Archive for 'Tourist Attractions'

Saint Padre Pio was born Francesco Forgione in Pietretina, Campania in 1887. He was raised by peasant parents and at the tender age of five he knew he wanted to live a life serving god.

Choose from a villa in Campania to visit where this famous monk was born and raised or a vacation rental in Apulia where his final resting place is in San Giovanni Rotondo.

He regularly attended mass, fasted and undertook harsh penances to prove his devotion and joined the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor Capuchin aged 15. By this stage he reported experiencing vivid visions and conversations with Jesus, Mary and his guardian angel and found it strange that those around him couldn’t do the same.

During his seven year study at age 17, Padre Pio became very ill, suffering terrible migraines, insomnia and extreme nausea among other symptoms. Terrible screams and noises came from his room at night and eventually due to his deteriorating health, he was sent home in the hope of recovery.

Spend a few wonderful days of touring around the Renaissance walled city of Lucca in Tuscany during your next Italian vacation! Lucca is a beautifully preserved town situated at the foot of the Apuan Alps and only a half hour’s drive from the Tuscan coast.

Book a pretty vacation villa in Lucca and get ready to explore one of the most beautiful towns in Tuscany!

Lucca is a relatively easy place to reach and is mostly flat which makes it very easy to explore by foot. Start off your day of exploration with a visit to the ancient Roman amphitheatre here in Piazza dell’ Anfiteatro.

Climb up some of Lucca’s beautifully preserved towers such as the clock tower and Guinigi tower and walk along the unusual tree and grass lined paths built on top of the ancient thick walls of Lucca. These scenic garden walls were actually designed by Renaissance Master, Leonardo da Vinci!

The majestic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan is one of the oldest shopping centres in the world!

Named after the first king of the Kingdom of Italy, the Galleria is a vast four storey building in Milan city centre filled with decadent shops selling chocolates, perfume, books, art and many other lavish treasures.

Book a vacation rental in Milan where you can spend a few days immersing yourself in retail therapy heaven!

If you’d like to visit a town with a lot of spooky folklore associated with it then make your way to Benevento in Campania, nicknamed the ‘City of Witches!’ Book into a beautiful villa rental in Campania where you can visit Benevento and other freaky attractions with ease.

The magnificent Pantheon building in Rome is a beautifully preserved temple dating back to 117AD. It is a Roman temple that was built by order of the emperor Hadrian in honour of the ancient Roman pagan gods.

In 608 AD the Byzantine emperor Phocas gave it to Pope Boniface who ordered it to be used as a church from then on.

Book a pretty villa rental in the Rome area where you can easily commute in and visit the Pantheon among other treasures in this capital city!

The name Pantheon comes from two Greek words; ‘pan’ meaning ‘everything’ and ‘teon’ meaning ‘divine’. The architecture of the Pantheon is truly remarkable. Its ingenious design and construction occurred ages ahead of its time. Even the Master painter and sculptor Michelangelo Buonarroti said he felt ‘It was the work of angels, not men’.