FIve Specific Tips on Renting A Holiday Home in Italy

When looking for a place to stay in Italy, many people think about going to a hotel or those people on a smaller budget, a hostel. However, more and more tourists are looking at renting accommodation in Italy. Here are some tips on what to look for in your next holiday home.

Reviews
There should be reviews of all the holiday homes by past guests. If there are all positive reviews, then it will put your mind at ease and you can book your accommodation. If the reviews are negative, have a read why, maybe the price of the house/apartment is lower which means not everything is 100% perfect.

Additional costs
Make sure there are no hidden fees in the rent. Some places may expect you to pay for cleaning and will charge your credit card after you have left the place. A lot of rental companies will ask for deposit and you should get this back once you have left the accommodation in a good state.

Personal touch
Due to the economic crisis there has been an increase in the number of people renting their holiday homes. Those that have advertised their homes on a holiday rental site will normally be the home owner. Drop them an email and ask them a few more details about the place. Also check to see if they will be there to greet you. Some owners leave a welcome basket for their guests which is a nice touch.

Amenities in the local area
You should look to see how far the apartment is from the city centre. For example when looking for apartments in Rome you do not want to be crammed in a tiny flat, and the only view is of your neighbour's bedroom. Sometimes, it is worth renting a place a few streets away in the quieter part of town, such as the area near the Vatican.

Genuine site
As there has been an increase in the number of holiday homes, there are a lot of different sites advertising the accommodation, some genuine, others not. Holiday rentals.co.uk, worldwide-accom.com and ownersdirect.co.uk are some of the more established sites. If you know someone who has tried a new site and they have had a great holiday, it may be worth checking it out as well.

There is a lot of choice out there, so make sure you do your research when looking at Rome accommodation rentals when you next go on holiday.


Robin is a freelance travel blogger, writing about places to visit in Europe and renting apartments in Paris , Rome and London.

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A Guide to UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy

Located on a peninsula in the Mediterranean, Italy has a long and glowing history. For those staying at one of the many fabulous Italian villas/Hotels or seaside resorts, some of the best Italian holiday ideas include visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites like these:

Agrigento - A leading ancient Greek city in southern Sicily dating from the late 500s BC. Spectacular Agrigento is near two rivers and also looks over the sea. Much of the historic town and elaborate temples for Greek gods are still intact today. The structures are impressive and excavation continues.

Amalfi Coast - This coastline is included in the lists of World Heritage sites because of its natural Mediterranean seashore beauty and its towns and settlements that hold true to traditional culture. Art and architecture is carefully preserved in villages that are adapted to the terrain like Ravello and Amalfi.

Assisi - The first known settlers in Assisi were the Umbrians in about the year 1000 BC. The hilltop town is located below Subasio Mountain. Assisi was the hometown of Saint Francis, who founded his Fransiscan Order of monks in 1208 AC. The large, famous church built in his honour was finished in 1253.

Caserta Royal Palace Complex - The vast grounds and palace were started in 1752 by Charles the VII of Naples. The Enlightenment style architecture of the palace complex was the work of the talented Luigi Vanvitelli. Lavish interiors greet the eye. The surrounding parklands, pools and forest are all beautifully maintained.

Castel del Monte - In Andria of southeast Italy, Emperor Frederick II constructed the castle in the 1200s combining Gothic, Islamic and Oriental influences in the architecture. The precise geometric shape and structure of the military stronghold stands proudly today on its hill near Santa Maria del Monte's monastery.

Florence's Historic District - Rome colonized the town in 59 BC, called Florentia. Florence became a leading city of the Renaissance in the 1400s and 1500s showcasing works of greats like Botticelli, Giotto and Michelangelo. The incredible medieval architecture of Florence is seen in buildings such as the Church of Santa Croce.

Pompeii and Herculaneum - In 79 AD, the killer volcano Vesuvius erupted over Pompeii and the nearby resort town of Herculaneum. Pompeii was more damaged than Herculaneum and both have been extensively excavated, especially Pompeii. The towns were discovered in the 1700s.

