Archive for 'Architectural Gems'

Continuing on from our last post, in which we discussed the iconic Hollywood classic, “Roman Holiday” and how it was filmed and set in Rome, here are some more of the key locations in the film in order for you to create you very own Roman romance, a la Hepburn and Peck. Just find a holiday rental in Rome and begin exploring the Eternal City in style!

You probably would have had the Pantheon on your must-see list if visiting Rome anyway but it is also part of the Roman Holiday itinerary. In the film, the two characters enjoy coffee and champagne in a cafe in the Piazza della Rotonda, in front of the Pantheon. While the cafe in question is not longer there, you can still easily grab a similar treat to cool down and relax on your travels at another cafe in the piazza. Then, once you're done, be sure to stop by the building itself and, if you happen to be looking for mementos from the movie, there are a series of souvenir stands selling all of the classic prints from the film on Via delle Murate.

For many, a big factor in constructing their notions and expectations of Rome is the classic 1950s Hollywood romance, “Roman Holiday”. Starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck as a European princess and an American journalist who shows her around Rome before the two ultimately fall in love, it is the movie that launched Hepburn's career, won her an Oscar and made millions fall for the city.

If you, too are a fan of the movie and have always wanted to recreate your own Roman Holiday, just find a holiday rental in Rome and check out these locations that were featured in the film.

One of the first sights on your list should be the Spanish Steps, the beautiful 18th century Baroque steps between the Piazza di Spagna (at the base) and Piazza Trinità dei Monti. These 135 steps were built by French diplomat Étienne Gueffier’s, linking the Bourbon Spanish Embass, and the Trinità dei Monti church and was designed by architects Francesco de Sanctis and Alessandro Specchi.

In the first half of this article, we began looking at Google's suggestions for what to do if you only have one day in Venice. However, it has become apparent that they plan on your day being busy as we only got through half of the list! Here are the rest of their suggestions.

5. Piazza San Marco (Journey from previous location: Less than 5 minutes by foot. Estimated time to be spent here: 60 minutes.)

While you are in the Piazza San Marco to see the Cathedral, why not spend some time in the square itself? It is the principal public space in the city, surrounded by beautiful buildings – including the Cathedral – and filled with the sounds of the bustling crowds and music. It is a great spot to grab coffee and people watch while taking in the atmosphere of the city.

Most of us don't buy guidebooks anymore. Instead, when we plan to visit a place, we search hashtags on Instagram and have a quick google. Compiling data from lots of places, as they are wont to do, Google can actually plan your itineraries for you. In fact, if you search destinations, they will suggest a variety of itineraries, based on the length of time you have in a given place. If you have found a vacation rental in Veneto and are wondering where to start and what to do, here's what Google suggests if you have just 24 hours in the city.


1. Head to Murano (Estimated time to be spent here: 40 minutes)

Murano Island in Venice is a connected archipelago of seven islands with narrow channels networking through them and bridges linking them together. Murano is famous the world over for its stunning glassworks, particularly the glass lamps made there.

The beautiful town of Tropea is often called the “Pearl of the Tyrrhenian” and a mere glance at the town is enough to see why. Perched on a cliff that picturesquely overlooks the bluer than blue sea, beneath endless clear skies, it was a traditionally prosperous town.