Archive for 'Localities'

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!

Florence is undeniably lovely and beautiful no matter what time of year you visit but it is especially charming at Christmas, when it is filled with excitable shoppers dashing around, cheerful traditional Christmas markets, bright and pretty, seasonal displays in storefronts, festive cheer, and, of course, Christmas lights. However, if you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are planning a Christmas getaway in Florence, you might be glad to know that the city goes a step further with their lighting arrangements to make something extra special and even more magical over the Holiday Season: the Florence Light Festival, or F-Light Festival.

Italy is well-known around the world for her reputation as a fashionable place and a global fashion capital. As such, there are many who have dreamed of going shopping while holidaying in Italy. However, if you are a bargain hunter or want your money to stretch farther, then you need to plan your trip for a particular time of year: during the “saldi”. Unlike many other places in the world, Italy’s sales are far more carefully regulated by the state and do not happen willy-nilly all throughout the year. One of only two times per year that sales happen is during this period, the saldi of January. If you’ve always wanted to visit the official fashion capital of Italy, this is the best time. Find a vacation rental in Milan and get ready to shop until you drop!

To the very north of Italy, where it borders with France, Switzerland, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Slovenia, you will find the majestic Alps. This part of the world is a stunning kaleidoscope of towering craggy blue peaks, lush green valleys, pastures filled with a rainbow diverse flora and fauna, pretty little villages perched up high, and rivers winding down slopes in glittering silver lines. This is where you will take in the freshest air you can imagine, sip the clearest, tastiest water from fountains and natural sources, and admire the most jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring views of your life.

If you want to get a taste of the Alps for yourself on your trip to Italy but maybe aren’t up for a whole holiday of hiking, then find a vacation rental in the Val D’Aosta and head along the via Valpelline-Comba d'Oren-rif Nacamuli, take the A5 motorway, leaving at Aosta Est, follow the route for the Sant Bernard tunnel, pass the village of Valpelline, head towards Place Moulin, and tackle the stunning Mont Brulé.

The Lagoon of Venice is made up of a whopping 166 little islets, all of which are home to special gems and surprises that are just waiting to be discovered. Of course, in a city so diverse and unusual and ancient, there is a great wealth of history and nestled amongst the defining events and larger moments, there are tales of ghosts, ghouls, goblins, and more. There are ghost tours of the city that can be done, famously haunted buildings, and much more besides but there is also an entire islet in the lagoon that is a spooky destination considered to be one of the most haunted places in all of Italy. If you’re looking for a spot for a creepy and spooky mid-term break or October getaway, then look no further than Venice! Just browse our vacation rentals in Venice and get planning your trip today.

Said haunted islet is Poveglia Island, located between Venice and the Lido in the Venetian Lagoon. First mentioned in writing in the early 5th century as a safe haven from invasions by Alaric the Goth and Attila the Hun during the decline of the Roman Empire, though it is though to have been inhabited since as early as 2,000 BC, it has gone on to be used for various purposes throughout the centuries. In the 14th century, residents were removed and it was made into a military outpost to secure the lagoon and during the Bubonic Plague (in the 16th and 17th centuries), it was a mass burial ground for the contagious dead and a place where the ill were quarantined. Anyone who showed signs of the illness was whipped away from their families and sent to the island. If they were better after 40 days of quarantine, they could return home but few ever did. Thousands of bodies were incinerated on the island.