Archive for 'Latium'

Those who are interested in the history of art and architecture and in Italy as a key cultural centre in the West that inspired so much of what we see around us every day right up to the present, will probably already have a desire to find a vacation rental in Rome to come and see the Eternal City. However, while the famous monuments known all over the globe such as St Peters and the Colosseum, the Ancient Roman ruins, and the great Renaissance works of art, are all definitely worth seeking out and seeing for yourself, there are newer, lesser-known gems in this impossibly renowned and beloved city that one should definitely take note of. One such example of this is the MAXXI (the Museo nazionale delle arti del XXI secolo or National Museum of 21st-century Arts), a wonderful museum of contemporary art and architecture that is, in its own right, an incredible architectural gem.

MAXXI is located in the Flaminio Quarter of Rome, on the site of a former Caserma Montello military barracks and incorporates parts of this earlier structure. The building was designed by lauded architect Zaha Hadid after an international competition was held to find a suitable design. Built over a period of ten years, the building went on to win the Stirling Prize of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2010. Considered an important contemporary gem in the city, it has been described by the Guardian as, "Hadid's finest built work to date," and, "a masterpiece fit to sit alongside Rome's ancient wonders." Opened to the public in 2010, the museum was the first national institution in Italy that was dedicated to contemporary art and architecture and was conceived of as a broad cultural campus. MAXXI is managed by a Foundation that was established in 2009 by the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities and headed by Giovanna Melandri and this sleek contemporary museum is a key hub of creativity and a place for experimentation and innovation.

If you have been considering booking a city break but are trying to decide on a location, we encourage you to look to Italy. There are endless excellent options of destinations for a city break in Italy from one of the world's best-known capitals to important art and fashion centres to some less familiar but no less wonderful gems. Here is our guide to some of the best destinations in which to find a vacation rental in Italy for a city break full of scenic surroundings, history, art, culture, great food and wine, excellent shopping, and more...

If you are the kind of person who has very specific tastes then you might find that it is often difficult for you to find the vacation rental that can suit all of your needs. Those who have been looking to book the perfect vacation rental in Italy, however, will find that our advanced search tool will be invaluable in helping to ensure that you can narrow down your options to find a property offering all of the different amenities and features that you most value. Read on to our guide and we'll teach you how to effectively use this tool!

1. Head to our homepage and put in your desired dates for your vacation and the number of people in your party. If you have an idea of whereabouts in the country you would like to travel, you can put this is in too – for example, check out our villas in Sicily here and our vacation rentals in Rome here. If not, you can leave this blank and just hit, “search.”

Hanami, or 花見, meaning, "flower viewing," is a traditional Japanese custom of enjoying the transient nature, and beauty, of flowers and is used to refer to appreciation of cherry blossom trees and plum blossom trees, although it most commonly suggests celebrations surrounding the blooming of cherry blossoms today. In contemporary Japan, hanami largely consists of outdoor parties and picnics that take place beneath the sakura during daytime or at night. As the blossoms only last for a week or two once they have bloomed the careful watching and waiting for them is a major preoccupation in Japan with the weather bureau announcing a blossom forecast between March and early May when the trees flower in different parts of the country. This has become harder to predict in recent years due to the effects of global warming but has become even more crucial to get right as millions of Japanese people and thousands of international tourists both descend upon the cherry blossom hot spots around the country each year and it acts as a major tourism boost for the country. While it might not quite boast the visual explosion of the hanami experience in Japan where there are thousands upon thousands of cherry blossom trees in various cities, towns, and countryside areas, Rome does actually have a well-established celebration of these beautiful blooms of its own each year and a wealth of cherry blossoms trees. So, if you want to experience a little slice of Japan and the beauty of these blooms while also enjoying everything that a spring getaway in Rome has to offer then browse our luxury villas in Rome and get planning your trip!

Rome, as home to Vatican City, the centre of the Roman Catholic world is, understandably, a wonderful place to spend Christmas. While Christmas Day itself and New Years Day see almost everything shut down bar some shops, restaurants, and hotels, the days around the holiday transform the already famously beautiful city into something altogether more special and magical. If you have been considering spending the Holidays abroad this year and you are looking for a suitable destination then why not browse our wonderful luxury vacation rentals in Rome? We have lots of chic and cosy properties located all across the city that would make for a perfect temporary home away from home where comfort, Italian style, elegance, pretty views and surroundings, and ready access to some of the most famous tourist attractions in the entire world all come together. Come with family members or loved ones, experience the magic and beauty of the Eternal City lit up and decorated for the season, and then return home to one of our incredible luxury rentals to warm up, spend quality time, eat, and make memories that will last a lifetime together!

There are plenty of reasons as to why Rome makes for an excellent Christmas destination but here are five of the most compelling in our opinion...