Archive for 'Localities in Italy'

The gorgeous city of Venice is truly just full of iconic and stunning bridges, palaces, churches and more, which line her famous canals and make up the city's distinctive skyline and elegant appearance. For those interested in architecture and design, it is an especially fascinating city but even your average Joe can appreciate the undeniably unique beauty of the wonderful feats of architecture that emerge from the lagoon. Taking it all in with one's own eyes is on the bucket list of many all over the globe as there truly is nowhere else in the world quite like it. To see it for yourself, why don't you browse our villas in Venice and get planning your own trip to this stunning and picturesque city in Italy?

One of the most famous of all the buildings that spring out of the Venetian Lagoon is the lovely Church of Santa Maria della Salute, meaning the Church of Saint Mary of Health. Located on the strip of land that is the Punta della Dogana, between the Grand Canal and the Giudecca Canal, in the Dorsoduro sestiere of the city, the church is visible when entering the Piazza San Marco from the water. The most recent of the so-called plague churches, it was begun in 1631 after a particularly devastating outbreak of plague in the summer of 1630 that devastated the population of the city, as a votive offering to Our Lady of Health in an attempt to beg help for city in freeing them from the deadly disease.

Those who are looking to plan a vacation in Venice are likely attracted by her unique and iconic cityscape, her incredibly famous landmarks, and the wonderfully specific and charming traditions of Venice from the annual carnival celebrations to gondola rides to art and film festivals. For those interested in a villa in Venice and a holiday because of this rich and unrivalled heritage of gorgeous artworks, architectural gems, and design culture and for those who want to bring a little of it and a little piece of Venice itself home with you, then there are some historic artisanal products from Venice that make for ideal souvenirs. One can, of course, go for the hand-painted carnival masks in all sorts of shades and designs that adorn homes all over the globe as a special reminder of a trip to Venice, or a delicate piece of stunning Burano lace that was deemed good enough by centuries of European royalty, but one of the most iconic Venetian souvenirs has to be Murano glassware.

Many imagine indoor spaces when thinking of a vacation in Florence: museums, boutiques, palaces, churches, restaurants, cafes, bars, and more. However, if you have found a villa in Florence and are spending some time exploring the birthplace of the Renaissance and the capital of Tuscany, you will quickly find that the outdoor space of Florence are equally captivating and impressive. The palaces that are dotted throughout the city often still have beautiful and historic gardens that can be visited, piazzas are lined with cafes for coffee-sipping and people watching and house lively markets at certain days and times of the week, the ancient streets are full of things to see with architectural and artistic gems framing your vision as you walk about, and there are endless parks, walks, and more to be explored. One of the most beautiful of all of these outdoor spaces in Florence, however, has to be the Parco delle Cascine, or Cascine Park.

Cascine Park is located along the north bank of the Arno and stretches from the centre of the city to where the Mugnon and Arno meet. Stretching over a whopping 160 hectares (or 395 acres), the park dates back to 1563, when Cosimo I de' Medici created the space as a farming and hunting estate for the ruling Medici family. In fact, the name of the park itself comes from the old Italian work, “cascio,” which means bovine livestock from which the production of butter and cheese is intended.

Lucca is a beautiful and famous historic walled city in Tuscany that is exactly the kind of place with cobbled streets, sweeping views over the surrounding rolling landscape, and stunning architectural gems that many imagine themselves escaping to when they dream of a vacation in Italy. There are endless reasons as to why you should book a villa with pool in Lucca but we thought we'd outline five very good reasons to do so ASAP...

1. Some of the prettiest walks in Tuscany

Those famous Renaissance walls that have Roman foundations but were built in their current form as a defense against Florence in the 16th and 17th centuries and still surround the town of Lucca aren't just appealing historic in appearance. This charming feature of the city is also an important attraction in its own right for those who are interested in architecture and engineering and for those looking to go on one of the prettiest walks in Tuscany. Used by locals and visitors alike as a place to walk, jog, and cycle since 1799, the whole wall is about 4 km long and is interrupted by 11 bastions, all different in design. Trees have been planted along the path around the wall, offering shade and making it a pleasant place to stroll, especially in the heat of the summer. As you walk around the wall, you will also be afforded stunning views over the old town and the surrounding landscape, making it one of the most pleasant and scenic spots for a walk in Tuscany.