L'Aquila holiday home rental, Caporciano with walking, balcony/terrace, rural retreat, TV, DVD

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Casa San Rocco (house)

Home description

Casa San Rocco is a traditional village home located in the centre of the hilltop village of Caporciano. Fully renovated, the house comes with two outdoor areas, a small balcony on one of the bedrooms and a large terrace from the kitchen, both with outstanding views over the fields of the Navelli Plateau below the village and out over the mountains of Abruzzo. The terrace is perfect for summer living with room for a dining table and sun beds.

The traditional stone built walls ensure that even on the hottest summer days, the house itself will always be cool and shady. For winter, the house is equipped with gas central heating to keep out the often biting cold. The house is equipped with a modern fully fitted kitchen with dishwasher, washing machine and large, American style fridge. Both bathrooms are recently fitted to the highest standards.

Early morning in Abruzzo from the terrace	Breakfast on the terrace
Caporciano, January 2007

To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/17417

The Marche / Abruzzo / Abruzzo region

The last great wilderness in Western Europe? Long popular with domestic Italian tourists for its long sun bathed coastline in summer and its extensive network of ski slopes - the most southerly in Europe - in winter, this area has only recently started to feature on the tourist itinerary for non-Italian holidaymakers. Its easy to see why tourism is on such a steep upward curve, though. Conveniently close to many of Italy's biggest urban centres (Rome and Naples are both within easy reach), yet still a land of wild mountainous scenery, remote mediaeval villages, nature red in tooth and claw (bears, wolves and all manner of birds of prey inhabit the more isolated corners of the countryside) and, of course, those stunning beaches (if thats what floats your boat), Abruzzo is now rapidly establishing a reputation as the place to visit amongst Italophiles who have exhausted the over exposed charms of the more traditional tourist hot spots.

The great virtue of Abruzzo is that it is a year round destination. During the winter, the snow capped mountains are home to numerous ski resorts - a good half dozen with 30 minutes drive of Caporciano. From standard downhill skiing at all levels of experience to snow shoeing and extreme winter sports, all are possible locally. During the spring, as the snow melts and into the summer and Autumn, the spectacular mountain scenery becomes a perfect place to explore - on foot (their are numerous waymarked walking paths for all level of walker from gentle strolls between villages to ambitious hikes into the highest and wildest stretches of the Gran Sasso), by bicycle, on horseback, or just by car. Drivers will be amazed and delighted by the miles of virtually empty, high quality highway which winds its way through the mountains, with new and stunning views opening up around every bend. The majestic landscape inspires many artists and a number of painting schools exist (ask us for details) and it is also possible to organise cookery courses locally and trekking expeditions on horseback.

The main urban centres in Abruzzo are L'Aquila (the state capital) and Pescara (the largest city). L'Acquila is an easy 25 minute drive away and well worth a visit. Come in the morning (every day except Sunday and Monday) and explore the large market which sets up in the main square until 1PM and sells a diizzying array of local fruit, vegetables, meats and cheeses, as well as clothes, shoes, etc. Afterwards, adjourn to one of the cafes around the square for an ice cream or a crepe and an espresso or alternatively, come first thing and have a cappucino and a pastry and sit and watch the world go by. Along the main street is an impressive array of the usual high quality independent shops which are feature of most Italian cities (no wall to wall national chain here) and away from the main street is an enviable selection of high quality, good value restaurants.

Arhitecturally, L'Aquila's dominant feature is its churches. There are said to be 99 of them. Whether there are or not is open to question but a good few of them are well worth a visit, including the Duomo (cathedral) in the main square and the awe-inspiring San Bernadino, 5 minutes walk from the main square, spectacularly set looking out over the mountains and with a truly splendid interior. Also worth a look is the imposing 16th century castle built by the city's then Spanish rulers and now a museum.

If you fancy a day trip to Rome but can't bear the thought of driving in the eternal city (very sensible), take a bus from L'Aquila (they leave every hour and take about two hours).

Although bigger, Pecara (40 minutes drive) lacks L'Aquila's charm. The three main reasons to visit are the airport, which you may fly in or out of, particularly if visiting from South East England, its impressive array of shops and its beach, one of the few genuine city centre beaches I've ever come across.

