Archive for 'Sicily and Sardinia'

The Grotta Mangiapane is one of those tourist destinations that is so far off the beaten track that, while it may be of interest to tourists, it really isn't made for the itineraries of most. It is a bit of a secret that is unfamiliar to anyone but locals.

However, it is well worth a visit. Just find a luxury villa in Sicily and explore this unique site for yourself!

The giant cave, located on the west coast of Sicily, is home to an ancient village, that may date back some 10,000 years and which has remained untouched and untainted for decades. It is the largest of nine Scurati Caves in Custonaci where prehistoric men first settled. For a long time thereafter it was a small town and community. Today, it is abandoned and is now basically a large, open-air museum, dedicated to Italy of the past and which allows visitors to step back in time.

Glamorous seaside getaways in pretty coastal towns and bustling cities where the sand is soft and white, the seas are crystal clear and the food is fresh and delicious, are one of the things that best sell Italy as a holiday destination for many. As the country has such a long coastline and several stunning islands, there is endless choice in beaches and seaside locations.

However, there are always some beaches and locations that are going to be more desirable, and have more to offer, than others. In our last article, we discussed two such beaches: the very famous and world-renowned Rabbit Beach, on the island of Lampedusa off the coast of Sicily, and the beaches of Trani, a lovely town known as the “Pearl of Puglia”. There are plenty of others worth mentioning so we have prepared more of our favourite picks to help you plan the perfect coastal vacation in Italy!

Italy is famous for a great many different things - culture, art, history, architecture, food, wine, cinema, fashion, a slower pace of life – but it is particularly blessed with natural beauty, especially lovely beaches.

You can find beaches taken out of your wildest dreams in abundance, all over the country, from dramatic cliffs to sleepy fishing towns and glamorous celebrity hotspots to almost tropical beauties, you'll find the kind of beach you're looking for whether you want to lie around and relax, have kids to entertain or a craving for adrenaline to cater to.

Discover Italy's perfect beaches and sunbathe, swim, surf, explore, stroll, have adventures, try the freshest seafood and make memories to last a lifetime.

Strombolicchio is the name of a sea stack of volcanic origin that is located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, just off the coast of Italy. The name literally means “tiny Stromboli” as it is like a mini-me, positioned just 2km off the coast of Stromboli Island and is thought to have been formed by the same original volcano from which the bigger island was built up. Strombolicchio is a distinct and rather romantic looking landmark. It stands up from the water, tall, slim and rugged and is very clearly visible for miles around. As a result, it has captured, and continues to capture, imaginations for a long time and there are endless photographs of it from every imaginable angle, in every light, at every time of day and in every atmospheric condition.

If you have found a vacation rental in Sicily and are exploring the area, make sure to take a boat trip around the island or merely keep an eye out for it along the coast.

Sicily is an exceptionally beautiful place, this is a well-known fact. The pace of life, blue skies, charming villages, rich historical sites, rugged coast and crystal clear seas are all celebrated features of the island and its natural beauty is well-regarded. However, the most stunning scenery on the island is found in the Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve. Created in 1981 as the first nature reserve on the island, it is located West of Palermo, just after Castellammare del Golfo.

Here the rugged coastline is at its most spectacular and has been shaped by the sea, creating coves, grottos and sculptures in the hard limestone cliffs. Stretching 7km along the coast between the lovely little village of Scopello in the east to near San Vito Lo Capo in the west, it covers more than 1600 hectares and is an unspoiled, natural stunner with plenty to see and do and beaches plucked right from your dreams.