Archive for 'Northwest Italy'

Baci di Dama are one of Italy's most famous and popular typical biscuits. The name literally translates to "lady kisses" and they first appeared in the pastry shops of Tortona, a small town in the province of Alessandria, during the second half of the 19th century. Baci di Dama di Tortona have been recently added to Piedmont's official registry of Prodotti Agroalimentari Tradizionali (traditional gourmet products) and are made with hazelnuts, which find their spiritual home in Italy in the region as they are most common there.

Some of us are city-dwellers by nature and, even in our downtime, never want to be too far from the action and constant list of things to see and do. Some of us can't or don't drive or want to avoid getting in the car while relaxing on holidays. Some of us need to be able to stroll in any given direction and find a cafe or restaurant or corner shop.

For whatever reason, you might be the kind of person that has no interest in picturesque villas in the countryside or rumbling palaces. You might, instead, be more inclined to look for a nice apartment, in the thick of things, where amenities are never far away and you can easily wander or hop on some form of public transport to explore, relax and enjoy your holidays. If so, this is the article for you as we have rounded up ten of our thousands of incredible apartments in Italy for your viewing pleasure. Whether you're interested in being central, being right on the coast, being in a building full of facilities and extras or being in a modern building with everything you could possibly need catered for, these are the properties for you. And if any of them aren't quite what you're looking for, contact us and our team of experts will help you find a property that perfectly matches what you need from a holiday rental in Italy.

Sometimes, the very best thing to do while on holidays is to do very little of anything at all. Sometimes, it is better to merely stop, take in your surroundings, truly enjoy them and the moment and relax.

Genoa is one of the most incredibly lovely cities in the world and, while there is plenty to see and do, just taking it all in and enjoying all it has to offer, the feeling of it, is recommended. Wonderfully, the city happens to have a perfect spot to do so. An ideal viewing spot to take in the whole blanket of stunning buildings, parks and neighbourhoods laid out below, that is not a high-rise but a quarter of the city.

Just find a villa in Liguria and see it for yourself.

While it may seem a little strange, Italy is actually a bit of a hot-spot for ghost towns. The internet is filled with endless websites dedicated to pictures of beautifully and poetically decaying buildings and ghost towns and recording and visiting such places is increasingly popular.

If you are among the many obsessed by such things or merely among the great number of us somewhat intrigued by such things, Italy is a dream destination. Due to emigration, natural disasters and accidents there are many ghost towns all over the country that are just waiting to be explored. Here are just a selection of our favourites.

Craco in Basilicata is a town that was built perched on a very high summit, for defensive reasons. It is a particularly attractive medieval hilltown and, since the 20th century, has been abandoned.

In our final post on our best interiors and our houses with the most intriguing and well-realised décor, here are two seaside properties that make use of their lovely surroundings with style. If the interior of a vacation rental in Italy is as important to you as the location and facilities offered, then these properties will delight. Elegant and stylish, these are rentals that you will look forward to returning to after exploring each day, that will facilitate complete rest and relaxation and in which you could gladly spend your whole holiday.

9. Ruta Di Camogli (Ge) Ill630

This property is an elegant apartment that is located in a complex situated in the incredible National Park of Portofino in Ruta di Camogli. The large windows of the living room and the large natural plot in front of the house offer fantastic sunsets and an awe-inspiring view over the Gulf of Portofino.