Archive for 'Beaches'

If you're looking for a wonderful sun holiday destination, then a luxury villa in Sicily is a perfect option. Boasting incredibly hot and sunny summers, a unique and diverse cultural history, a rich cuisine, a striking landscape, and lots of truly amazing beaches, this slice of paradise on earth has all that you could ask for for an idyllic summer getaway.

Then, off the western coast of Sicily you will find the three Isole Egadi, also known as the Aegadian Islands or Egadi Islands in English; Favignana, Levanzo, and Marettimo. While not as famous as the dramatic and volcanic Aeolian Islands or as chic and exclusive as Capri, this group of Sicilian Islands have their own perfectly laid-back appeal. Expect smaller crowds of international tourists (this is one of those spots Italians have largely kept to themselves), better value for your money, stunning azure waters and excellent swimming and diving spots, and lots of surprises along the way – all of it making the Egadi Islands and ideal place to spend some time if you have found a luxury villa in Sicily and are exploring this part of Italy.

The Archipelago of the Egadi, in addition to the islands of Favignana, Levanzo, and Marettimo, is also home to the islets of Formica and Maraone. There have been archaeological findings indicating the presence of people on the islands dating back to at least the Paleolithic era and prehistoric cave paintings suggest that these islanders have always lived with, and by, the sea. To this day, fishing remains a core industry on the islands, though overfishing in previous eras has lead to a great decline in the numbers of fish in the waters surrounding the Egadi and in the value of the industry to the local area. The islands have also gone through many different rulers and changes throughout the centuries. They have been a key Carthagian stronghold, a stepping-stone of the Arabs in taking control of Sicily, owned by Genovese bankers, and then a branch of the lucrative tuna empire owned and run by the Florio family in the 19th century, until they finally became a part of the Italian state in 1937.

The stunning Costa Smeralda (or, “Emerald Coast”) in Sardinia is famous for its beaches. These are some of the most truly beautiful beaches in Italy and in the world, characterised by crystal clear waters lapping white powdery sands and framed by lush vegetation. If you have found a luxury villa in Sardinia and are looking to spend time on a beach that seems too gorgeous to be real, then you need to make your way to this true paradise on earth. In particular, we recommend the beach of Poltu di Li Cogghj.

Poltu di Li Cogghj is today more often known as the Spiaggia del Principe, the, “Prince's Beach,” since it was famously chosen as the Ishmaelite prince Karim Aga Khan's favourite of all of the many beautiful beaches of the Costa Smeralda due to its especially fine white sands and its crystalline waters that range in hue from green to blue and gleam picturesquely, due to their shallowness and the flecks of granite among the sand. The prince's choosing of the beach as the best and the bestowing of this new title has seen the original name all but fall completely out of use, which is, perhaps a good thing as it rolls off the tongue less easily and given that it translates to the, “Port of Skins.” A rather less pretty name for a beach, it was so-named as the beach was originally used as a place for the loading of various local products but especially leather and leather goods.

In Italy, in some places you will find that there are both regular areas on beaches and paid sections where there are more facilities on offer including umbrellas, loungers, toilet and changing facilities, snack bars, and more. Some or all of these amenities can be available on regular, unpaid beaches and then there are some beaches that do not have paid areas at all but they are quite common and can be found all over Italy. For many, the certainty of being assured of a nice spot on the beach, of having all of the various accoutrements of a comfortable day on the beach without having to drag them all around with you, and the ease and convenience of all of this make it very much worth spending the cash. However, not all paid beaches are made equal. Some are particularly beautiful and some are particularly luxurious. While it does not fit in the completely luxurious category but is extremely convenient and one of the best and most scenic beaches on offer in the Cinque Terre, the Bathing Resort Il Gigante Monterosso Al Mare is a noteworthy paid beach in Liguria.

Bathing Resort Il Gigante Monterosso Al Mare is located in the picturesque town of Monterosso al Mare, which is one of the five towns that make up the beloved and famous Cinque Terre in Liguria. If you have found a vacation rental in Cinque Terre or a luxury villa in Liguria and are looking for the perfect place for an idyllic day on the beach, you have lots of different options to choose from but this gem is one of the more popular examples.

If you are a beach-lover and sun-worshipper then few things would suit better than a vacation rental in Sardinia and a few weeks relaxing on and exploring her perfect beaches. Perfect beaches – crystal clear waters, soft white sands, Mediterranean greenery, the scent of it heavy in the air – are no uncommon thing in Sardinia, as you will quickly discover. However, even among the plethora of excellent choices, there are still some particular beauties and exceptional beaches among them that are worth singling out.

Take Tuerredda Beach, for example, which is considered the “jewel” of the southwestern coastline of Sardinia and one of the ten most beautiful beaches on the island. Located in a cove between Capo Malfatano and Capo Spartivento, in the territory of Teulada, this 500m-long gem looks like a beach from a far more tropical setting with its unreal, deep blue waters and perfectly soft, pale strand, framed by rich green flora.

The Cinque Terre is a famously beautiful coastal part of Italy but, when one imagines it, one tends to picture the pretty and colourful cluster of houses hugging a rugged cliff-side that descends to a bay bobbing with yachts and little fishing boats. However, if you have found a vacation rental in the Cinque Terre and are spending time in the area, you will be glad to know that these aren’t the only stunning seaside scenes that you will encounter.

You will also find some of the prettiest traditional perfect soft-sand-and-blue-seas beaches in Italy. There aren’t that many and most are only small stretches that can be found next to some of the towns in the area but there are a couple that are more spacious and impressive affairs, like the most obvious and best example, the picture-perfect Spiaggia di Fegina.