Cuoco d'Oro
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Special Discounted Rates |
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Earn discounts for longer stays and enjoy more value for your money!
- Rent one week at our normally low rates.
- Rent two weeks and save 5% off both weeks.
- Save 10% on rentals of three weeks or more.
If you would like to book a rental for 2007, please call Parker Villas at:
United States or Canada: 800-280-2811
United Kingdom: 0800 032 1704
All other countries: +1-781-596-8282
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Rental Overview |
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Smoking : No |
Pets : No |
| 8 Bedroom(s) |
8.5 Bathroom(s) |
Sleeps 16/19 |
| Bed Set Up: 18 single, joinable, 1 single |
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Property Information |
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Cuoco d’Oro means golden cook. It is a coveted award bestowed on Italy’s best chefs. The fact that Filippo, a well respected Boston chef was recognized by the Italians as a Cuoco d’Oro was no small feat. But then, nothing Filippo does is ever small. This home bears witness.
Upon revisiting his ancestral Sulmona, Filippo purchased one of the city’s
oldest palazzi, built in 1260 and immediately embarked on a painstaking
restoration. To the amazement of architects and local historians, the
same Roman aqueduct that was thought to end in the city’s main square continued arching right through Filippo’s property. As craftsmen toiled to free these ancient arches, a stone shield emblazoned with the 800 year old crest of King Manfredi, ruler of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilys, came
to light.
The restoration is complete, and the royal seal is proudly visible once again, adorning the dining room of Cuoco d’Oro. The aqueduct that runs through the house forms the walls of two rooms and is stylized as a backdrop for the heated, Roman plunge pool in the main atrium. A
second atrium is equipped with a barbecue for dining under the stars.
Chef Filippo’s success as a restaurateur is due in part to a simple creed:
“Provide the best possible quality at a reasonable price and they will
come.” Anna, the chef’s American born wife has been instrumental in applying the same philosophy to this home. Together, here is what they have accomplished.
Gleaming marble floors and hand painted high ceilings frame eight spectacular bedrooms each with its own en suite bath with a built-in, heated towel rack and hair dryer. Air conditioning is throughout the entire home, and screens are on every window including the French door
balconies. There’s a washer and a dryer, satellite television, wireless Internet connection for laptops at no charge, a CD player and a compact, well equipped kitchen.
Two hours of mid week maid service are included in the price. Meals and
additional maid service may be requested when booking.
Sulmona is a fascinating city, rich in pageantry, history and artistic
treasures. It is known as the Siena of the Abruzzi. The city’s Palio, La
Giostra Cavalleresca, is the oldest in Italy. It is a medieval jousting
tournament that takes place the last weekend in July on the other side of
your aqueduct. If you are fortunate enough to come at a time when
Filippo and Anna manage to get away from Boston — their separate
apartment is on the top floor — they welcome you to enjoy the views of
the city’s main square from their panoramic rooftop terrace.
Parking is where you can find it around the piazza or in a paid lot, 200
yards away. Just outside your door around the square are a number of
restaurants, bars, bakeries, grocers, butchers, including two on the floor
below, and a few jewelry shops; one is a school for goldsmiths. There’s
an outdoor market on both Wednesday and Saturday and an antiques
market on the second weekend of each month. Sulmona’s colorful, candy
coated almonds are found throughout the city.
Within 20 minute drives are the undiscovered medieval villages of Patrola
Peligna, Popoli and Pacentro, Madonna Ciccone’s ancestral home;
Roccaraso’s ski slopes: 30; Chieti: 40; Scanno’s hiking trails, lake and
filigreed gold: 45; the Adriatic beaches of Francavilla al Mare: 50; L’Aquila
or Ortona: 60: Tivoli: 75; Isernia: 80; Rome or Terni: 120.
Buses depart from Sulmona for Rome six times a day and take two hours
each way.
