Archive for 'Parks & Gardens'

Hanami, or 花見, meaning, "flower viewing," is a traditional Japanese custom of enjoying the transient nature, and beauty, of flowers and is used to refer to appreciation of cherry blossom trees and plum blossom trees, although it most commonly suggests celebrations surrounding the blooming of cherry blossoms today. In contemporary Japan, hanami largely consists of outdoor parties and picnics that take place beneath the sakura during daytime or at night. As the blossoms only last for a week or two once they have bloomed the careful watching and waiting for them is a major preoccupation in Japan with the weather bureau announcing a blossom forecast between March and early May when the trees flower in different parts of the country. This has become harder to predict in recent years due to the effects of global warming but has become even more crucial to get right as millions of Japanese people and thousands of international tourists both descend upon the cherry blossom hot spots around the country each year and it acts as a major tourism boost for the country. While it might not quite boast the visual explosion of the hanami experience in Japan where there are thousands upon thousands of cherry blossom trees in various cities, towns, and countryside areas, Rome does actually have a well-established celebration of these beautiful blooms of its own each year and a wealth of cherry blossoms trees. So, if you want to experience a little slice of Japan and the beauty of these blooms while also enjoying everything that a spring getaway in Rome has to offer then browse our luxury villas in Rome and get planning your trip!

Rome is positively stuffed full of architectural gems, great artistic masterpieces, fascinating ruins, and museums overflowing with incredible objects to explore and browse and, if you have found a luxury villa in Rome, you will find that you have a rather endless list of things to see and do in the capital of Italy. However, for those interested in parks, gardens, garden design, plants, and peaceful strolls, there is one absolute must-see among these other compelling tourist attractions: the gardens of the impossibly lovely Villa Borghese.

The Villa Borghese is an architectural gem in its own right and is also home to a wonderful art museum, the Galleria Borghese, but the grounds on which it is located are also something rather special. The third largest park in the city, home to lots of wonderful architectural follies, and a wonderfully manicured space that is perfectly designed for wandering at your leisure, surrounded by the beauty of nature, in the midst of this ever-bustling city, it boasts a lot of boons and attractions all in one location.

There are some places that are so cinematically beautiful and impressive it is hard to believe that they are real, that they haven't been perfectly put together to appear on a screen or page. Imagine, for example, a stunningly pretty Italian palace that looks strikingly like a perfect little doll's house, surrounded by gardens heavy with the smell of roses, filled inside with lyrical sculptural works by Canova, and overlooking the tranquil waters of the beloved and lovely Lake Como...sounds too good to be true, right? And, yet, this is a real description of the utterly idyllic Villa Carlotta in Tremezzina. One of Italy's most charming and wonderful examples of a historic villa (which is saying something as there is no shortage of stunning villas in Italy!), this incredible architectural gem is a must-see for those who have found a vacation rental in Lombardy and who are exploring the most beautiful nooks and crannies of Lake Como.

The Villa Carlotta traces its origins to the rise of the Clerici family from rural origins to successful silk merchants in the 16th century due to the efforts of Giorgio Clerici. His sons then furthered the wealth and status of the family with Pietro Antonio Clerici being made a Marquis and Carlo becoming the owner of several palaces in Milan and Brianza. Carlo's son, also named Giorgio Clerici, was also a marquis and then became a senator in 1684 and was nominated as President of the Senate in 1717. It was he who decided to establish a country estate on ancestral lakeside land at Tremezzo and its first iteration was completed in 1695. His great grandson Anton Giorgio Cerici then completed the villa in 1745 but died with little money left to the estate after sinking major investments into the Palazzo Clerici in Milan. Unusually, we do not actually know for certain who the architect of the villa was.

Italy is home to lots of beautiful towns and incredible villas and palaces and it follows, therefore, that it is also home to plenty of truly stunning parks and gardens. These wonderful spaces are perfect for some peace, solitude, relaxation, and restoration among lush green surroundings and natural beauty, just the thing you often need on holidays if you are prone to darting around to see and do everything while you can. If you're looking for a moment to pause, take stock, and take a breath of fresh air, these little slices of greenery are ideal spaces in which to do so. There are endless examples located all over Italy but we thought we would pick just five of our favourites and offer you up a list of some of the most beautiful gardens and parks in Italy and photos of them as a feast for your senses...

We have already talked about the romantic city of Verona and how it makes for a perfect holiday destination built for two this week. As the location of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, it is home to countless love stories both fictional and real but it is also just exceptionally pretty, the kind of place made for wandering hand in hand. To come and fall in love with this city and more deeply with each other, just browse our vacation rentals in Veneto and plan a trip to Verona during your stay.

If you are in the area, you might also consider heading to the Villa Mosconi Bertani. This beautiful neoclassical country house is a stunning gem that reflects the strong tradition of such incredible villas and this style of architecture in the region and is also home to astounding gardens and an excellent winery. It is the perfect place to spend the day surrounded by splendour and getting to know the delicious wines of Veneto.

First built around 1735 for the Fattori family, the villa was constructed over a pre-existing 16th century wine cellar and a site that dates back to settlement during the time of the Ancient Romans. It was not completed under the Fattori family and was purchased in 1769 by the Mosconi family who finished the job and added an incredible eight hectare English-style Romantic garden. Under the Mosconi family the wine business was also expanded and became one of the largest cellars at the time in Northern Italy. After an initial glowing period in the 19th century as a centre for cultural and intellectual figures, the villa fell into neglect and disrepair in the 20th century. Thankfully, it was bought and saved by the Bertani family who run the winery to this day.