Il Tratturello is a small, beautifully restored bed and breakfast offering exquisite en suite accommodation in large rooms which open out onto natural Majella stone balconies. The house is set in almost one acre of olive trees, fruit and nut trees and within sight of the both the Majella Mountains and Adriatic Sea.

Liz Franklin is the author of 11 cookery books and has written for some of the UK`s most beautiful food and travel magazines. In addition to her writing, she has travelled many parts of the world on cruise ships, giving lessons and demonstrations of the food specialities relating to the ports of call and now runs cookery courses in Italy.

The leisurely breakfasts at Il Tratturello will consist of homemade yoghurt and the gorgeous freshly made ricotta prepared each morning by the local village artisan cheese make Verna Michelle, served with freshly picked figs, cherries, apricots and plums from the garden, local honey, toasted walnuts and hazelnuts from the woods of Orsogna and the legendary Montepulciano jam. Fragrant cakes will tempt those with a sweet tooth, but for those who prefer savoury start to the day, freshly laid eggs, locally cured meats and homemade breads will be served too!

Evening dinner is an optional extra, and again will be based around prime, local and seasonal ingredients. The region`s stunning coastline and wonderful mountainous regions provide the best combination of freshly caught seafood and flavoursome meat and game. In the summer, evening dinner will be served under the twinkling Abruzzese stars, with freshly prepared breads, roasted vegetables from the kitchen garden and succulent meats cooked in the wood burning oven or on the barbecue. For informal eating, relax with a bottle of wine (or two) over Arrosticini (skewers of Abruzzese mutton grilled to juicy perfection) or Porchetta, succulent roasted pork flavoured with herbs from the garden. For something a little more structured, there`ll be delicious menu of antipasti, primi, secondi, (dolci to include homemade desserts and ice cream), delicious wines, liqueurs and coffee.

Optional extra activities that can be arranged to coincide with your stay include cookery lessons**, skiing, water sports, cycling, horse riding, guided walks and tours, painting and craft work, Italian language lessons, cultural and theatre visits.

Perched on the edge of the pretty village of Orsogna, and close to the celebrated mountainside village of Guardiagrele, IL Tratturello stands in the unspoilt Abruzzese countryside, close to the Maejella and Gran Sasso Mountains and just 20 minutes drive to the sea.