Archive for 'Must See Attractions'

Art, architecture, culture, history, the finer things in life, these are all on offer in Italy in abundance. There is no shortage of museums, art galleries, architectural gems, castles, palaces, churches and other attractions all over the country and many are incredibly famous worldwide. These are things that make it onto bucket lists and can be the single motivating factor for people when deciding to visit Italy. However, for every Uffizi Gallery, Sistine Chapel and Medici palace there are also plenty of outstanding museums that you have probably never heard of. We thought these lesser-known heroes deserved a mention so we compiled a list of museums and galleries where you'll avoid the crazy lines and floods of tourists and will get to experience wonderful highlights of Italian art, architecture, history and culture.

Some buildings are so incredibly beautiful and fantastical that they don't seem to be real and Sammezzano Castle definitely fits into that category. The castle, known for its outlandish moorish inspired architecture, is a bit of a hidden gem located in Tuscany in Reggello, just a twenty minute journey from Florence. The reason it is a lesser-known architectural treasure is that it is not normally open to the public and its future is rather uncertain. Despite being abandoned for decades, however, it remains a stunning testament to the wonders that sometimes arose from the eccentricity and quirky personalities of nobles.

The gardens can still be visited, the outside admired and you can sometimes see the interior but there is a rather long waiting list. Still, if you have found a luxury villa in Florence and want to get out of the city, it is worth popping out to the castle, even if you can only gawk at the impressive (but slightly less jaw-droppingly beautiful) facade.

The Phlegraean Fields or Campi Flegrei is an area that encompasses land all along the west of Naples, by the bay. The name means “burning fields” and comes from the fact that the area often smokes and sizzles in a remarkably dramatic and hellish way. This area is volcanic in nature and, while none are technically active, there is plenty of seismic activity in the area and it has been hugely affected by its volcanic history.

Vesuvius may be the only active volcano in continental Europe but the Phlegraean Fields' Solfatara is a good place to see some of the effects of volcanism up close. Here you can actually go inside the crater and see its fumaroles (steam vents), boiling mud and ground that's hot to the touch. Solfatara is, in fact, just one of the extraordinary sights that the Phlegraean Fields has to offer and really has to be seen to believe. If you feel like getting in touch with Dante on your next trip to Italy, just find a holiday rental in Campania and see what the Inferno might just look like.

The town of Solofra near Avellino, in the exceptionally beautiful region of Campania, is the place to go if you have a fondness for leather goods.

This town is Italy's most prominent area for leather tanning and produces the best leather in the country. It is particularly well-known as the best place to pick up high quality Italian leather jackets.

For the leather aficionado, or someone who has been trying to track down the perfect leather jacket for some time now, it is an absolute must. Just find a vacation rental in Campania and spend a day wandering this charming town and stocking up on wardrobe essentials and far above average souvenirs for those back home!

Strombolicchio is the name of a sea stack of volcanic origin that is located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, just off the coast of Italy. The name literally means “tiny Stromboli” as it is like a mini-me, positioned just 2km off the coast of Stromboli Island and is thought to have been formed by the same original volcano from which the bigger island was built up. Strombolicchio is a distinct and rather romantic looking landmark. It stands up from the water, tall, slim and rugged and is very clearly visible for miles around. As a result, it has captured, and continues to capture, imaginations for a long time and there are endless photographs of it from every imaginable angle, in every light, at every time of day and in every atmospheric condition.

If you have found a vacation rental in Sicily and are exploring the area, make sure to take a boat trip around the island or merely keep an eye out for it along the coast.