Archive for 'Sicily and Sardinia'

The stunning church of St. Benedict of Crociferi in Catania city in Sicily is a magnificent place to visit! It is located in via Crociferi that has been declared, along with the historical centre of Catania, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historical value and intricate beauty.

Many regard the church of St. Benedict of Crociferi as being one of the most beautiful Baroque style 18th century churches in all of Europe! The foundations of the original church dates back to 1334 and the building itself has been subject to many design changes over the centuries. It was rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1693 which destroyed much of the original building.

Beautiful frescoes illustrate the walls behind the high altar, which has become one of the focal points of this ancient and sacred place. The contrast of dark and light colours through the building is sure to capture your gaze and interest for quite some time as you walk around. Intricate imagery and architectural designs face you wherever you look here and emanate a grand and majestic presence.

Olbia is a fantastic city located on the north-east of Sardinia. It experiences a hot sunny climate that helps make it one of Italy’s most popular holiday destinations.

Stay at one of several beautiful vacation villa rentals in Olbia which offer breath taking views of the sea. These villas are the perfect spot to relax in after a long day of exciting explorations!

Begin your day of touring with a visit to the the 11th century Romanesque cathedral of San Simplicio and go on a tour of the interesting National Archaeology museum.

Other fascinating sites of interest beside the city of Olbia are the tomb of the Giants of Su Monte de S’Abe, the sacred well of San Testa and Castello di Pedres. Take some incredible photographs of the remains of what was once a massive Roman Aqueduct near Olbia. This is a perfect example of the genius of the ancient Roman people who were the forefathers of modern plumbing!

The picturesque city of Sassari is the second largest in Sardinia and is home to a wonderful collection of art, culture and historical archives. Beautiful palaces and magnificent old monuments adorn the city, many of which were designed and built faithfully in a neoclassical style. Take memorable photos of the beautiful Fountain of the Rosello, the Piazza d’Italia and Teatro Civico which are three such monuments that were designed this way in Sassari city.

Stay at a stunning vacation villa rental in Sorso, less than ten kilometres from Sassari city which offer fabulous views of the sea! Start the day with a walk up to Monte d’Accoddi which is a prehistoric tourist site above Sassari with an ancient step pyramid design leading up to it. Learn about its history and marvel at the advanced architectural knowledge of the ancient civilisation who built it!

Come to the exciting city of Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia Island off the west coast of mainland Italy! This ancient city has had a thrilling history with the very first human settlements taking place here over five thousand years ago!

Cagliari is home to some superb art nouveau style buildings for you to admire and would be the perfect place to visit for those who appreciate learning about the rich culture and artistic heritage of the places they visit.

Despite suffering severe bomb damage during World War II, the city has been faithfully restored to its former glory and is a wonderfully exciting place to explore! It’s actually one of the greenest cities in Italy as it has lots of scenic open greens and parks throughout the urban area. Tourists have a great range of beautiful luxury villas in Sardinia to choose from where they are within an easy commute to the welcoming city of Cagliari.

Located in the south of Sicily is the wonderful city of Agrigento, which is the capital of the province of the same name! Agrigento was built on the site of an ancient Greek city called Akragas and has a rich history and collection of ancient monuments to show for it.

Tourists wishing to visit Agrigento for a day or two have a superb selection of holiday villas across Sicily to choose from, many within a two hour drive.

The city and surrounding area of Agrigento is a massive tourist attraction today because of the eight Greek temples that still stand here!