Archive for 'Central Italy'

In the scenic town of Tivoli in Latium, around thirty kilometres outside of Rome, tourists flock in their thousands to see the mesmerising UNESCO World Heritage Site of Villa Adriana!

This vast archaeological site was built as a luxury retreat for the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD. He loved his new retreat so much that he actually spent much of his time ruling the Roman Empire from here!

Stay at a luxury villa rental in Latium and enjoy living the lavish lifestyle that Emperor Hadrian did in his beloved home!

Visit the magnificent town of Urbino in Le Marche, a legacy of Renaissance architecture and culture! This ancient walled settlement grew to become an artistic place of great prominence under the sponsored supervision of Federico da Montefeltro, duke of Urbino from 1444 to 1482. Urbino is perhaps most famous for its glorious Ducale palace, a late 15th century masterpiece commissioned by the wealthy duke. This stunning building is home to one of the most elaborate Renaissance painting collections in the world!

Come and see one of the four largest and most ancient basilicas in Rome, called the Basilica di San Paolo fuori le Mura! Along with St Peters basilica in Vatican City and St. John’s and St. Mary’s basilica, this majestic building completes the four Papal basilicas of Rome.

In 1980, the Basilica of ‘St Paul Outside the Walls in Rome’ was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the historical centre of Rome city and the properties of the Papal government in Vatican City.

It earned this prestigious award because of its rich historical value, beautiful design and cultural significance.

In South-east Umbria, very close to the Tuscany border, is the gastronomic town of Norcia! This picturesque location is the perfect spot to travel to for a day trip. Located in the province of Perugia and close to Valerina, Norcia is also well known for its local hiking and mountaineering trails. Book into a villa rental in Umbria where you can relax in scenic surroundings and explore the surrounding towns and places of interest at your ease.

Wild boar roam here and although are quite heavily hunted, some are especially trained to hunt for the elusive black truffles that grow in old forests in the area. Taste the sublime flavours of cured pork cuts and ham that are produced in Norcia by true artisan customs. This famous pork producing town has earned itself the nickname of being the pork capital of Italy!

The scenic area of Lunigiana is a stretch of land that lies across part of Tuscany and Liguria. It extends from the Apennines to where the Magra River meets the sea. This is a magical ancient land, full of castles, medieval towns and villages and mesmerising beauty wherever you turn your head.

Learn all about what life was like here by visiting the museums and libraries that dots across parts of Lunigiana like the town of Pontremoli. A fascinating museum here displays interesting old carved rock statures discovered in the local area that date hundreds of years ago.

Stay in a stunning holiday rental in Fivizzano, close to the picturesque Lunigiana where you can easily tour around all the attractions of the area.