Archive for 'Castles & Palaces'

Royal Palace of Caserta is a former royal residence in Caserta, Campania that was originally constructed for the Bourbon kings of Naples and is one of the largest palaces erected in Europe during the 18th century. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a simply stunning sight to behold.

By virtue of sheer scale alone, it is breathtaking but the architecture, art and gardens make the Baroque gem the masterpiece that is is. Just find a luxury villa in Campania and come explore this incredible building for yourself.

Begun in 1752 for Charles VII of Naples, it was designed by Luigi Vanvitelli, who worked in conjunction with Charles. Charles, funnily enough, never actually lived in the palace due to his abdication in 1759 to become King of Spain.

Lecce, often known as the “Florence of the South”, is a stunning Baroque city with an incredibly preserved and lovely historic centre that is located in Apulia, in the south of Italy. It is a cultural and artistic gem that has to be seen to be believed. Just find a luxury villa in Apulia and visit it for yourself.

In the previous article, we noted some of the wonderful religious Baroque buildings that can be admired in the city and while there are dozens more that one could mention, there are also many other types of structures and works to be seen, beyond those used for worship.

However, in saying that, it would be remiss of us not to, at least, mention the church of Santa Croce Church; one of the most famous and extraordinary buildings in the entire city, with its iconic Hellenistic façade and rose window.

Genoa is an often overlooked Italian gem, a stunning city on the Italian Riviera that is rich in culture and history, has a lovely Old Town and an endless list of things to see and do. In this final post in this series, we have the final installment of our ten reasons why you really do need to make time to visit this incredible city. Just find a villa in Liguria and visit Genoa for yourself.

9. The Doge's Palace

Between 1339 and 1797 the then Republic of Genoa, a state of the Holy Roman Empire, was ruled by the Doges of Genoa, who resided in the Doge's Palace. A striking and elegant building, it is one of the architectural gems of the city. Altered many times over the years, it is now a public building that can be visited and you can also take organised tours of the building's historic tower and prisons.

As noted in the last post, Milan is a city with a rich history and cultural heritage that is often overshadowed by its title as fashion capital of Italy. One of the areas in which the city really excels is in her architecture and there are some incredible buildings in the city from ancient churches to contemporary explorations into modern living. If you are an enthusiast or merely a normal tourist, these buildings are sure to impress. Just find a vacation rental in Milan, take note of this guide and track down the most beautiful buildings in Milan.

3. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is, perhaps, the most famous place to shop in Milan. The shopping centre, or mall, is located right by the Duomo and is one of the oldest shopping malls in the world. Even if you're not buying anything, it's probably the best place you could possibly go for a little window-shopping as it is so stunningly opulent and beautiful.

Italy has no shortage of architectural gems. In fact, for architecture lovers, as the birthplace of the Renaissance, it is a must-see destination. However, while many of these buildings and monuments may be stunning and majestic feats of architecture, there are also many that are oddities with strange quirks and unusual histories and origins. These stranger works may still be beautiful but there is no denying that they are unusual, which is only one more reason that they are fascinating and to love them! In the town of Bagheria, not far from Palermo, there is a palace that is both beautiful and very odd, indeed. If you have found a vacation rental in Palermo, be sure to drop by and visit it for yourself, as it has to be seen to be truly appreciated.

Villa Palagonia is an 18th century architectural gem and palace famous for its “monsters”, the grotesque sculptures of beasts and figures that decorate the garden and surrounding wall.