Archive for 'Northwest Italy'

Focaccia is a delicious flat oven-baked Italian bread that is similar to pizza and is topped with herbs and other ingredients. It is an incredibly popular dish throughout all of Italy and is thought to have originated with the Etruscans, but today it is widely associated with Ligurian cuisine. The long line of coastal towns in this region meant that a large number of local variations were born in Liguria such as the biscuit-hard Focaccia di Camogli, the oily softness of the one made in Voltri and the Focaccia col Formaggio ("focaccia with cheese") made in Recco, near Genoa. Other variations are available all throughout the country but, if you're interested in or love focaccia, Liguria is the place to be. Just find a luxury villa in Liguria and try out as many as you can get your hands on!

For now, while you plan a trip, here is a basic recipe for the kind of standard focaccia that most are familiar with to help whet your apetite.

Sitting back with a wine and taking in the distinctly Italian landscape is a must for any person of legal age that appreciates a drink and has found a vacation rental in Italy. Italy is, of course, famous for her cuisine and wine and visiting a winery to taste and learn about local wines is a wonderful way to spend a day. We have compiled a list of some of the country's best and most beloved wineries for you to peruse so all you need to do is get planning your next trip!

If you have found a vacation rental in Italy and are planning your trip, you probably have certain images and ideas in mind. No doubt, you are most likely looking forward to a different pace of life, relaxing and taking it easy and the best thing for that? Italian wine, of course! Just imagine it, sitting out in one of our stunning rentals, a glass of wine in hand, a setting sun and a wonderful view to enjoy.

For those interested in learning more about Italian wine, tasting it and finding some of the best wine to bring home, just take a look at our list of some of the best wineries and vineyards in the country that are open for visits, tours and tastings!

The Museo Egizio in Turin is the only museum, other than the Cairo Museum, in the entire world that is dedicated solely to the display of, and informing the public about, Egyptian art and culture. It has one of the largest collections of Egyptian antiquities in the world, with over 30,000 pieces in the collection, and receives close to a million visitors each year. One of the most unexpected and intriguing attractions in Italy, it is one more reason to find a vacation rental in Piedmont and make your way to the charming city of Turin.

As we noted in the last post in this series, there are many excellent museums to be found all across Italy and your list of options is endless. In order to make your choice in which ones to visit, we have compiled a selection of some of the most popular and beloved museums in Italy.

4. Bargello

The Bargello is one of the best and most important art museums in Florence. Dating back to 1255, it was originally the headquarters of the Capitano del Popolo and later of the Podestà. In the sixteenth century, it became the residence of the Bargello (head of the police) and was used as prison during the whole 18th century. The building became a National Museum as of the mid-19th century and today it is an excellent sculpture museum, especially for early works by great masters of the Renaissance such as Donatello, Giambologna, Michelangelo and many others. Just find a luxury villa in Florence and take in this excellent but lesser-known (and slightly less busy) of the city's most famous museums.