Archive for 'Central Italy'

For chocolate-lovers visiting Italy, there is one city that stands above all the rest as a must-see: this is the town of Perugia located at the centre of the country in the region of Umbria. Perugia is home to Perugina, the leading chocolate brand in Italy and here you won't need a gold ticket in order to step into the fantastical world of their chocolate factory. You can take tours of the factory, visit their museum, taste their wares – the most famous of their products being their chocolate and hazelnut Baci (or Kisses) – and take chocolate-making lessons. To spend a fantastic couple hours immersed in the world of Italian chocolate, just find a holiday rental in Perugia and make your way down to Via San Sisto one afternoon.

Villa d’Este, is villa in Tivoli which has one of the greatest Italian gardens in history and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It consists of fountains, nymphs, grottoes and water-driven mechanisms that produce visual effects and play music. The garden at Villa d'Este would go on to become a much-copied model for European gardens in the mannerist and baroque styles. Set within the landscape of Tivoli itself – surrounded by so much natural beauty, art and history with scenery rich in caves and waterfalls and ancient ruins such as Villa Adriana – Villa d'Este leaves an even greater impression on visitors. Just find a luxury villa in Lazio and spend a day at the villa getting a little lost, wandering, grabbing a bite to eat and taking in the incredible surroundings.

One of the great joys of Italy is discovering the small, and beautiful, towns which dot her countryside. You can stumble upon food festivals that make the best Italian restaurant in your hometown look pitiful by comparison but cost little, works by famous artists tucked away in tiny churches and castles and palaces right out of your favourite childhood story. Camerino is one such magical small town in the centre of the Le Marche region of central Italy, south-west of San Severino. A stunning walled medieval city, it has outstanding works of art and architecture that rival that of anywhere else in the world. In order to explore this little wonder, just find a vacation rental in Le Marche and make your way to the hill on which the town is perched.

Italy is a land with boundless riches when it comes to cultural heritage. The wealth of art and historical monuments is endless with sites and objects of major international importance dating from pre-history to the present day. One of the periods for which she is most well-known is the time of the Romans. Their control of vast swathes of the world lasted for hundreds of years and their power and longevity ensured that much remains of their life and times, particularly in Italy, their base of operations and homeland. Pompeii, Herculaneum and Rome itself are the most famous sites but other parts of Italy are also imbued with rich sights.

So, you're considering leaving all the stress and chaos of the holidays at home this year and going on Roman holiday instead. Once you have found the perfect vacation rental in Rome, you might be wondering what is on offer in that great city over Christmas. You might even be worrying that there will be nothing to see and do, that this very Catholic area might shut down completely over the festive period but, never fear, there is plenty going on! While you plan your Christmas in Rome, read through our festive guide to the city and get ready for a fun, memorable and utterly stress-free holiday this year. In part one of this guide, we're going to discuss when the sights, shops and restaurants are open.