Archive for 'Latium'

Surfing probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Italy and the country is not particularly well-known for having good swells. However, there are plenty of beautiful beaches all over Italy and you may get the urge to go surfing while spending time by the sea. One particularly nice area for surfing in Italy is at Civitavecchia in Lazio. Not only is the town charming and full of things to do and see, but you can often catch quite good waves and there are a few surfing schools in the area. The beaches along this stretch are also picturesque with impossibly blue waters and beautiful and historic buildings overlooking it all.

In a city such as Rome where the classical, from ancient to Renaissance incarnations, rules supreme, the Chiesa del Sacro Cuore del Suffragio (Church of the Sacred Heart of the Suffrage) on the banks of the Tiber immediately stands out.

This Gothic Revival church, built in the 20th century according to designs by the engineer, Giuseppe Gualandi, is often referred to as the “Little Milan Cathedral” due to its sumptuous gothic design and is well worth a visit in its own right.

However, hidden at the back of the building is a highly unique museum which is the show-stopper of the piece - the tiny century-old Piccolo Museo Del Purgatorio, or "Museum of the Holy Souls in Purgatory," which holds a collection gathered from all over the world of bibles, prayer books and clothing said to have been singed by the hands of souls in purgatory.

With over 3,000 years of history behind her, Rome is bound to have a complicated past, often with dark and gory moments. It seems likely, then, that if anywhere in the world might be populated by ghosts, Rome would be a strong candidate. Certainly, there are countless tales of ghost, grisly accidents, murder, magic and horror that take place in the Eternal City. Due to this ghostly heritage, there are also plenty of ghost tours of Rome, should you be interested in seeing the city in a different (or less) light. Just find a vacation rental in Rome and choose one of the following tours to learn all about the ghosts that forever haunt the Eternal City.

One of the first things that comes to mind when most people think of Rome is the Colosseum and one of the first things that comes to mind when thinking of the Romans is gladiators. It is fair to say, then, that gladiatorial games are one of the city's defining heritages. Visiting the Colosseum should be done at least once in a lifetime but for something more unique and a little off the beaten track, why not enroll in Gladiator School?

If you're intrigued, find a vacation villa rental in Rome and read on to learn how you can become the next Spartacus.

The itinerary for Rome, as with many of the world's major cities, can be a little repetitive; visit the Colosseum, catacombs, Vatican City, Galleria Borghese, etc. Perhaps you've been to the city before or you might hate places stuffed to the gills with tourists. If so, fear not, there are plenty of other things to see in the city which are full of cultural importance, history and fun. Here are five slightly more unusual things to do on your next trip to Rome, so why not find a holiday rental in Rome and get going?