A pool’s always been a key part of the plan, because we think it’s important when you’re staying at our Abruzzo villas for two, that you have a choice between going to the beach at Fossacesia or Le Morge about half-an-hour away, or simply walking a few steps from your villa to the big poolside terrace where your sunbed will be waiting for you.

(Click on the headline title above for much more - with pictures)

Chianti Classico. Villa Sant’ Andrea. 2005

I’ve been putting-off including another bottle of Chianto Classico in our weekly roundup since a cork-tainted bottle sneaked in under the radar back in March. Silly really, but luckily my prevarication was solved by the arrival of Gianmarco’s Mum and Dad hotfoot from Florence bearing this bottle as a gift…

(Has my faith in Chianti been restored ? Find out - and see some pictures - by clicking on the headline title above)

Lanciano’s extraordinary Notte Bianche - ‘White Nights’ - is on the A-List of Abruzzo festa. Starting off the festivities is Il Maestrogiurato - an extravaganza of pageantry in full medieval costume. But the heart of Notte Bianche is a dazzling and deafening firework display that starts at 4am - yes, 0400 - on September 14 each year. It’s worth disrupting your body clock and heading for Lanciano to become part of the experience.

(And there’s more. Click on the main headline title above for an unusual mix of fireworks, cheese and figs - all with pictures !)