CORTONA AND SURROUNDINGS
DISCOVER THE HEART OF TUSCANY
The hot sun and long, warm days have encouraged a surprising diversity of wildlife to inhabit Tuscany. Tuscany’s national parks, wildlife reserves, mountains and vast woodland areas provide a habitat for wildlife to flourish. Not many people realise that Tuscany has some fantastic local wildlife to see. Deep in the Tuscan countryside you may come across European animals such as hare, deer, porcupines, badgers, dormice, red foxes, pheasants, wolves, and even wild boar.
Tuscany is also a great place to go bird watching. A wide range of beautiful birds can be spotted throughout the region. Bird-watching enthusiasts should head to the mountains and marshlands to see birds such as the tawny owl, herons, ring ouzel and the rare glossy ibis. In Tuscany there are a lot of National Parks you can visit. Feel free to ask us for any advise or to assist you planning your trip. We can provide ta self guided itinerary or a driver or even a experienced trekking guide. Send your inquiries to: info@doitintuscany.net Parco Nazionale delle Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona e Campigna: covers an area of about 36.000 hectars along the Tuscan-Romagna Appennino ridge. Here you can find a great variety of animals (deer, wild boar, mouflon, wolves etc..) and around 97 different species of birds. Parco dell’Arcipelago Toscano: the seven island of Tuscan Archipelago (Isola d’Elba, Isola del Giglio, Capraia, Montecristo, Giannutri, Gorgona and some of the minor islands and rock outcrops) are located between the Ligurian Sea and Thyrrenian sea, in the Mediterranea Sea and covers an area of 56.776 hectares of sea and 17.887 hectares of island. Archipelago Toscano National Park it is the largest marine park in Europeand with his butterflies, crickets, lizards, birds and even whales typical of the Mediterranean ecosystem and due to its considerable wealth of plankton, during the summer months you can observe whales of all species including fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), sperm whales (Physeter catodon), pilot whales (long-finned pilot whale), Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), zifi (Ziphys cavirostris) and common dolphins (Delphinus DELPHY) Parco Nazionale dell’Appennino Tosco-Emiliano: consists of a striking stretch of the Apennine Mountains surrounded by forests, in an extraordinary geographical position between Cisa and Forbici Passes, the forest ridges separating Tuscany from Emilia and hosting 70% of the species present in the entire country of Italy. Parco della Maremma: the Maremma Regional Park is located in Southern Tuscany, stretches along 25 km of breathtaking coastline (from Principina a mare to Talamone) surrounded by marshland, pinewood forests, tilled land and pastures. Here you can find maremma wild boar, maremmana cow, osprey, wild cats and wild deer, wild cats and martens. The Maremma National Park is an important area for many waterfowl species and home of over 270 species of birds. Parco delle Alpi Apuane: the Regional Park of the Alps includes the entire mountain range that extends in the north-west / south-east direction, an area of about 1080 square kilometers in the northwestern corner of Tuscany. The park includes a great variety of mountain and hill environments and the famous white marble quarries. Among the intelligent predators in the area is the imperial crow. At higher altitudes, the chough is distinguished by its characteristic red beak, which has become the symbol of the Park. Parco Regionale Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli: Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli Regional Park it is located near the northern Tyrrhenian Sea coastal area. It covers approximately 24,000 hectares of the coast from Viareggio and Livorno and also includes Lake Massaciuccoli the fires of the Serchio, Arno and Fiume Morto rivers, the former presidential estate of San Rossore, the forests of Tombolo, Migliarino and Macchia Lucchese, and manages the Secche della Meloria marine protected area. Here live insects, deer, wild boar and over 100 species of birds.
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Italy has several public holidays during the course of the year when most activities are closed, except restaurants, coffee bars, some stores, fuel stations on the highways and 24 – hour cash dispensers (for fuel or for bank notes).
