Archive for 'Localities'

In the penultimate post in this series, we are looking at some more of the finest and most famous wineries in Italy. No trip to Italy would be complete without enjoying the local cuisine and wine that the country is so famous for and there are few activities that are more pleasant and relaxing on a holiday than visiting a winery. Tour the grounds, learn about Italian wine and, of course, sample some!

Food and wine, alongside culture and history, is one of the main things that attracts many tourists to Italy and for good reason: both Italian food and wine have excellent reputations. Now that you have found a vacation rental in Italy and are planning your trip, why not make time to stop by a winery? It is a great way to learn about wine and food culture in Italy, learn about the winemaking process and spend a pleasant day tasting wines and trying local delicacies. We have compiled a list of some of the country's best-loved and most famous wineries to help you find the right one to visit. Or you could just do a wine tour and visit them all!

If you have found a vacation rental in Italy and are planning your trip, you probably have certain images and ideas in mind. No doubt, you are most likely looking forward to a different pace of life, relaxing and taking it easy and the best thing for that? Italian wine, of course! Just imagine it, sitting out in one of our stunning rentals, a glass of wine in hand, a setting sun and a wonderful view to enjoy.

For those interested in learning more about Italian wine, tasting it and finding some of the best wine to bring home, just take a look at our list of some of the best wineries and vineyards in the country that are open for visits, tours and tastings!

The Brera Picture Gallery, or Pinacoteca di Brera, is Milan’s main public art gallery. Consisting of a rich collection of artworks that represents over six centuries of European art, the museum is home to works by famous artists such as Rubens, Titian, Correggio and Anthony Van Dyck.

Housed in what was originally a 14th century monastery, it was later redesigned by the renowned architect Giuseppe Piermarini and is surrounded by a picturesque botanic garden and is a stunning museum in a beautiful setting. It is a must-see for those who have found a vacation rental in Milan.

The Palazzo Brera was once a convent that came into the possession of the Jesuits in the 16th century. However, when the Jesuits were disbanded in 1773, the palazzo remained the seat of the astronomical Observatory and the Braidense National Library, which had been founded by the Jesuits. The herbarium of the new botanical garden was added a year later and the buildings were the extended under Piermarini, who went on to become a professor at the Academy that was established on site in 1776.

As we noted in the last post in this series, there are many excellent museums to be found all across Italy and your list of options is endless. In order to make your choice in which ones to visit, we have compiled a selection of some of the most popular and beloved museums in Italy.

4. Bargello

The Bargello is one of the best and most important art museums in Florence. Dating back to 1255, it was originally the headquarters of the Capitano del Popolo and later of the Podestà. In the sixteenth century, it became the residence of the Bargello (head of the police) and was used as prison during the whole 18th century. The building became a National Museum as of the mid-19th century and today it is an excellent sculpture museum, especially for early works by great masters of the Renaissance such as Donatello, Giambologna, Michelangelo and many others. Just find a luxury villa in Florence and take in this excellent but lesser-known (and slightly less busy) of the city's most famous museums.