Archive for 'Events'

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.

The world is full of food markets but one of the headiest and most appealing to foodies has to be Palermo's incredible Mercato di Ballarò or Ballarò Market. If you have found a vacation rental in Sicily and are looking for somewhere to get the freshest and best-quality food products, to sample local street foods, and to immerse yourself in Sicilian food culture, then the Mercato di Ballarò is absolutely and undoubtedly a must. Pencil it into your travel itinerary and make sure to leave plenty of space in your stomach before heading out to experience it all for yourself.

According to a 10th -century Arab writer's travel diary, Ballarò Market is the oldest food market in Palermo and the very fact that it was being noted as being a fixture of the city all the way back in the 10th century is astounding and showcases just how steeped in local history and culture it is. Held in Albergheria, one of the four Norman quarters of the capital city of Sicily, it is one of four traditional markets, with each quarter having one of its own. The markets of Ballarò, Vucciria, and Capo are the most famous and popular among both locals and tourists, with the Mercato di Ballarò being the most popular and well-known of all.

The historic markets in Palermo feel a lot like the medinas of Marrakech or Cairo, which makes sense as Sicily was once under Arab rule and many remainders and reminders of this time still flavour the island and Palermo, in particular, from the architecture to the food to the language. This is one of the aspects of Sicilian life in which Arab traditions and culture feel the most alive and best-preserved in the Italy of today. As such, they also offer a rather unique cultural and culinary experience in Italy and really are a must-see.

Many people, decades on, remain fascinated by the Kennedys and the style icon that was Jackie Kennedy, in particular. As a result, places that they visited, in both official and unofficial capacities, are tourist attractions in their own right today. If you have found a vacation rental in Ravello and you have an interest in the Kennedys, it may sweeten the whole thing for you to know that the First Lady once came for a long stay in this beautiful seaside city in Italy.

In honour of this famous visit, the city is putting on a documentary exhibition that recalls this moment in history. "Welcome Jackie" is the name of the documentary exhibition curated by architect Francesco Fortunato and it recalls the story of Jackie Kennedy's long stay in Ravello in the summer of 1962, upon the advice of the famous American writer Gore Vidal who was a distant relative of the First Lady and a frequent visitor to Italy who was particularly impressed by the beauty of Ravello.

The Venice Biennale is an annual event that takes place in the city of Venice in Italy and is, on alternate years, an art exhibition and then an architectural exhibition, with art being on odd years and architecture on even years. It is an international showcase of the best and brightest design talents from all around the world and attracts around 300,000 tourists from all over the globe to Italy. If you have always wanted to visit the city, now is a great time to book a Venice vacation rental and to head to the city to experience the 58th edition of the Biennale International Art Exhibition. Entitled, “May You Live In Interesting Times,” it will be open to the public until the 24th of November 2019 and was inaugurated on the 11th of May. Venice and the wider Veneto region always have abundant charms to offer but with the Biennale taking place, it is all just that much more colourful, exciting and fascinating.