Archive for 'Museums & Galleries'

Museums and Italy can almost seem synonymous, at times, and, certainly, if you have plans to visit Italy, you'll pencil a couple in to your itinerary. There are so many to choose from, however, that you might find it hard to pick some out. To help you out, we have compiled a list of some of the best and must-see museums throughout the country. If you end up near any of these, you have no excuse to skip them!

1. Vatican Museums

If you have found a vacation rental in Rome, this is a definite must-see attraction. It consistently tops the lists of best and most-visited museums in Italy and for good reason. The Vatican Museums, make for the largest exhibition space in the world with over 1400 rooms dedicated to Renaissance arts, Catholic Church history, as well as some interesting Etruscan and Egyptian collections. The 100 galleries that constitute the museums are loaded with papal treasures that were accumulated over the centuries and include the Sistine Chapel, ancient Greek and Roman sculptures like the “Laocoön” and “Belvedere Apollo,” and the frescoed “Stanze” by Raphael.

The Eastern influence on Venetian architecture is readily visible throughout the city and creates a stunning effect that is unique to the landscape, look and character of Venice. As a result, there is a distinct atmosphere about the city that, coupled with her famous canals, means you will never mistake Venice for anywhere else. Just find a vacation rental in Veneto and come see if for yourself.

Buildings of the early fifteenth century such as the Ca' D'oro feature Islamic motifs and decorative features, brought about by trade and interaction with the East; ogee arches, mihrab windows and rich foliate carvings, as well as multicoloured stones that come together to create a beautifully ornate Gothic facade. The important landmarks of the city, such as the Doge's Palace and San Marco, are all Gothic or clad in Gothic skins. It was not ignorance that lead to the decision to continue using Gothic forms in Venice, and the north of Italy in general, beyond its natural lifespan, but choice.

Furthermore, this lingering of the Gothic makes for a less stoic and grand architectural character and, instead, something more gilded and ornate.

If it was not already apparent, we're fans of Genoa here at Easy Reserve and think it is a lesser-known gem that deserves more attention. In fact, we even decided to dedicate an entire series of articles to the city, with a list of the top ten reasons why you should choose it as your next holiday destination. Here are more reasons you need to find a villa in Liguria and visit Genoa ASAP.

7. Via Garibaldi

The Old Town of Genoa has been mentioned several times already in this series and for good reason. UNESCO awarded and beautiful, this part of the city is the stuff postcards and dreams are made of. Via Garibaldi is street in this historical centre of Genoa, that is well known for its ancient palaces. Dating back to the 16th century, it is incredibly lovely and is lined with some stunning palaces, the breath-taking Royal Palace among them. Dickens is just one among the great number of writers and artists who has been enamoured with the street in the past, recording it with excitement in his travelogue:

Genoa is a beautiful Italian city, located on the Italian Riviera that has lots to offer visitors. Historic, cultured and picturesque, it is the perfect place for a city break, and there are, really, endless reasons why you should choose it as your next holiday destination. However, we have rounded up ten of the top reasons why you should find a villa in Liguria and visit Genoa. Continuing on from our previous posts in this series, here are more of those reasons.

5. A City With Perfect Beaches

As Genoa is located on the Italian Riviera, it isn't just a great urban destination but it is also home to some excellent beaches, meaning you can have the best of both seaside and city breaks in one destination.

In the final post in this series, we are rounding up the last of our picks of highlights of the incredible Galleria Borghese in Rome. This excellent gallery is home to works by the likes of Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian and Rubens but has a particularly exceptional group of works by Baroque sculptor and architect Bernini.

If you are a Bernini fan, the gallery truly is a must-see. Just find a vacation rental in Rome and drop by the Galleria Borghese to learn more about the great genius manipulator of marble that was Bernini.

7. The Goat Amalthea with the Infant Jupiter and a Faun, Bernini, 1609-1615

This work is actually the earliest known work by the Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini and was produced sometime between 1609 and 1615. It depicts the mythological figure of Amalthea as a goat, the infant god Jupiter, and an infant Faun.