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| Property Rates - Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice. |
| | | Period | Rates | | | Jan 6 - Mar 23 | $3150 | | | Oct 27 - Jan 4, 08 | $3150 | | | Mar 24 - Apr 27 | $3900 | | | Sep 29 - Oct 26 | $3900 | | | Apr 28 - Jun 22 | $4650 | | | Aug 25 - Sep 28 | $4650 | | | Jun 23 - Aug 24 | $6140 |
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| Additional Rate Information - | Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice. |
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Heating, electricity, firewood and phone calls are payable locally.
A two hour mid week cleaning is included.
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| Property Notes Availability |
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Year Round Italy Luxury Vacation rentals
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| Property Amenities |
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| Other Unlisted Amenities |
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First floor: Long entry corridor with French balcony. Living room with
fireplace, TV, CD player and doors to atrium with heated plunge pool.
Dining room and doors to second atrium furnished for six. Galley kitchen
with stove top, oven, microwave, fridge and dishwasher. Six bedrooms
each with two single, joinable beds and en suite bathroom with shower,
one with an extra single bed and another with French balcony. One
bedroom with two sets of two single, joinable beds, French balcony and
en suite bathroom with shower. Accessed from another bedroom or from
the atrium is the aqueduct bedroom with two single, joinable beds and en
suite bathroom with shower. Half bath with washer and dryer.
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| Property Activities |
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Nearest shopping and dining: Just outside your door around the piazza
are a number of restaurants, bars, bakeries, grocers and butchers,
included two on the floor below. The city is known for its gold jewelry and
candy coated almonds known as "confetti".
Not to be missed: The abbey of San Spirito, three miles from Sulmona,
was founded by Pope Celestine V who dwelt in a hermitage - the route to
his home passes the remains of a Roman temple to Hercules. Scanno, 40
minute drive, is a picturesque, summer resort village where woman still
dress in their native peasant costumes and shops sell gold and silver
filigree made by local craftsmen.
Within walking distance: Several historical sites and museums including:
the Church of Annunziata (1320) with a museum of local artifacts,
paintings and examples from the city's goldsmiths in the 14th century;
the Duomo built on the ruins of a Roman temple; Gallery of Modern Art;
Museum of Natural History in Palazzo de' Sardi with an extensive butterfly
collection; Museum of Confectionary Art chronicling the history of the
area's candy making.
Public transportation: Bus service to Rome leaves from Sulmona's bus
terminal at Piazza Tresca and runs six times a day, taking two hours each
way, with the last bus returning from Rome at around 8 pm. This route is
only recommended for day trips into Rome as a car is needed for this
location.
Outdoor Activities / Hiking / Skiing: Guests have a choice of exploring
two nearby areas known for outdoor adventures. The Maiella mountains,
30 minute drive, contain no less than 40 hermitages, several hiking trails
and the ski resort town of Roccaraso. Abruzzo's National Park, 45 minute
drive, was the first national park in all of Italy with countless trails for
cycling and hiking including 150 marked itineraries of various length and
difficulty. "Il Trenino della Valle" (The Little Train of the Valley) is a
morning train leaving from Castel di Sangro, 45 minute drive, that passes
through the Abruzzo National Park on a scenic route heading through
mountains to the sea. Open weekends from May-September.
Beaches: Sandy beaches are found in Francavilla al Mare or Ortona, both
approximately a one hour drive.
Festivals: Sulmona hosts several ancient festivals throughout the year.
Giostra Cavalleresca is a palio with the seven neighborhoods or districts
competing in a medieval jousting competition during the last weekend in
July in Piazza Garibaldi - right outside your door. The last two weeks of
May is the Confetti festival celebrating the candy covered almonds native
to Sulmona. During the last two weeks in August, local farmers from
Abruzzo bring their wares to display. Easter is a well celebrated holiday
with La Madonna che Scappa taking place on Easter Sunday. It is a drama
carried out through the town with a candlelit procession with St Peter and
St John announcing the resurrection of Jesus, and finally, Mary believing
them. She embraces her son resulting in fireworks and the releasing of
doves.
Open air markets: In Sulmona, morning markets are every Wednesday and
Saturday. An antique market takes place every second weekend of the
month.
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| Reservation Information |
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Parker Travel Advisor
| | | Day Phone: 1-800-280-2811 | | | Evening Phone: 800-280-2811 |
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