Archive for 'Architectural Gems'

Apulia is truly awash with grand architectural feats varying from towns featuring skylines filled with the conical roofs of the large number of remaining traditional trulli houses, to grand and sumptuous Baroque cities and beyond. However, one of the most iconic buildings in the entire region, even amongst these many wonderful contenders, has to be the magical Castel del Monte.

Located not far from the town of Bari, this UNESCO-awarded 13th century wonder was commissioned by Frederick II of Swabia. Perched in a strategic position atop a hill, it boasts astounding panoramic views over the surrounding landscape. Like something plucked right from the pages of some epic fantasy novel, this extraordinary octagonal fortress is a must-see for those who find a villa in Apulia and who come to dive into the region’s rich cultural and artistic heritage on vacation.

Whether you are of the Catholic faith or not, the city state of Vatican City within Rome is surely one of the most extraordinary deposits of art and craftsmanship in the world. Boasting unbelievable, soaring architectural gems on unfathomable scales and galleries and museums stuffed with works by some of the most famous artists to have ever existed in Europe, those who love culture and art and simply want to gawk at this astonishing world of beautiful things should definitely book one of our vacation rentals in Rome and visit ASAP. There is so much to see and do that you would need lifetimes to see it all but there’s no better time than the present to plan your vacation and to start to make even a tiny dent in it all.

But, what exactly is there to see? Well, here is our guide to the main spaces and attractions to visit in the Vatican once you have booked your holiday in Rome with Italy Villas...

The stunning southern region of Apulia in Italy is known for its amazing beaches, incredible food and wine, its rich cultural heritage, and its picturesque landscapes and towns but, in particular, it is a region that boasts some truly extraordinary architectural gems from astonishing fortresses, to elegant churches, to charming traditional houses. Among these and among the latter category, especially, the fairytale-like trulli of Alberobello stand out as something extra-special and, as we have some villas in Apulia that are located inside trulli or that have trulli as part of the property, they can be experienced in a totally unique way during your holiday. Live inside the cultural heritage of Italy for a little while on your next vacation with Italy Villas!

There are certain unbelievably famous tourist attractions that a large percentage of travellers will want to take in if they end up in specific destinations like the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, the Giant’s Causeway, the Grand Canyon, the Louvre, the Acropolis, the Colosseum, Mount Fuji, the Sydney Opera House, Christ the Redeemer, the Hollywood sign, et cetera. Of course, some will be content enough to glimpse these landmarks from afar and some of these attractions cannot even actually be approached but for those that can and want to visit such places and attractions, a big question quickly arises: when?

The when of it all is extremely important as such spots are often incredibly busy and who wants to deal with stress of crowds and queues on vacation?

Say, for example, you find a villa in Tuscany and you want to see the iconic and world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Well, you don’t want to waste a huge chunk of your trip waiting around, do you? To make the most of your time on vacation in Tuscany and to enjoy an outing to this beloved landmark, here are our tips on the best time to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa:

Even if you had lifetimes, it would be hard to put a dent in the unbelievable wealth of tourist attractions, architectural gems, works of art, beautiful sights, and curiosities that can be found in the Eternal City. With such a long and rich history and as such an important political, religious, and artistic centre, Rome is a city quite unlike any other. However, while Rome is definitely a must-see, it might not be the main stop of a holiday in Italy as the wider country of Italy also has a staggering list of things to see and do and of types of getaways. So, if you have browsed our Italy villas and you are planning say, a beach holiday in Italy or a vacation in the Lake District or a ski break or a shopping trip to some of the most chic cities in the world or some combination of all of the above, then you may only have a day or so to set aside to stop off in Rome.

If this is the case and you want to make the most of a day in Rome during your vacation in Italy, then read on as we have put together a perfect itinerary for getting a succinct and varied taste of the city and her highlights. Of course, feel free to adapt the plan to your needs but this is a suggested way for getting as much in as possible during a day in the city. Just be prepared to reserve a day for the outing, to get up a little bit earlier than you might normally do on a holiday, and to head to Rome to make some truly unforgettable memories...