Archive for 'Must See Attractions'

The stunning coastline of Liguria is known as the Italian Riviera and is, understandably, home to lots of excellent beaches. So, if you browse our villas in Liguria and are planning a vacation in the region, you will have endless options of beaches to choose from. As with all beaches in Italy, you will find quite a bit of variation in the styles and amenities of the strands in Liguria: from free beaches to beaches that you need to pay to use; options with umbrella and lounger rentals, showers, bathrooms, and more to natural and untouched beaches with little to no amenities; popular hot spots to hidden gems; access for animals or not; beaches fronting towns and boasting snack bars and beach clubs to stretches of coast in more romantic and remote locations. Depending on your own preferences and needs, some of these options will be more appealing to you than others. If you are in the market, however, for a strand fronting a town with lots of facilities, a buzzing beach club, and access for furry pals, then you could find no better option in all of Liguria than Baba Beach. This pet-friendly beach is exceptionally pretty and boasts lots of amenities, ensuring that you and your four-legged friends can enjoy perfectly relaxing days at the sea.

One of the most appealing and visited architectural gems is the endlessly fascinating Villa Palagonia, located in the town of Bagheria, 15km from the capital of Sicily, Palermo. Left in a dilapidated state, it is open to the public to be visited and while not all of it is currently accessible, it is nonetheless hauntingly beautiful and intriguing. If you have found a villa in Sicily or vacation rental in Palermo and you are interested in the island's rich and unique architectural and cultural heritage, then this is definitely a must-see to pencil in during your vacation in Italy.

Famous for the monstrous statues that decorate the garden, the so-called Villa dei Mostri (or Villa of the Monsters) was built in the 18th century according to the designs of Tommaso Napoli with the help of Agatino Daidone. An early example of the unique and richly intriguing Sicilian Baroque, the Villa Palagonia first gained international interest and attention when Grand Tour travellers exploring the area began to record and write of it and the series of grotesques on the grounds, in particular, in the 18th and 19th centuries. The likes of Henry Swinburne, Patrick Brydone, John Soane, Goethe, the Count de Borde, artists such as Jean-Pierre Houël or Alexandre Dumas, surrealists like André Breton, contemporary authors such as Giovanni Macchia and Dominique Fernandez, and more are all known to have noted, been inspired by, and reported about the villa.

For many, the novelty of simply having the time and freedom to sit out and watch the world go by while enjoying a meal or a coffee or a glass of wine is one of the best parts about being on holiday. While seeing famous landmarks and trying out new and interesting activities is all well and good, truly relaxing and having some proper down time to unplug and unwind is key to a good vacation. There are, of course, particular spots that are especially well-suited to this kind of leisurely relaxation such as markets, town squares, seafront promenades, and more. Or, if you have found a vacation rental in Lombardy, along an impossibly picturesque canal lined with restaurants and bars.

Sardinia has been touched by all of the different civilisations and occupants that have made their home on this beautiful island and, as a result, it is dotted with stunning churches, incredible castles, ancient temples, pretty palaces, striking landmarks, and much more besides. However, if you have found a vacation rental in Sardinia and you are interested in her most intriguing historical gems, then you definitely need to pay a visit to the Giants of Mont'e Prama.

The Giants of Mont'e Prama are a series of massive, ancient stone sculptures that remain from the time of the Nuragic civilisation, which was a civilisation on Sardinia that lasted from the 18th century BCE (or during the Bronze Age) until the Roman colonisation of the island in 238 BCE (though some claim the civilisation actually lasted until the 2nd or, even, the 6th century AD). Named for the nuraghe, or tower-fortresses, that they built across the island, the Nuragic civilisation has left us no written records. What does remain, however, are some impressive monuments, including some 7,000 of the towers for which they were named and the fascinating Giants of Mont'e Prama, among other intriguing reminders.

Liguria is home to the Italian Riviera, a stretch of the coast that boasts some of Italy's most beautiful beaches and, as a result, it is an especially popular holiday destination. However, in addition to having lots of options for days of fun and sun at the beach, a villa in Liguria also means enjoying incredible fresh seafood and plenty of delicious local specialties including mushroom pie and mussels stuffed with cheese and herbs; visits to exclusive holiday resorts such as the luxurious and star-studded Portofino; wonderful walks and hiking routes along the coast where you can enjoy the scent of the sea and endless lemon groves that permeates the air or in the Ligurian Alps where you'll take in some of the most extraordinary views in the world; wandering the picturesque towns of the famous Cinque Terre; trips to villages famous for witch trials, inspiring Monet, annual carnival celebrations, and more; and, of course, time exploring the stunning and elegant capital of the region, Genoa. Genoa is an incredibly beautiful gem with an old town full of pretty winding little streets among tall old buildings, palaces, museums, and architectural feats. Among all of the wonderful things to see and do in the city, however, if you have found a villa in Liguria and are spending the day in Genoa, then a visit to the Palazzo Reale is a must.