Archive for 'Castles & Palaces'

Bosa is an incredibly picturesque town on the west coast of Sardinia. It is a colourful seaside resort that is defined by the stacked pastel-coloured houses and buildings that rise up a steep hillside from the beachfront to the town's 12th century castle. Featuring a wide bay, filled with bobbing fishing boasts, a river that is lined with palm trees and winds back into the town, pretty little streets, and plenty to see and do, it is a charming gem and one of Sardinia’s most attractive towns. Just find a vacation rental in Bosa and come discover its many charms for yourself...

The town is ancient and was established by the Phoenicians before thriving under the Romans. Visually, the town still largely reflects the rule of the Tuscan Malaspina family in the 12th century, with their castle overlooking the whole town and the pretty Medieval Quarter of the town spreading out from its base.

Manfredonia is a name that you may not have heard of before but maybe you should have! It is an incredibly beautiful seaside town located on the eastern coast of Italy, in the comune of Apulia, that has managed to fly under the radar but has lots to offer the discerning visitor. So, if you find a holiday rental in Apulia, come explore and discover its charms for yourself.

Faced by a long stretch of coast, with endless crescent moons of perfect sandy beaches to play on and aquamarine waters to splash in, the town is comprised of an astounding historic core, surrounding by a fascinating sprawl of newer buildings.

With lots to offer visitors by way of sights, restaurants, bars and stores but far from the beaten tourist trail, it is a great spot for the more intrepid traveller looking for something new.

The Castel San Pietro is an incredible fortress located on a hill in a strategic and historically important position in the city of Verona. If you are exploring the area and have chosen the perfect villa in Verona for you and yours, then make sure to stop by and take in the wonderful vista that it presents and the magnificent views over Verona that it offers.

The pretty town of Pordenone is the main comune of the province of Pordenone in the northeastern Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Settlements have dotted the surrounding area since the time of the Romans but the town of Pordenone itself was not actually established until during the Middle Ages, when it was founded as a port town on the Noncello river. In fact, the town's very name comes from the Latin Portus Naonis, meaning “port on the Noncello River”.

Like the rest of Italy, the town passed through plenty of different hands and rules throughout the ages and by the 13th century, it came into the possession of the Habsburg family. It flourished over the next few decades and gained city status in 1314. In the 16th century, it came under the rule of the Republic of Venice and a new port was built in town. Annexed to Italy in 1866, the town further flourished under industrialisation and though the failure of the cotton sector threatened the town's prosperity in the early 20th century, the raising of local firm Zanussi to the status of a world giant of household appliances after WWII helped stabilise the economic situation. In 1968, the city became the capital of the province of the same name.

The Castello di Gorizia, or Castle of Gorizia, is an 11th century beauty located on a hill that both boasts an amazing panoramic view over Gorizia and is positioned close to the heart of its centre. First recorded in a document from 1001, the castle grew in size and power over the years. Today, the building largely reflects enlargements and changes made between the 13th and 16th centuries. However, during World War I the castle was bombed and badly damaged, leaving little more than a ruin and was actually rebuilt in 1934-37, following its original 16th century design. This was effectively executed and the castle still retains an authentic medieval appearance.