Plan your day trips and shopping expeditions with these dates in mind. January 1 – – New Year’s Day January 6 – – Epiphany Easter: variable day (in the 2020 will be April 12) Easter Monday: variable day (it is always the day after Easter) April 25 – – Liberation Day May 1 – – May/Labor Day June 2 – – Anniversary of the Republic August 15 – – Assumption Day November 1 – – All Saints’ Day December 8 – – Feast of the Immaculate Conception December 25 – – Christmas December 26 – – St. Stephen’s Day (Boxing Day) All Sundays: in Italy Sunday is always a festivity day Fest of the Patron: a public holiday established by each municipality for its own territory to celebrate the saint who was the patron saint of the city. We suggest you to check the opening time of supermarkets: in Cortona town center usually they are open during the morning of public holiday but not in the afternoon (also the same in the Sunday). During all the year and public holiday check the opening/closing time in Sunday for the big supermarkets around Cortona, most of these are closed for lunch time or afternoon and all the day during public holiday.
In the heart of Tuscany, nestled on the south side of the hill where the ancient Etruscan town of Cortona is located, lies Tenuta Pomona, a place where one can live an incredible and unforgettable experience, in a villa of undisputed charm and luxury. The property enjoys one of the most beautiful views of the Cortona hillside, thanks to its panoramic position with breathtaking views of the Val di Chiana and the Cortona skyline. The villa is privately located away from traffic noise and is set in a scenario where vegetation, olive trees and the typical terraces of this particular hill cone create a place of rare beauty and strong visual impact.
The property has been recently restored by the owners, who, in respect of the morphology of the territory, have used materials of great value and taste, creating a modern and fully comfortable setting which integrates completely with the surrounding landscape. The accommodation consists of the main villa in stone (165 sqm), which can comfortably accommodate up to 6 people and a cottage (24 sqm) also in stone, where 2 additional guests can stay for a total of 8 people. Tenuta Pomona is surrounded by a beautiful garden in which a large stone terrace hosts a dining table and a comfortable structure with barbecue and wood oven ideal for al fresco dining. You will also have at your disposal various relaxation areas where you can read a book or enjoy a glass of wine of the famous wines produced in Tuscany. From the garden you will reach the pool area through comfortable stone steps. The area is exposed to the sun throughout the day and enjoys a spectacular view of the surrounding landscape; the pool (8 x 4 meters, minimum height 0.50 meters – maximum 2.50 meters, with Roman steps, open from May 1st to September 30th) is equipped with sun deck, sun beds, umbrellas and it is fenced. The villa has a semi-covered private parking. Free Wi-Fi internet connection and Sat TV. Laundry. Pets are NOT allowed. Tenuta Pomona has been furnished with great care by the owners who wanted to give their guests the best of modern comforts by using high quality materials and finishes in order to create luxurious environments, rich in light and glass windows from which to enjoy amazing views of the surrounding landscape. Tenuta Pomona can comfortably accommodate up to 8 people (4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms). The main building develops on two floors connected both internally by a comfortable staircase and externally by a beautiful stone staircase. On the ground floor you will have the living area at your disposal with a beautiful fully equipped kitchen with central island; the dining area lies next to the kitchen. Passing through a hallway (with guest toilet) you will reach the cozy living room with satellite TV, sofas and fireplace. All rooms on the ground floor have direct access to the garden. Going up the steps to the first floor you will find the sleeping area: you will be struck by the first of the three bedrooms, a beautiful suite with double bed, chaise longue and open bath in the room where you can spend moments of complete relaxation. The room also has a double washbasin in plain sight. The toilet and shower are divided by doors. The other two rooms are also an expression of taste and elegance and both have double beds. Completing the sleeping area is a second bathroom with shower. A few meters from the villa lies the annex: a romantic double bedroom with armchair and en-suite bathroom with shower. All rooms of Tenuta Pomona have air conditioning and free wi-fi internet connection. FOR GUESTS Garden, covered parking, pool, panoramic view, luxury villa, pool towels included, garden furniture, barbecue and wood oven, outside dining table, weekly linen change, free wi fi connection, Sat TV, heating and AC upon consumption and payment, laundry with washing machine and dryer, iron and ironing board, hairdryer, baby bed and highchair on request, window screens, fully equipped kitchen, first aid kit, fire extinguisher. |