Archive for 'Lakes'

Paying a visit Santa is a must for kids in the run up to Christmas and, if you have found a vacation rental in the Lake Maggiore area, you will be presented with the unique opportunity to see him on his very own boat!

According to local legend, Santa Claus has arrived in Milan at the end of November each year since 1400 to deliver toys and gifts to each child in the city. Next, he is said to hop on his boat, leave the city, and head up the Navigli and Ticino River to make his way to Lake Maggiore. He visits all of the lakeside towns before stopping and settling in the village of Intra until Christmas.

This week, we are focusing on some of our best villas with amazing pools in Italy. There are many to choose from – so, so many – so we had to narrow things down a bit, which got us thinking: what's even better than a great pool once you have found a vacation rental in Italy?

How about a pool that also boasts an amazing view? Well, you're in luck: here are more of our pools with a view in Italy...

4. Casa Farfalla (Available from €965 per night)

We have mentioned this six bedroom villa previously, as one of our most amazing interiors. Located on a hilltop in the countryside surrounding Lucca, in Tuscany, it is owned and was designed by a husband and wife architect team and is beautiful inside and out.

Bellagio is a unique and charming town located on the shores of Lake Como in Lombardy. Known variously as the “pearl of the lake” and the “most beautiful town in Italy”, it is a popular ferry stop along the lake so, if you're exploring the area, you're likely to find yourself in the town at some point if you have found a vacation rental in Lake Como.

The village is a pretty cluster of winding old cobbled streets and alleys, picturesque houses and sweeping vistas over the lake from the surroundings hills. Bellagio is also particularly famous for its two villas and gardens; Villa Serbelloni and Villa Melzi. Both are worth visiting for their lovely gardens but the incredibly maintained and grandiose gardens of Villa Serbelloni are an especially great spot to visit as it is perched above the town and offers wonderful views. Visits are by guided tour only and places are limited, so head to the Bellagio Tourist Office to try and get your hands on some as soon as you arrive in town!

Villa Monastero is an eclectic villa that is built in the Nordic style and located not far from the pretty village of Varenna on Italy's beautiful Lake Como. Originally the site of a 12th century Cistercian convent that was eventually closed by a papal bull in the 16th century, it became a private estate a couple of years later and passed through various hands over the years.

The eclectic style that it is known for today can be attributed to 19th century alterations and rebuilding under architects Emilio Alemagna, Achille Majnoni, and Enrico Citterio. Home to a botanical garden, a museum, a convention centre and some exceptional views, the whole place is a wonderful spot to spend some time relaxing on Lake Como.

Just find a vacation rental in Lake Como and discover its many charms, Villa Monastero being just one of them.

Lake Maggiore, or Lago Verbàno, is a large lake located on the south side of the Alps and is both the second largest lake in Italy and the largest in southern Switzerland. Divided between the Italian regions of Piedmont and Lombardy and the Swiss canton of Ticino, it is a popular holiday area and a beyond scenic destination that is bound to take your breath away. It is often considered the most beautiful lake in Italy and is known locally as “Verbena” for the flowers that grow abundantly at its shores. The towns that skirt the lake, meanwhile, are no less lovely and are picturesque places full of wonderful food, charming buildings, boutiques and a cosmopolitan atmosphere. If you are looking for a holiday that combines an Alpine getaway with lakeside pursuits, that would be wonderful no matter what time of the year you choose to visit and that offers stunning surroundings, look no further. Just find a luxury villa in Lombardy or a luxury villa in Piedmont and begin exploring the incredible Lake Maggiore.