The charming mediaval town of Sulmona, about 30 minutes drive, is also worth a visit and has most of L'Aquila's charms in a slightly smaller package. Its also the gateway to the stunning Maeilla National Park and the equally imposing Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio et Molise.

Closer to Caporciano, the many neighbouring villages are well worth a visit and many can be reached on foot, either by walking along the near deserted country lanes or by following one of the well signposted footpaths through the countryside. Bominaco, 3km' away, and the next village up, is a lovely half day walk and the villages of Navelli, Prato D'Ansidonia and the stunningly set Castel Del Monte are all worth visiting.

Stretching north and south of Pescara is Abruzzo's other main attraction - its coastline. To the north of Pescara, miles of sandy beach stretch uninterupted, marked by a series of family oriented resorts with facilities to keep the most ardent beach bunny happy. To the south, the resorts and sandy beaches give way to a more beautiful but less developed stretch of coastline marked by small fishing villages, picturesque bays and pebble beaches.

Away from the sun-kissed coastline, as the land rises up into the mountains, the summer climate in particular is noticeably more tolerable than might be expected this far south. Temperatures in Pescara can frequently hit 40 degrees but fall away quickly as you rise into the mountains. Caporciano, although hot in summer, is always fresher and more bearable than the stifling Italian cities and coasts. This high up, summer thunderstorms are by no means unusual, but they will be brief, if lively, affairs and the fresh, cool air which succeeds a storm can be a tonic after the heat of the morning. In winter, it will be very cold indeed but if you're coming for the skiing, you know that already, right?

L'Aquila / Caporciano area

Approximately 34km southwest of L’Aquila, on the plateau of Navelli, bordering the Gran Sasso National Park, the village of Caporciano is a far cry from the tourist infested honey-pots of Tuscany. A traditional stone built mediaeval village set above the Navelli Plateau, the main business of the village continues to be farming, as it has been for centuries. Look down on the patchwork of fields at any time of day and the land will be busy with tractors and farm workers tending the fields. The locals live a life far removed from the stresses of urban Western Europe. Food is always locally produced - often by the villagers themselves either in the fields or the allotments at the lower end of the village - and seasonal. In Autumn for instance - one of the nicest times to visit - every house will have a store of chestnuts ready to roast and a supply of logs will have been gathered over the summer to keep the wood burning stoves going over the cold winter. Locals buy in grapes from the local vineyards and frequently produce their own wine and wild flowers, nuts, sugar, etc will often be used to produce other - frequently eye-popping - local brews. Wander the streets and amongst the usual cats and dogs, you'll notice chickens kept in the cellars of many of the houses and head into the fields behind the village and you will encounter semi-wild horses and hardy breeds of cow and sheep.

The village isn't entirely cut off from the tourist world. There is a very good local trattoria, serving superb locally sourced foods and terrific pizza and with an always working (in the evening) wood burning barbecue to grill the meats on offer. Upstairs is the local bar. A few minutes walk away is an Agritourismo (small country hotel) which also has a very good restaurant open to the general public. Amongst the long standing residents, an increasing number of outsiders are buying homes in the village, including a number of British and French families, and a large number of Italians who purchase summer houses to escape the heat and dust of Rome, Naples or Pescara. In August in particular, when many of the outsiders come to stay for the whole month, the village buzzes with life. Throughout the year, a variety of local festivals are held, in Caporciano or other surrounding villages, celebrating numerous culinary and religious aspects of life in Abruzzo. Easter is a good time to visit for the Good Friday processions held in most villages but amongst the other less expected local festivals are events dedicated to sheep, nuts, lentils, wine and numerous others (how about the fearful sounding Night of the Witches in nearby Castel del Monte on 17 August?). Visit any of them for an evening of good company and a communal meal with the locals.

How to get there

We are a 40 minute drive from Pescara airport, 90 minutes from Rome and just over 2 hours from Ancona. We will provide you with detailed directions once you have booked.

You can fly to Ancona, Rome Ciampino and Pescara by Ryanair. Numerous other budget airlines and international scheduled carriers fly into Rome from all over the world.

Cars can be hired from all 3 airports with all the major hire car companies being represented. Because of our rural location, a car is necessary to stay here.

