Archive for 'Food and Wine'

Bikes are a pretty central fixture of Italian life and the visual character of the country from the image of Audrey Hepburn speeding, carefree, through the streets of Rome, to the iconic scenes of a man and his son desperately combing the streets for his stolen bicycle in, “The Bicycle Thieves.” You may have even imagined cycling through the historic streets of an Italian city or the open countryside. That can be readily achieved but if you're a serious cycling and bicycle enthusiast and want to learn more about the history of it in Italy or experience more cycling related activities, then you'll also find lots to see and do. If you have found a vacation rental in Milan, for example, you need to make time to head to Bianchi Café & Cycles.

You would be forgiven if Japan was the first place that came to mind when you were talking about cat cafés but if you are a cat lover who has found a vacation rental in Milan then rejoice, as the city is home to its very own kitty coffee shop; the Crazy Cat Café. Full of feline friends, delicious treats and feline-friendly menu options, this highly Instagrammable cafe has become a firm favourite amongst those in the know and really is a must-see if you love cats.

Located very centrally, on via Napo Torriani, the café was opened in the October of 2015 and is home to a clowder (yes, that is the collective term for cats, though “clutter”, “glaring” and, “pounce” are all also used) of rescue cats that have been adopted and taken care of by the owners. The first and only such establishment in Lombardy, it has taken a Japanese idea and adapted it to the tastes and pace of Italians.

The Caffé Pedrocchi is an iconic café in the Italian city of Padua that dates back to the 18th and is where many historical events have taken place and famous figures have gathered over the years. Artists and intellectuals were drawn to the place to meet and discuss ideas and it can boast having had Lord Byron and Stendhal, who described it as “simply the best in the world,” as visitors. Still a café, and more, today, it is located right in the very centre of the city and is a great place to sit and grab a drink of one kind or another while you explore. Just find a vacation rental in Padua and follow in the footsteps of Byron to this very special café.

In 1760, Padua had around 40 café proprietors and the most successful was Pietro Zigno. Zigno took his nephew, Francesco Pedrocchi, under his wing and, at the age of 14, Pedrocchi started working at the café. Finding himself suited to the job, he decided to open his own establishment in 1772, after Zigno’s death.

A luxury villa in Italy is a great idea for those who love coffee as it is not hard to get your hands on an excellent brew throughout the country. However, if you have particularly specialised tastes or are a serious coffee lover and aficionado, then you need to head to a vacation rental in Turin and pay a visit to Orso Laboratorio Caffè.

This lovely little café is located close to Piazza Madama, on via Claudio Luigi Berthollet in the San Salvario neighbourhood. A real community and local spot, it boasts a warm and pleasant atmosphere of steady regulars interacting with the friendly staff members. Just grab a little table and a coffee take it all in!

Art and good food and coffee are a given if you have found a luxury villa in Italy and are planning a vacation in the country. However, if you like to combine those things, all at the same time, then a vacation rental in Rome is a good idea as there is somewhere where you can find it all under one roof: the “art restaurant” of Canova Tadolini.

Located on via del Babuino, in the heart of the city, Canova Tadolini is a museum combined with a restaurant and café. On display, all throughout the space, you will find busts, sculptural panels, sculptures and more that were created by the artist family that lived in the house until 1967: the Tadolini family.