Archive for 'Tourist Attractions'

The stunning southern region of Apulia in Italy is known for its amazing beaches, incredible food and wine, its rich cultural heritage, and its picturesque landscapes and towns but, in particular, it is a region that boasts some truly extraordinary architectural gems from astonishing fortresses, to elegant churches, to charming traditional houses. Among these and among the latter category, especially, the fairytale-like trulli of Alberobello stand out as something extra-special and, as we have some villas in Apulia that are located inside trulli or that have trulli as part of the property, they can be experienced in a totally unique way during your holiday. Live inside the cultural heritage of Italy for a little while on your next vacation with Italy Villas!

When travelling to different destinations around the world, there are certain activities that may seem a little cliché but there is often a good reason as to why they became so common and standard in the first place. Trying different things, looking for authentic and lesser-known gems, and peeking past the more stereotypical tourist attractions to find more is all well and good but trying to be too cool can be exhausting. Sometimes, it is simply nice to embrace the obvious and to tick them off your bucket list. It is worth just throwing yourself into things, especially if they are once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Take, for example, a vacation in Venice in one of our incredible Italy Villas: you may or may not be back in this magical city, why not indulge in a gondola ride? Sure, it’s very touristy but it is a unique and romantic way to explore the city's canals and is one of the most iconic experiences in Venice.

There are certain unbelievably famous tourist attractions that a large percentage of travellers will want to take in if they end up in specific destinations like the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, the Giant’s Causeway, the Grand Canyon, the Louvre, the Acropolis, the Colosseum, Mount Fuji, the Sydney Opera House, Christ the Redeemer, the Hollywood sign, et cetera. Of course, some will be content enough to glimpse these landmarks from afar and some of these attractions cannot even actually be approached but for those that can and want to visit such places and attractions, a big question quickly arises: when?

The when of it all is extremely important as such spots are often incredibly busy and who wants to deal with stress of crowds and queues on vacation?

Say, for example, you find a villa in Tuscany and you want to see the iconic and world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Well, you don’t want to waste a huge chunk of your trip waiting around, do you? To make the most of your time on vacation in Tuscany and to enjoy an outing to this beloved landmark, here are our tips on the best time to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa:

Even if you had lifetimes, it would be hard to put a dent in the unbelievable wealth of tourist attractions, architectural gems, works of art, beautiful sights, and curiosities that can be found in the Eternal City. With such a long and rich history and as such an important political, religious, and artistic centre, Rome is a city quite unlike any other. However, while Rome is definitely a must-see, it might not be the main stop of a holiday in Italy as the wider country of Italy also has a staggering list of things to see and do and of types of getaways. So, if you have browsed our Italy villas and you are planning say, a beach holiday in Italy or a vacation in the Lake District or a ski break or a shopping trip to some of the most chic cities in the world or some combination of all of the above, then you may only have a day or so to set aside to stop off in Rome.

If this is the case and you want to make the most of a day in Rome during your vacation in Italy, then read on as we have put together a perfect itinerary for getting a succinct and varied taste of the city and her highlights. Of course, feel free to adapt the plan to your needs but this is a suggested way for getting as much in as possible during a day in the city. Just be prepared to reserve a day for the outing, to get up a little bit earlier than you might normally do on a holiday, and to head to Rome to make some truly unforgettable memories...

Ostuni, known as the, "White City," or, "Città Bianca," in Italian, is located in the heart of Apulia. Comparable to Greece’s Santorini, it features distinctive white buildings stacked on a hilltop overlooking the region and the coast a short distance away. While the town is wonderful in many ways and boasts lots of incredible attractions, its visual appeal and iconic architecture is one of the primary elements that attracts visitors from all around the world. Book one of our villas in Ostuni today and you will have the opportunity to explore and appreciate the city's striking architecture up close for yourself on your next getaway.

The town's impressive white buildings are truly stunning, especially when viewed from afar, but it isn’t just about visuals. The caustic limestone that was used in the construction of the Old Town and then whitewashed was considered an important health measure used during the Middle Ages to help combat plagues by, “reflecting,” the, “bad airs,” that people of the time believed caused the illness. While our understanding of disease has become more advanced, the whitewashing does actually have antibacterial properties and really is thought to have helped reduce illness in the city to a degree.