Archive for 'Localities'

Venice is famously lovely and infamously delicate. Built on partially reclaimed marshlands, with buildings constructed directly over the water, the city has always been under threat and, as sea levels rise, this only becomes more pertinent. Despite this, Venice continues to fight back and live on and protect their city by all sorts of measures, including a new fee and booking system to enter the city that will be introduced later this year.

Should you wish to plan a vacation in Venice and pay a visit, you will potentially take in some uniquely Venetian sights caused by its unusual structure and origins, such as half-flooded bookshops still going about business as per usual and tourists sipping cups of coffee while their legs are encased in protective plastic boots and are lapped by water. For those willing to quite literally go with the flow of it all and to embrace all of the eccentricities and adventures of a holiday in Venice for what it is and the singular experiences that it can offer, this can add to the charm and allow for the making of some rather special memories. However, it is also cause for constant concern and planning, of course, for the city and all of its inhabitants.

Fuelled by these very concerns and the trend in recent years for Venice to flood daily in a different kind of way – with tourists disembarking from massive cruise ships to spend only a few hours in the city before suddenly leaving once more – there have been some new measures considered to help protect the city. 2022 is the year that will see the introduction of one of the main initiatives among these measures: the establishment of a fee and booking system for those wishing to enter the city of Venice, though no exact date has yet been announced.  

There are endless reasons to find a vacation rental in Milan as it is the fashion capital of Italy, a cosmopolitan gem full of incredible bars and restaurants, home to some rather extraordinary architectural feats both very old and very new, boasts some brilliant museums and attractions, and more. However, for those who are interested in the life and work of one Leonardo Da Vinci there are particular attractions in town that will appeal and a long list of traces of the artist-inventor all over the city that are just waiting to be discovered. One can easily spend a whole holiday just following his trail and seeing how he is still felt all over Milan today.

Why is Milan home to such an array of buildings, monuments, places, artworks, and more that are connected to the Tuscan-born Da Vinci, you may ask? Well, that is because the city was his home for two different periods during his lifetime, from around 1482 to 1499 and then again from 1508 to 1513. While his Last Supper in the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie is, undoubtedly, his most famous extant piece in the city, Da Vinci worked on all sorts of projects while in Milan, particularly for Ludovico Sforza who later became Duke of Milan and to whom Lorenzo de’ Medici sent the Renaissance master as an ambassador. 

A vacation rental in Venice means a holiday full of stunning surroundings, excellent food, plenty of boat trips, and endless cultural gems to visit, view, and absorb. And, like so many other ancient and great cities, Venice really does boast a truly endless list of incredible architectural gems, wonderful museums, astounding churches stuffed full of amazing works of art, private galleries, temporary exhibitions, cultural festivals, beautiful palaces, and much more besides to discover. Some, of course, are more famous than others but a less celebrated gem located in a very prominent position in the city is the National Archaeological Museum of Venice, which is right on the beloved and iconic Saint Mark’s Square. This brilliant museum is beautiful, boasts truly fascinating and wonderful collections, and affords visitors a prime viewing spot over the often crowded Saint Mark’s Square. You will likely already find yourself in this piazza at some point over the course of your holiday in Venice so be sure to make a point to also set aside some time to go and explore the National Archaeological Museum – you will not be disappointed!

A stack of white-washed buildings atop a hill, cut through by the occasional domed roof rises like a pile of dollhouses just inland from the coast of Apulia, a maze of alleys and staircases unfolding throughout, palm trees rustling in the sea breeze, lush green fields stretching all around the city limits, and the impossibly blue sea glittering in the background: this is the utterly picturesque city of Ostuni, also known as La Città Bianca, the White City. Historic (its founding dates back to 600 years before Christ), charming, picture-perfect, and almost untouched by time, a vacation rental in Ostuni is just the thing for those who have been considering a holiday in Apulia and want to be near the sea, get a taste of the rich history and culture of the region, enjoy the distinctive architectural heritage of Apulia, take in incredible views, and have plenty of bars and restaurants to stroll down to in the evenings and shops to browse during the day. The best of all worlds, Ostuni combines Apulia’s quaint charm with all of the amenities and necessities one might require from a city. While not quite a city break to rival Milan or Rome in terms of scale or choice, it is, however, an ideal urban destination for those who like to take things easy, slow their pace, and just really enjoy the best things in life: good art, good food, good people, and good surroundings. What more could you possibly ask for from a vacation in Italy? 

So, if we, and the city, have caught your attention, then read on for our guide to what to see, do, and eat if you are considering booking a villa in Ostuni...