Archive for 'Architectural Gems'

To the far northern end of the historic Italian city of Orvieto, there is a panoramic clearing.

Located near the entrance to the city and close by Saint Patrick's Well, just before Piazza Cahen, this shady area of greenery and pretty pathways is situated on a cliffside with views across the Umbrian countryside and is home to an ancient Etruscan temple.

The Temple of Belvedere is the best conserved monument of Etruscan Orvieto and a visit to the site offers beautiful views, scenic surroundings and a taster of Italian history outside the stuffier and more traditional parameters of a museum setting. If you are interested in history or archaeological discoveries, this is the place for you. Just find a holiday rental in Orvieto and make your way to the northern part of town.

The Palazzo dei Priori in Perugia is one of the finest and most striking buildings in the city.

It is also home to the National Galley of Umbria and is, therefore, one of the must-see attractions if you have found a holiday rental in Perugia and are spending time in this charming city.

Between trying the excellent local chocolate, visiting the stunning churches and wandering the Old Town, be sure to stop by this architectural gem stuffed to the gills with the most important local artistic treasures of times gone by.

Built between the 13th and the 15th centuries, the Palazzo dei Priori is a distinctively austere building. A large rectangular block of pale stone, it has minimal decorative elements with large expanses of unembellished masonry.

Ostia Antica is an ancient Roman ghost town, not unlike Pompeii. However, it has the added bonus of being located just a subway ride from downtown Rome and is normally devoid of the intense tourist crowds that will mob Pompeii year-round. If you're interested in the Romans and that period of history, then this is the place for you, just find yourself the perfect vacation rental in Rome, hop on the subway and head out to Ostia Antica, Rome's fascinating ancient seaport which was abandoned by inhabitants, after the fall of the empire, and by the sea, after gradual silting of the harbour saw the coastline move out 4km.

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. These urban spaces are complemented by the presence of natural oases dotted around the city in the form of public parks. One of these is the park of Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini, a 19th century park in the English Romantic style that is exceptionally beautiful and will completely capture your heart once you step foot inside of it. If you have found a vacation rental in Liguria and are spending some time exploring Genoa, make sure to take a moment for a breather in this beautiful space.

Between 1339 and 1797 the then Republic of Genoa, a state of the Holy Roman Empire, was ruled by the Doges of Genoa. Officially a position one had to earn through a voting system, it was, in reality, an oligarchy. These men resided in the Doge's Palace, a 13th century palace in the city which is now open to the public and houses many different museums and cultural institutions. A striking, large elegant building, it is one of the architectural gems of this exceptionally beautiful city and has been subject to much alteration and addition over the years, reflecting many architectural styles in one structure. The building itself is worth dropping by for a gawk but a cultural mecca is held within, just waiting to be explored. Once you have found a holiday rental in Liguria, be sure to spend a day exploring this extraordinary city and building.