Looking to plan your next big getaway? Considering the delicious food and wine, incredible artistic and cultural heritage, richly preserved historic attractions and areas, style, glamour, and natural beauty of Italy? Well, of course you are! A villa in Italy is just the thing to help you relax and recuperate on a well-deserved vacation but one question remains: what are the best summer vacation destinations in Italy? There are endless options to choose from and a majority of them would be both suitable and idyllic but we have compiled a list of just five of the best of the best among them to help you narrow it down, to start browsing our holiday rentals in Italy, to contact our team of experienced villa experts if you need help finding the perfect vacation rental in Italy for you, and to finally pin down your next getaway! Don’t wait a second longer or you’re at risk of missing out as summer is just upon us and our best villas are being snapped up by the second...
1. The Italian Riviera
Synonymous with style, luxury, and perfect relaxation, the so-called Italian Riviera is a section of the coast of Italy that stretches along the region of Liguria from the border with France (and their own Riviera) to Capo Corvo, which marks the eastern end of the Gulf of La Spezia and is a short distance from the Tuscan border. This whole area boasts extraordinarily picturesque sea views, impossibly pretty coastal towns (including the five famously lovely towns of the Cinque Terre) that are stacked in multi-coloured hues above craggy cliffs and azure waters, excellent hiking routes, restaurants and bars boasting some of the most impressive panoramas in the world, stylish destinations frequented by celebrities and the jet-set crowd as well as highly authentic villages where tradition is alive and well, sunsets that will take your breath away, and much more besides. While there are plenty of incredible coastal stretches in Italy, this is surely one of the most famous and for lots of very good reasons. Browse our villas on the Italian Riviera and come fall irrevocably in love with the place yourself.
2. Sardinia
Speaking of coastal areas of Italy, the island of Sardinia is another gem that is perfect for those looking to soak up the sun, cool off and splash around in the waves, enjoy water sports and boat trips, hike along some incredible coastal paths, and generally make the most of the highly relaxing and restorative nature of destinations near the sea. The beaches of Sardinia, meanwhile, are some of the most striking in the country with rich blue and teal waters lapping bright white shores in landscapes that can look like those from tropical destinations much further afield. Inland, you will find the green core of the island, where even more excitement and adventure awaits and where you will find far fewer tourist crowds even during the busiest months of the year. In addition to all of this, Sardinia is a singular gem in Italy with a unique and distinct culture all of its own, particularly pertaining to food, with strict and implicit local rules and practices such as refusing to serve pizza in restaurants before 7pm. A world unto itself, a vacation rental in Sardinia won’t give you quite a sense of life in Italy, generally, but is sure to impress with its striking looks and specific charms.
3. Apulia
Like the other two destinations on this list so far, Apulia is an incredible region of Italy that boasts exceptional beaches, charming seaside towns, and amazing coastal views. However, it is also less popular with international tourists and is not as busy even during the summer months. So, for those looking to enjoy a wonderful seaside getaway in Italy, a villa in Apulia really is just the thing! Aside from smaller tourist crowds though, there are many other things to recommend Apulia as a destination. It is a region of exceptionally delicious food and wine that has been ripened to perfection by the sun. There are endless festivals dedicated to food, music, and culture that take place all across Apulia throughout the year. Architectural gems, astounding reminders of past empires and peoples who populated the land, and all sorts of incredible historical buildings and towns dot the landscape. And, due to the region’s particularly warm climate, you can also expect perfect weather for your vacation in Apulia either side of the summer months, giving you more options when it comes to booking your holiday in Italy.
4. Tuscany
When is Tuscany ever a bad idea? “Never,” is the answer. So, of course we had to include it in this round-up of perfect summer destinations because, not only do we have an incredibly wide variety of wonderful villas and villas with pools in Tuscany to choose from, but the region also offers everything one could possibly ask for when it comes to a dreamy summer holiday destination. The food of Tuscany is famously wonderful and many of Italy’s most beloved dishes originate from the region making it an excellent choice of location for the discerning foodies among you. There are also endless excellent wineries to visit and one of the most famous wine regions in the entire globe, Chianti, can be found in Tuscany. Culture vultures will also be well provided for with some of the most beloved and well-known museums, galleries, works of art, churches, palaces, and architectural gems in the world to be found all across Tuscany, giving you plenty to see and lots of places to go into and hide from the hottest parts of the day during the summer months. Furthermore, with a landscape that is verdant, varied, lovely, and dotted with impossibly picturesque towns (and often well-preserved historic ones) you’ll have lots to do if you want to keep active or simply admire your surroundings. Want to go hiking up a mountain or through lush and ancient woods? No problem! Want to swim or snorkel or surf or sail or simply laze about by the sea? That can easily be arranged! Want to take in sweeping views over the famously scenic rolling hills of the region from a towering ancient citadel or a hilltop vineyard while enjoying a glass of wine or from a hot air balloon sailing through the sky? Simply say when!
5. Sicily
As with Sardinia, a vacation rental in Sicily is perfect for those who want to enjoy sea, sun, and lots of specific regional traditions while on holiday in Italy. Sicily, in particular, offers an amazing encapsulation of Italy’s history with visible reminders of the rule of the Roman, Arab, Greek, Norman, Swabian, Angevin, Aragonese, and Jewish periods of rule throughout the centuries. The impressive variously ruined, partially remaining, and remarkably in-tact temples, palaces, fortresses, and other architectural gems of these peoples and empires dot the landscape of Sicily in a truly impressive and unforgettable manner, set against backdrops of rugged scrubby landscapes, craggy cliffs, azure waters, perfect beaches, rolling green hills, immense cultivated fields, and the peaks of the region. There is plenty to see and do, with some of the best hiking trails in Italy, long lists of beaches to visit and water sports to enjoy, thousands of smaller islands and islets to explore, delicious regional wines and desserts to savour, and much more besides. So, if you’re after a vacation in Italy full of history, grandeur, adventure or relaxation (depending on what you’re interested in), and tasty treats, get browsing our villas in Sicily today.
