Archive for 'Architectural Gems'

Trentino is a northern region of Italy, set amongst Alpine backdrops, lush valleys, rolling hills, wide pastures, and little villages that is, undoubtedly, utterly picturesque and completely lovely. However, there are particular corners of Trentino that are especially beautiful and magical and that should be sought out by anyone who has found a vacation rental in Trentino and is thinking about exploring the region. One of those little gems is Arco Castle, a romantic ruin that sits majestically atop a cliff and surveys the surrounding landscape. Come and stretch your legs by hiking to the castle, admire the incredible panoramic view from the top, and explore this stunningly lovely ruin.

Perched over the plain of the River Sacra, just at the point at which it widens, Arco Castle (Castello di Arco) dominates the skyline of the area and is an iconic structure in the landscape. It is the symbol of the town of Arco and a beloved memento of times past. While its exact origins are somewhat steeped in mystery, we know that it existed at least after the year 1000 AD. The area has been inhabited since before the Middle Ages and it is thought that the castle was originally built by the people, only to be later taken over by the local nobles.

Continuing our wedding series here on Italy Villas, we have been discussing some of our best wedding vacation rentals in Italy. These properties are beautiful, photogenic, can house larger crowds, and are already established as wedding venues. If you have been thinking about a destination wedding in Italy, these are the ideal rentals to pick as lots of the groundwork has already been done for you. In the last post, we spotlighted Palazzo Rosadi near Arezzo but another Tuscan gem that is just as lovely and perfect for a wedding is Villa De Ranieri. This beauty is more luxurious and boasts the most extraordinary gardens and interiors that will ensure that you will enjoy your time and that you will be able to capture the most stunning photographs to commemorate the wedding as well. If you are looking for an excellent vacation rental in Tuscany and want to escape to a perfect Tuscan countryside palace for your wedding in Italy, this is the perfect place to do just that….

If you have found a vacation rental in Campania and want to spend some time exploring the city of Naples, you were probably expecting to stay above ground. However, doing so would make you miss out on one of the most extraordinary attractions that the city has to offer, the Catacombs of San Gennaro. These incredible passageways are an astounding sight to behold and a must for anyone who really wants to experience all that Naples has to offer.

Located in the northern part of the city, on the slope leading up to Capodimonte, under the Rione Sanità neighbourhood of Naples, the catacombs can be readily found today by heading to the entrance at the large church of Madre del Buon Consiglio. Spread over two levels, called San Gennaro Superiore and San Gennaro Inferiore, the catacombs are often referred to as the “Valley of the Dead” and date back to the 3rd of 4th century, though are likely built over older pre-Christian burial sites.

If you have found a vacation rental in Naples, there is one museum in the city that you really cannot afford to miss. The Cappella Sansevero, or the Cappella Sansevero de' Sangri or Pietatella, is a chapel located on Via Francesco de Sanctis 19, in the historic center of the city that is home to incredible works of art by some of the leading Italian artists of the 18th century. It is a source of pride of Naples and is stuffed to the gills with some of the most beautiful art pieces and objects that one could ever expect to lay eyes upon. Both church and museum, this little gem is a true reflection of the heritage of extraordinary works of religious art in Italy.

Dating back to 1590, the chapel was originally built by John Francesco di Sangro, Duke of Torremaggiore, as he recovered from a serious illness as a private chapel in the gardens of Palazzo Sansevero, the family's noble residence. It later became a family burial chapel and was connected to the palace until 1888.

Today, the Cappella Sansevero is a public building and home to incredible masterpieces like the famous Veiled Christ, which is famous for the extraordinary tissue-like quality of the marble. Created by Giuseppe Sanmartino in 1753, who was a young relatively unknown Neapolitan artist at the time, it is now the most famous piece and the focal point of the collection, located at the centre of the nave of the chapel. Intensely realistic and emotional, it dramatically evokes the reality of the dead Christ's suffering and body; showcasing a swollen vein still pulsating on the forehead and wounds from the nails of Crucifixion on the hands and feet.

San Fruttuoso is a tiny little bay along the coastline of Liguria that is a truly magical place. It is completely tucked away, accessible only by boat or by foot, and, as a result, often goes unknown to most who have found a vacation rental in Liguria and are exploring the area. Overlooked by a beautifully preserved Benedictine monastery that is topped by a tower with a small dome and home to the hidden Christ of the Abyss, a spectacular bronze statue 15 metres under the water a few hundred metres away, it boasts two rather extraordinary attractions in a very small area.