Archive for 'Tourist Attractions'

Rome is dotted with the most extraordinary tourist attractions and ancient architectural gems that were so well-built in the time of the Ancient Romans that they have remained standing to this day, hundreds and hundreds of years (and even millennia) later. These lofty examples of Roman architectural and structural prowess dot the city, set among the bustling daily life of modern-day Romans, and attract endless crowds of tourists who have been coming since the 17th century to admire them and learn from them. If you have always wanted to see those famous ruins of that long-gone empire then browse our vacation rentals in Rome and start planning the trip of your dreams to finally go and make it happen.

One of the more famous examples in the city of these incredible ruins is the Baths of Caracalla. This ancient thermal complex was once the city's largest public baths, or thermae, and was likely built in the period between 211 or 212AD and 216 or 217AD, during the rule of the emperors Septimus Severus and his son, Caracalla, for whom it was named. Located in the southern area of Rome of Regio XII at the time, the site on which the Baths were built was formerly a vast garden that was known as the Horti Asiniani. In fact, the so-called Farnese Bull sculptural group that came to adorn the Baths was actually already present in the gardens and later moved into the Baths after they were built. Work on the Baths was fast-tracked, with back-breaking efforts required from the workers doing the actual manual labour, in order to get it finished in the relatively short, approximately six-year-long, period in which it was built and from then on it was in use until the 6th century with some later renovations and modifications by subsequent rulers.

There are few cities with the quantity and quality of incredible landmarks as Rome. It is a truly staggering city to explore, with amazing sights around every corner that show the lingering presence of the grand history and heritage of Rome, living today alongside the hustle and bustle of contemporary life. Some of these landmarks are now cordoned off and require tickets and queuing up and milling along with other tourists on tours to view them but some have been absorbed into the landscape of the city in a more natural way. One such attraction is the famous Circus Maximus, which was once the site of grand chariot races in the time of the Ancient Romans and is now still very much in use by contemporary Romans as a place for performances, concerts, gatherings, and just sitting out, chatting, and enjoying the view that such noble ruins in the storied cityscape that surrounds afford. If you find yourself on
vacation in Rome, it is definitely a spot to pencil in as it is a key attraction, free to visit, and a little less hectic than many of Italy's other famous landmarks.

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!

There are lots of beautiful libraries located around the world that have become tourist attractions for bibliophiles and architecture fans alike and it makes sense. These hallowed spaces are peaceful pockets, removed from the hustle and bustle of the outside world, and have stood the test of time as important sentinels of human knowledge. It also makes sense that the main public library in the city of Bologna in Emilia Romagna, a city that is home to one of the oldest universities in the world and which is famously a city of scholars, is a particularly beautiful and noteworthy example among the loveliest public libraries in the world; the Biblioteca Salaborsa, or Salaborsa Library.

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!