Archive for 'Architectural Gems'

Ostuni, known as the, "White City," or, "Città Bianca," in Italian, is located in the heart of Apulia. Comparable to Greece’s Santorini, it features distinctive white buildings stacked on a hilltop overlooking the region and the coast a short distance away. While the town is wonderful in many ways and boasts lots of incredible attractions, its visual appeal and iconic architecture is one of the primary elements that attracts visitors from all around the world. Book one of our villas in Ostuni today and you will have the opportunity to explore and appreciate the city's striking architecture up close for yourself on your next getaway.

The town's impressive white buildings are truly stunning, especially when viewed from afar, but it isn’t just about visuals. The caustic limestone that was used in the construction of the Old Town and then whitewashed was considered an important health measure used during the Middle Ages to help combat plagues by, “reflecting,” the, “bad airs,” that people of the time believed caused the illness. While our understanding of disease has become more advanced, the whitewashing does actually have antibacterial properties and really is thought to have helped reduce illness in the city to a degree. 

One of our favourite regions of Italy to recommend to tourists is the lush and beautiful Le Marche area. With a long coastline full of great resort towns and excellent beaches, this region is well-known to Italian tourists as a perfect spot to escape to from boiling cities during the hottest months of the year. Visiting in July or August, therefore, will mean that you will be surrounded by throngs of Italians on their summer vacations. International tourists, meanwhile, seek out this remarkable part of the country far less often and many have never head of it before. But there are endless reasons to choose it for your next vacation. Impossibly green, full of pretty villages, boasting plenty of amazing beaches to choose from, and steeped in history and culture, a vacation rental in Le Marche means discovering a part of the country beloved by locals who are in the know and that perfectly combines many traits for which other regions are famous. In fact, many people describe it as all of Italy captured in one region. Here are five of its most captivating charms and some excellent reasons that we think make it a perfect spot for your next holiday...

Liguria boasts a coastline that is flanked by some of the prettiest, most atmospheric, and most charming seaside towns in all of Italy. Of course, there is the famous Cinque Terre region with its picturesque and beloved towns but there are plenty of other equally lovely little towns in the area to choose from that may be less well-known but are no less appealing and often most cost-effective spots to vacation in Liguria. Among these is the city of Imperia, located in the province of Imperia. Known for its cultivation of flowers and olives and its popularity as a summer holiday destination, it is a unique place that was made a city only in the 1920s and combines hamlets and two former rival towns. As a result, there is a doubling up effect with two centres, two historic ports, and two train stations – double the beauty for your money! So, if you are after a scenic and unique destination to holiday on the Italian Riviera then look no further than this highly intriguing city with its rich history, doubled attractions, and unique character. Browse our villas in Imperia and come discover all of the delights of this marvelous stretch of the Italian coastline...

The region of Lombardy is an excellent destination for those who enjoy good food, lush scenery, and visiting incredible palaces and architectural gems. Some of Italy’s most sumptuous buildings exist here and it is an ideal spot in which to plan holidays full of day trips, going out to enjoy that beautiful landscape, potter around little towns, discover delicious local products, and explore some truly magical castles and noble homes. If you are a fan of these sorts of rambling but adventurous kinds of holidays then we recommend finding a villa in Lombardy and coming to discover all that this stunning region has to offer the discerning tourist.

Certainly, if you have found a vacation rental in Lombardy and are near Brescia, you should set aside some time to visit Castello di Padernello. This stunning castle looks like something from a fairytale, can be toured, hosts exciting exhibitions and events right through the year, and has some excellent eateries to keep the foodies in your group happy! Located in a particularly lovely part of Lombardy and in the charming village of Padernello, there is plenty to see and do on a day out at this gem!

The stunning island of Sardinia has a landscape made up of picture-perfect beaches and lush scenery that ensures it is a popular destination among both those who merely want to lounge on the beaches and those who want to stay active with water sports, hiking, and more. If you are one of those visitors who has found a villa in Sardinia and ends up delving into the Sardinian countryside, you might happen to stumble upon some incredibly unique structures, ancient cone-shaped ruins called nurgahi. Steeped in mystery and uncertainty, these ruins are what remains from the period between 1900 and 730BC, which has been named the Nuragic Age. This is the period in which the Nuragic Civilisation, named after these buildings, occupied the island.