Archive for 'Museums & Galleries'

Rimini's City Museum is an extraordinary gem that is much more than a little local history or a dusty little place, though the name might conjure such images. Opened in 1977, it is housed in an amazing former Jesuit monastery and additional buildings added over the years. In total, the whole building covers more than 3,000 square meters and consists of some 40 galleries, as well as areas dedicated to special archeological exhibitions. Both an archaeological museum and art gallery, it has incredible old objects that tell the history of the city, as well as a rich picture gallery that is spread over two floors, encompasses works from the 15th to the 20th century and boasts works by famous Renaissance names such as Giovanni Bellini, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Simone Cantarini, Giovanni Battista Costa, and Guido Cagnacci. Costing less than ten euro to enter, it is both an excellent cultural gem and quite the bargain. As such, it is a key attraction to pencil in to any trip once you have found a vacation rental in Rimini.

Sperlonga is a stunning seaside resort in the Latium region of Italy. Charming and full of character, it is a well-kept secret among locals and a long-held favoured holiday destinations among Romans. It is also one of the many sites of major Ancient Roman archaeological discoveries in Italy but boasts some especially fascinating finds. If you're interested in art, culture and ancient history, a vacation rental in Latium and a visit to the town is a must.

All this week we have been talking about the beautiful Renaissance city of Ferrara. An incredible gem that is rich is in historical, cultural and artistic merit, it is a wonderful place to visit if you have found a holiday rental in Emilia Romagna and is full of things to see and do. We have been listing some of these things – including delicious food, a visit to the world's oldest wine bar, an amazing castle, a stunning cathedral and more – and to complete this list we have our last entries into our list of the top ten things you must do in Ferrara...

The Palazzo della Pilotta is a palace and complex of structures that is located between the Piazzale della Pace and the Lungoparma in the historic centre of the lovely Italian city of Parma. Vast but incomplete, the palace was built for the Farnese family in the 16th and 17th centuries, at the order of Duke Ottavio Farnese and then under Duke Ranuccio I. Built around a preexisting Visconti stronghold and a church, it was designed as a headquarters for the court and state services – such as stables, store rooms, arms rooms, theatre, barracks and more – rather than as a residence.

The charming city of Cosenza in the region of Calabria in the south of Italy is filled with surprises around every corner. If you have found a vacation rental in Calabria and are planning a day trip to this historic city, then be sure to head to Corso Mazzini, a pedestrian area between Piazza Bilotti and Piazza dei Bruzi, which is home to Cosenza’s Bilotti Open-air Museum. This street is dotted with works by famous sculptors like Mimmo Rotella, Emilio Greco, Giacomo Manzù, Giorgio De Chirico, Pietro Consagra, Justin Peyser, Sacha Sosno, and Salvador Dalí and is a museum that you can visit for free and whenever you want.