Archive for 'Northwest Italy'

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?

The Monumental Complex of Priamar (“stone by the sea”), which is often known simply as Priamar Fortress, is a sixteenth-century fortress which is located in the port town of Savona. It stands on the rock that hosted the first Savona settlement and the medieval core of the city. This monumental building has undergone many changes over the years and has been put to use for a variety of purposes. Today, it is an important museum and cultural centre in the city. Art lovers, history buffs, military enthusiasts, kids and architecture fans alike will all take something away from a visit to this attraction. Just find a vacation rental in the Riviera Ligure area and enjoy this stunning structure and the beautiful town in which it is located.

Lucedio Abbey was built in 1123, when a large area of swampy land was given to Cistercian monks by the Marquis of Montefract. The monks set up a monastery on this site near Trino and made a success of cultivating rice there. However, there were darker events happening beneath the surface of this seemingly ordinary monastery. Lucedio has attracted ghost-hunters, teams of paranormal experts and television crews from all over the world and still has a certain morbid appeal. Believers and sceptics alike will be terrified and fascinated by the tale of the monastery so find a vacation rental in Piedmont and set out to explore this horrifying site.

Turin is the one-time capital of Italy and there is no lack of things to do or see between the Turin Shroud, museums and churches but one of the city's most interesting features isn't readily visible or apparent. In fact, you could easily visit without ever being aware of what you were missing; a vast underground network of tunnels which feature dungeons, alchemist's caves, crypts, escape routes, ice cellars and, according to local legends, an entrance to the Underworld. There are even dedicated tours of these creepy and fascinating spaces so why not find a holiday rental in Piedmont and spend a day exploring Turin above and below ground.

If you are thinking of spending Christmas in Italy or if you are planning a trip in the New Year and want to prepare by trying some of the local cuisine, you need look no further. Today, we're discussing a Ligurian recipe, Mussel Soup. This light but highly flavourful dish is tasty and satisfying. As the name suggests, it is from Liguria but similar dishes can be found along the entire coast of the peninsula. It is typically served as a first course and is the perfect thing for Christmas Eve dinner in the Italian tradition. Typically, Christmas Eve dinner in Italy is traditionally a light meal with no meat. The dinner precedes the Midnight Mass and is then often followed by hot chocolate with cookies or a slice of panettone once everyone has returned home from church and needs to warm back up once more. Try out the recipe yourself for now and then sample such delicious local specialities in Italy once you've found a holiday villa rental in Liguria.