rossie had discreetly upgraded their suite to the presidential as a treat for her birthday and it is this suite you are viewing here…

As promised, another of our fabulous Chateau, Maison, Villa finds this in one of Italy’s most beautiful cities…

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Umbria…Castello di Petroia

I’ve always wanted to sleep in a Castle…preferably right up there in a turret…how about you? Well I got to do exactly that in a hauntingly beautiful genuine medieval castle in Umbria, Italy.

The Castello di Petroia, dating back to the Middle Ages, around 1163 to be more precise, is right up there on my ‘magical experiences’ list. And that’s why it rates in my continuing  ‘fabulous accommodation finds’ theme.

20120401-214708.jpgMy Rapunzel moment was not without it’s challenges I must add. A flight of steps up to the front door, bathroom down a flight, bedroom up two flights, rooftop vista yet another. Not for the faint hearted yet affording the most magnificent 360 degree view across a tapestry of rich green undulating valleys.

Walls a meter thick, barely space for my big feather four poster bed, moonlight to guide my way I was completely entranced and all thoughts of being haunted by the turret’s ancestry were replaced with the luxury of pleasant dreams…until a Wood Pecker tapped on my window to wake me. I’m glad he did. Watching the sun rise across the misty valleys was absolutely breathtaking. It felt good to be alive!

Oh! If the thought of the turret is just too daunting, there are similar evocatively atmospheric rooms in the main castle, and just a single flight of stairs.

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http://www.petroia.com

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