Archive for 'Water & Amusement Parks'

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.

The Miniature Italy theme park near Rimini in Emilia Romagna is an ideal place to visit on your next vacation here! Created in 1970, this superb theme park contains over 270 iconic Italian and European architectural replica monuments, built to a smaller scale and made from a type of resin foam.

This fascinating place covers an area of over 85,000 square metres which is networked by its very own train system. Every region of Italy is represented by some of its most famous tourist sites, such as the leaning tower of Pisa, the Piazza del Campo of Siena and the cathedral of Florence in Tuscany!

Stay at a beautiful villa in Rimini where you can visit its fantastic theme park for the day and explore the wider area!