Archive for 'Tourist Attractions'

Emilia-Romagna is a Northern region of Italy that is among the most developed regions of the country but is also steeped in history and boasts an incredibly rich culinary heritage. The capital of Bologna is home to Europe's oldest university, San Marino boasts scenic coastal views, Modena is home to a beautiful cathedral and famous museums with rich collections and the region has given the world Parmesan, Bolognese sauce, Lambrusco wines, Balsamic vinegar, and more. The landscapes are lush, the cities chic and metropolitan, the towns historic and pretty, and the heritage well worth diving right into. So, if you’re looking for a holiday destination in Italy, a vacation rental in Emilia-Romagna is a great idea.

For those among you that are particularly interested in pretty views and nice walks, if you were thinking on heading on a day trip to the lovely city of Bologna, then you need to head to the Villa Ghigi Park. Located on a hill slope just south of the city, just outside Porta San Mamolo, the park is made up of 28 hectares and boasts some of the most extraordinary views over Bologna. Opened to the public in 1975, the Villa Ghigi Park perfectly typifies the hilly landscape of Emilia Romagna and captures a taste of what you can expect of the geography of the whole region.

The beautiful southern region of Campania, in Italy, is a sunny land of diverse landscapes from perfect beaches to volcanic peaks, incredible vistas, a delicious and rich food culture, a long and distinct history, a rich cultural heritage, and one of the most relaxed lifestyles around. It is a perfect holiday destination for those who want fun, sun, and to well and truly get away from it all. A vacation rental in Campania or a villa rental on the Amalfi Coast, in particular, would make for a perfect holiday destination and, while you’re in the region, you can use it as a base to explore the incredible variety of things to see and do in the surrounding area. For example, should you head to Naples for a day, you could go and explore the amazing underground systems below the historic centre of the city and discover a whole other fascinating world below ground…

The Naples Underground Geothermal Zone is a series of underground spaces and tunnels beneath the city of Naples that have been dug out and added to throughout the centuries. The geothermal area spreads all the way from Mount Vesuvius and includes a wide area spanning underneath Pompei, Herculaneum, Campi Flegrei, Naples and all the way out to Pozzuoli and the coastal area of Baia. Due to mining and lots of different kinds of infrastructural projects that were undertaken throughout the centuries, this naturally-occurring geothermal zone has been expanded into a complex series of caves and underground structures. It is at its apex underneath the city of Naples and it is from Naples that you can take guided tours and descend into this incredibly interesting underground world for yourself.

This year presented a major calendar of various events and exhibitions throughout Italy celebrating the life and work of Da Vinci on the event of his 500th anniversary since passing. With 2020 just on the horizon, so too comes another big anniversary in art history after this year of celebrating Da Vinci, the 500th anniversary of the death of Raphael, and, with it, another series of events and exhibitions throughout Italian museums and other fine art instituions around the globe.

Unlike Da Vinci, or Michelangelo, this great name of the Renaissance only lived into his late thirties, with his two great peers making it into their eighties. Today, his name is less lauded on the scale of those two great artists but he was no less beloved in his time and, though his life was shorter, he was incredibly productive, leaving behind an impressive oeuvre of fine art.

Rome is, understandably, pretty special at Christmastime. As the centre of Catholicism with the presence of the Vatican, Christmas is pretty important and a major celebration in Rome. If you are a passionate fan of Christmas or, particularly, a religious Christian, it is a must to spend at least one Yuletide season in Rome. There is so much to do in the city on a daily basis but even more excitement and lots more interesting festive events around Christmas. From Christmas markets to masses to performances and concerts, there is plenty to keep you entertained. In particular, there are lots of great events for music-lovers as Rome is also home to lots of musical and choir groups, many that are centuries old, and which have honed their talents over generations.

One such group is the prestigious Schola Romana Ensemble, a highly professional group of singers and musicians specialised in Roman Baroque music, who will be performing this year in the stunning church of Santa Maria della Concezione. To experience the magic of their Christmas performance, and much more besides, just browse our vacation rentals in Rome and planning a trip to Rome this Christmas!

There is no shortage of excellent museums to choose from in Italy, as is patently obvious. Whether you’re heading to the Vatican City, which is essentially one giant museum-state, to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, to Venice, home to the Biennale, which remains one of the world’s most important contemporary art exhibitions, and much more besides, there are plenty of options. However, while the famous and large museums filled with renowned names and works of art are undoubtedly important and worth seeing, we are big fans of the more obscure hidden gems that are dotted around the country. If you have found a vacation rental in Trentino, for example, you might want to check out a rather special museum indeed: an outdoor museum located across a beautiful forested alpine area.

In the Val di Sella, a pretty little valley located in the the Valsugana region of Trentino, a half hour from Trento, you will find the Arte Sella an open-air museum that is home to around 58 works of art dotted along a trail through the woods of Val di Sella. Tracing its roots back to 1986, when local artists began exhibiting their art in this area, the one-off event then became a biannual event and, finally, in 1996 became a permanent fixture in the area. The works are all created using natural materials that are found in the area – with twigs, branches, logs, rocks, and leaves being some of the most common materials that are used – and are sometimes interwoven with living plants and trees, allowing them to change, grow, and take on a life of their own. Works are also set up to make the most of their surroundings, frame views, and live in harmony with this lovely part of the world.