Archive for 'Museums & Galleries'

The Brera Picture Gallery, or Pinacoteca di Brera, is Milan’s main public art gallery and has an incredible collection of works from over six centuries of European art, boasting pieces by the likes of Rubens, Titian, Correggio and Anthony Van Dyck.

Housed in what was, originally, a 14th century monastery, it became an academy in the 18th century where, in order to educate the students of architecture, sculpture and various other arts who studied there, a collection of casts after the Antique was established. These initial collections of sculptures used for educating students then grew and began to include paintings and, in the 19th century, the academy and the gallery that had grown up were formally separated.

The city of Turin is like a work of art in its own right but it is home to plenty of galleries, museums and palaces stuffed with all sorts of paintings, sculptures and other objets d'art that are worth checking out. However, if you are have found a vacation rental in Piedmont and are planning on visiting Turin in the next couple of months, there is one particular exhibition that we would recommend to you: the current Miró exhibition taking place in the Palazzo Chiablese in the Piazetta Reale.

Pictures are worth a thousand words, or so they say. Today, pictures are worth a holiday. Many people hop on a plane and travel thousands of miles, simply to see and photograph things that they have always seen for themselves and Rome is a destination that breeds these curious tourists: it always has, since long before commercial tourism was even a dream. If you have found a vacation rental in Rome, these are the sights that you need to see, and photograph, for yourself!

1. The Spiral Stairs in the Vatican Museums

Designed by Giuseppe Momo in 1932, this beautiful, sweeping staircase is perfectly lit from above and is simply begging to be photographed. Take in its perfection, swooping motion and grandeur for yourself, in person. Then, once you've appreciated it enough, take a picture and bring the sight of one of the many architectural gems that the city has to offer with you.

The Vatican is an incredible treasure trove of culture and art, in particular. As it was a source of immense wealth and the Church was one of the most important patrons in the world for centuries, the body of artworks that has been built up within its walls is pretty much without parallel. Great works, such as Michelangelo's impossibly famous painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, are very well known but there are many other works beyond it that are worth taking the time out to see and learn more about. In fact, there is an endless list of other works that we could mention but, in this new series, we'll be choosing some of our best picks to help you narrow it down to some truly excellent works of art. Just find a vacation rental in Rome, head to the Vatican and begin getting stuck into this endless well of cultural and artistic gems.

Having recently visited the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Piazza dei Miracoli, in which it is located, with my family (my very high-maintenance and prone to complaints family), I made some observations on how to have as fun and stress-free and experience possible. Once you have found a luxury villa in Pisa and are planning a trip, keep these facts, tips and tricks in mind to help you have the best possible experience of the Leaning Tower and the Piazza dei Miracoli. Be sure to read the first post in this series as well and take note of the information below.