Holiday homes & rentals in Italy

Italy is an all-time favourite among travellers. The country's unique blend of artistic wonders, stunning beaches, lakes, and mountains, all complemented by one of the world’s finest gastronomies, makes for the perfect holiday. Choose from villas with pools on the Amalfi Coast and dreamy baroque flats overlooking the Colosseum in Rome. From the highest peaks in Europe to picturesque Mediterranean beaches and the best fashion brands, there's something for all tastes in Italy.

From Rome to Milan, Venice to Sicily, Italy is a delight to explore, a land that combines the old and the new to create one of the most diverse and enriching countries on Earth. Choose a holiday apartment or a relaxing villa with a pool in Italy and discover it all for yourself.

How to get to Italy

Italy is a large country, and your route there will depend on where you want to spend most of your time. To explore the northern region, you can fly into Milan, while those heading to the central area can fly to Rome, Bologna or Pisa. In the south, Naples and Palermo on Sicily are good options with plenty of gorgeous Italian holiday villas to choose from.

Travelling from the airport to your holiday letting should be easy, with public transport and taxis commonly available. Alternatively, rent a car and drive yourself; this allows you the freedom to explore Italy’s harder-to-reach points of interest.

What to eat on your holiday in Italy

You know the food must be good when it travels all the way around the world. But discard any ideas you have about the “Italian food” you're used to. Food from one area of Italy will be very different from the food served in another, or even in the next city!

When you're in Venice, order polenta, squid, or liver, and in Milan, try risotto or panettone. In Tuscany, don't miss out on the local steak, fiorentina. In Rome, go for carbonara or artichokes, and in Naples, indulge in pizza or buffalo mozzarella. If you travel to the Alps, you'll notice how the cuisine is influenced by neighbouring countries: think Austrian sausages and mustard in the Dolomites, and fondue in the North.

What makes Italian food so special is its focus on top-quality ingredients – the highlight of your trip to Italy will likely be shopping at a local market and preparing your own meal. Just head to town, buy some porcini mushrooms and handmade fettuccine, prepare your pasta, and eat it in the garden of your holiday villa.

Wine is produced virtually everywhere in Italy. Intense Montepulciano to delicate Falanghina will be the perfect accompaniment to your meals.

Weather in Italy: What to expect

While you can generally expect Italy to have excellent weather during the summer months, its large size means the country has many varied climates, so it really depends on where you’re going.

Southern regions have warm weather year round (though don’t be surprised at the odd rain showers), while the mountainous northern regions get up to a metre of snow during winter. The coasts and interior of the country also have their own climates.

Cities like Rome and Venice can get uncomfortably hot in summer, but generally speaking, you can expect mild and agreeable weather during your stay in your Italian holiday letting. Rent a holiday villa with a pool, stretch out in the sunshine and enjoy all that Italy has to offer.

Italy's top sights

It would be impossible to list all of Italy’s “best” attractions - there are simply too many. After all, this is a country with thousands of years of culture under its belt, with ancient ruins and some of the best art and natural scenery found anywhere in Europe. When we talk about the best sites in Italy, we’re really talking about some of the best sites in the world - and when you book a holiday villa in Italy, you'll have them all at your doorstep.

Vatican City may technically be its own country, but for all intents and purposes, it’s in Italy. St. Peter’s Basilica, the 16th-17th century church, is the highlight. This iconic structure is the most important building of the Catholic church and is bound to take your breath away. You can go inside and even visit the top, which offers sublime views of the sprawling city below.

Next on the list is Venice, the iconic water city that is one of Italy's most beautiful and historically interesting places destinations. Take a gondola ride if you wish, but just looking around this dreamlike city is a joy.

Lake Como, also in the north of Italy, offers a very different experience. This magnificent lake is bordered by stunning mountains and surrounde by small, pleasant villages that feature traditional, independent stores, delicious food, and beautiful villas owned by the rich and famous.

Finally, no visit to central Italy is complete without visiting the ruins of Rome. The Colosseum, which is nearly 2,000 years old, is the most famous attraction, while the nearby ruins of the Roman Forum offer unique insight into an age when philosophers and intellectuals congregated to discuss ideas that would illuminate the world. These are just two of the city's many outstanding attractions, which also include the Pantheon (dating back to 125 AD) and the famous Trevi Fountain.

Discover culture in Italy's big cities

On the center of the country you will find many historic cities, whose center is the capital, Rome: The Eternal City holds the cultural treasure of the country, starting with the Colosseum or St. Peter's Square with obelisk, the Trevi Fountain and not to forget St. Peter's Basilica the center of the Vatican. Since Rome is an expensive place, it is worth something outside, for example in Lido di Ostia, a vacation home in Italy to refer and the public transport to use.

Same for a vacation in a vacation home in Italy suitable but even closer to the sea in the south is Naples. Napoli offers with the cathedral and the catacombs of San Gaudioso historical insights and is the best starting point to cross to the islands of Ischia in about 40min by speedboat or by car ferry.

Family Beach Holidays in Italy

Italy offers plenty of notable beaches for summer holidays where families can soak up the sun and have fun in the Mediterranean sunshine. It's renowned for its cultural and historic attractions, but its best beach resorts are also comparable to those of the Spanish and French rivieras.

