Earlier in the tourist season this year, Ryanair announced it was launching six new routes from its new base in Pisa, in the heart of Tuscany. These included flights to Doncaster, Friedrichshafen, Karlsruhe Baden, Oslo, Trapani and Valencia, some which only began earlier last month.

"This route expansion is good news for business and tourism in the whole region.

Ryanair will now deliver 1.4 million passengers a year through Pisa, supporting 1,400 jobs in Tuscany, " Ryanair's sales manager for Italy, Bridget Dowling, said at the time.

Capitalising on the area's increased popularity and accessibility Gunne New Homes Overseas has recently launched a new Tuscan development onto the Irish market.

Located within a two-hour drive from Pisa and Rome airports, at the foot of a medieval Tuscan hilltop town, is Il Chiostro di Cortona or 'the cloisters of Cortona'.

Surrounded by huge walls and containing the many old houses, palaces and churches, the area is reminiscent of Renaissance Italy. The town, known as Cortona, also has a number of traditional Italian restaurants. The nearby Arezzo valley is also full of vineyards and olive groves.

The courtyard of the Cloisters has been transformed into Antica Cortona, a development comprising 30 spacious apartments, including some duplex units.

The original structure of the centuries-old building has been restored, and its interiors renovated to reflect the characteristics of the old village.

Many of the units have their own private terrace or balcony and most have raised brick fireplaces. The interiors of the apartments consist of vaulted ceilings, terracotta floor tiles, mahoganycoloured cabinets, Ariston fitted kitchens, Sweden pine entrance doors and chestnut timber internal doors. Intercom, heating and airconditioning come as standard.

Owners at the Cloisters, which is surrounded by secure landscaped grounds, have use of a large outdoor heated swimming pool and ample outdoor parking space.

Prices range from 171,000 for a one-bed apartment approximately 38sq m (409sq ft) in size to 335,000 for a two-bed duplex approximately 97sq m (1044sq ft) in size.

For further information, contact Gunne New Homes Overseas on 01-618 5769.

www. gunne. ie www. anticacortona. it