Walking Holidays In Tuscany & Umbria 2014

A view on the Monte Ginezzo walk near Cortona, Tuscany
In October 2014 Gorgacce Rentals is offering guided walking holidays on the Tuscany Umbria border, Italy. As our guest on this holiday, you will stay at Ca di Bracco, a beautiful farmhouse in the  Niccone Valley. The itinerary of walks is designed and led by by MartinRead more

Restaurants In The Niccone Valley

The lasagna at Trattoria Mimmi
The stunning Niccone Valley is the location of many of our holiday villas, it is right on the Tuscany Umbria border in central Italy. When we moved here in 1999 there were only a few places to eat but, over the years, several new places have openedRead more

Monte Acuto Walk

View from the site of the Etruscan temple on Monte Acuto, Umbria
The first day of 2014 was bright and sunny - a perfect winter day for a walk up Monte Acuto, a mountain near our house on the Tuscany Umbria border. Monte Acuto's distinctive pointed shape is responsible for the mountain's name; it's height and shape make itRead more

Trattoria Mimmi

The lasagna at Trattoria Mimmi
Trattoria Mimmi is probably the oldest restaurant in the Niccone Valley. Located in the village of Mercatale di Cortona, it is famous for the huge servings of delicious home made pasta. The lasagna at Trattoria Mimmi The menu is simple, you are asked if you would likeRead more

Preggio Castagna Festa 2013

Roasting chestnuts at the Preggio Festa di Castagna
It's now the winter in the Niccone Valley and at this time of year you often come across stalls selling roasted chestnuts in Italian town centers.  October is the start of the chestnut season and in that month many of the local villages hold festivals dedicated toRead more

5 Umbrian Towns

The Palazzo de Priori in Perugia, Umbria
When you stay on the Tuscany Umbria border you have the option to visit both these Italian regions, here's a brief guide to some the larger towns in Umbria,. Perugia Perugia is the capital of Umbria, it is easy to miss out on thanks to the largeRead more

The Battle Of Lake Trasimeno

A Legionnaire at Trasimeno
Lake Trasimeno is entirely within the Italian region of Umbria but, in places, the Tuscan border runs very close to the northern and western shores. There was intense fighting in World War II near the Lake as allied forces pushed the Germans back from what was knownRead more

Cortona Walk

The church of Santa Margarita, Cortona
Here are the directions for the Cortona town walk taken from my e-book, Circular Walks On The Tuscany Umbria Border by Martin Daykin. You can also get this walk on your Kindle for free by clicking on "try a sample". Alternatively, you can buy the whole bookRead more

Gardens & Sculpture Parks

The face of the ogre at the Bomarzo Monster Park.
There are several gardens and sculpture parks that can be visited from the Tuscany Umbria border. You could develop a week long garden themed itinerary for your holiday by visiting the places below - possibly combining the gardens with nearby towns and sights to make a fullRead more