Archive for 'Sicily and Sardinia'

Sassari is Sardinia's sprawling second city; a cultured, bustling university town that can seem a little drab or scruffy at first but which is home to some spectacular surprises.

Once you navigate through the areas of urban sprawl with less personality, you'll find lovely spots to eat and drink, galleries and stores you'll find nowhere else and, at the centre, a historic Old Town that charms.

Medieval alleys, busy piazzas that are alive with the sound of daily life, stunning churches and grand palazzi all await. Once you have found a vacation rental in Sardinia and are planning your itinerary for your trip, be sure to include a visit to Sassari.

Sardinia, by virtue of being an island, has no shortage of beautiful beaches. By virtue of its location in the Mediterranean, it is also assured that those beaches truly are stunning things to behold, all perfect sands contrasted by azure seas. There is, however, a particular stretch of the coast around Sardinia that is well-known for being especially beautiful. This is the Costa Smeralda.

The Costa Smeralda is located on Sardinia's northeastern coast between the Gulfs of Arzachena and Cugnana, the Costa Smeralda or Emerald Coast and owes its name to its particular hue of sea: an emerald blue that almost seems too beautiful to be real. This stretch of coast has much to offer from its beaches to seaside towns and all of the activities and attractions that come with both. If you are looking for a dreamlike holiday, just find a vacation rental in Sardinia and begin exploring this incredible part of the world.

The charms of taking the train can often be lost in the terrors and horrors of commuting but, while on holidays or travelling, there is something quite Old World and delightful about sitting back in a train carriage and just watching the world go by.

This is particularly true of places such as Italy, where the train is both the best way to traverse the country and also happens to cut through swathes of the incredible countryside, offering you wonderful views of the beautiful surroundings and scenery.

If you were to take just a single train route while exploring Italy, however, the Circumetnea train is one keep in mind.

Favignana is the largest and most important of the Egadi Islands, a group of three islands that are located off the western coast of Sicily.

It is a relatively unknown and unspoiled hidden gem that mostly greets Italian holiday-makers and while there are tourist amenities, the original character of the island has been little-altered over time. The atmosphere is authentic and peaceful, not the glamour and glitz that has taken over some of the islands in the area.

If you are in search of a place with a slow pace of life, a lack of bustling tourist crowds, beautiful beaches, a real Italian lifestyle and perfect summer weather, look no further.

Just find a vacation rental in Sicily and spend some time on Favignana.

Marettimo, off the coast of Sicily is a stunning island that is probably less familiar to most than Capri or Patelleria. Yet, the sea is no less blue, the beaches are no less beautiful and, in fact, they are both all the lovelier for the lack of tourist crowds, queues and gimmicks. It has become more well-known to the outside world in recent years but retains its unique charms and is still relatively unknown. For this reason, it really is the perfect place to sit back, relax and well and truly get away from it all. Just find yourself a luxury villa in Sicily and spend some time on this preserved and hidden gem.

Remarkably lush and green, it is a place that tends to attract cultured regulars who return year after year rather than confused crowds of day-trippers, moving around together in a gaggle. It is an Italian island paradise that attract walkers, scuba-divers and sun-seekers and is a place to indulge in hobbies that may never normally garner much time or attention or to merely lie out on a perfect beach with loved ones and a good drink in hand.