Archive for 'Christmas'

If you are looking to plan a ski trip to Italy, you might consider a vacation rental in Cortina D’Ampezzo, which is famously the most fashionable ski resort town in the country. Located in the Veneto region of Italy, just a two hour drive from Venice, it hosted the very first Winter Olympic Games back in 1956 and has been popular since the 1930s. Known as the “Queen of the Dolomites”, it is one of the best-known ski resorts in the world and hosts lots of different international sports events each year such as the Alpine Ski World Cup, the Tour de Ski, ice hockey and curling championships, and the Cortina Winter Polo.

However, beyond the actual skiing and winter sports that might initially draw one to visit Cortina D’Ampezzo, it is the beautiful town, elegant nature, and chic restaurants, cafes, stores, and vibrant nightlife that keep people coming back to this famously fashionable gem. If you are interested in this side of things, then it would best to plan your trip to Cortina D’Ampezzo for the 6th to the 8th of December 2019 when the Fashion Weekend will take place and the town will be at its chicest.

In its ninth edition, the Fashion Weekend in Cortina D’Ampezzo is organised by the Cortina for Us association and helps kick off the holiday season in the area in style. The weekend sees a host of chic events take place around Cortina D’Ampezzo that gives visitors a real taste of the most elegant kind of on and off-piste lifestyle. Hit the slopes during the day and then spend your evenings partying at the most elegant cocktail parties and special, once-off events.

We recently wrote about Florence at Christmas and how it is lit up and made even more beautiful and magical over the Holiday Season by the incredible lights and projections of the F-Light Festival. The amazing beauty of the city and its seasonal trimmings alone is reason enough to find a luxury villa in Florence and get planning a winter break in Tuscany but there is another excellent incentive: the variety of amazing Christmas markets that take place in the city each year. Whether you are looking to shop for unique gifts and souvenirs or merely want to wander around and take in the festive atmosphere, Florence and her numerous Christmas markets are exactly what the doctor ordered! Here are just five examples that you should visit if you’re in the city this Christmas.

1. The Weihnachtsmarkt

The Weihnachtsmarkt, which takes place in Piazza Santa Croce, is the city’s most famous and biggest annual Christmas market and is named for, and based on, the style of Christmas markets that you can typically find in Germany. Launching on the 23rd of November 2019 and continuing until the 22nd of December 2019, the market is open daily from 10am to 10pm and features a little Christmas village made up of the little wooden huts that are found in markets in Germany and the north of Italy, from which various merchants are selling gifts, handmade crafts, food, beer, mulled wine, and plenty of other culinary specialities from all over Europe.

If you have always wanted to visit Rome, we recommend a visit over Christmas. Not only is the city lit up, decorated, and full of festive cheer and activity at this time of the year but it is also a great time for tourists as there tends to be smaller tourist crowds to contend with. While things close on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, the days either side of the holidays are when Rome is at its least hectic. As a tourist destination where you will always have to contend with crowds of some description, it is a real bonus to get it at its best and least insane. So, if you have always wished to see the Eternal City for yourself, browse our vacation rentals in Rome and get planning the Christmas getaway in Rome of your dreams!

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!