Archive for 'Southern Italy'

Termoli is a beautiful seaside town on the Adriatic coast in the region of Molise. It is a local resort town known for its lovely beaches and striking fortifications. However, if you are visiting this town, and we recommend that you do, be sure to make the time to stop by the cathedral. Termoli Cathedral makes an immediate impact upon visiting with its elegant and stunning restraint and has an exceptionally long and rich history going back hundreds of years. It is said to originally have been the site of a Roman temple dedicated to Castor and Pollux and is now just as alive as a place of worship, a popular spot for weddings and a venue for plays, concerts and more. In fact, the whole town is worth the visit so why not find a holiday rental in Abruzzo nearby and spend a day exploring this charming and historic place?

Castel San Vincenzo is a stunning village in the south of Italy that you're likely to never have heard of. It is, however, the largest village in the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park and home to the famous Benedictine Abbey of San Vincenzo al Volturno and artificial lake of Castel San Vincenzo. It is a town steeped in history with remnants of this rich past visible everywhere you turn. Additionally, perched on a hillside with expansive views across the surrounding landscape, it is an exceptionally beautiful place. Mountains, greenery, forests and the rich blue of the lake come together with the distinctive stone buildings and red roofs to form a colourful and striking picture. Just find a vacation rental in Abruzzo nearby and spend a day exploring this stunning town.

The San Carlo Opera House in Naples was built in the 18th century by King Charles of Bourbon who wanted his capital city to have a state-of-the-art theatre. A large and luxurious space with majestic architecture and perfect acoustics, it became known far and wide. Sadly, it was destroyed in a fire in 1816 but was rebuilt under the direction of architect Antonio Niccolini, who created the opulent building which stands on the site today. The San Carlo Opera House is among the oldest continuously active public opera houses in the world and puts together a dazzling season of opera, ballet and performances each year. If you feel like getting dressed up and experiencing the magic and luxury of a show at the theatre, or merely tour the stunning building, just find a holiday rental in Naples and stop by!

We've already discussed how live Nativities came about and the original one in Italy but there are many others worth mentioning. One of these is that at Canosa di Puglia, in Puglia, which is often regarded as the most beautiful one in all of Italy. The perfect outing for anyone spending Christmas in this part of Italy, you need to stop by once you've found the right luxury villa in Puglia, and live through the experience of the Nativity. Few other places in the world will you find it done quite so well and it is a rather important part of local tradition, even if it hasn't actually been taking place for that long, especially compared to the live Nativities of other parts of the country.

The Basilica di San Nicola (or Church of St Nicholas) in Bari, is so beautiful that, once you have found a luxury villa in Puglia you might have been drawn there magnetically anyway. However, the name actually suggests another reason for you to visit this extraordinary building, especially at this time of year. That reason is that the church is dedicated to, and the final resting place of, St. Nicholas of Myra: i.e. Santa Claus. If you're holidaying in Puglia over the Christmas period, it is an absolute must to drop by and pay your respects to the man that has brought such joy to millions of children around the world – maybe don't tell the kids who is buried there, though!