Archive for 'Architectural Gems'

The Sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo sul Gargano, or Il Santuario di San Michele Arcangelo, often simply referred to as “Monte Gargano”, is a Catholic church and sanctuary located on Mount Gargano in northern Apulia. A UNESCO-awarded World Heritage Site as part of a group of seven Longobard sites in Italy, it is an old and historic building that is both beautiful and fascinating.

As the oldest shrine dedicated to the archangel Michael in Western Europe, it has been an important pilgrimage site since the early Middle Ages and today it remains of religious importance but is equally of historic and artistic interest to tourists.

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The charming seaside resort town of Sperlonga is long beloved by those living in Lazio, one of our favorite stops is the uniquely-designed watchtower of #TorreTruglia. Thank you @ilmagnifico for sharing #ItalyMagazine

A post shared by ITALY Magazine™ (@italymagazine) on Aug 31, 2018 at 2:29am PDT

The beautiful seaside resort of Sperlonga is a long-held favourite of the people of Latium and it is easy to see why. Quaint, picturesque and full of charm, it is an idyllic place to escape to the beach if you have found a vacation rental in Latium.

Along with the pretty cluster of buildings and the long stretch of sandy beach and blue waters, the town's most iconic sight is the Torre Truglia, or Truglia tower.

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.

If you have always wanted to explore a Disney palace for yourself, then the Ducal Palace in Sassuolo, a Baroque villa located in the town of Sassuolo, near Modena, is one of the closest things to one in real life that you will find. Just find a vacation rental in Emilia-Romagna and spend a day wandering around!

Built on the site of an earlier castle from the medieval period, it came into the ownership of Niccolò III d'Este from the Della Rosa family in the 15th century and was rebuilt under Borso d'Este in 1458. In the early 17th century, the Duke Francesco I d'Este commissioned what is now the present structure and it was designed by architect Bartolomeo Avanzini.