Archive for 'Parks & Gardens'

Located just a stone’s throw from the seafront of the beautiful port town of Palermo, one will find the city’s stunning 18th century botanical gardens that are one of the must-see spots on the whole island for garden and plant-lovers who find a villa in Sicily. The most tropical garden in Europe, this fascinating and lovely balmy gem is a truly magical place, spread across a park that is 10 hectares in size and that hosts an astounding twelve thousand different plant species. For those looking to wander peacefully between outdoor gardens and greenhouses, among flocks of parrots and tropical plants, and past beautiful statuary, it is an ideal spot to enjoy some peace and calm in the city.

If you have been considering a villa in Piedmont or a vacation rental in Lombardy, it is not unlikely that you might decide to spend a day during your holiday in Italy exploring Lake Maggiore. This incredibly scenic part of the country and part of Italy’s famous and beloved lake district is bordered by impossibly picturesque little towns, circled by excellent hiking routes, full of little islands and islets with gorgeous historic villas, architectural gems, and gardens, and is a perfect place to come and either enjoy various outdoor pursuits or to simply relax and unwind. While there are plenty of things to see and do in the area, one of the most remarkably lovely and magical activities that we can recommend is a visit to the Giardino Botanico Alpinia.

The Giardino Botanico Alpinia is an extraordinary and unique botanic garden housing mostly Alpine plant species that is located at 800m altitude above the picturesque lakeside town of Stresa that is right on Lake Maggiore. Reached by the Lido di Carciano - Alpino - Mottarone cable car, this very special garden not only houses a fascinating collection in an especially scenic location but is also accessed in such a whimsical and charming way. Overall, a visit to this wonderful garden while on vacation at Lake Maggiore is a definite must and would also be certainly a wonderful addition to any day trip in the area if you have found a holiday rental in Piedmont and are spending time seeing what the area has to offer. 

Abruzzo is a region of Italy that abounds in stunning beaches. Its lengthy coastline is dotted by craggy cliffs, pretty little coves, wide sandy bays, a great wealth of different kinds of beaches to chose from, and many other spots that boast idyllic marine beauty. However, one of the most picturesque areas along the whole coast, that is a true must-see for anyone who finds a villa in Abruzzo and is looking to plan perfect days by the sea, is the Riserva di Punta Aderci, or Regional Nature Reserve of Punta Aderci. This utterly evocative and picture-perfect stretch of the Abruzzo coast with its homonymous promontory, was the first reserve to be set up in Abruzzo on the coast back in 1998 and is a gorgeous and wonderfully preserved gem that boasts some of the most truly extraordinary beaches in all of Italy.

Extending over 285 hectares and 5km along the coastline from the Punta Penna beach in the south to the mouth of the Sinello River in the north, this is an unspoiled and utterly remarkable part of the world that Vanity Fair ranked at the top of their list of the loveliest and cleanest beaches in the globe. Open to the public year round, with free access, it is a hub of natural beauty and potential activities and adventures. 

Beautiful design and incredible works of art are a key part of Italy’s cultural heritage but while everyone knows this includes paintings, sculptures, buildings, objects, clothes, and more, some forget that garden design is a key element. Italy’s history of garden design is rich and fascinating and has left us with some truly extraordinary and magical gardens to visit all throughout the country. Varying from pretty and manicured palace gardens, to diverse and educational botanic gardens at universities, to gems specialising in one sort of bloom or tree or plant and presenting a gorgeous array, to flights of fancy featuring interesting planting interacting with wonderful sculptural works, to welcoming parks where generations can gather for fun and excitement; there are all sorts of wonderful gardens in Italy. One of the most unique of all, however, has to be the Labirinto Della Masone, an astonishing and magical garden that is a must-see for all those who find a villa in Emilia Romagna and are interested in such things!

Created by Franco Maria Ricci, an Italian graphic designer, editor, and designer, this extraordinary bamboo maze spreads out over an astounding seven hectares and follows a path that is 3km long in total. Ricci had been long fascinated by mazes and he first dreamed of building one all the way back in the eighties. Following a meeting and collaboration with Jorge Luis Borges, the famous Argentine writer who directed the series La Biblioteca di Babele for Ricci’s publishing house, the idea to make a labyrinth of his own came to Ricci.