Archive for 'Southern Italy'

Apulia's Alberobello is a town that is famous for her distinctive and evocative local architecture, characterised by the presence of trulli, a kind of traditional limestone building from the area that features cone-shaped or domed roofs that are made of corbelled slabs of stone. Designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, these unique buildings developed out of necessity in the 14th century when peasant workers were moved to the area by Count Acquaviva, a feudal lord, to help clear the surrounding woods and cultivate the land. Trulli became the housing structure of choice for inhabitants of Alberobello as they wanted it to continue not to be classified as an inhabited settlement and to continue to avoid the taxes and laws to which towns in the area were beholden at the time. Trulli could be quickly dismantled, if necessary, and as there were no permanent structures that could characterise Alberobello as a town, they could continue to live there without having to pay the local taxes or adhere to local laws as a result. In fact, it wasn't actually until over a couple of centuries later, in 1797, that Alberobello was first officially classified as a town! A remarkable origin tale and a rather ingenious way to avoid taxes, if you want to come and see the distinct and fascinating architecture of this gorgeous town for yourself, then be sure to go ahead and browse our vacation rentals in Alberobello.

The famous, “heel,” of Italy and the most south-eastern part of the country is the region of Apulia, a place in which life is slower, there are two long strips of coastline framing the land that boast endless lovely beaches, large tourist crowds are absent and have yet to discover or descend on the area, and the landscape is beautiful, clean, and bountiful. This is where you will find some of the cleanest beaches in the Mediterranean, little fishing villages where you'll get some of the best and freshest seafood in the world, more than a tenth of all of the wine production and half of the olive oil production in the country, marvelous ancient Greek and Roman ruins, stunning cathedrals, and an endless list of outdoor pursuits to choose from. If you're interested in tradition, getting off the beaten tourist track, and staying active and having adventures, there is no doubt that Apulia is the destination for you!

As we all try and remain home as much as possible to keep ourselves and our loved ones and others safe and to try and help our struggling healthcare systems, many are in search of different activities that one can do from the comfort and safety of their own homes. We have previously written about some incredible museums in Italy that can be visited virtually online including the Uffizi, the Vatican Museums, the Capitoline Museums, Venerada Biblioteca Ambrosiana, and the Museo del Novecento but there are many more excellent examples to keep you entertained as you stay at home and look forward to a time when travel to Italy is possible once more. Here are just five more museums in Italy that you can visit virtually right now!

A certain reputation makes many overlook Naples as a holiday destination but if you have found a vacation rental in Campania and are spending time exploring the area then it is worth remembering that by writing off the city entirely, there is a rich wealth of history and culture that you will be missing out on. Naples is full of architectural gems, stunning churches, and incredible museums thanks to its long and diverse history and the influence of so many different countries and civilisations on the city throughout the centuries. One such example of a truly phenomenal cultural gem is the Cappella Sansevero, a church that boasts one of the most extraordinary sculptural collections in Italy and in the world. There are few other places in the globe where you could hope to stumble upon an outwardly innocuous church that is so full of masterpieces as this.

Located on Via Francesco de Sanctis 19, in the historic centre of Naples, the Cappella Sansevero (also known as the Cappella Sansevero de' Sangri or Pietatella and properly named the Cappella di Santa Maria della Pietà or Church of Santa Maria della Pietà) is a 16th century chapel that is home to incredible examples of Rococo sculpture by many of the leading artists of 18th century Italy.

With the new year, we are starting a new series that introduces excellent photo spots in different locations around Italy for those of you who are all about getting that perfect shot to commemorate your vacation. If you have found a vacation rental in Campania and are exploring the stunning island of Capri, you will quickly discover that there is no shortage of wonderful spots to get that incredible photograph. However, if you are in search of one especially charming area for great shots, then we might suggest the Punta Carena Lighthouse and the beautiful coastal area that surrounds it.