Archive for 'Architectural Gems'

Lecce is a beautiful and historic city in Apulia, in the south of Italy. While it is over 2,000 years old, with origins dating to before the Trojan War, it is mainly known as a Baroque city,. Defined by the many Baroque architectural monuments that dot the city, it has been lent the nickname, "The Florence of the South". Home to a malleable, golden type of limestone that is perfect for carving and sculpture, the Baroque of Lecce is florid and exuberant and incredibly stunning. One of the loveliest cities in Italy, it is a must-see for architecture enthusiasts. Just find a luxury villa in Apulia and come explore this magical city for yourself.

While tracing the exact origins of any stylistic movement is practically impossible, Bishop Luigi Pappacoda's arrival to the city in 1639 can be considered a key moment in the establishment of Lecce's flourishing Baroque period.

Genoa is the capital of the region of Liguria and located on the Gulf of Genoa, along the Italian Riviera, in the Ligurian Sea. Historically, it was one of the most important ports on the Mediterranean and has been nicknamed “la Superba” ("the Proud one") due to its glorious past and impressive landmarks. It is an incredibly picturesque and beautiful city that is rich in history, art and culture, with an old town that is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

As the sixth-largest city in Italy it is, by no means, unknown but trails behind the likes of Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan in the minds of international tourists. However, we think you should make it your next holiday destination. Here are ten reasons why you should find a villa in Liguria and visit Genoa.

1. It's Home To The Most Beautiful Garden In The World

Genoa is home to many architectural gems and hidden treasures but the Biosfera by famous architect Renzo Piano, stands out.

As mentioned in the previous post in this series, Genoa is a well-known and lovely city but often is overlooked in favour of more famous Italian hot-spots. However, there are plenty of reasons to choose this historic, cultured and beautiful city as your next holiday destination and here are more reasons why you should find a villa in Liguria and visit Genoa ASAP.

3. It Is Home To One Of Europe's Loveliest Public Parks

The city of Genoa is an exceptionally beautiful place, a bustling metropolis full of elegant historic buildings, well-planned public squares, dramatic fountains and sweeping thoroughfares. Complementing these lovely structures are the city's public parks and, among them, the Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini stands out as especially stunning. A 19th century park in the English Romantic style, it is located in the residential neighborhood of Pegli in Genoa, right next to the railway station.

If it was not already apparent, we're fans of Genoa here at Easy Reserve and think it is a lesser-known gem that deserves more attention. In fact, we even decided to dedicate an entire series of articles to the city, with a list of the top ten reasons why you should choose it as your next holiday destination. Here are more reasons you need to find a villa in Liguria and visit Genoa ASAP.

7. Via Garibaldi

The Old Town of Genoa has been mentioned several times already in this series and for good reason. UNESCO awarded and beautiful, this part of the city is the stuff postcards and dreams are made of. Via Garibaldi is street in this historical centre of Genoa, that is well known for its ancient palaces. Dating back to the 16th century, it is incredibly lovely and is lined with some stunning palaces, the breath-taking Royal Palace among them. Dickens is just one among the great number of writers and artists who has been enamoured with the street in the past, recording it with excitement in his travelogue:

In the final post in this series, we are rounding up more of Milan's architectural masterpieces. While the city may have been put on the map internationally by its fashion, it has much more to offer any visitor when it comes to art and culture and, in particular, architecture.

Just find a vacation rental in Milan and follow this guide and you will find some of the city's best architectural gems that, handily, are also some of its major tourist attractions.

6. Villa Belgiojoso Bonaparte

The Villa Belgiojoso Bonaparte, also known as the Villa Reale and the Villa Comunale, was originally built for Count Ludovico Barbiano di Belgiojoso in the 18th century.