Archive for 'Architectural Gems'

St Peter's in Rome is already a must-see. It is an extraordinary, massive building that is steeped in history and incredibly photogenic. However, many visitors skip out on, arguably, the best part of a visit to the building: the view from the top.

Once you have found a vacation rental in Rome, have gone through security, entered the building and wandered around the awe-inspiring interior, be sure to follow the sign that reads “cupola”. This will take you to a ticket office and then a staircase and elevator that lead up to the famous dome of the church.

The dome is one of the greatest architectural feats of the era and one of Michelangelo's great works. Begun in 1546, during the papacy of Paul III, work paused at the height of the work with Michelangelo’s death but was continued 15 years later under Giacomo della Porta and Domenico Fontana.

The city of Naples is not always celebrated for its beauty and, yet, is still home to plenty of lovely historic buildings, bustling and lively neighbourhoods, and all of it looking out onto the stunning clear blue ocean. It is also home to four castles, dotted around the city.

The baby among them is Castel Sant'Elmo, a star-shaped military fortress perched atop Vomero Hill, with the San Martino Chartherouse just below, and both dominating the Naples skyline as a striking pair. A unique example of 16th century military architecture, it replaced an earlier 14th century fortress with something a little more unusual and special.

Commissioned by Viceroy Don Pedro Alvarez de Toledo, the castle was built according to the plans of Pedro Luis Escriva, a military engineer from Valencia. Escriva was one of the period's most noted and celebrated military architects and designed a strong and compact fortress that, from 1604, was a prison for political prisoners.

The Arab-Norman architecture of Palermo is a collection of buildings and monuments with design and decorative features that came about from an intertwining of cultures. Sicily's history is a tale of a long succession of rulers from a variety of places and cultures. It was particularly influenced by the Islamic conquest from 827 to 1091 and Norman rule from 1071 to 1194.

These various influences and cultures have all left their mark on the island and it is especially evident in the art and architecture of Sicily. The city of Palermo is dotted with buildings that are fine examples, incredibly fine examples, in fact, of Arab-Norman architecture.

These buildings are so admired that they were declared an official UNESCO site in 2015.

The International Museum and Library of Music in Bologna is a rather extraordinary gem. Not only is it home to a rather exceptional and vast collection of books, paintings and musical instruments, but it is also an incredible beauty and a well-run and friendly place to visit and spend time.

People enthuse over everything from the audio guides to the peacefulness of the library, the frescoes to the quality of the collection. Just find a holiday rental in Emilia-Romagna and spend time in this pretty museum, taking in Italy's rich musical history.

Opened in 2004, the International Museum and Library of Music is split between two locations. The museum is located in the Palazzo Sanguinetti, in the city center and the library is located inside the convent of San Giacomo Maggiore, alongside the G.B. Martini music conservatory.

The Ca' d'Oro is one of the most famous and most beautiful palaces in Venice and certainly a highlight within the city. It is the most celebrated palazzo on the Grand Canal and an excellent example of Venetian Gothic architecture. Ca' is short for “casa”, meaning house, and all of the great homes of the city were once called this as, in the past, the word “palazzo” was reserved for the Ducal Palace alone.

“D'Oro”, meanwhile, means “golden” and the palace was so named as it once had, and became famous for having, an incredible gilded facade. While said gilded facade is, sadly, no longer intact, the building remains a famous tourist attraction and one of the most celebrated of all palaces in the city, and for good reason.

Once you have found a vacation rental in Venice, be sure to drop by.