Testimonials

:: ITALIA ANCORA, Sedbergh (UK), 2007

For the third time this year, Sedbergh feet have trod the streets of Fiuggi, the delightful spa-town just south of Rome, looking radiant in the sunshine with the autumn colours of the chestnut trees. We arrived on October 23rd, quite late, and, after enjoying a Welcome Drink from our hosts, the Barberio family, we retired for the night.
Italian classes have always been optional but this time most of the group tried at least one class, most being surprised at how much they could understand and enjoying the sheer musicality of the Italian language. This preceded the first of many excellent meals at the hotel, after which we had a guided tour on foot around the medieval hill-top town of Fiuggi, listening to the old legends and admiring beautiful views of the surrounding area.
In the evening of our first day, we had the luxury of a wine-tasting followed by a fantastic meal in front of roaring log fires at Casale Verde Luna, a tastefully renovated farmstead in the middle of a vineyard. We were taken by Lino, the friendly owner, into the cellars to see the enormous English oak vats in which the red wine matured.
Up early the next morning, we made the long drive in our own coach driven by Gianluca, friend of several generations of Sedbergh visitors, to the Naples area, first to the site of the ancient Roman town of Pompei, buried nearly two thousand years ago under ash from the neighbouring volcano, Vesuvius. Our guide showed us streets, shops, villas and the public baths of this once-vibrant city. Silence fell on the group as we looked at the body-casts of those who had suffocated under the ash and pumice that fell in vast quantities from the skies. From the ancient Forum we stared at the ominous nearby mountain, trusting it would not start spewing fire into the air once more - at least till we had departed!
After Pompei came the pizza - the worldwide favourite that originated here, Pizza Margherita, made with tomato, mozzarella and basil - red, white and green, the colours of the Italian flag. We ate in an ancient restaurant in the heart of Naples, afterwards taking a short coach tour around the city and on to higher ground from which we had stunning views across the Bay of Naples to the Isle of Capri and the Sorrento peninsula.
After another optional Italian lesson on Friday morning, we visited the Villa d’Este at Tivoli, not far from Rome. These wonderful water gardens, created by Ippolite d’Este in 1570, were the prototype of all the water gardens of Europe. They are a marvellous feat of engineering, operated purely by gravity, source from a river high up in the Apennines whose tumbling waters cause fountains to spout high in the air, an organ to play and birds to sing.
In the evening of that day we made the short coach journey to Fumone, a village high in the hills, from whose castle, as the name suggests, smoke signals were sent to surrounding villages warning in ancient times of the approach of Barbarians. Here the Baron holds court and in his medieval banqueting hall we sat down to a 14th century meal at wooden tables - with entertainment, while we ate, from multilingual troubadours.
Saturday was the day to visit Rome itself , “la città eterna”. A prompt start saw us in St Peter’s Square early on a sunny morning, the lovely Simona as our guide once more. We made a lengthy tour of the largest Christian church in the world. We saw the roof of the Sistine Chapel and the window at which the Pope appears to give his blessing to the crowds each Sunday at noon. Then we moved on - to look at some of the best-known sights of Rome: the marvellous fountains including the Trevi fountains, the Pantheon and finally the ancient Forum where Roman Emperors held sway, and where so much of our western civilisation was born.
On Sunday some went to the local church, others learned some more Italian - listening to the first canto of Dante’s Inferno read by Pierluigi. In the afternoon we had the chance to visit the Popes’ town, Anagni, with its spectacularly frescoed crypt and the Palace where four medieval popes once lived. We were surrounded by history and fine architecture.
Monday was our last full day and a very memorable one too. The Abbey of Montecassino, founded by St Benedict, was reduced to a heap of rubble towards the end of World War II, bombed by the Allies. It is a spectacular place, set high on the top of a mountain where once a pagan temple stood. The destryed Abbey was totally restored by the Italian State. We had a conducted tour, visiting the cell once occupied by the venerable saint five centuries after Christ, the magnificent Baroque church and the fine museum.
Down the hill next, to perhaps the most moving part of our entire visit: the British War Cemetery of Cassino. Here we walked in silence among the long rows of white headstones, reading the names of the 19 to 22 year olds who had died there fighting for Britain. Two old boys of Sedbergh School lie buried there - a poignant link with our home town.
Back in the coach and on to our final destination - the house on the edge of the beautiful Abruzzo National Park where D.H.Lawrence stayed with an Italian friend in 1919 and wrote part of his book, “The Lost Girl“. We enjoyed the small country museum there, wonderful views of the Apennines, and the copious lunch prepared by our friendly farmer, Loreto, and his family. After a bit of time in the autumn sunshine, we were back on the coach, bound for the hotel and the last night before packing our bags and returning to England.
G.D. Handley

