Archive for 'Pretty Views'

The landscape of Sicily is not soft and pretty but rather striking and beautiful. It is a fascinating thing; rugged, wild, untamed, formed by volcanic processes, dotted by intriguing towns with a multitude of cultural influences marking their architectural characters, hugged by a stunning coast that boasts some of the best beaches in the world. Those seeking a sense of adventure and something new and interesting at every turn will find themselves very much at home in this part of Italy. If you want a great place to trek, hike, cycle, swim, play, and explore, a vacation rental in Sicily is just the ticket.

In particular, we would recommend setting aside some time and heading to the island of Vulcano, 25 km north of Sicily, at the southernmost tip of the eight Aeolian Islands. As the name immediately suggests, this wonderful little island in the Tyrrhenian Sea is a veritable hotspot of volcanic action with several volcanic caldera and one of the four active volcanoes in Italy that are not submarine. However, it is not it that is named after volcanoes but, rather, the other way around, the word for “volcano” coming from the name of the island, which was derived from Vulcan, who was the Roman god of fire. In fact, in both Greek and Roman mythology, the island was a forge for gods, being the labelled as the private foundry of the Olympian god Hephaestus, the patron of blacksmiths, and the chimney of Vulcan's workshop, with earthquakes and explosions of ash thought to have been evidence of the god being busy making weapons for the war god Mars and his armies.

There are lots of lots of beautiful and famous parks and gardens dotted all over Italy from the gardens attached to palaces like the Boboli Gardens and the gardens at Villa Toepliz in Varese, to great botanic gardens like the Hanbury Botanic Gardens attached to Genoa's University, to magical gems like the Giardino di Ninfa, a once abandoned gem in a Medieval ghost town. Amongst amongst these incredible beauties, however, there is one public park and garden that cannot go unmentioned: Rome's lovely Rose Garden. If you love blooms, beautiful settings, and gardening and you have found a luxury villa in Rome, then it truly is a must-see.

Located on the eastern side of the Aventine hill, the gardens date back to 1931 when an American countess named Mary Gayley Senni managed to secure a site near the Colosseum from the city authorities for a municipal rose garden and planted it with around 300 flowers. This original iteration was, sadly, destroyed during WWII but was reborn and given a new home in its current location, the former site of a Jewish graveyard that had been transferred to the cemetery at Campo Verano in 1934.

It will likely not come at any surprise at all that Sardinia, as an island in the Mediterranean, boasts many stunning beaches with impossibly blue waters, soft white sand, wonderful views, and lots of fun awaiting. One such example of an especially lovely beach is the Spiaggia di Bidderosa. This stretch of coast is a magical oasis, a technicolor dream and an excellent spot to spend a lazy day enjoying your stunning surroundings, the lapping sound of the waves, and the warm waters if you have found a vacation rental in Sardinia.

Near Orosei, a historic town on the east coast of Sardinia, is the Spiaggia di Bidderosa, one of the most popular beaches in the area and a well-preserved natural gem. Edged by more than 850 hectares of protected pine forests and dotted by five charming coves, this long beach boasts a truly enchanting setting. It also is perfectly located to make the most of the wonderful climate in this part of the Mediterranean, which ensures excellent weather and makes the beach a veritable paradise.

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.