Archive for 'Localities'

The picturesque town of Sorrento is one of the most beloved, iconic, and photographed holiday destinations in all of Italy. Perched on cliffs overlooking the stunning blue waters and pretty coastline of the Bay of Naples, made up of pretty little cobbled streets and sun-drenched piazze, abounding in lush greenery, serving up delicious food paired with sea views, and allowing easy access to the Amalfi Coast, the stunning island of Capri, and the fascinating historical site of Pompeii, Sorrento has it all. Luckily, we have a wonderful selection of villas in Sorrento to choose from, allowing you to easily plan a dream Italian getaway in this scenic part of Campania.

Here at Italy Villas, we believe in making your holiday as seamless and stress-free as possible so once you have found your vacation rental in Sorrento or your holiday rental in Campania and you are looking to start exploring the area, you might be looking into how to get around. Well, never fear, we’re here to helping you find all the information you need to know about this vital, albeit often overlooked aspect of your vacation: transportation.

With its impossibly rich cultural heritage, Italy is home to some of the most iconic works of art that are famous the world over and that most of us will have grown up seeing. While there are many famous art cities in Italy (we just recently spoke of the astounding wealth of artworks within the Vatican in Rome alone), one of the most important and significant is the city of Florence. Known as the, "birthplace of the Renaissance," it is one of the must-see destinations that every art-lover should have on their bucket list. Luckily, we have an array of amazing villas in Florence to choose from, making it easy to plan a getaway and tick it off!

While on your arty holiday in Florence, one of the aforementioned iconic artworks that can be found in this gem of a city in Tuscany is Michelangelo's David. 

One most likely thinks of fashion first when they hear the word, “Milan,” but the city’s cultural riches go deeper and much further into the past than when it became a fashion capital. Before Milan was known for her wealth of incredible design, she was already a great hub of creativity, where wealthy patrons supported talents that have stood the test of time. Da Vinci, for example, spent 18 years of his life at the court of Milan, producing art and working as a military engineer for Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan.

He is not the only great master whose work can be enjoyed in Milan, however. The city’s great public art museum, the Brera Picture Gallery, or the Pinacoteca di Brera, boasts a truly extraordinary collection spanning six centuries of European art with artists like Rubens, Titian, Correggio, and Anthony Van Dyck all represented. For those who love art and find a vacation rental in Milan or a villa en Lombardía and plan to delve into the cultural riches of the city, this grand space with its impossible array of masterpieces is an unmissable attraction. Set aside several hours and come get lost in this incredible museum...

When travelling to different destinations around the world, there are certain activities that may seem a little cliché but there is often a good reason as to why they became so common and standard in the first place. Trying different things, looking for authentic and lesser-known gems, and peeking past the more stereotypical tourist attractions to find more is all well and good but trying to be too cool can be exhausting. Sometimes, it is simply nice to embrace the obvious and to tick them off your bucket list. It is worth just throwing yourself into things, especially if they are once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Take, for example, a vacation in Venice in one of our incredible Italy Villas: you may or may not be back in this magical city, why not indulge in a gondola ride? Sure, it’s very touristy but it is a unique and romantic way to explore the city's canals and is one of the most iconic experiences in Venice.

There are certain unbelievably famous tourist attractions that a large percentage of travellers will want to take in if they end up in specific destinations like the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, the Giant’s Causeway, the Grand Canyon, the Louvre, the Acropolis, the Colosseum, Mount Fuji, the Sydney Opera House, Christ the Redeemer, the Hollywood sign, et cetera. Of course, some will be content enough to glimpse these landmarks from afar and some of these attractions cannot even actually be approached but for those that can and want to visit such places and attractions, a big question quickly arises: when?

The when of it all is extremely important as such spots are often incredibly busy and who wants to deal with stress of crowds and queues on vacation?

Say, for example, you find a villa in Tuscany and you want to see the iconic and world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Well, you don’t want to waste a huge chunk of your trip waiting around, do you? To make the most of your time on vacation in Tuscany and to enjoy an outing to this beloved landmark, here are our tips on the best time to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa: