Archive for 'Water & Amusement Parks'

Theme Parks aren't everyone's cup of tea but those who love them really love them and, for kids, they make for a magical day out. Lake Garda is already an excellent playground for children and adults alike with an endless list of activities to choose from; from wining and dining to sailing and other water sports, hiking and exploring local attractions to fishing and lazing by the shore.

As if this wasn't all enough, there is also Gardaland, a theme park and resort on the south eastern banks of Lake Garda.

With different sections of the park decorated according to different periods of history and parts of the world, as well as flights of fancy from worlds that have never existed and imaginings of outer space, there is a magical (and photogenic) world to be explored; from a submerged continent to the rapids in the heart of the jungle and pirate ships to supersonic jets.

Italy is known as a world-class leader in art and design. Many movements and styles were born or mastered in Italy over the century. The Renaissance, in particular, forever changed art and architecture in the western world. However, for all of the architectural gems that exist in Italy, there are also some rather bizarre buildings. These might, equally, be beautiful but are definitely odd.

One of the strangest architectural ventures in Italy is the Rocchetta Mattei, a magnificent castle located in the northern part of the Tosco-Emiliano Apennines, in the province of Bologna. It is an exceptionally eccentric building that speaks to its former owner, a similarly strange character. The earl Cesare Mattei, who had the castle built in the 19th century, was the inventor of "electrohomeopathy," a medical practice said to cure cancer. His methods have been largely debunked but he showed his eccentricity in his personal life and tastes as well, as can be seen throughout the castle.

How does a restaurant become a playground? That sounds like the beginning to a riddle or a joke. In fact, it's something that actually happened. Ai Pioppi was opened as a food stand in Battaglia, in the region of Veneto. Armed with some jugs of wine and sausages, a man named Bruno set out to establish a business in 1969 that has become something he could never have imagined. The stand first became a family restaurant and then, after an encounter with a blacksmith that lead to Bruno learning to weld, a very unique playground was born. Established as something extra to draw customers to his restaurant, it has developed into an entity with a life of its own. If you want to visit this astonishing place for yourself, find a holiday rental in Veneto and stop by.

Bomarzo, a town in Latium in the lower valley of the Tiber, is most well-known for a highly unique attraction. Officially called the Gardens of Bomarzo, they are also referred to as the Sacred Garden, and that most descriptive of names, Bomarzo Monster Park. Created in the 16th century, the gardens are set in a forest at the bottom of a valley beneath Orsini Castle and feature bizarre and fantastical sculptures and small buildings alongside the natural beauty. If you feel like wandering through a Dali painting, this is just the thing for you! Find a luxury villa in Latium and you can explore this truly unique garden for yourself.

You don’t have to wait until Halloween to discover some of the most eerie and haunted sites in Italy, you’re free to visit all year around.

Check out our Legends of Tuscany article collection to get you in the mood, many of which involve terrifying tales of ghosts and bloody murders!

Choose from a range of lovely holiday rentals in Veneto where you can relax after your days of touring the local attractions.