Activities near L'Aquila

Facilities

Further details

Sorry no pets, No smoking, Self Catering

Conditions

A well-behaved dog is allowed but sorry, no cats.
Strictly no smoking.
Refundable breakages deposit of £100 required as a separate cheque with the final payment, to be returned uncashed within two weeks of your departure from Italy (subject to satisfactory property inspection and return of the property keys).
25% of rental fee due on booking, balance due 6 weeks before arrival.
Property not suitable for children under 10.

Rental rates

Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
September	1 Sep 09	1 Oct 09	370£ 370	6565	6565	3 Nights
October	1 Oct 09	1 Nov 09	335£ 335	6565	0-	3 Nights
November	1 Nov 09	1 Dec 09	295£ 295	5555	5555	3 Nights
December	1 Dec 09	1 Jan 10	325£ 325	5555	5555	3 Nights
January	1 Jan 10	1 Feb 10	295£ 295	5555	5555	3 Nights
February	1 Feb 10	1 Mar 10	295£ 295	5555	5555	3 Nights
March	1 Mar 10	1 Apr 10	345£ 345	6060	6060	3 Nights
April	1 Apr 10	1 May 10	370£ 370	6060	6060	3 Nights
May	1 May 10	1 Jun 10	380£ 380	6565	6565	3 Nights
June	1 Jun 10	1 Jul 10	395£ 395	6565	6565	3 Nights
July	1 Jul 10	1 Aug 10	415£ 415	6565	6565	3 Nights
August	1 Aug 10	1 Sep 10	415£ 415	6565	6565	3 Nights
September	1 Sep 10	1 Oct 10	385£ 385	6565	6565	3 Nights

The property's weekend rates apply to: Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.

Short break rates on request

Guestbook for Casa San Rocco

We had an absolutely wonderful time in Caporciano and surrounds. The sun shone all week and there can hardly be a greater pleasure than breakfast on the terrace, long hours reading on the terrace, an evening glass on the terrace...we hardly need to tell you! A very special place indeed.

Alex and Tom Thursby, UK, October 2007

We are still basking in the memories of our visit to your Italian home. What a beautiful part of Italy! We were quite taken by the warmth of your neighbors. Thanks for all the helpful information you left. We enjoyed the comforts of your home very much.

Pam, Denis and Julia, Minnesota, USA, January 2008

I thought I would contact you to say thank you for renting us your home in
Italy. It was one of the nicest and best equipped places we've stayed in. We
loved Abruzzo.

Gill Hartley, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, UK, June 2008

We would both like to thank you very much for the use of Casa San Rocco for the past fortnight, we are agreed that it has probably been the best holiday we have ever had. The literature in the house was very helpful and gave us ideas for some absolutely fantastic days out amidst such breathtaking scenery.

And as for the people of Caporciano...........we've never been made to feel so welcome anywhere, they are just so pleasant, friendly and polite. We made plenty of new friends and dined at M & Ms four times, thoroughly enjoying ourselves. And as for Domenica next door, who sends her fond regards, she was just fantastic. It was a shame we had to leave today as there is a 100th birthday party tonight for one of the residents, all invited and we were told that included us. A good job I can just about get by in Italian.

We never go back to the same place twice but we are seriously thinking already of breaking this 'rule' next year.

Jeff Nicholls, Leigh, Lancashire, UK, August 2008

We just wanted to thank you for letting us stay in your home in Abruzzo. We loved Caporciano - the hillside location, the closeness of Gran Sasso National Park and all that snow, the food of the area, and the very lovely accommodation - everything. We really enjoyed ourselves. It gave me a chance to practice my Italian as well!

Brigid Kinloch, Adelaide, Australia, January 2009

We had a great time, the house was really nice. Domineque your neighbour was great, invited us in for espresso and sambuka and even made us one before we left on the saturday morning at 6.30, without the sambuka this time though lol, what a fantastic lady. Really enjoyed the snow boarding out there, some good runs at Campo Felice and a good trick park as well, so had lots of fun with no injuries. Will have to make it a longer holiday next time. Great place, Great people, crazy drivers though lol.

Lee Davison, Lancashire, UK, February 2009

Availability

See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here

Send Enquiry

To contact this advertiser please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/17417

Contact details for the advertiser of home 17417
Name:	Mark Chapman
Tel:	+44 (0)161 4087606
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Contact Notes: Email or phone 8am - 3pm (phone enq's)
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Advertiser joined: Nov 2006