Archive for 'Pretty Views'

You can basically hear this image, right? The sound of that perfectly blue water lapping gently against the soft white sand of the shore immediately comes to mind and one is filled with the desire to escape to such a spot. This incredibly beautiful beach is one of many fine stretches of coast on the island of Sardinia but has to be up there amongst the best of the best. Spiaggia della Licciola is a gorgeous beach in Santa Teresa Gallura, a wonderful seaside town that is very special and a must for beach-lovers who have found a vacation rental in Sardinia.

While the town has much in the way of nightlife entertainment, with plenty of bars, nightclubs, live music, and a great jazz festival each August, the town and the surrounding area is really an attractive spot for those who enjoy the great outdoors and immense natural beauty.

Anyone who has ever see a picture of the Cinque Terre will recognise the colorful buildings clustered around pretty, boat-filled harbours, steep cliffs, impossibly blue waters, and lush countryside and Vernazza fits this image to a tee. In fact, it's likely the exact village featured in those images that you are calling to mind. Perhaps the most beautiful and characteristic of villages of the Cinque Terre, it is a small fishing town that was founded around 1000AD and is a must-see for anyone who has found a vacation rental in the Cinque Terre.

Cervara di Roma is a tiny village in the province of Rome, in the region of Latium, Italy. As of 2017, it had a population of just 444 people. However, despite its small size and number of inhabitants, the town has a lot to offer. Perched dramatically, high up on a cliff in the Monti Simbruini Regional Park, it is picturesque in the way that such mountain villages in Italy tend to be but it is also unique in that it has become an open-air gallery that has attracted painters, sculptors, poets, and other artists over the centuries. If you have found a luxury villa in Rome and are exploring the wider region, seeking out interesting and unusual attractions, well off the beaten tourist path, hidden gems, and singularly intriguing places, then look no further than Cervara di Roma.

Winter is a great time of year to plan a visit to Italy – crowds are smaller, prices and availability are better, and the festive season brings its own unique charms – and we have written about great winter destinations around the country but we thought it might also be a good idea to spotlight some examples of the types of perfect cosy rentals in Italy that make for ideal winter getaway options. Whether you're looking for a city break and to be located right in the centre of the festive fun or you want to get away from it all with a perfectly idyllic mountain hideout, we have chosen some of our truly wonderful winter-appropriate vacation rentals in Italy.

1. Suite Casa Nova in the centre of Venice (From € 208 per night)

Sleeps up to 6, 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms

Matera is an incredible city in the south of Italy that we have discussed on many an occasion. Carved into cliff-sides in the region of Basilicata, the town is eight thousand years old and is an utterly unique and picturesque gem. If you find a vacation rental in Basilicata, it truly is a must-see.

This beautiful and ancient place will be more relevant than ever in the next couple of years as the European Capital of Culture 2019 (alongside Bulgaria's Plovdiv). Planning for the year began in 2014 and a whole calendar of events will take place next year, making the must-see UNESCO World Heritage Site even more fascinating and even richer in things to see and do.