Archive for 'Main Islands'

Nebida is a stunning Sardinian town on the coast that is known for its breath-taking natural beauty and bounty, hiking routes, popularity among tourists and fascinating ruins.

The waters around Nebida are crystal clear and perfectly blue, the sheer cliff-faces are romantic and terrifying and a warm breeze rolls in off the ocean, green hills rush down to white sands – it really is an exceptionally beautiful place and, then, what do you find amongst all this?

Italy has no shortage of architectural gems. In fact, for architecture lovers, as the birthplace of the Renaissance, it is a must-see destination. However, while many of these buildings and monuments may be stunning and majestic feats of architecture, there are also many that are oddities with strange quirks and unusual histories and origins. These stranger works may still be beautiful but there is no denying that they are unusual, which is only one more reason that they are fascinating and to love them! In the town of Bagheria, not far from Palermo, there is a palace that is both beautiful and very odd, indeed. If you have found a vacation rental in Palermo, be sure to drop by and visit it for yourself, as it has to be seen to be truly appreciated.

Villa Palagonia is an 18th century architectural gem and palace famous for its “monsters”, the grotesque sculptures of beasts and figures that decorate the garden and surrounding wall.

Pasta alla Norma is a typical Sicilian pasta dish originally created in Catania, a city on the east coast of the island. Thought to have been named after the beauty and titular character of Vincenzo Bellini's opera, it is made with tomatoes, fried or sautéed aubergine (eggplant), grated ricotta salata cheese, and basil.

Delicious and perfect for the summer season, why not find a vacation rental in Sicily and try this dish in its hometown while enjoying your surroundings?

In the meantime, you can try the recipe out for yourself as your plan your trip.

A great view isn't necessarily key to a wonderful holiday but it helps and a terrible view can ruin an otherwise pleasant experience. Waking up somewhere new, far from home and daily concerns, welcomed by picturesque views, really helps in jump-starting the relaxation process. Luckily, we have endless properties across Italy with fantastic views to choose from. Here are just ten of our favourite vacation rentals with incredible views in Italy.

1. Grimaldi

This apartment is located in a historic villa that is a former castle of the family who reigned over Montecarlo. Set within an enclosed exclusive 20,000m2 estate that is just a short walk from the sea, it has panoramic views across the sea as far across as Cap Martin and the Principality of Monaco. The apartments have been carefully restored to retain their historic charm and character and all share the estate's plentiful facilities: the picturesque garden with various botanic rarities crossed by alleyways, terraced gardens, swimming pool and tennis court.

There is no shortage of beautiful beaches in Italy and while we have compiled lists of some of our picks for the best among them before, we are always discovering new beaches that take our breath away and set the bar once more. Among these is a beach in Sardinia that really is an extraordinarily lovely place: La Pelosa.

Located 2km from Stintino, a small natural oasis and village on the north-west coast of Sardinia, this beach is the island's most famous stretch of the coast.

From May to September it is in high demand and there is good reason. It is an incredible paradise where calm turquoise waters meet soft powder-white sands and there is plenty to see and do in the area. You can go kayaking, snorkeling, on boat excursions to the Asinara Islands (Donkey Islands), pedal-boating, hiking and much more besides.