Archive for 'Parks & Gardens'

A visit to the splendid capital of Rome would not be complete without seeing the site where the mighty Circus Maximus once stood.

This was the first and largest chariot racing stadium in all of Rome that could hold up to 250,000 spectators.

Situated between the Palatine and Aventine hills, the remains of the Circus Maximus is now barely recognisable from the huge stadium it once was and is now a public park.

The Circus Maximus site was first established by the Etruscan kings of Rome to grant the publics’ desire for an entertainment meeting ground. Julius Caesar ordered the expansion of this space around 50 BC to accommodate upwards of 270,000 people to view the chariot racing or other entertainment from seats within the stadium or standing on the surrounding hills.

The Marmore’s Falls or Cascate delle Marmore near Terni is a spectacular man-made waterfall which stands at a dizzying height of 165 metres in Umbria. Created by the ancient Romans, it’s one of the highest waterfalls in Italy and the tallest man-made waterfall in the world.

Stay at a beautiful holiday villa in Macerino which is located close to the Cascate delle Marmore and other lovely attractions in the area.

The Cascate delle Marmore is made up of three tiers and was created by directing a flow of water from the nearby River Velino, through Piediluco Lake before pouring down in a steep valley formed by the River Nera.

The magnificent Villa d’Este in Tivoli, near Rome was awarded as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it is the perfect example of well-preserved Renaissance architecture and an Italian style Renaissance garden.

It illustrates the glory of the Renaissance culture to the highest degree and its garden became an early reference point in the classic design of noble European gardens.

Stay at a perfect villa rental in Guidonia Montecelio,only a few kilometres away from Tivoli for a splendid few days!

Located in the southern coastal region of Campania is the scenic Cilento area and Vallo di Diano National Park. In 1998, it was awarded as a UNESCO World Heritage Site to protect its rich natural beauty from the wrath of mass tourism and large scale building projects in the area. Stay in a stunning vacation rental in Campania where you can easily explore the treasures of this region under the hot Italian sun!

Within this vast protected area lie numerous archaeological sites including Paestum, Velia and the Certosa di Padula. Much of this coastal area’s historical evolution can be relived in great detail thanks to the many monuments and documentation left behind.

If you’re holidaying in the beautiful Italian region of Veneto, be sure to spend an afternoon walking around the UNESCO awarded botanical garden in the city of Padua. ‘Orto dei Semplici’ is the world’s first botanical garden, created in 1545.

Stay in a cosy vacation villa rental in Veneto and have fun exploring all this stunning region has to offer for a few days!

This magnificent natural paradise still maintains its original layout of a large circular green surrounded by a small moat. This was designed to symbolise the world.

Other fitting elements were later added to the botanical garden in Padua at later stages, such as ornate garden entrances and green houses.