Archive for 'Museums & Galleries'

The stunning Villa del Balbianello is already an impossibly beautiful architectural gem that is well worth exploring should you find a villa on Lake Como but in addition to being an important historical and artistic attraction, it has also been the filming location for some famous films.

It is no wonder that the Villa del Balbianello has caught the eye of location scouts multiple times – its good looks are truly cinematic! Perched prettily over Lake Como with blooming manicured gardens that directly overlook and flow down to the water, a lovely example of 18th century architecture, and filled with incredible works of art and furniture from all over the world, it is exquisite and utterly romantic. 

Tuscany is, of course, famous as a major destination for art-lovers all around the world to come and visit some of the best museums and art galleries in all the globe to see pieces by world-renowned artists. When most people think of seeing art while on holiday in Tuscany, they tend to picture great historical works by famous Italian artists such as Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, and more in very formal spaces. However, if you are browsing our Italy Villas and considering a luxury villa in Pisa, then there is a really important and incredible artwork that many might not realise is in the city – perhaps because it matches none of the above descriptions. Dating to the late 80s, by a famous American graffiti artist, and located outdoors, Keith Haring’s Tuttomondo may not be what one expects of art in Tuscany but it is a must-see piece for serious art fans who vacation in Tuscany.

With its impossibly rich cultural heritage, Italy is home to some of the most iconic works of art that are famous the world over and that most of us will have grown up seeing. While there are many famous art cities in Italy (we just recently spoke of the astounding wealth of artworks within the Vatican in Rome alone), one of the most important and significant is the city of Florence. Known as the, "birthplace of the Renaissance," it is one of the must-see destinations that every art-lover should have on their bucket list. Luckily, we have an array of amazing villas in Florence to choose from, making it easy to plan a getaway and tick it off!

While on your arty holiday in Florence, one of the aforementioned iconic artworks that can be found in this gem of a city in Tuscany is Michelangelo's David. 

Whether you are of the Catholic faith or not, the city state of Vatican City within Rome is surely one of the most extraordinary deposits of art and craftsmanship in the world. Boasting unbelievable, soaring architectural gems on unfathomable scales and galleries and museums stuffed with works by some of the most famous artists to have ever existed in Europe, those who love culture and art and simply want to gawk at this astonishing world of beautiful things should definitely book one of our vacation rentals in Rome and visit ASAP. There is so much to see and do that you would need lifetimes to see it all but there’s no better time than the present to plan your vacation and to start to make even a tiny dent in it all.

But, what exactly is there to see? Well, here is our guide to the main spaces and attractions to visit in the Vatican once you have booked your holiday in Rome with Italy Villas...

One most likely thinks of fashion first when they hear the word, “Milan,” but the city’s cultural riches go deeper and much further into the past than when it became a fashion capital. Before Milan was known for her wealth of incredible design, she was already a great hub of creativity, where wealthy patrons supported talents that have stood the test of time. Da Vinci, for example, spent 18 years of his life at the court of Milan, producing art and working as a military engineer for Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan.

He is not the only great master whose work can be enjoyed in Milan, however. The city’s great public art museum, the Brera Picture Gallery, or the Pinacoteca di Brera, boasts a truly extraordinary collection spanning six centuries of European art with artists like Rubens, Titian, Correggio, and Anthony Van Dyck all represented. For those who love art and find a vacation rental in Milan or a villa en Lombardía and plan to delve into the cultural riches of the city, this grand space with its impossible array of masterpieces is an unmissable attraction. Set aside several hours and come get lost in this incredible museum...