Archive for 'Must See Attractions'

If you have found yourself a vacation rental in Verona and you are planning on spending time in that famously most romantic of cities, you're likely looking to plan out some equally romantic activities to enjoy while you are there. Once you have done all of the classics like visiting Juliet's balcony, Romeo's house, the pretty jewellery box-like Church of Sant'Eufemia, dining in any one (or several) of the endless candlelit restaurants in town, and then going to wander through the truly picturesque streets of the historic core of the city, then you might decide to head out of town for a few hours and to plan a visit to one of the nearby wineries to sample some of the delicious wines from the Veneto region.

An excellent option among the many wineries of the Veneto is the Cantine Bertani in the famously stunning Valpantena. From the Greek for, “Valley of the God,” and known in Verona as the, “Valley of all Wines,” this area has long been home to grapevines and the Romans are recorded as having been totally enamoured by the flavours of the wines coming from the valley, believing the soil of Valpantena to be ideal for growing grapes. The area has also long been known for its beauty, with a rich history of written records of this such as when Francesco Corna from Soncino noted in his “Fioretto de le antiche croniche de Verona e de tuti i soi confini” (“Choice passages from the old chronicles of Verona and surrounding”) in 1477 that this area was, “an idyllic valley marked by springs and dales, delightful fountains and vineyards which abound in Valpantena”.

Verona is already known internationally as a great city of romance in Italy as it was home to, perhaps, the most famous lovers of all time, Romeo and Juliet. In addition to this incredible claim to fame, the architecture of this charming town in Veneto is impossibly pretty and picturesque, adding to the thoroughly romantic ambiance of the place. Of all the lovely and romantic buildings in town, one of the best examples is the exceptionally charming Church of Sant'Eufemia, or Chiesa di Sant'Eufemia. If you have found a vacation rental in Verona and are spending time exploring the city then we highly recommend popping in for a visit to this wonderful architectural gem.

The Church of Sant'Eufemia is located right in the heart of the historic centre of Verona, over the site of a church that dates back to the 5th or 6th century. Various other buildings were placed over top throughout the centuries, with the foundation of the current church dating to the 13th century, when the ruling Della Scala family brought Augustinian monks to the city to build a monastery in what was then the Captains quarter of the city. Though they were brought to Verona in 1262, the necessary donations and funds had to first be gathered in order to pay for the construction of the new church and monastery. The bequest of Alberto della Scala, in particular, was integral in the funding and completion of the project.

The stunning Costa Smeralda (or, “Emerald Coast”) in Sardinia is famous for its beaches. These are some of the most truly beautiful beaches in Italy and in the world, characterised by crystal clear waters lapping white powdery sands and framed by lush vegetation. If you have found a luxury villa in Sardinia and are looking to spend time on a beach that seems too gorgeous to be real, then you need to make your way to this true paradise on earth. In particular, we recommend the beach of Poltu di Li Cogghj.

Poltu di Li Cogghj is today more often known as the Spiaggia del Principe, the, “Prince's Beach,” since it was famously chosen as the Ishmaelite prince Karim Aga Khan's favourite of all of the many beautiful beaches of the Costa Smeralda due to its especially fine white sands and its crystalline waters that range in hue from green to blue and gleam picturesquely, due to their shallowness and the flecks of granite among the sand. The prince's choosing of the beach as the best and the bestowing of this new title has seen the original name all but fall completely out of use, which is, perhaps a good thing as it rolls off the tongue less easily and given that it translates to the, “Port of Skins.” A rather less pretty name for a beach, it was so-named as the beach was originally used as a place for the loading of various local products but especially leather and leather goods.

In Italy, in some places you will find that there are both regular areas on beaches and paid sections where there are more facilities on offer including umbrellas, loungers, toilet and changing facilities, snack bars, and more. Some or all of these amenities can be available on regular, unpaid beaches and then there are some beaches that do not have paid areas at all but they are quite common and can be found all over Italy. For many, the certainty of being assured of a nice spot on the beach, of having all of the various accoutrements of a comfortable day on the beach without having to drag them all around with you, and the ease and convenience of all of this make it very much worth spending the cash. However, not all paid beaches are made equal. Some are particularly beautiful and some are particularly luxurious. While it does not fit in the completely luxurious category but is extremely convenient and one of the best and most scenic beaches on offer in the Cinque Terre, the Bathing Resort Il Gigante Monterosso Al Mare is a noteworthy paid beach in Liguria.

Bathing Resort Il Gigante Monterosso Al Mare is located in the picturesque town of Monterosso al Mare, which is one of the five towns that make up the beloved and famous Cinque Terre in Liguria. If you have found a vacation rental in Cinque Terre or a luxury villa in Liguria and are looking for the perfect place for an idyllic day on the beach, you have lots of different options to choose from but this gem is one of the more popular examples.

Rome is positively stuffed full of architectural gems, great artistic masterpieces, fascinating ruins, and museums overflowing with incredible objects to explore and browse and, if you have found a luxury villa in Rome, you will find that you have a rather endless list of things to see and do in the capital of Italy. However, for those interested in parks, gardens, garden design, plants, and peaceful strolls, there is one absolute must-see among these other compelling tourist attractions: the gardens of the impossibly lovely Villa Borghese.

The Villa Borghese is an architectural gem in its own right and is also home to a wonderful art museum, the Galleria Borghese, but the grounds on which it is located are also something rather special. The third largest park in the city, home to lots of wonderful architectural follies, and a wonderfully manicured space that is perfectly designed for wandering at your leisure, surrounded by the beauty of nature, in the midst of this ever-bustling city, it boasts a lot of boons and attractions all in one location.