Archive for 'Southern Italy'

Royal Palace of Caserta is a former royal residence in Caserta, Campania that was originally constructed for the Bourbon kings of Naples and is one of the largest palaces erected in Europe during the 18th century. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a simply stunning sight to behold.

By virtue of sheer scale alone, it is breathtaking but the architecture, art and gardens make the Baroque gem the masterpiece that is is. Just find a luxury villa in Campania and come explore this incredible building for yourself.

Begun in 1752 for Charles VII of Naples, it was designed by Luigi Vanvitelli, who worked in conjunction with Charles. Charles, funnily enough, never actually lived in the palace due to his abdication in 1759 to become King of Spain.

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.

Spaghetti alla Puttanesca is an Italian pasta dish that is said to have been invented in Naples in the mid-20th century. The name literally means "spaghetti in the style of a prostitute" in Italian but don't get too carried away! While the etymology of the name once linked the dish to courtesans of old who were said to favour it as it was quick to make in between appointments, or because it smelled good enough to lure clients in from the street, neither of these two stories seem particularly convincing.

Lecce, often known as the “Florence of the South”, is a stunning Baroque city with an incredibly preserved and lovely historic centre that is located in Apulia, in the south of Italy. It is a cultural and artistic gem that has to be seen to be believed. Just find a luxury villa in Apulia and visit it for yourself.

In the previous article, we noted some of the wonderful religious Baroque buildings that can be admired in the city and while there are dozens more that one could mention, there are also many other types of structures and works to be seen, beyond those used for worship.

However, in saying that, it would be remiss of us not to, at least, mention the church of Santa Croce Church; one of the most famous and extraordinary buildings in the entire city, with its iconic Hellenistic façade and rose window.

Lecce is a beautiful and historic city in Apulia, in the south of Italy. While it is over 2,000 years old, with origins dating to before the Trojan War, it is mainly known as a Baroque city,. Defined by the many Baroque architectural monuments that dot the city, it has been lent the nickname, "The Florence of the South". Home to a malleable, golden type of limestone that is perfect for carving and sculpture, the Baroque of Lecce is florid and exuberant and incredibly stunning. One of the loveliest cities in Italy, it is a must-see for architecture enthusiasts. Just find a luxury villa in Apulia and come explore this magical city for yourself.

While tracing the exact origins of any stylistic movement is practically impossible, Bishop Luigi Pappacoda's arrival to the city in 1639 can be considered a key moment in the establishment of Lecce's flourishing Baroque period.