Archive for 'Central Italy'

Spring is a beautiful time of year, when the earth defrosts after the long winter, flowers burst free from their slumber deep below the ground, baby animals find their footing on lush green pastures, the sun begins to show up on a more regular basis, tourist crowds awaken but remain smaller, and everything comes roaring back to life. It is a perfect time for a vacation, before demands and costs run high and the sun starts beating down, and Italy, in particular, is especially lovely at this time of year. However, there are some specific destinations in Italy that are at their best in Spring and we have been listing the best of the best among them in the last couple of posts. In this final entry in this series, we will discuss our last picks so you can get choosing among them and planning your Spring getaway in Italy...

5. Levanto, Liguria

The Ligurian Coast is swamped come Summer, particularly along the famous Cinque Terre. However, this lesser-known town is actually also an incredibly popular destination as one of the best surf destinations in Italy, which are in short supply.

With endless, impossibly green rolling hills, fields of flowers, more pleasantly cool weather, smaller tourist crowds, and lower prices, Spring is an excellent time to visit Italy. Hit up any of the cities and you'll find things a little slower and calmer than in Summer or head to the most popular destinations and you'll find it easier to book your rental and activities. All of which is a real bonus and takes a lot of the stress out of travel.

However, instead of simply choosing a destination that is a little bit more accessible and easy during the Spring months than the Summer, why not head to a destination that is actually also at its best during Spring?

These are the places in Italy that are at their loveliest and most charming over the next few months...

Recently, we discussed the beautiful building, art space, and cafeteria of Chiostro del Bramante, a cloister that was originally part of a monastery complex in the centre of Rome, just steps away from the famous Piazza Navona. It is a stunning space that now acts as a cultural centre, which is used for various purposes, including hosting events and regular excellent temporary exhibitions. Currently it is hosting the highly photographed and visually stunning, “Dream: L'Arte Incontra I Sogni” (“Art Meets Dreams”), which will continue into May and is a magical must-see art experience in Rome at the moment. If you have found a villa in Rome, it is definitely something to pencil in to your itinerary.

Italy is home to many delicious dishes, foods and products but one of the most recognisable food items of all has to be Baci. These chocolate “kisses” are one of the most famous sweets from Italy and can now be found in stores and supermarkets all over the world. Coming from Perugia, in the region of Umbria, they are made by Perugina, which is the leading chocolate brand in Italy. Made of chocolate and hazelnut, a popular combination of flavours in Italy, and wrapped in metallic blue and silver foil with stars and the logo on them, they are an iconic chocolate. If you have a holiday rental in Perugia and are visiting the area, you can visit their factory, and take a tour, drop into their chocolate museum, and take a chocolate-making class while you're there but, if you have found a vacation rental anywhere in Italy, you'll be able to readily get your hands on these tasty treats. Be sure to treat yourself and to buy some to give to your loved ones!

Chiostro del Bramante, as the name may suggest, is an architectural gem by the Renaissance master, Donato Bramante. The main architect employed by Pope Julius II, and the only one to rival Michelangelo, he was an extremely talented architect. The Chiostro is the cloister of what was originally a monastery complex commissioned by Cardinal Oliviero Carafa around 1500.

Today, the building has a different use, as a cultural centre used for various purposes, but this remarkable central structure remains unchanged despite this. It is still a harmonious space made up of elegant geometric lines and perfect proportions, according to Renaissance ideals, which revived classical Greek and Roman aesthetics. Light, bright, airy, and an oasis of calm, it is free to visit and just steps away from the famous Piazza Navona. If you were considering spending time in the city, be sure to browse our luxury villas in Rome, and then carve out some space in your schedule for a trip to this extraordinary space.