Archive for 'Milan'

Milan is known as Italy's fashion capital and one of the world's most important fashion capitals. It is traditionally a major industrial and commercial centre and this is not something that appeals to all travellers. However, those looking to plan a chic city break in Italy will find few other cities that can offer the same amount of cosmopolitan pursuits and stylish attractions. If you are interested in a holiday focused on some of the best shopping in the world, elegant cafés, cool bars, delicious food in trendy restaurants, incredible galleries and museums then a vacation rental in Milan is just the thing. As with any city, there are many sides to Milan and lots of reasons to visit but here are five excellent reasons to get planning a vacation in Milan today...

Imagine it. You've finally decided to go ahead and plan your dream citybreak to Milan; you've found the perfect villa in Milan, you've set aside some money to go shopping in this incredible fashion capital, and you've planned to visit major attractions in town like the city's stunning Cathedral and the Armani Museum and the pretty Aquarium. So, once you arrived and you've begun darting from shop to attraction to landmark, you'll likely burn through a lot of energy! But, if you want to keep going and make the most of your vacation in Milan, then you'll need to refuel and we have an important suggestion of a place in which to get some delicious, chocolate-based treats to give you the boost of energy that you'll need: the famous and beloved Zàini Milano.

This week we are rounding up some of the best destinations for a city break in Italy. If you are looking for an urban vacation in Italy in which you can wine, dine, take in famous attractions, absorb the rich history and culture of the country, and surround yourself with picturesque and incredible surroundings then these are the perfect destinations to do all that and more. After discussing the unique appeals of Rome and Florence in the last post, here are more of our picks of the best of the best city break destinations in Italy...

We have written about a lot of different cocktails that come from Italy in the past but, somehow, we have always managed to miss out on, and overlook, the Mi-To. A variant on the more famous Italian classics such as the Americano and the Negroni, it is actually their forefather and, therefore, is the true classic among them all. So, if you have an interest in cocktails, foodie history, and Italian culinary adventures, then this more obscure example is one to seek out should you find a vacation rental in Milan and find yourself spending some time in the city in which it was born or should you be thinking of planning a trip to the area some time in the future and in need of an excellent cocktail pairing to go with your search as you browse our vacation rentals in Lombardy and vacation rentals in Italy.

The Mi-To is the more commonly used name for, and abbreviation of, the Milano-Torino cocktail, a drink that was invented around 1860 in Gaspare Campari’s famous café-bar in Milan by the proprietor himself. Named for the two birthplaces of its key main ingredients – Campari from Milan and Vermouth di Torino from Turin – this truly legendary drink came from a similarly legendary bar and creator. In fact, in addition to being an incredible and game-changing barman and cocktail-inventor, it was actually Gaspare Campari himself who had created the bitters-style aperitif (featuring a closely guarded secret recipe that boasts 60 natural ingredients including herbs, spices, barks, and fruit peels) that would eventually become the famous Italian liqueur that is now named for its creator and is known as Campari and which is such an integral part of the Mi-To recipe.

Italy is home to lots of beautiful towns and incredible villas and palaces and it follows, therefore, that it is also home to plenty of truly stunning parks and gardens. These wonderful spaces are perfect for some peace, solitude, relaxation, and restoration among lush green surroundings and natural beauty, just the thing you often need on holidays if you are prone to darting around to see and do everything while you can. If you're looking for a moment to pause, take stock, and take a breath of fresh air, these little slices of greenery are ideal spaces in which to do so. There are endless examples located all over Italy but we thought we would pick just five of our favourites and offer you up a list of some of the most beautiful gardens and parks in Italy and photos of them as a feast for your senses...