Archive for 'Hiking'

Sicily is an exceptionally beautiful place, this is a well-known fact. The pace of life, blue skies, charming villages, rich historical sites, rugged coast and crystal clear seas are all celebrated features of the island and its natural beauty is well-regarded. However, the most stunning scenery on the island is found in the Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve. Created in 1981 as the first nature reserve on the island, it is located West of Palermo, just after Castellammare del Golfo.

Here the rugged coastline is at its most spectacular and has been shaped by the sea, creating coves, grottos and sculptures in the hard limestone cliffs. Stretching 7km along the coast between the lovely little village of Scopello in the east to near San Vito Lo Capo in the west, it covers more than 1600 hectares and is an unspoiled, natural stunner with plenty to see and do and beaches plucked right from your dreams.

The Napoleonic Road (Strada Napoleonica) has been an integral part of Trieste since its construction began in 1821. It is a 5km-long path outside the city, joining the Italian countryside from Opicina to the region of Prosecco. This route offers the best view to the sea and the Gulf of Trieste and, if you’re on the ball, you can catch one of the most beautiful sunsets in the country here as well. It is the perfect place to take a break from dashing around museums and attractions to spend some time outdoors, take in some fresh air and immerse yourself in the extraordinary beauty of this part of the world. Just find a vacation rental in Friuli Venezia Giulia and spend time exploring the city of Trieste and the wonders that surround it, such as the Napoleonic Road.

The Brenta Dolomites, or “Dolomiti di Brenta”, is the part of the Dolomite range which lies to the westernmost extremity of the region. The range is about 40km in length as it runs from north to south and about 12 km wide east to west. It is rather different from the more eastern Dolomite groups, made up of slender lines and a greater plasticity of forms. However, all of the Dolomite range is particularly stunning, with deep valleys, extremely high peaks, dramatically craggy rock formations and pretty towns and huts perched at random in a very picturesque fashion. This is surely why it became a UNESCO Heritage Site in 2009.

In the market for an exceptionally unusual attraction to visit in Italy this summer? Perhaps something that can be seen from space? Maybe something unlike anything else in the world? Well, if that is the case, Piedmont has just the thing for you: A giant, knitted pink bunny which can be seen from satellites above earth. Located in the Alps in a rural spot called Colletto Fava, the oddity attracts many visitors each year. Knitted from wool, it is slowly rotting away and is expected to have disappeared entirely by 2025, if you want to get the chance to see it for yourself, you'll need to plan a trip in the next few years. As it is, it has already deteriorated quite a bit. So, why not find a villa with pool in Piedmont and spend a day visiting this unusual sight?

The Temple of Valadier doesn't look real. It looks, instead, like something from a fantasy novel. Perched just inside the Frassassi mountain caves in Genga, Le Marche with views across an amazing landscape, it seems like a mythical temple or the home of some magical creature.

In reality, it is a neoclassical church which was built in 1828 for Pope Leone XII, who was from the area. The church is set inside the equally fantastical Frassassi cave system. With its crags, stalagmites and stalactites, it has a theatrical and breath-taking appearance.

These caves, too, can be visited and explored. If you are in search of beauty and magnificence that seems utterly other-worldly, find a holiday rental in Le Marche and spend a day exploring this special place.