Archive for 'Museums & Galleries'

Sardinia has been touched by all of the different civilisations and occupants that have made their home on this beautiful island and, as a result, it is dotted with stunning churches, incredible castles, ancient temples, pretty palaces, striking landmarks, and much more besides. However, if you have found a vacation rental in Sardinia and you are interested in her most intriguing historical gems, then you definitely need to pay a visit to the Giants of Mont'e Prama.

The Giants of Mont'e Prama are a series of massive, ancient stone sculptures that remain from the time of the Nuragic civilisation, which was a civilisation on Sardinia that lasted from the 18th century BCE (or during the Bronze Age) until the Roman colonisation of the island in 238 BCE (though some claim the civilisation actually lasted until the 2nd or, even, the 6th century AD). Named for the nuraghe, or tower-fortresses, that they built across the island, the Nuragic civilisation has left us no written records. What does remain, however, are some impressive monuments, including some 7,000 of the towers for which they were named and the fascinating Giants of Mont'e Prama, among other intriguing reminders.

Liguria is home to the Italian Riviera, a stretch of the coast that boasts some of Italy's most beautiful beaches and, as a result, it is an especially popular holiday destination. However, in addition to having lots of options for days of fun and sun at the beach, a villa in Liguria also means enjoying incredible fresh seafood and plenty of delicious local specialties including mushroom pie and mussels stuffed with cheese and herbs; visits to exclusive holiday resorts such as the luxurious and star-studded Portofino; wonderful walks and hiking routes along the coast where you can enjoy the scent of the sea and endless lemon groves that permeates the air or in the Ligurian Alps where you'll take in some of the most extraordinary views in the world; wandering the picturesque towns of the famous Cinque Terre; trips to villages famous for witch trials, inspiring Monet, annual carnival celebrations, and more; and, of course, time exploring the stunning and elegant capital of the region, Genoa. Genoa is an incredibly beautiful gem with an old town full of pretty winding little streets among tall old buildings, palaces, museums, and architectural feats. Among all of the wonderful things to see and do in the city, however, if you have found a villa in Liguria and are spending the day in Genoa, then a visit to the Palazzo Reale is a must.

Michelangelo's most famous work in Rome has to be his painted ceiling in the stunning Sistine Chapel and any art-lovers who have found a villa in Rome are sure to seek it out to see for themselves. However, the great artist personally most loved to work as a sculptor, freeing figures he imagined were trapped inside blocks of marble, waiting to be born at his hands. As he was a great favourite in Rome and the Church was one of his best patrons, there are also some wonderful sculpted works by Michelangelo to be discovered around the city, as well. So, if you are planning a vacation in Rome, be sure to check those out too and to see how incredibly talented he was at mimicking the folds and flesh and shape of the human form in stone.

Italy is known for many things; food, art, opera, design, style, a relaxed pace of life, gorgeous scenery, and more. However, to motor enthusiasts, it is the country that produced some of the most iconic and beloved cars and motor vehicles in the world. In particular, Italy has given the world some of the most beautiful racing cars, supercars, and luxury cars. Ferrari is just one famous brand and if you are a car-lover who has found yourself a villa in Emilia-Romagna, a lush and beautiful region to the north-east of Italy, then you should definitely make it a point to visit the Museo Ferrari.

While a villa in Sicily ensures a holiday in Italy full of fun and sun and relaxation, there is more to the stunning island than playing on the beach, sunning oneself on the sand, tasting local delicacies, and wandering around the more typical tourist attractions. There are also some rather more unusual and, even macabre, attractions that will delight and intrigue the more curious tourists in search of fascinating and strange sights that are well off the beaten path. One such impossibly interesting and somewhat morbid gem for those who have found a villa in Palermo, in particular, is the Catacombe dei Cappuccini.