The Mediterranean island of Sardinia includes some of Italy’s foremost resorts for family beach holidays. There, visitors can catch some sun at the Cala Goloritzé, which is one of the most scenic beaches in Italy set alongside limestone cliffs and clear turquoise ocean. Chia’s Su Porto beach is ideal for families as it offers water sports activities such as surfing, windsurfing, and paddle boating within shallow waters.

Aside from Sardinia’s beaches, families can have loads of fun at Sardinia’s Aquadream water park. Here, you can slide down the Max3, Super Hill, and Dream Hill water slides. At Sardinia’s Eden Beach, visitors can check out the Water Paradise park that includes some large water slides and pools.

Caribe Bay is one of Italy’s foremost water parks at Li Jesolo. That is one of the few water parks that includes its very own beach! Soak up the sun and sand and go swimming at Caribe Bay’s artificial Shark Bay beach, which is almost like the Caribbean in Italy.

The Italian Riviera along Italy’s northwest coast also includes some fine beaches for family holidays. Tre Ponti, at San Remo, and Ventimiglia’s Calandre Beach are two scenic beaches along the Italian Riviera with golden sands. Monterosso’s La Spiaggia del Gigante is another of the foremost Italian Riviera beaches that provides water sport rentals for paddle boats, snorkelling, kayaks, etc.

The best holiday destinations in Italy

Making a destination shortlist for a trip to Italy isn't easy. To explore the culture, visit the main cities of Rome, Venice, Florence, and Naples. In Rome, discover ancient archaeological sites and be enchanted by Vatican City, and in Venice, relax on beautiful palazzos overlooking canals. Florence is known as the cradle of the Renaissance, and Naples is elegant and cheerful at the same time.

Nature lovers are also spoilt for choice. The Alps offer not only breathtaking scenery, but also top-notch skiing facilities. Madonna di Campiglio in the northeast is a major ski resort with amazing slopes and excellent restaurants.

In summer, you can head to the Amalfi Coast or one of Italy’s pretty lakes. Lake Garda, Lake Como, and Lake Maggiore are favoured among travellers as they feature well-equipped beaches and are close to major points of interest.

If you prefer the countryside, nothing beats the chic and relaxed feel of a holiday villa in Tuscany, surrounded by green hills and vineyards producing some of the best wines in the world.

Visit these 3 event highlights with a vacation rental in Italy

1st Carnival in Venice

Over two weeks stretches the most famous carnival in Venice. For the first time, the traditional event is mentioned in records dating back to 1094.For many centuries, locals and guests have been donning elaborately decorated masks at the end of February to celebrate together on the canals and streets. Everywhere in the city, such as on St. Mark's Square, stages attract visitors with a multi-faceted program. One of the highlights is the parade on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, where the most beautiful costume is awarded.

2nd Opera Festival in Verona

The Opera Festival in Verona in the province of Veneto is one of the highlights of classical music. From June to early September, classics such as Giuseppe Verdi's Aida, Georges Bizet's Carmen and Giacomo Puccini's Tosca thrill visitors in the historic setting of the Roman amphitheater. The 490-foot-long and 390-foot-wide rotunda can seat a total of 22,000 spectators. The event took place for the first time on the 100th birthday of Giuseppe Verdi in 1913.

3rd Formula 1 in Monza

Italy and motor sports have belonged together for decades. All of Monza is upside down at the beginning of September when the world's best Formula 1 drivers race for the Italian Grand Prix. Car fans here have the opportunity to watch the drivers accelerate around the 3.6 mile circuit. Whether you're there for free practice, qualifying or even the race, lasting impressions are guaranteed.

Self-catering in Italian holiday villas

Italy's food culture is world-famous, but there's more to it than restaurants! The ingredients here are of the highest quality, and good regional wines abound as well. Make the most of it and have a truly Italian food experience by cooking yourself in the comfort of your holiday villa.

Wherever you are in the country, there will be food markets where you can buy the finest vegetables, meat, and fish to enjoy at home in your holiday letting. Don't worry if you can't locate a market, as most stores in villages and cities across Italy are guaranteed to sell top-notch products.

Visit the 5 best sights during a vacation in Italy

1. Colosseum

With the in Rome admire you with the vacation in the vacation home in Italy one of the miracles of the antiquity. In the 79 A.D. built rotunda, up to 50,000 spectators watched spectacular gladiator fights for centuries.

2. St. Peter's Basilica

Also in Rome, explore the largest basilica in the world: the 137m long St. Peter's Basilica is known for its 800 columns, the magnificent tiaras and liturgical vestments, and the impressive grottoes. In the mystical crypt, 23 popes are buried. Also worthwhile is a climb into the dome, which was designed by the world-famous artist Michelangelo.

3. Doge's Palace

The lagoon city of Venice exudes romantic flair with its countless canals. One of the architectural jewels, the Doge's Palace, dates back to the 14th Jhd. Today, the building with an arcade on the first floor houses the interesting Museum of Modern Art.

4. Florence Cathedral

As a world city of the Renaissance, Florence takes you on an exciting journey through history. Among the most impressive sacred buildings in Italy is the cathedral. You can see the 340 feet high dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi from far away. On the famous 43,000 sft ceiling fresco you will discover scenes from the "Last Judgment".

5. Pompeii near Naples

You will get a lasting impression of life in ancient Rome in the buried city of Pompeii near Naples. The mighty lava masses that covered the thermal baths, civic buildings and public buildings during an eruption of Mount Vesuvius made for excellent preservation.

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