Casa Corvo

The Church of San Pietro is a stunning little church, exceptionally popular for weddings, that is perched picturesquely on the tip of the promontory of Portovenere, surrounded by craggy rocks and cliffs and blue seas.

Once the site of a Temple to Venus (Venere in Italian), after whom the town of Portovenere was named, an early Christian building made of black marble was then built there in the 6th century.

In the 13th century a campanile and Gothic extension clad in bands of black and white stone were added to the earlier structure.

Small and a little rugged but very striking and framed by perfect scenery, it is a building that has captured imaginations for centuries and which continues to do so.

Those who love pretty beaches and impossibly picturesque swimming spots will rather quickly discover that if they find a villa in Liguria, there are endless options of both to choose from in the immediate vicinity. Browsing through our blog, you will see lots of posts in which we highlight particular beaches, beach clubs, and coastal areas and in which we compile lists of some of the best of the best among them. However, if you're after a swimming spot that might not have a massive sandy beach on which to lay out but that is steeped in history and is a perfectly scenic gem in which to cool off while exploring the Porto Venere area, then we highly recommend a visit to the stunning Grotta di Lord Byron.

Portovenere is one of the most picturesque seaside towns in all of Italy. Located on the coast in Liguria, this elegant vacation and resort destination is a wonderful combination of brightly painted houses against blue skies, beautiful sea views, a lively port, winding streets and tiny alleys, architectural gems and a relaxed atmosphere. It is incredibly pretty but is also full of things to see and do in both the immediate and surrounding area.

The area is connected to the gods and ancient legend, legendary poets like Byron and writers like the Shelleys and kings of old and is home to one of the prettiest churches in the country, a majestic castle and much more besides. If you are looking for a dreamy little seaside getaway in Italy where there is also plenty to keep you occupied, look no further.

Just find a villa with swimming pool in Liguria and fall in love with this exceptional little town.

Tuscany is home to the Apuan Alps, a mountain range nestled between the valleys of the Serchio and Magra rivers, not far from the Garfagnana and Lunigiana areas. It is a beautiful part of the world that boasts even more beautiful views over the picturesque and distinctive landscape of Tuscany. Monte Sagro then, is a mountain in the Apuan Alps, overlooking the city of Carrara, that is one of nine main peaks in the range and an excellent place to go hiking if you have found a vacation rental in Carrara and want to get some fresh air and stretch your legs.

Located closest to the sea, in the northern part of the mountain range, Monte Sagro means holy or sacred mountain and there are several theories as to how this name first originated. According to one theory, the mountain is said to have been a sacred place for the ancient Liguri tribe, along with Monte Bego, which is located at the modern border between France and Italy. It is thought that these Ligurian-Apuan people, with Pliny the Elder noting this belief, believed the mountain to be home to a generous god who was prone to blessing them with rain. Other ideas about how it became a sacred mountain include its grandeur simply attracting such a name, or the idea that its particularly elegant pyramidal shape warranted the title, or because it was one of the main sanctuaries of the ancient Ligurian-Apuan people and allowed direct visual communication with Monte Penna, another important mountain for the local tribes. All of these theories come from the same period and all suggest that, though we do not know which one is exactly right (or if it might not actually be a combination or blend of these reasons), this grand and imposing mountain, usefully positioned for communication and for attracting clouds and rain, has long captured the imagination of those who saw it.

In our last post, we discussed the value of a good view and how it enriches any vacation, as well as showcasing just two of our incredible properties. Both of those properties had sea views and, while a sea view is always a good thing, there are plenty of others that are just as pleasing. Here are some more of our vacation rentals with incredible views in Italy, some with glimpses of the ocean but always with something lovely to behold, be that mountains, plains or lakes.

3. Villa Ponzano

This beautiful and fully renovated villa boasts an extraordinary panoramic view. Located high up on the hills of La Spezia, in a lovely sunny position, it is surrounded by a fully fenced garden, a private pool and large panoramic terrace, all of which overlooks the Gulf of La Spezia. The surrounding mountains, hills, valleys, medieval towns, the forested hillside and a glimpse out to the coast are all visible from the house. In fact, the view is so sweeping and majestic, with so much to take in, that one could spend endless hours on the terrace just breathing in the fresh air and enjoying it all.