Archive for 'Curiosities'

The Shroud of Turin is a mysterious object which has been drawing pilgrims to Turin, Italy for centuries. Much debate has always surrounded the Shroud with people wondering where it came from, how the markings on it were made, if it is Jesus Christ who is depicted and how old it is. We will, perhaps, never know the answers to some of these questions. The Shroud, however, is still fascinating for those interested in history, faith, religion and science alike. If you want to see it for yourself you could find a vacation rental nearby and make a trip to view it this year. This could be a once-in-a-lifetime trip as the Shroud is being shown in a rare exposition.

The Via Aurelia was an ancient Roman road that was built between Rome and Pisa around the year 241BC. It connected up with other major roads of the time including Via Appia which led from Rome to Apulia and Via Aemilia Scaura which led from Pisa to Genoa.

Stay in a gorgeous holiday rental in the Rome area and enjoy a day or two of walking along this intriguing ancient route!

Via Aurelia (as marked in yellow) made up a network of important roads that served the needs of the expanding Roman Empire. Armies could move quickly towards where they were needed and messages could be sent reasonably quickly to Roman colonies across Italy.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011, the intriguing collection of 111 archaeological sites scattered across the Alps is a fantastic tourist attraction to visit on your next Italian vacation!

These pile dwellings of the Alps are shared between Italy, Germany, France, Austria and Slovenia. Nineteen of them rest in the northern Italian regions of Lombardy, Veneto, Piedmont, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Trentino Alto Adige.

The sites of these unusual settlements are always located close to water and the oldest of them are located by Lake Varese in Lombardy.

Go on a fascinating historical hiking trail through Italy on the famous Via Francigena! This is an ancient pilgrim route leading to Rome and is believed to have originated as far away as England!

The name ‘Via Francigena’ means ‘The road that comes from France’ or ‘Via Romea Francigena’ meaning ‘The road to Rome that comes from France’.

Choose from an outstanding collection of Italian villas ranging from luxury villas to stunning vacation rentals on the Amalfi coast in Southern Italy. The Via Francigena passes through France, England, Switzerland and finally through Italy.

If you’re planning a holiday that passes through the region of Piedmont between 19th April and 24th June 2015 then be sure to visit Turin to gaze upon the mysterious Shroud of Turin!

This rare ‘unveiling’ of the Turin Shroud was announced to commemorate the Bicentenary of John Bosco, an endeared priest of the 1800s.

This opportunity to see a popular ‘icon’ of the Catholic Church would be a fascinating tourist experience as the Turin Shroud is mostly sealed within a special airtight case under the altar of the royal chapel in the duomo.

The Turin Shroud is a long strip of linen cloth that marks the image of a man that bears marks of injury consistent with that of crucifixion. It is believed by many to be the shroud used to wrap Jesus in when he was removed from the cross and laid to rest in a tomb.