Archive for 'Must See Attractions'

Have festive plans got your head in a tailspin? Are there too many parties, commitments, things to buy, rooms to clean and decorate, foods to prepare? Have you been considering just escaping this Holiday Season? Well, we think that’s a great idea! Especially if you have been thinking about a vacation rental in Italy, as we would argue that it is one of the best possible destinations at this time of the year.

Whether you personally celebrate Christmas or not, those who find themselves on holiday in Italy over the Holidays will discover many of the permanent charms of the country with a pretty, festive, exciting Christmas veneer on top. Many cities and towns are at their most beautiful at this time of the year, there are even more things to see and do, as well as lots of incredible seasonal dishes to enjoy, so its an excellent time to visit!

We have previously extolled the virtues of booking a vacation rental in Rome and spending the Christmas Holidays exploring the city and all of its festive delights. Of course, for practising Christians to whom religion is a core tenet of their lives, it would make sense to celebrate one of the biggest religious events in the calendar in the spiritual hub of the Catholic Church. However, for those who are less religious or not even Christian at all, there is still much to recommend a holiday in Rome over the Holidays!

From the food and wine, to the beautiful decorations, to the Christmas markets, to the special events and unique traditions there is even more to see, do, and enjoy in the endless list of attractions already on offer in the Eternal City at this time of the year. Plus, it may be when the city is at its loveliest – with twinkling lights and other decorations adding a festive cheer and pretty addition to the grand monuments and wonders of the past of Rome!

In addition to attending choir services, shopping at markets, going to a play or the ballet, visiting museums and architectural gems, wandering gorgeous historic streets with a sweet Christmas veneer, trying seasonal delights in bakeries and restaurants, chatting over drinks, and more, those who book a holiday rental in Rome and visit at this time of the year might also want to try one very seasonally appropriate and magical activity: ice skating in the charming festive surroundings of Rome! A great way to embrace the season and warm up as you explore the city during the winter, there are a variety of different rinks around the city to choose from each year...

One of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy (particularly among Italians themselves), Lake Garda is the largest lake in the country and an area of immense natural beauty just to the south of the Alps. With the glassy waters of the lake itself, the blue backdrop of the mighty peaks, the pretty lakeside towns and villages (each with their own distinct characters), and endless curiosities, the Lake Garda area stuns with its good looks. However, there are also countless things to see and do and lots of other factors that have made a vacation rental in Lake Garda and a stay in the area so beloved.

Gelato is a key ingredient to life in Italy and Italians are discerning judges when it comes to ice-cream. So, when we hear from our Italian friends that there is a new gelato wunderkind on the block, we pay attention! Especially when we hear about flavours such as carbonara sorbet and gelato with ragù sauce...

Ciacco as a brand has actually existed for just over a decade but has really been taking Italy by storm and gaining an even larger loyal following recently. With the original shop based in the foodie destination of Parma and the second location in the impossibly chic Milan, this fascinating culinary adventure is one more reason to browse our vacation rentals in Emilia-Romagna and our holiday rentals in Milan so that you can experience it for itself. 

The Italian Coast is already an impossibly romantic place to spend time but if you book a vacation rental on the Cinque Terre – one of the most especially scenic stretches of the Italian coastline – then you should make a point to head to Italy’s Via dell’Amore, or Path of Love. Refurbished to the tune of almost €24 million over the last 2 years, this iconic, and romantic, walk has been partially closed since 2012 but was fully reopened last month to the glee of both locals and tourists alike. So, plan your romantic getaway on the Cinque Terre and then stroll along the path of love and into a perfect vacation...