Archive for 'Southern Italy'

We all hear about certain destinations. They become trendy all of a sudden due to a film or a television series being set there or because the food of the region becomes popular or because the rich and famous are spotted there. Or others are the classic hot spots that we spend lifetimes hearing about, that have been on bucket lists since time immemorial. No matter which type of popular destination it is, you hear lots about them, you see the pretty photographs of other people’s trips, you start to become curious, and then you might begin to wonder if it could possibly live up to all of the hype.

This, of course, will change from person to person. Some people will see (or smell) Paris and find it lacking compared to the perfect image that they had conjured in their minds, while others will find that the rougher edges only add to the romance of the museums and landmarks and picturesque streets. 

Polignano a Mare is one of the most impossibly picturesque towns in Apulia and in Italy. Let us paint you a picture: white washed buildings perched right up to the edge of rugged cliffs, jewel-toned water sharply contrasting below, endless pretty and winding little cobbled streets, balconies overflowing with plants and flowers, a charming little bay nestled between two of those rugged cliffs right at the centre of town with a pebble beach, and elegant piazze with canopied cafés for sitting out and watching the world go by. A magical gem of a place, it is a wonderful spot in which to enjoy a day-trip if you have found a villa in Apulia and are exploring the area.

However, we would note that Polignano a Mare is an especially idyllic spot to visit if you are planning a spring getaway in Apulia. The region is lovely pretty much no matter when you visit but there is no doubt that those who prefer to avoid tourist crowds will find that the hot and exciting summer months, when all sorts of events taking place in the area and the weather draw holidayers to the seaside towns, are perhaps not the ideal time to plan a trip. Never fear, though, a vacation in Apulia in spring is wonderful for many reasons and Polignano a Mare, in particular, has lots to recommend it at this time of the year. Here are just five of the excellent reasons to come and find a holiday rental in Apulia and plan a day-trip to Polignano a Mare this spring...

In this new series on the blog of What to consider when planning a holiday in Italy, we are aiming to beat the January blues by looking ahead to our next getaway. It is the perfect time to start planning your next holiday in Italy with availability for many of our best properties all across the country still remaining throughout 2023. However, it is also a good time to really think about some of the important details that you should be considering when planning a vacation in Italy. Over the course of this series, we will be looking at some of the main factors to think about when planning a perfect break in Italy from location to timing to budgets and we will help you find the ideal option for you and your needs! Of course, if you ever need more direct help, you can always contact us and our team of seasoned villa experts will be able to offer you one-on-one advice and recommendations, as per all of your specifications. 

Campania is famous for many things; its culinary heritage as the birthplace of pizza and spaghetti, its historical heritage with sites like Pompeii and Herculaneum, and, of course, its truly remarkable coastline and beaches. Those who find a vacation rental in Campania, therefore, will be astonished by the unbelievable wealth of things to see and do in the region. However, it really is the sun-worshippers, beach-lovers, swimmers, and water sports enthusiasts who will be best catered to by a holiday in Campania. Between the big strands fronting resort towns and cities, to the beautiful islands ringed by beaches, to the nature parks with preserved stretches of the coast that can be explored under certain conditions or with permission, to the endless little coves and bays just waiting to be explored, there are all sorts of places to come and spend time by the sea in Campania!

One of the most picturesque of all of these beaches and areas along the coast of Campania has to be the Bay of Ieranto. Unbelievably lovely, steeped in legend, and protected, this remarkable natural gem is a truly astonishing sight to behold and full of charm.

When you are trying to plan the perfect vacation in Italy and you are browsing through the amazing and endless array of remarkable villas across our website, it can be hard to narrow it down and to decide upon exactly the right vacation rental for you and your travel companions! We sometimes spotlight particular favourites over on our blog or put together curated lists of properties according to location or a feature (being close to the sea, being romantic, being perfect for larger groups/weddings, etc). Some villas will be displayed on our homepage due to availability for certain periods or being part of a special offer. However, if you want the opinion of a previous renter and a customer rather than our choices – if you want to find out about the experience of actually staying in a property, what that feels like and which villas boast particularly charming features – then the best thing that you can do is go to our customer reviews page.

Here, you can read all about the experiences of previous guests; what they noted as special, if they would return again, what kind of holiday they had, nearby attractions to make note of, if a property is suitable for small kids, etc. Some of these reviews are lengthy and will touch on all sorts of information but some will only give a little glimpse of what you can expect – whatever detail lingers most in their mind – and this can be a key insight that only a previous guest could have about booking a particular villa. Both kinds of reviews are helpful in different ways but we’ll let you decide which ones to pay heed to or see which reviews catch your attention and imagination by letting you click through to check them out for yourself.

In the meantime, here is a curation of some recent reviews and what you can expect as well as what our customers are saying about the experience of booking a dream villa in Italy with us...