Archive for 'December'

Cortina d'Ampezzo is a fashionable ski resort town located in the Veneto region of Italy, just a two hour drive from Venice. The area has been a winter sports mecca since the 1930s and even played host to the first Italian Winter Olympic Games in 1956. Known as the “Queen of the Dolomites”, it is one of the best-known ski resorts worldwide and hosts international sports events annually such as the Alpine Ski World Cup, the Tour de Ski, ice hockey and curling championships, and Cortina Winter Polo. It is also stunningly beautiful, with plenty of restaurants and cafes in town offering delicious food, a vibrant nightlife and good shopping. However, in addition to this, it is home to a rather unique Christmas tradition.

Città di Castello is an ancient town in the Tiber Valley that is still largely surrounded by town walls dating back to the 16th century. It has a long history of being attacked, destroyed, rebuilt and being passed from ruler to to ruler.

Yet, despite this, it is still a historic and pretty town where many stunning buildings have been preserved such as the Palace of the Podestà, with its baroque facade dating back to 1686; the Town Hall, built in the Gothic style with an elegant portal and windows with two lights; the Gothic Cathedral, built on the site of a Roman temple; and St. Mary Maggiore, dating back to the Gothic era but adorned by a Renaissance facade.

The Municipal Pinacoteque, meanwhile, is home to works of art by Raphael, Signorelli and Domenico Ghirlandaio, as well as many other works by artists of the Umbrian, Tuscan and Marche schools.

In our last article, we outlined the unique nature and particular charms of the Italian interpretation of Christmas markets, before outlining some of the best of the best around the country. In addition to those examples in Rome, Florence and Milan, we have compiled a list of some more of the finest Christmas markets around Italy, should you have found a vacation rental in Italy and be planning on spending the festive season there.

Verona is a very famous Italian city and UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site best known for its connection to Shakespeare's most tragic of lovers. However, come Christmas, it gets a German makeover when a large Christkindlmarkt opens in Piazza dei Signori. Made up of wooden stalls with over 60 exhibitors selling handicrafts, decorations, regional foods, and German specialties, it usually opens late November through to December 21st.

The Christmas markets of Italy are not quite the famous attractions that draw people from all over the world that one finds all over the northern countries of Europe. Yet, despite this, they are lovely events that are fun for couples, groups of friends, families and solo travellers alike.

You will still find all the twinkly lights, hot drinks, delicious delicacies – both local and nordic – crafts, gifts and fun events that your heart desires at Italian Christmas markets, all with a distinct local flavour.

You can also find these markets all over the country now. In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find a town without a Christmas market at this stage. We have rounded up some of the best examples for you so read on to learn about some amazing Italian Christmas markets! Just find a vacation rental in Italy and visit them for yourself.

Turin is one of the most fascinating and beautiful cities in all of the north of Italy. It is absolutely full of immense, grand, classicising buildings, open squares, arcaded walkways, greenery and a wide range of attractions and sights.

Whenever you visit, you are sure to enjoy its beauty and find plenty to see and do, but if you find a vacation rental in Piedmont and decide to visit the city over the holiday season, you are sure to fall immediately in love.

Turin is particularly stunning during Christmastime and this is largely down to the incredible Christmas lights that you will find there. They are no normal Christmas lights but, rather, something altogether more unique and interesting.

Luci d’Artista is an outdoor exhibit of Contemporary art that reinvents the streets and piazzas of Turin by illuminating them with striking light installations. It takes place from late October into January of each year and sees pieces contributed by internationally famous artists.