Archive for 'Central Italy in Italy'

Are you a serious book worm who is dreaming of a getaway to a perfect villa in Florence? Are you looking for attractions that are a little off the beaten track and suitable for those who love nothing more than a great read and evocative settings? Well, then why not head to a café with an unbeatable view of the city’s Duomo that is located inside an especially scenic public library? Sounds like a perfect bookish adventure on vacation in Tuscany to us!

The Biblioteca delle Oblate, or the Oblate Library, is located inside a former convent building that is right in the historic centre of Florence, mere steps from the city’s grand cathedral and its towering dome overhead. The Oblate complex itself dates back to the 14th century and was transformed into a public library in the 20th century. In 1953 it was named the central municipal library of Florence. 

Planning your dream holiday in Italy? Well, that has to include delicious food and we've been putting together a guide to the unmissable culinary delights that you should make a point to try in a previous post. Book your villa in Italy, read on for the rest of our picks, and start looking forward to some of the best meals of your life...

Milan

If you find a vacation rental in Lombardy then be sure to pay a visit to the region's cosmopolitan capital and fashion hot-spot. Explore Milan’s endless chic bars, restaurants, and coffee shops and you will find not only endless tasty Italian delights but wonders from all over the world. However, if you’re after something distinctly Milanese, then we recommend their minestrone (using rice unlike the pasta used throughout the rest of Italy), ossobuco (the city’s signature veal dish prepared with vegetables in white wine and broth), and gorgonzola, which hails from the nearby town of the same name. If you’re about at Christmas? Try the panettone as Milan is one of the places that claims to have been its birthplace.

So, you’ve booked your villa in Italy and you are excitedly planning what you are going to see and do during your vacation but what about the most important thing? What are you going to eat on your holiday in Italy? Well, to help you out, we have compiled a list of at least one of the key dishes, wines, products, or treats per location that you should make a point to sample in Italy based on your destination in question. So, consult our list and start planning a delicious getaway today...

Amalfi Coast

You’ve booked a villa on the Amalfi Coast and you’re lazing about by the sea, soaking up the sun, and generally taking things slow so the seafood is, of course, a must! Cetara’s anchovies, scialatielli (a shorter kind of spaghetti) topped with a variety of shellfish, and risotto with all kinds of seafood are all good options. Plus, be sure to enjoy incredible local wines like those from Ravello and keep things light by cleansing your palate with sorbet made from the area’s famous lemons before finishing meals with a glass of their beloved limoncello!

Read on to discover the second part of in our two-part series aboout the filming locations and sights and to go beyond Campania and find Ripley’s (2024) other destinations that you can visit on vacation in Italy.

Following on from the last post, we have been charting the adventures of the titular character of Ripley as he explores Italy. In episode three,  Ripley and his friend, Dickie, go on a trip to the town of Sanremo, in Liguria, a leading tourist destination along the Italian Riviera. Amidst the tense scenes, it is still possible to see the seaside charms of the town – the elegant buildings, the palm trees waving in the breeze, the lovely beach along the seafront, the pretty streets, and more. You might even take a cue from the characters and rent a boat for a trip, though hopefully in more pleasant circumstances! All is possible should you book a holiday rental in Liguria and come explore the delightful Sanremo for yourself.

The author of this article happened to study art history at university and particularly admired the dreamy mythological paintings of one Sandro Botticelli but only from a distance for a great many years. Upon finally seeing one in real life, the resulting sobbing and outpouring of emotion at their beauty may have alarmed the gallery security staff quite a bit...

Many of us, in fact, are familiar with his works (especially the likes of the beyond iconic Birth of Venus) from their recurring use and appearances throughout pop culture and art but it is a rather different experience to get to see these stunning paintings in person and with your own eyes. Art-lovers and those interested in the great Renaissance Masters should certainly seek Botticelli out and, luckily, if you are planning a vacation in Italy, you will have plenty of opportunities to do so in museums all over the country.

Here are a list of the various museums in question, their locations, and the works that they house for your reference and convenience if you are thinking about booking one of our villas in Italy and are looking to make time to seek out some Botticelli works during your stay: