Towns and Villages of Loudoun County Virginia

American Historic Small Towns Itineraries and Wine Tours

Loudoun County is renowned for rolling hills of farms and vineyards, pastures filled with grazing horses, and the Blue Ridge Mountains; it is also just 25 miles from Washington DC.

Leesburg is Loudoun's county seat, has seen significant history from 1758, and has a well-preserved downtown historic district with stunning 18^th and 19^th century architecture. Leesburg is also a shopping and dining venue and features historic sites such as Gen. George C. Marshall's home, Dodona Manor and Ball's Bluff Civil War battlefield. Video

Middleburg, known as the capital of Virginia's horse country, has been welcoming visitors since 1787. It is also a shopper’s delight, with home furnishing and antique stores, boutiques and more; a stroll through this historic hamlet is an experience in itself. Middleburg has hosted iconic American personalities such as Jackie Kennedy and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Purcellville is a charming farm town that became the center of commerce in Western Loudoun with the arrival of the railroad in 1874. Today, the rail bed has been converted to the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park, a paved multi-use recreation trail that runs 45 miles from Arlington, Virginia. 

Waterford is a National Historic Landmark Village where Virginia's oldest juried crafts fair is held the first weekend of October. The fair offers historic homes tours, 160 juried craftspeople with hands-on demonstrations, children activities, traditional music and dance, Colonial-era militia encampments, marching fife and drum corps, and Civil War re-enactors with skirmishes. 

Lovettsville is a German settlement and Loudoun's northern most town. 

Hillsboro is home to 100 residents. It is the second smallest Virginia town in geographic size, the fourth smallest in population. 

Loudon County Vineyards

Hillsborough Vineyards is perched along a mountain slope. The tasting room is housed in a renovated 1840s stone barn, a cool respite during the dog days of summer and cozy by the fireplace in winter. From the terrace outside, visitors experience Hillsborough’s luxuriant gardens and trickling fountains, framing the view of the Loudoun Valleys below and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance. 

Breaux Vineyards is one of Virginia’s largest wineries with over 100 acres planted across a 404 acre estate. Proceed up the meandering driveway past manicured lawns that give way to sweeping views of vineyards as they extend up Short Hill Mountain. Nestled between the hills, Breaux’s vineyard and mountain views can be enjoyed from the tasting room, Patio Madeleine, and their landscaped terraces.

Bluemont Vineyards sits high on an eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains at 951 feet above sea level, offering spectacular views of the countryside and beyond.

 Experiential Tourism in Loudoun County Virginia

Reduce Travel Times and Costs on Your Vacation or Business Trip

Know More About It     Arezza    Knowledge Tourism   travel@arezza.net

Experience Naples its Hidden Architectural and Historical Treasures

Discover the lesser known and the many unknown architectural and historical treasures of this nearly three thousand year old city. Experience breathtaking views while kayaking around Naples Bay. Refresh yourself in a hilltop urban vineyard. Inspired by “Napoli insolita e segreta” by Valerio Ceva Grimaldi, texts by Maria Franchini and photos by Fernando Pisacane.

Architectural Treasures the Naples Chamber of Commerce and Stock Exchange dates from 1899. The neo-renaissance style building features maritime and other commerce motifs.

The Lands Register Hall in the State Archives building dates back to 1845. It was built in the 16^th century over the remains of the 10^th century Benedectine monastery. Documents include volumes dealing with a one of the first effort at managing fiscal reform in Europe.

A Hotel du Charme in the city’s most elegant quarter is now the home of what once was a house of ill repute which became illegal in Italy in 1958. The tariff schedule for services is still on display along with other aspects of the building’s interiors that were restored with the color schemes of the previous occupant and the names of the ladies that worked here on the rooms’ doors.

A Pagoda by the Sea can be visited on the premises of neo Palladian Villa Doria in the Posillipo quarter of Naples. This is where Wagner completed his Parsifal. The wood and masonry pagoda was utilized as a tea room for the noble owners and their guests. Located in the English garden of the villa, it still features the three bronze bells which ring with the wind.

Underground Wonder in 1853 the Bourbon king Ferdinand II commissioned an underground viaduct that was dug entirely with manual labor, hammers and wedges. The tuff network connected the royal palace with the port area and the city center. During World War II, the 431 meter tunnel was utilized as a bomb shelter for nearly 10 thousand people.

Libraries Museums and Archives the Bank of Naples has largest archive in the world, 336 rooms in two palazzi, that hold valuable historic and bank records dating back to the 16^th century.

The University of Naples was founded in 1224 by King Frederic II and is the oldest secular and public institution in the world. It features two cloisters, one by Vanvitelli, and the Royal Museum of Mineralogy, founded in 1801, with over 25 thousand finds hosted in the Jesuit Library chambers.

The Pharmacy of the Incurables dates back to the 16^th century. Its two halls are richly decorated and feature all the health and wellness cures and remedies in vogue in that period. Particularly noteworthy is the ceiling that presents a scene of the Trojan War with the warrior and medical expert of the day Macaone tending to Achilles’ wounds.

A Musical Archive in 1888, Count Lucchesi Palli donated an archive to the Italian State comprising 30 thousand volumes, including operas, dramas, comedies and newspapers. The collections has since expanded to include letters and other documents by Giuseppe Verdi, Salvatore di Giacomo, Raffaele Viviani and a collection of no less than 25 thousand Neapolitan songs.

  

Kayaking in Naples Bay a leisurely row along a coastline dotted with neoclassical villas, roman archeological ruins and small landings immersed in the Mediterranean maquis with the Vesuvius as backdrop for this fairytale setting. And nearby,

The Borgo of Marechiaro home of the famous finestrella, features a small port, the

Gaiola protected area and two small islands connected by a small bridge.

Artisanal Gelato in Naples

Naples Italy Food Traditions

The Gelateria della Scimmia is a Neapolitan Tradition dating from the 1930s. Named for the proprietor’s monkey who was rather fond of ice cream, the establishment has been at the same location in Piazza Carita’ from the very beginning.

A Gelato Artigianale whose processes and standards have remained unchanged over nearly ninety years except for the introduction of new machines over time. The result is a perfect equilibrium among milk, eggs, sugar and cream; the paste is also made in house.

We have developed anchor locations from which you can best base your travel movements, mindful that you are likely to visit three to four places in a compressed period of time, typically 7 to 10 days, and experience multiple interests that range from cultural to culinary, wellness and the environment. 

 Experiential Tourism

Artisanal Gelato in Naples
Know More About It    Arezza    Knowledge Tourism   travel@arezza.net

Coffee Flavored Gelato and Semifreddo are made with the highest quality coffee; fruit ice cream is prepared only with in season fruits.

Traditional Recipes are the norm; however, as a concession to dietary preferences and evolving tastes, the sugar content has been reduced by nearly 20 percent; sugar free gelato has also been developed for celiac and diabetic customers.

 The Family Business continues In the 21^st century with grandsons Marco and Luca in Piazza Carita’ e Piazzetta del Nilo across the street from the Sant’Angelo in Nilo Chapel. 

Photos and Original Italian Text courtesy of Ciro La Rosa

Travel Logistics Move in one direction. Anchor your stays in strategic locations conveniently located near points of interest. Take in sites, meals and other planned events in a hub and spoke fashion and enjoy the places and the people you are visiting. Tema develops and manages personalized travel itineraries, an in-depth knowledge of your destinations and superior client service throughout your trip.