Archive for 'Main Islands'

Lots of places the world over have carnival celebrations and Italy has plentiful options when it comes to wanting to enjoy this crazy annual party. However, if you find a vacation rental in Sardinia you will find that the island's most vibrant carnival celebration might just be the only one in the country to be seen at on Shrove Tuesday.

Taking place in the town of Tempio Pausania over the course of several days around Shrove Tuesday, the carnival celebrations in the town date back to around 800AD and are deeply rooted in local history and tradition. It is an especially colourful iteration of the festival, due to the incredible parade and floats that were first conceived and added around 60 years ago. Locals eagerly await and participate in the event, taking over the whole town and flooding the streets with people in incredible costumes and elaborate masks, music, sound, and excitement.

You can basically hear this image, right? The sound of that perfectly blue water lapping gently against the soft white sand of the shore immediately comes to mind and one is filled with the desire to escape to such a spot. This incredibly beautiful beach is one of many fine stretches of coast on the island of Sardinia but has to be up there amongst the best of the best. Spiaggia della Licciola is a gorgeous beach in Santa Teresa Gallura, a wonderful seaside town that is very special and a must for beach-lovers who have found a vacation rental in Sardinia.

While the town has much in the way of nightlife entertainment, with plenty of bars, nightclubs, live music, and a great jazz festival each August, the town and the surrounding area is really an attractive spot for those who enjoy the great outdoors and immense natural beauty.

If you have found a villa in Sardinia and are exploring the island, then there is one attraction that anyone will say not to miss: Neptune's Grotto. This magical natural gem is an incredible sight and a must-see. One of the largest and most famous marine caves in the country, it is located near the town of Alghero in the Porto Conte Park and can be reached via the 656 steps of the Escala del Cabirol (Steps of the Roe Deer) that cling to the western side of Capo Caccia or by boat from the Port of Alghero or the dock of Cala Dragunara in Porto Conte. Entrance by sea is easier but scaling the steps is, in its own right, an amazing experience that takes in extraordinary views over the water but not recommended for children or those who are less physical able.

Messina is the third largest city in Sicily and is a bustling place, rich in history and culture and dotted by lots of beautiful buildings. The Punta del Faro, or Capo Peloro, is the northeastern promontory of Sicily and is situated in the province Messina, just northeast of the city and 3km across the water from the Italian mainland. Nestled close to Messina and between the lovely and beloved lakeside town of Ganzirri and Mortelle, the area's most popular summer resort, it is an ideal spot to start out a day with endless possibilities ahead if you have found a vacation rental in Sicily and are looking for adventure.

Think of your dream vacation in Italy. Just imagine it. It probably involves a cosy and beautiful rental all to yourself (we've got you covered there), a nice terrace to eat out on with friends or family, and a pool to play around in. Sounds relaxing and idyllic, right? Do you know what could make it even better? A pool with a view.

We have plenty of vacation rentals in Italy but this curation of some of our most extraordinary, all around the country, also boast pools where you can take in the beauty of the Italian landscape, watch the world float by, enjoy your surroundings and truly get away from it all. Immerse yourself in the immense loveliness of Italy with any one of these villas...

1. Varazze (Available from € 350 per night)

While this pastel-coloured three bedroom villa on the Italian Riviera has many charms, its greatest selling point has to be its pool.