Archive for 'Piedmont'

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.

If you are dining in Italy, you probably have a list of certain dishes that you want to try and you should do while you have the chance! Italian cuisine has travelled all over the world and is readily accessible almost everywhere and, yet, there is a difference between Italian food in Italy and abroad. Of course, sometimes, you can find highly authentic and excellent Italian restaurants abroad but there is nothing quite like enjoying Italian classics in Italy and you'll often find that they taste entirely different – if not much better!

One classic Italian dish that you will, most likely, be familiar with is panna cotta. Panna cotta, meaning literally, “cooked cream”, is a dessert made of sweetened cream that is thickened with gelatin, molded into shape and flavoured with the likes of rum, coffee and vanilla. It is often served with a coulis of berries, or a sauce of caramel or chocolate and may be covered with fruit or with liqueurs.

Continuing on from our previous two posts, here are more of our picks of our favourite vacation rentals in Italy with incredible views.

6. Pia

Pia is a cosy and stylish chalet, built in 2015 across three storeys that is located in the hamlet of Ciampei in the Italian Alps. Situated 6km from St. Martin in Thurn, it is a quiet, sunny place in the countryside with a stunning mountainous backdrop. The interior is beautifully decorated and it perfectly frames the incredible views outside. Sleeping 16, this is a great place for a luxurious ski break as a group, with all the mod-cons (WIFI, large flatscreen television and open-hearth in the living room, fully equipped kitchen, etc) and ski specific facilities such as a ski boot dryer, ski rental and a ski school nearby. Available from €984 per night, this modern ski chalet is a serious gem.

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.