Archive for 'Northeast Italy'

The Caffé Pedrocchi is an iconic café in the Italian city of Padua that dates back to the 18th and is where many historical events have taken place and famous figures have gathered over the years. Artists and intellectuals were drawn to the place to meet and discuss ideas and it can boast having had Lord Byron and Stendhal, who described it as “simply the best in the world,” as visitors. Still a café, and more, today, it is located right in the very centre of the city and is a great place to sit and grab a drink of one kind or another while you explore. Just find a vacation rental in Padua and follow in the footsteps of Byron to this very special café.

In 1760, Padua had around 40 café proprietors and the most successful was Pietro Zigno. Zigno took his nephew, Francesco Pedrocchi, under his wing and, at the age of 14, Pedrocchi started working at the café. Finding himself suited to the job, he decided to open his own establishment in 1772, after Zigno’s death.

We have been talking a lot lately about the benefits of off-season visits to Italy and some great winter destinations in the country but we thought it might be a good idea to also spotlight some examples of the types of rentals that are perfect for these winter getaways. Continuing on from the last post, we have the rest of our top five picks of winter vacation rentals in Italy...

3. Castellavazzo in the mountains of Veneto, an ideal relaxing mountain location for ski holidays and evenings by the fire (From € 298 per night)

Sleeps up to 15, 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms

This dreamy mountain getaway is located in the mountains of Veneto and is in a popular ski region.

Rimini's City Museum is an extraordinary gem that is much more than a little local history or a dusty little place, though the name might conjure such images. Opened in 1977, it is housed in an amazing former Jesuit monastery and additional buildings added over the years. In total, the whole building covers more than 3,000 square meters and consists of some 40 galleries, as well as areas dedicated to special archeological exhibitions. Both an archaeological museum and art gallery, it has incredible old objects that tell the history of the city, as well as a rich picture gallery that is spread over two floors, encompasses works from the 15th to the 20th century and boasts works by famous Renaissance names such as Giovanni Bellini, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Simone Cantarini, Giovanni Battista Costa, and Guido Cagnacci. Costing less than ten euro to enter, it is both an excellent cultural gem and quite the bargain. As such, it is a key attraction to pencil in to any trip once you have found a vacation rental in Rimini.

All this week we have been talking about the beautiful Renaissance city of Ferrara. An incredible gem that is rich is in historical, cultural and artistic merit, it is a wonderful place to visit if you have found a holiday rental in Emilia Romagna and is full of things to see and do. We have been listing some of these things – including delicious food, a visit to the world's oldest wine bar, an amazing castle, a stunning cathedral and more – and to complete this list we have our last entries into our list of the top ten things you must do in Ferrara...

This week we're talking all about the beautiful Renaissance city of Ferrara and explaining why a visit is a must for those who have found a holiday rental in Emilia Romagna. A fascinating place that can rival many of the great cities of Italy, it is steeped in history, culture and art and boasts much to see and do. We are continuing to extol some of the cities many charms with more entries into our list of the top ten things you must do in Ferrara...

4. Grab a Drink In The Oldest Wine Bar In The World

Al Brindisi is a bar located right next to the city's lovely Cathedral and it happens to date back to 1435, making it the oldest wine bar in the world. It is a must-see for anyone visiting Ferrara and offers lots of traditional local dishes and great wines. Whether you try the cuisine or just pop in for a drink, make sure to pencil it in.