Archive for 'Must See Attractions'

To the far northern end of the historic Italian city of Orvieto, there is a panoramic clearing.

Located near the entrance to the city and close by Saint Patrick's Well, just before Piazza Cahen, this shady area of greenery and pretty pathways is situated on a cliffside with views across the Umbrian countryside and is home to an ancient Etruscan temple.

The Temple of Belvedere is the best conserved monument of Etruscan Orvieto and a visit to the site offers beautiful views, scenic surroundings and a taster of Italian history outside the stuffier and more traditional parameters of a museum setting. If you are interested in history or archaeological discoveries, this is the place for you. Just find a holiday rental in Orvieto and make your way to the northern part of town.

Rabbit Beach, in Sicily, is the best beach in the world.

This is certainly true if you trust what was said by the voters and real-life travellers and normal tourists of travel website TripAdvisor in 2013. In fact, though it doesn't win every year, the beach is consistently voted by the website's users as one of the best beaches in the world. Visitors note its “crystal clear” water and “soft sand” as some of the main selling points and others note that it is “hard to believe you are not somewhere tropical”.

Located on the island of Lampedusa, next to the tiny Isola dei Conigli (or “Rabbit Island”), Rabbit Beach is set in the Mediterranean Sea and paints an exceptionally beautiful picture with the white sands being lapped by the azure water. If this sounds like your cup of tea (and why wouldn't it), just find a vacation rental in Sicily and pay a visit to this famous beach.

Castel del Monte is probably one of the most memorable castles and buildings that you will ever see. Its distinctive appearance, architectural brilliance and historical importance have meant that it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site (one of 50 in Italy). The building, located in Apulia, near Bari, was commissioned by Frederick II of Swabia in the 13th century and sits on a hilltop, surveying the beautiful surrounding landscape. Whether you're interested in history or not, this sight is well worth a visit for the views that it offers and its dominating octagonal structure which seems like something plucked right from the pages of Game of Thrones or some other grand fantasy novel. Just find a luxury villa in Apulia and head to the castle one day to explore, admire and learn.

Monte Isola is a town and commune in Brescia, Lombardy. However, it is a little bit different to a lot of towns in Italy and a little more special as it is an island on Lake Iseo. In fact, it is actually the largest lake island in Europe. The town and its setting are both beautiful and this area is less swamped by tourist crowds than many of the other lake districts in Italy. Little known outside Italy, it’s smaller than the likes of Lake Como but is quieter and more charming. If you’re looking for a holiday full of lakeside pursuits, water sports, beautiful surroundings and the chance to get well and truly away from it all, then Monte Isola is the place for you! Just find a holiday rental in Lombardy and spend some time exploring this hidden gem of a town.

This year, Mantua, the artistic lesser-known gem of Lombardy, is to be the Italian Cultural Capital. Milan may be the biggest metropolis of the region but, for 2016, Mantua is to be the cultural hub of Lombardy. The city was selected from a shortlist of ten by a judging panel of experts appointed by the Minister of Cultural Heritage and beat out other contenders such as Aquileia, Como, Ercolano, Parma, Pisa, Pistoia, Spoleto, Taranto and Terni.

An official UNESCO World Heritage Site, birthplace of Virgil, ancient Roman poet par excellence, and former seat of the Gonzaga family and Renaissance excellence, Mantua truly is a cultural hub for history buffs, art-lovers, architecture aficionados and music fans alike. If you're interested in witnessing some of the special events planned this year, why not find a vacation rental in Lombardy and spend some time in Mantua?