Archive for 'Hiking'

Mount Etna is one of Italy’s most iconic, and destructive, peaks. If you are enjoying a stay in one of our villas in Sicily, it will be a looming presence for the entirety of your time on the gorgeous island, always visible above the stunning landscape. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and the highest in Europe, Mount Etna is located on the east coast of the island and is called mongibello (beautiful mountain) by the people of Sicily. Rising above the city of Catania and the surrounding greenery, the mountain paints a striking picture of white snow against black bands of lava, burning red fires, and smoke rising overhead. Impressive, awe-inspiring, iconic, and boasting amazing views over the island and the coast, it is possible to scale this famous volcano for yourself. So, if you’re staying in one of our vacation rentals in Sicily and you are thinking about an excursion up the Beautiful Mountain, then read on:

While picture-perfect colourful seaside towns, the gentle rolling hills and golden scenery of Tuscany and Umbria, and the grand cities of Rome and Florence are some of the images that predominate in our collective imaginings of Italy, the wilder and more dramatic views of Italy’s varied landscapes are equally captivating. Particularly, in the north, where the Alps tower overhead, Italy affords some truly breath-taking and awe-inspiring scenery. These glimpses of the sublime, of nature at its most unchecked, untamed, and wild, offer the perfect chance to escape the mundane, refresh your eyes, and wonder at the majesty of the world. And, one of the best examples of a place to take in such views and scenes is the Gran Paradiso National Park, which can be visited if you book one of our vacation rentals in Aosta Valley or holiday rentals in Piedmont.

If you have always wanted to take in the beauty of the Alps for yourself and if you’re dreaming of a holiday in Italy this winter, then we cannot recommend a villa in Aosta highly enough. Not only can you ski at the various resorts in the region and visit some of the most beautiful and famous Christmas markets in Italy if you spend time in this part of the country over the winter period but you also have easy access to Switzerland and the most majestic stretch of the Italian Alps.

In this most northern reach of Italy, bordering France, Switzerland, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Slovenia, you will discover a breathtaking tapestry of towering, rugged blue peaks, verdant green valleys, meadows teeming with a diverse array of flora and fauna, picturesque villages perched on high slopes, and rivers meandering down mountainsides in glistening silver ribbons. You'll breathe in the freshest air imaginable, savour the purest, most refreshing water from fountains and natural springs, and be captivated by the most awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping vistas of your life. And in this particular area of the Alps, you will find Mont Brulé.

For one of the most impossibly beautiful winter wonderland landscapes in the world, there are few places more magical than South Tyrol. A dreamy spot in the Italian Alps filled with pretty villages, snow-capped peaks, world-class ski resorts, stunning hiking trails, awe-inspiring landscapes, and much more besides, there are all sorts of extraordinary sights to be discovered when you choose a villa in the Northern Italian ski region. However one of the most awe-inspiring and stunning spots of all in this remarkable region is undoubtedly Pragser Wildsee.

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.