Archive for 'Central Italy'

If you greatly enjoy visiting sites of rich historical and Renaissance influence while on your holiday to Italy, it’s highly recommended that you indulge yourself in the sites and museums of Vatican City in the Latium region of Italy. Vatican City is a state within the city of Rome which tourists would need up to three days of intense touring to see the best of what the world’s smallest state has to offer! There is a wealth of excellent holiday rentals within Rome city and surrounding areas from which to base your Vatican exploration for however many days you decide to stay.

The grandest entrance to Vatican City is the magnificent St. Peter’s Square. Visitors can marvel at the glorious fountains and the tall obelisk that decorate the square interior. Many tourists are awed by the sheer size and glorious architecture of the arms that stretch outwards in a semicircle from each side of St. Peter’s Basilica and envelops the square.

If you’re holidaying in Italy anywhere near the city of Rome, then its well worth visiting Vatican City State within it! Recognised fully as an independent state, the Vatican City is the headquarters of the Catholic Church and is where its leader, the Pope resides.

Every year, millions of pilgrims and tourists come here to admire the magnificent architecture, history and art that has earned Vatican City its status of being a Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO.

There are many wonderful vacation rentals in Rome city, surrounding the Vatican state where visitors can enjoy a comfortable stay and spend a few days exploring this unique place.

Vatican City is built on the right bank of the River Tiber where it was once a marshy land where several villas were built in pre Christian times. Visitors might be fascinated to learn that between 37-41AD, Emperor Caligula had a private arena built here. During the reign of Emperor Nero from 54-68AD, many unfortunate Christians were tortured and met their death here for the entertainment of Roman crowds.

The beautiful hills and valleys of the Alto Metauro region in Le Marche are indeed a sight for sore eyes! This district rests in the centre of the Apennines Mountains and borders with Tuscany and Umbria. It lies along the road from Florence to Urbino and was extremely important during the ages of Humanism and Renaissance because of the major market towns close to the area.

Visitors wishing to spend a few days in this tranquil area have a nice choice of vacation rentals in Morro D'Alba, only a few kilometres away from the area of Alto Metauro.


This spectacular spot of undisturbed natural beauty is well looked after by its people and is thoughtfully cultivated for its valuable charcoal and other food products. The inhabitants of Alto Metauro continue to use many of the old traditional farming and crafting methods and proudly exhibit how they do so in many workshops and educational venues.

If you are visiting the Vatican City for a few days and have reserved your tickets in advance, you can meet the Pope on Wednesdays at 10.30 at a special congregational meeting. Here the Pope bestows his blessing in several languages to his visitors in Nervi Hall, St. Peter’s Basilica or St. Peter’s square, depending on the crowds.

During the summer months when the Pope resides in Castel Gandolfo, a coastal town 15 miles southeast of Rome, he gives his benediction to the crowds there.

Basing your stay at a pretty holiday rental in Rome city can avail you of excellent tours around other attractions of Vatican City including the Vatican Museums and the tours beneath St. Peter’s Basilica. Here you can see the tombs of previous popes and saints’, including what is believed to be the burial site of St. Peter, the First Pope of the Catholic Church.

Travel back in time to discover the thrills of the medieval art of jousting at the famous ‘’Giostra della Quintana” in Ascoli Piceno! Held every year on the first Sunday of August in the charming town of Ascoli Piceno in the La Marche region of Italy, this exhilarating festival is well worth visiting and attracts more and more tourists every year.

There are lots of great value vacation rentals in Civitella del Tronto to enjoy your stay in, only thirteen kilometres from Ascoli Piceno. If you’re lucky enough to be here on the first Sunday of August for the ‘’Giostra della Quintana” then prepare to be amazed at the colourful sights, sounds and delicious smells that you will experience in the heart of the town of Ascoli!

Preceding the main jousting event in the local stadium, your eyes will be treated to a feast of colour and movement as a procession of around 1500 people march down the main street dressed in traditional medieval costumes, bearing the flags of their ‘sestiere’.