Rome City Centre - According to legend, Rome was founded in the mid-700 BC by Remus and Romelus. The capital of the Roman Empire and the historic headquarters of the Catholic Church, Rome has hundreds of well-known buildings, structures and monuments. Incredible art is seen in constructions built through the centuries like bridges, columns and palazzos.

Venice - In the 400s, Venice was built on almost 120 small islands, the metropolis is a maze of valuable historic architecture. It was also a maritime power in the 900s and is known for its lagoon and canals today that are teeming with water vessels of all types.

Verona - An ancient city with amazing architecture from various periods over the last 2000 years, Verona in northern Italy was inhabited by tribes for hundreds of years. Then, in the first century BC it was colonized by Rome. The town is famous as the place that inspired Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet.

Conclusion
The world treasures described above provide a wealth of education about Italy and the world in general. Italy has more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country on the globe. Nothing can beat a first-hand look and exploration of these locales.

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The Little Red Train On The Alps

Livigno is a spectacular mountain locality, especially dedicated to skiers. But that is not the only attraction of this Alpine resort. The surrounding area is full of spectacular landscapes to explore and activities to experience. Such as the romantic mountain train bringing you through out-of-this-world landscapes, glaciers and gorges. The train is friendly called the "Little Red Train".

For the Valtellina people, to talk about the "red train" is like talking about a dear friend.

This is because the Bernina Express departs from the center of the Valtellina, the town of Tirano, and because it is tireless with his slow pilgrimage through gentle valleys and high mountain passes to reach its destination in the heart of upper Engadina.

Tourists are fascinated by this train, and for many it is the most beautiful in the world. Getting on the Bernina Express Railway is equivalent to entering a theater with the landscape unfolding before your eyes. The stage offers a constantly changing spectacle. You can admire not only natural beauties, but also the spectacular railroad structure itself, with its bridges and loop tunnels, reaching at times impressive inclinations. Surely, the route contributes to the charm of this line, going from the Valtellina valley to the Val Poschiavo and then on to climb up among the glaciers and peaks of the Bernina, finally descending to ever-charming Engadina until Pontresina and St. Moritz.

This spectacular and unforgettable rail journey begins in Tirano, the terminus of the Milan-Sondrio-Tirano Italian railways track. The train consists of modern and comfortable coaches. It leaves this lovely city to begin a breathtaking journey, in winter just as in summer, on slopes of 70 per thousand (without rack) up to an altitude of 2253 meters above sea level, which is unique in Europe. After a few kilometers from departure a marvel suddenly strikes your eyes: it's the Brusio viaduct, an outdoor helical ramp. Beyond Poschiavo, the capital of the valley with its beautiful patrician houses, the traveler reaches Alp Grüm, a unique panoramic point on the Palu glacier.

After crossing the pass at an altitude of 2253 meters above sea level, Montebello offers the observer an impressive view of the Monteratsch glacier and the Bernina chain, 4 thousand meters high and covered with glittering eternal snows.

In Pontresina, a popular tourist resort and winter sports center, the line branches off to Samaden-Chur, which allows travelers to reach Central Switzerland and Northern Europe. A few more kilometers and you will come across the enchanting landscape of the Upper Engadine and reach the beautiful St. Moritz.

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Salento, The Heart of Apulia (Puglia)

Prehistoric monuments as a Dolmen and Menhir testify a thousand years of history. The natural environment is as diverse as it is beautiful, the green countryside and bare hills are covered with wheat, tobacco crops and olive groves, while the sea is the highlight of it all. The coast is high, rocky, rugged, dotted with caves and bays, while waters are rich in flora and fauna. All this is Salento. Perhaps most important of all is the story of its people who overcome famines and persistent poverty and now can offer their land to tourists with love and kindness.

The Territory
Once the Salento peninsula included the territory occupied by the provinces of Brindisi, Lecce and Taranto, but today this term has been used to include the geographical area of ​​Lecce, which is much smaller. The Salento stretches from the so-called "Messapian threshold" between Casalabate, north of Lecce, and Punta Prosciutto, north-west of Porto Cesareo, goes down to the Cape of Santa Maria di Leuca, and is limited by 220 kilometers of coastline overlooking the Adriatic and lonio Seas.

