Archive for 'Events'

Rome is, understandably, pretty special at Christmastime. As the centre of Catholicism with the presence of the Vatican, Christmas is pretty important and a major celebration in Rome. If you are a passionate fan of Christmas or, particularly, a religious Christian, it is a must to spend at least one Yuletide season in Rome. There is so much to do in the city on a daily basis but even more excitement and lots more interesting festive events around Christmas. From Christmas markets to masses to performances and concerts, there is plenty to keep you entertained. In particular, there are lots of great events for music-lovers as Rome is also home to lots of musical and choir groups, many that are centuries old, and which have honed their talents over generations.

One such group is the prestigious Schola Romana Ensemble, a highly professional group of singers and musicians specialised in Roman Baroque music, who will be performing this year in the stunning church of Santa Maria della Concezione. To experience the magic of their Christmas performance, and much more besides, just browse our vacation rentals in Rome and planning a trip to Rome this Christmas!

Christmas markets have quickly become one of the most desirable travel experiences out there. They have existed in some parts of the world for centuries but, in the last few years, many are making family and personal traditions of going and getting in the Christmas spirit at a highly atmospheric and seasonal Christmas market before the chaos of the season well and truly kicks in.

There are some destinations that are famous for their Christmas markets with the Germanic examples being seen as the optimal experience. However, don’t immediately dismiss and look past other Christmas market destinations around Europe, which also have lots to offer by way of fun and festivity. One destination that many don’t think of is Italy but this is a mistake as Italian Christmas markets perfectly combine delicious treats, amazing handmade gifts and souvenirs, and the prettiest of surroundings from hilltop Tuscan villages, to Alpine towns, to some of the world’s most beautiful cities.

Among these, lovely Venice is actually quite the hidden gem, boasting lots of excellent markets to choose from and the most incredibly picturesque setting. Just find a vacation rental in Venice today and get planning a quick pre-festivities getaway to come explore these various Christmas markets this winter!

Florence is undeniably lovely and beautiful no matter what time of year you visit but it is especially charming at Christmas, when it is filled with excitable shoppers dashing around, cheerful traditional Christmas markets, bright and pretty, seasonal displays in storefronts, festive cheer, and, of course, Christmas lights. However, if you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are planning a Christmas getaway in Florence, you might be glad to know that the city goes a step further with their lighting arrangements to make something extra special and even more magical over the Holiday Season: the Florence Light Festival, or F-Light Festival.

Italy is well-known around the world for her reputation as a fashionable place and a global fashion capital. As such, there are many who have dreamed of going shopping while holidaying in Italy. However, if you are a bargain hunter or want your money to stretch farther, then you need to plan your trip for a particular time of year: during the “saldi”. Unlike many other places in the world, Italy’s sales are far more carefully regulated by the state and do not happen willy-nilly all throughout the year. One of only two times per year that sales happen is during this period, the saldi of January. If you’ve always wanted to visit the official fashion capital of Italy, this is the best time. Find a vacation rental in Milan and get ready to shop until you drop!

This week we are officially launching our Autumn rental period for 2019 and now is really the best possible time to start looking for a vacation rental in Italy in order to get planning your perfect Fall getaway with the best possible availability on offer right now. Italy is an ideal Autumn destination for lots of reasons: villas rentals are at lower price points; you will find that plenty of other costs during you trip will be lower outside of the high season for tourism; everything is less busy and there you will encounter less queues and crowds; harvest season will mean that there are plenty of delicious things to eat; the weather is milder and temperatures are more pleasant; and Italy is particularly lovely to look at when painted all over in the warm and cosy shades of Fall.