Discover Tuscan Bliss near Beautiful Anghiari

I did not want to tell you about this particular bed and breakfast.  Why?  Because I am envious of the people who run it.  Envious of the fact that they live a stone’s throw away from the medieval village of Anghiari in Tuscany, which can lay claim to being one of the most beautiful villages in all Italy.

And I’m stuck in noisy Milan with a blasted old fogies disco virtually on my doorstep.  I want to live in Anghiari in Tuscany!  And you might too, if you happen to go stay at the Tuscan Bliss bed and breakfast which is situated no more than a few minutes walk away from this timeless Tuscan treasure.

Still, I’m going to bite the bullet and, painful as it may be for me, tell you a little about this expat run Bed and Breakfast for this week’s Expat Bed and Breakfast feature.  But be warned, if you do go and stay there, you might never want to leave!

Those interested in antiques might also like to hear that a large antiques fair is held in nearby Arezzo every month. Read more

A Must for Wine Lovers Poggio Etrusco, Tuscany

I was told about this particular expat run place the other evening when I happened to meet up with the charming Nicole Martinelli, journalist, and the blogger behind entertaining site about Italy Zoomata.com.

Aside from being a mine of interesting information, some of which must remain ‘off-blog’, after finding out a little more about Blog from Italy’s expat accommodation features, she later emailed me information about two expats she knows who run apartments for rent along with a bed and breakfast room down in lovely Tuscany.

I clicked in the link sent by Nicole and hopped on over to discover the Poggio Etrusco Agriturismo and Bed and Breakfast web site.  As a result of my virtual trip, you can read more about this attractive establishment which is very close to Montepulciano, which wine lovers will know is famous for Montepulciano red wines.  Sienna is also within easy reach of Poggio Etrusco, as are the lakes of Trasimeno and Bolsena, and characteristic hilltop town of Cortona is virtually on the doorstep.

This all means that Poggio Etrusco is a great place to use as a base from which to explore the many delights of Tuscany. Read more

Retreat to the Genius Loci Country Inn, Umbria, Italy

Genius Loci Country Inn is not strictly a bed and breakfast, but it operates using a b&b plan.  Coupled with its stunning level and quality of finish, this is reason enough for it to be featured as an expat Bed and Breakfast.  And it is run, in part, by History of Art graduate Mary, an American expat from Long Beach, California who, whilst studying for her degree in Italy, met and subsequently married Maurizio, a University of Rome graduate with a background in business and construction.

“There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man by which so much happiness is produced as by a good inn.” – Samuel Johnson, is the quotation which greets you when you click on the Inn section off the Genius Loci website which is situated down on lovely Umbria, Italy.  These words sum up the ethos behind the Genius Loci Inn very succinctly.

The views from this Umbrian inn characterise all that Umbria has to offer:  a pristine landscape of rolling hills, charming medieval hill towns, stretches of lush vineyards, olive groves, majestic oaks, and fields of sunflowers.

Construction expert Maurizio quite rightly, as you will see, considers the Genius Loci Inn as crowning achievement of his.  Think five star hotel/bed and breakfast, but without five star prices. Read more

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