Archive for 'Tourist Attractions'

All this week we have been talking about the beautiful Renaissance city of Ferrara. An incredible gem that is rich is in historical, cultural and artistic merit, it is a wonderful place to visit if you have found a holiday rental in Emilia Romagna and is full of things to see and do. We have been listing some of these things – including delicious food, a visit to the world's oldest wine bar, an amazing castle, a stunning cathedral and more – and to complete this list we have our last entries into our list of the top ten things you must do in Ferrara...

The stunning historic centre of Ferrara is enclosed by over nine kilometres of walls, and is a gorgeous Renaissance city, full of lovely buildings, fascinating cultural gems, and plenty of surprises, it is a UNESCO awarded beauty. With its impossibly charming setting and the vast array of things to see and do, this lesser-known gem among international tourists is a wonderful place to head to for day trips of exploring its many attractions and secrets. In fact, the city boasts a lot of the same charms as Florence but without the tourist crowds. Just find a holiday rental in Emilia Romagna and come uncover its appeal for yourself.

Here are ten things to see, do and keep an eye out for on your trip to Ferrara...

1. Visit The Castello Estense

This imposing castle was the result of townspeople turning on the ruling d'Este family during a time of high taxes and poverty in the 14th century.

Messina is the third largest city in Sicily and is a bustling place, rich in history and culture and dotted by lots of beautiful buildings. The Punta del Faro, or Capo Peloro, is the northeastern promontory of Sicily and is situated in the province Messina, just northeast of the city and 3km across the water from the Italian mainland. Nestled close to Messina and between the lovely and beloved lakeside town of Ganzirri and Mortelle, the area's most popular summer resort, it is an ideal spot to start out a day with endless possibilities ahead if you have found a vacation rental in Sicily and are looking for adventure.

If you have found a villa rental in Padua and are exploring the city, it is unlikely that you will miss Prato della Valle, or “Prà deła Vałe” in Venetian, a 90,000sqm elliptical piazza in the city and the largest square in Italy as it is so vast and exceptionally beautiful. However, just in case, we're warning you: don't miss out on this stunning part of the city or you'll be kicking yourself later!

Before 1635, the area now occupied by Prato della Valle was actually a large and unpleasant swampy terrain, just south of the old city walls. Then, in 1636, a group of Venetian and Veneto public figures and nobles decided to finance the construction of a temporary, but lavish, theatre for mock battles on horseback on the site.

The Tempio della Beata Vergine della Ghiara, or Temple of the Blessed Virgin of Ghiara, also known as Basilica della Madonna della Ghiara, is a stunning church located in the city of Reggio Emilia, in northern Italy. One of the many lovely architectural gems in this lesser-known and lesser-celebrated Italian cities, it is one more reason to find a holiday rental in Emilia-Romagna and head on a day trip to this charming town.

In 1596, a mute boy is said to have recovered his voice before a 14th-century representation of the Virgin painted on a gravel wall (or “ghiara” in italian) by artist Lelio Orsi and when news of the miracle spread, it began to attract lots of pilgrims. As a result, it was decided to erect a basilica on the site, into which the votive fresco was moved.