:: LONDON, 18 JULY 2006
Dear Piero,
Why was our Fiuggi holiday so exceptionally enjoyable?
Since returning from our holiday, we have asked ourselves this question.
After all, we have had many good holidays abroad and a few in Italy. As with
some other holidays, the food was good and the logistics efficient.  The
ingredients that differentiated the Fiuggi experience from other holidays
were:
* The genuine and natural friendship and caring behaviour of
yourself and your family, in contrast to the more usual commercially driven
and slightly forced customer orientation.  Nothing was too much trouble.
You, your family and your team were always attentive to dietary needs and
all other preferences and requirements.
* The choice of fascinating and rewarding places to visit,
such as Picinisco, Anagni, Fumone and the old town of Fiuggi itself.  All
were of cultural, historical and aesthetic value but, refreshingly, not
typical tourist 'honeybee' hotspots.  The unique and memorable dinner events
were an unexpected bonus.
* Your selection and management of a well-motivated team of
knowledgeable, enthusiastic and communicative guides as well as of a
patient, friendly and faultless driver, who eradicated any shred of anxiety
from our travel.
* Your personal style, which had an immediate cohesive effect
on the group so that everyone started to enjoy one another's company and
conversation.
In conclusion we wish to thank you and congratulate you on creating a
winning formula for providing a special and different holiday experience,
the memories of which we will cherish.  You and the Lord Byron Viaggi
organisation exceeded customer satisfaction and achieved that rare commodity
of customer delight.
Yours very truly
Charles and Anne Cumpsty - London - U.K.

:: A COMMENT FROM MRS MARY BARNES, SEDBERGH, - U.K.
“I have just had one of the most interesting and stimulating holidays imaginable. In the space of only one week, we have sampled so many aspects of Italian life, from the peaceful rural setting of Picinisco and the amazing farmhouse hospitality at the House of D.H.Lawrence to the breathtaking cities of Rome and Naples where life goes on at an amazing pace against a backdrop of ancient monuments and priceless treasures of antiquity.
On our arrival at Fiuggi, we were given a very warm welcome by the Barberio family. The hotel was relaxing and very comfortable setting in which to share our experiences and prepare for each new venue to be visited.
The optional Italian lessons were most welcome and beneficial. With such a well-qualified tutor as Francesca our confidence was boosted, making it easier to practise the language.
The itinerary was so well thought out and we had glimpses of historical events covering a period of more than two thousand years.
We walked round Herculaneum, stood in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, explored The Catacombs, went deep into excavations under the church of St Clement. We browsed in the Archaeological Museum of Naples, we walked on the ancient cobble stones in the little hill towns where rich and poor alike have lived.
Now it is time to find out more: to read about the history of the places we have seen, to look at maps and to remember.”

:: FROM EDINBURGH
"I would like to thank you for the wonderful week away - I can't remember when I last had such a memorable holiday. Italy was fantastic & I can't wait to go back. I so enjoyed all the places we visited and the people we met...."
Carolyn Hood, Edinburgh - U.K.

:: FROM FRANCE
"Thanks for a most enjoyable and varied stay, combining visits to beautiful
places nearby with visits to famous places in Rome and Naples, always with
highly competent and friendly guides. Equally I have thoroughly enjoyed the
wonderfully plentiful and delicious meals as well as the kind and unceasing
attentiveness of the management and staff of the hotel ....... not to
mention the Italian lessons which really made me want to go back to
university here in France to further the progress I made. "
Michele des Arcis - France