Archive for 'Activities'

Those considering a ski break in Italy this winter will likely come across the ski resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo. Considered one of the most fashionable ski resorts in the country, the so-called, “Queen of the Dolomites,” has been a popular winter sports destination since the 1930s and was put on the map internationally when it hosted the first Winter Olympic Games in Italy in 1956. Gorgeous, chic, and just a two hour drive from Venice, a vacation rental in Cortina d’Ampezzo is the ideal option for those looking to enjoy a perfect ski break in style in Italy.

Whether you are interested in hiking over the next couple of months or you are instead looking forward to going skiing or enjoying a range of winter sports as we get into winter later on in the year and head into 2024, you will find that Italy boasts an excellent range of mountain destinations that are perfect for both! The latter half of the year really is an ideal time to come and experience the incredible beauty of Italy’s mountain destinations by booking one of our villas in the Northern Italian Ski Region or one of our holiday rentals in the mountains in Italy.

Using our last post to guide you if you have chosen one of our outstanding villas in Italy for your next holiday and were looking into renting a car, you might now know all you need to get your vehicle sorted but what about when you have actually hit the road? What do you need to know about driving in the country in order to stay safe and enjoy your vacation in Italy?

In order to help you out, we've compiled some key things that we think you should keep in mind:

As with many places around the world, certain towns in Italy are known for local traditions in the production of specific foods and goods. In Italy, the regional foods of the country are often more familiar to us but there are some exquisite local craft traditions that continue to this day and that are well-worth checking out, especially if you are fond of the finer things.

Take, for example, the charming medieval town of Arezzo, which has an impossibly rich tradition of jewellery and gold craftsmanship that will make the magpies and lovers of sparkly things around the world want to book a villa in Arezzo and pay a visit. If you’re looking to enjoy a vacation in Tuscany and all that that entails but also want to invest in something truly special to commemorate your trip, then Arezzo is the perfect destination.

We have discussed the beautiful town of Polignano a Mare in Apulia many times before as a picturesque gem defined by whitewashed buildings perched high on the edge of rugged cliffs and overlooking impossibly blue waters below. Of course, there is more to the town, including the iconic and pretty little beach nestled between two of those cliffs right at the centre of the town, the charming piazze, the winding streets, the perfect places to sit out and eat or sip on a coffee, the balconies with flowers spilling over them, and much more besides. However, those cliffs are actually rather important and worth paying attention to if you are thinking of booking a villa in Apulia.

Over a staggering 20m in height, made of bright creamy limestone, craggy and dramatic, and overlooking the deep and beautiful waters of the Adriatic below, the unbelievable cliffs of Polignano a Mare are almost always annually one of the key stops or legs of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. Earlier this year, on the 2nd of July, they hosted one of the primary European legs of the tour for 2023. In fact, the town is often labelled the Home to European cliff-diving!