The Heart of Salento
Like any land, Salento has a heart, which is called Salento Greece. Its sunny villages, the dialect rich of Hellenic words, the spirit and tradition characterize this area.
Palmieri, Castrigiano of the Greeks, Corigliano d'Otranto, Lecce, Melpignano, Soleto, Sternatia and Zollino are a world apart, or rather what remains of a larger area known as the ancient Land of Otranto. This area was made Greek starting from the sixth century. It remained impenetrable to Latinization up to the eleventh century. The priests of this area continued to celebrate their Greek Orthodox rites up until the first half of the seventeenth century.

Suggested Tour
Take two or three days to dedicate to this part of Salento. The small villages made of white houses and beautiful sunny countryside open lands invite you to get lost in them while eavesdropping the so-called Griko dialect.
Then you can enjoy the Greek roots at the table with typical dishes of Greek derivation with Mediterranean aftertaste.
This is the most unexpected corner of Italy's heel. It's exotic and archaic character forces time to flow more slowly than elsewhere. The tour winds from Calimera to Soleto and you can travel it by car stopping every few kilometers at one interesting town or site.

The Climate
The climate of Salento is typically Mediterranean. Obviously a result of the mitigating effect of the sea, the peninsula provides exceptionally long summers, dry and sunny days overall for and average of 2600 hours of sunshine per year. The colder weather is mild and brief, and is felt differently depending on the area you are in, as there are several micro-climatic zones. The high Adriatic coast, between Otranto and Leuca, receives more rain than the one on the Ionian coast up to Gallipoli, where warm winds from North Africa prevail. The area north of Otranto receives Balkan influences that determine slightly lower temperatures.

Villas and Farmhouses
The Lecce Baroque period saw its prelude with cities being reborn, large countryside farms being built, bishops and local aristocrats promoting local building activity, church and castle artworks being produced in Castro, Cupertino, Gallipoli and Otranto. In the seventeenth century architects and master builders transformed urban spaces and created new sceneries where to place squares, churches and palaces.
The Baroque of Lecce is still elegantly shaping the capital and cities such as Alessi, Cupertino, Gallipoli, Leverano, Minervino, Morciano di Leuca, Muro Leccese and Presicce. Elegance and imagination remained during the following centuries, as many homes in Liberty style in Santa Cesarea Terme and Marina di Leuca testify. Moorish villas reaffirm the memory of the link with Middle East.

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Sardinia Beaches near Nuoro

The coastal area of Ogliastra is located in the central-eastern part of Sardinia in the province of Nuoro. Departing from Olbia you can reach it driving along the scenic ss125 ss131 or the highway to Nuoro, built in 1997. Other access points are Tortoli airport, which connects the island to the main seasonally national and European airports, and the port of Arbatax.
To the north of this area is the magnificent Sisine Coast, which with its nearly two thousand feet of cliffs is considered the highest in the Mediterranean. Impressive cliffs of bare stone suddenly appear, covered with luxuriant vegetation. Hidden and mysterious fractures and cracks in the coast are frequently populated by twisted, ancient junipers.

The limestone cliffs continue up to Capo di Monte Santu, which closes to the south the Gulf of Orosei. A limestone section leading south starts here and slowly changes into splendid red porphyry, reaching its maximum charm with the famous Red Cliffs, unique in the world, next to the port of Arbatax.

Along all this stretch of coast the landscape is ever changing. Always different and unique charming beaches display granite and porphyry shapes of a special beauty. The peaceful surroundings, crystal clear sea water and sand of magnificent colors are the accents that will make you fall in love with the beaches of Sardinia.

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Traveling Italy

Traveling is one of the most noble ways of growing up learning about the world and different cultures. Italy and is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and its cities are a true crown jewel. In order to understand the Italian world and its roots, we cannot avoid stopping and thinking about its past dreched with memories. S road, a church, a monument will tell the story of this country. If you observe these elements that will tell you will him living history behind their appearance.

I hope you will follow me along this journey of daily discovery of Italy, its culture, people, folklore, culinary tradition, and of course culture.

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