Archive for 'Pretty Views'

A trip to Rome will undoubtedly involve a lot of running around and chaos as you try to put a dent in the endless incredible things there are to see and do in the city. An absolute haven for art-lovers and history buffs and anyone who simply enjoys looking at beautiful things, it is all very exciting but can also be a little bit overstimulating. Picture this, then: you have booked your villa in Rome, you are enjoying your trip, and you are ticking things off your bucket list but maybe you need a moment of peace and calm. Well, then we suggest heading to the stunning Villa Borghese for a few hours...

While the long coastlline of the region boasts many incredible beaches, those who have found a villa in Apulia and are looking to spend a day at a beach that remains untouched and undeveloped and, instead, is a preserved natural beauty, should definitely plan to head to the Dunes of Campomarino in Taranto.

Some of the best-preserved dunes in all of Italy, in fact, the Dunes of Campomarino are an extraordinary natural wonder that stretch out over 41 hectares and astound visitors with their amazing views, varied flora and fauna, and outstanding colours. Lush green Mediterranean scrub, gleaming white sands, impossibly blue and clear waters, and pops of bright pinks, purples, yellows, and more from the wildflowers all paint an incredibly lovely image. 

We have discussed the beautiful town of Polignano a Mare in Apulia many times before as a picturesque gem defined by whitewashed buildings perched high on the edge of rugged cliffs and overlooking impossibly blue waters below. Of course, there is more to the town, including the iconic and pretty little beach nestled between two of those cliffs right at the centre of the town, the charming piazze, the winding streets, the perfect places to sit out and eat or sip on a coffee, the balconies with flowers spilling over them, and much more besides. However, those cliffs are actually rather important and worth paying attention to if you are thinking of booking a villa in Apulia.

Over a staggering 20m in height, made of bright creamy limestone, craggy and dramatic, and overlooking the deep and beautiful waters of the Adriatic below, the unbelievable cliffs of Polignano a Mare are almost always annually one of the key stops or legs of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. Earlier this year, on the 2nd of July, they hosted one of the primary European legs of the tour for 2023. In fact, the town is often labelled the Home to European cliff-diving!

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. 

Sometimes, getting to your destination, heading off to go do the thing that you are excited for, is an absolute chore. Other times, and certainly in other places, this is all part of the experience and is a delight all on its own.

Picture this, for example: you have booked one of our incredible vacation rentals in Tuscany and you are off to see one of her famous and beloved tourist attractions. Say you are staying in a villa in the Orcia Valley and you are headed to Pisa for the day to see the wonderful Leaning Tower or you are based in a holiday rental in Siena but have decided to explore the endless world-class museums and architectural gems of Florence, well getting there is going to be just as exceptionally beautiful an experience as the outings themselves...