Archive for 'Central Italy'

Ostia Antica is an ancient Roman ghost town, not unlike Pompeii. However, it has the added bonus of being located just a subway ride from downtown Rome and is normally devoid of the intense tourist crowds that will mob Pompeii year-round. If you're interested in the Romans and that period of history, then this is the place for you, just find yourself the perfect vacation rental in Rome, hop on the subway and head out to Ostia Antica, Rome's fascinating ancient seaport which was abandoned by inhabitants, after the fall of the empire, and by the sea, after gradual silting of the harbour saw the coastline move out 4km.

Castello di Petroia is a castle near the town of Gubbio in the region of Umbria. Perched on a hilltop, in a strategic and scenic position, it both offers outstanding views of the surrounding landscape and looks like something plucked right from the pages of a storybook. Now a hotel, this castle is open to the public for meals in the great hall and has wonderful grounds where you can take a stroll after a delicious meal. Located close by both Gubbio and Perugia, it is the perfect distance from either town to make a quick trip one evening for dinner or during an afternoon to grab a coffee and explore the grounds. Just find a vacation rental in Umbria and drop by this stunning, fairytale castle for yourself.

Italy is well-known as a Catholic nation and, due to its long history of Catholicism, has given rise to a large number of saints. With so many saints, not everyone can be patron saint of obvious causes which has lead to the creation of some rather strange ones including a Patron Saint of Cranky Children (St Sebastian). One of the most unusual is, perhaps, St Clare of Assisi. Assisi has had a long history of religious affiliations, with St Francis being intimately connected to the area, but another saint hailing from the town is St Clare, Patron Saint of Television. You read that right, television. Why not find a vacation rental in Umbria and spend a day in the city of Assisi, learning all about this strange saint?

Do you think you eat a lot? Does this only become more pronounced when you are on holidays? Are you up for a challenge? If you answered positively to any of the above, you might want to find a vacation rental in Abruzzo and head there for your next holiday because they have the perfect festival for you: La Panarda. Celebrated in several towns in the region of Abruzzo such as Lanciano, L’Aquila, Sulmano and Villavallelonga since the Middle Ages it is a giant feast which sees participants eat a large number of courses. People are known to eat up to 30 courses and to eat right from one day and through into the next.

Perugia was an important production centre for art in the Renaissance and from which many great masters emerged. It continues to be a city that values art to this day and is even home to one of the best art galleries in the country, though it might be less well-known than others in bigger cities such as Florence and Rome. Nonetheless, the National Gallery of Umbria in Perugia has one of the richest collections in Italy with many works of international renown. There is a large swathe of history represented by the collection and a wide range of types of works from paintings to fabrics which carefully captures the development of artistic practice in the surrounding area. Find a vacation rental in Perugia and you can spend a day taking in this absolutely world-class collection for yourself.