Archive for 'Must See Attractions'

Famously lovely Lake Como is one of the impossibly scenic lakes that makes up the area sometimes known as Italy’s Lake District. Along with the other lakes stretching across this area of Northern Italy (including Lake Maggiore, Lugano, Iseo, and Garda), this beautiful body of water is dotted with islands that house some extraordinary attractions and is surrounded by picturesque shoreside villages and towns as well as impressive peaks and lush greenery and forests. Those interested in taking in beyond gorgeous scenery and in having all sorts of lovely places to explore will find no shortage of wonderful things to see and do but those who find a villa in Lake Como should also slow down, take in deep breaths of that clean and sweet lakeside air, and generally just appreciate the magic all around them. While there are plenty of incredible hiking routes to try out, historic villas to discover, gardens to admire, islands to seek out, concerts to attend, water sports to enjoy, and much more besides, we also suggest taking your time and merely wandering about some of those charming towns, admiring the beauty that abounds all around. One of the prettiest villages in which to do just that is Varenna. 

If you love horses and beautiful scenery and you were considering a holiday in Italy then you might want to think about booking a villa in Abruzzo. This charming little region of Italy is a place that has remained largely untouched by human hands and, therefore, boasts an unspoiled and incredibly stunning landscape of wide plains, towering peaks, dense forests, gorgeous jewel-toned lakes, and a lush and sweeping coastline, overlooked by romantic crumbling castles and picturesque medieval towns perched on high ground. It is also home to the Gran Sasso, the longest horse trail in the country (in addition to being a national park and part of the country that abounds in hiking and cycling trails), and plenty of horse-riding schools and equestrian centres that take visitors out on guided trips. 

Venice is, without a doubt, the most famous part of Veneto and one of the most famous cities in the entire world. However, the wider region of Veneto is incredibly interesting and lovely and much of it is largely untouched by the immense tourist crowds that descend daily upon the city. Made up of marshes, rolling green hills and vinyards, mountains, forests, nature parks, and a charming coastline, a vacation in Veneto has plenty more to offer beyond Venice – though a visit to that most romantic and fascinating of cities during your time in the region is also always a good idea!

Take the municipality of San Michele al Tagliamento, for example. It is likely a place many have never heard of before but if you find a villa in San Michele al Tagliamento, you will quickly discover that you have access to some gorgeous beaches, historic sites, fun activities for the whole family, some excellent wineries, some wonderful walking and hiking trails through the lush and picturesque landscape of this part of the world, a brilliant wellness centre in which you can perfectly unwind, a host of fun activities to enjoy with your family, and more. So, come and sample all that Veneto has to offer by basing yourself in a vacation rental in San Michele al Tagliamento and then heading out to explore all of the remarkable charms of this region that are close at hand. Among them, there are some particular highlights...

Liguria boasts a coastline that is flanked by some of the prettiest, most atmospheric, and most charming seaside towns in all of Italy. Of course, there is the famous Cinque Terre region with its picturesque and beloved towns but there are plenty of other equally lovely little towns in the area to choose from that may be less well-known but are no less appealing and often most cost-effective spots to vacation in Liguria. Among these is the city of Imperia, located in the province of Imperia. Known for its cultivation of flowers and olives and its popularity as a summer holiday destination, it is a unique place that was made a city only in the 1920s and combines hamlets and two former rival towns. As a result, there is a doubling up effect with two centres, two historic ports, and two train stations – double the beauty for your money! So, if you are after a scenic and unique destination to holiday on the Italian Riviera then look no further than this highly intriguing city with its rich history, doubled attractions, and unique character. Browse our villas in Imperia and come discover all of the delights of this marvelous stretch of the Italian coastline...

Continuing on from our last post and our residual excitement from the finale of the excellent season two of HBO’s hit show, “The White Lotus,” we have been outlining a tour of some of the key destinations and locations that were featured in the show and that gave us yet another reason to start stalking incredible villas in Sicily and plan a vacation in this gorgeous part of the world! In the previous post, we mentioned some of the places in Taormina that were used as filming locations but noted that there were many more key destinations featured in addition to this impossibly dreamy city in Italy.

In fact, even the beach from the Taormina scenes was actually located elsewhere as, while the city does have some very charming stretches of coast in and around it, they are somewhat rocky and not quite perfectly sandy enough. So, they had to go elsewhere, to Cefalù for her picture-perfect beaches though the town also got to be a star in its own right too. The show actually introduced us to several other unimaginably picturesque towns and settings and made us fall in love so, if you have booked your holiday rental in Sicily and you are ready to start exploring the island as a whole, here are the other key spots from the show to visit during your trip: