Archive for 'Northwest Italy'

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.

Genoa is the capital of the region of Liguria and located on the Gulf of Genoa, along the Italian Riviera, in the Ligurian Sea. Historically, it was one of the most important ports on the Mediterranean and has been nicknamed “la Superba” ("the Proud one") due to its glorious past and impressive landmarks. It is an incredibly picturesque and beautiful city that is rich in history, art and culture, with an old town that is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

As the sixth-largest city in Italy it is, by no means, unknown but trails behind the likes of Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan in the minds of international tourists. However, we think you should make it your next holiday destination. Here are ten reasons why you should find a villa in Liguria and visit Genoa.

1. It's Home To The Most Beautiful Garden In The World

Genoa is home to many architectural gems and hidden treasures but the Biosfera by famous architect Renzo Piano, stands out.

Genoa is an often overlooked Italian gem, a stunning city on the Italian Riviera that is rich in culture and history, has a lovely Old Town and an endless list of things to see and do. In this final post in this series, we have the final installment of our ten reasons why you really do need to make time to visit this incredible city. Just find a villa in Liguria and visit Genoa for yourself.

9. The Doge's Palace

Between 1339 and 1797 the then Republic of Genoa, a state of the Holy Roman Empire, was ruled by the Doges of Genoa, who resided in the Doge's Palace. A striking and elegant building, it is one of the architectural gems of the city. Altered many times over the years, it is now a public building that can be visited and you can also take organised tours of the building's historic tower and prisons.

As mentioned in the previous post in this series, Genoa is a well-known and lovely city but often is overlooked in favour of more famous Italian hot-spots. However, there are plenty of reasons to choose this historic, cultured and beautiful city as your next holiday destination and here are more reasons why you should find a villa in Liguria and visit Genoa ASAP.

3. It Is Home To One Of Europe's Loveliest Public Parks

The city of Genoa is an exceptionally beautiful place, a bustling metropolis full of elegant historic buildings, well-planned public squares, dramatic fountains and sweeping thoroughfares. Complementing these lovely structures are the city's public parks and, among them, the Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini stands out as especially stunning. A 19th century park in the English Romantic style, it is located in the residential neighborhood of Pegli in Genoa, right next to the railway station.