ITALY VACATION RENTALS

Italy is not a country. It is not a region. It is not a continent. It is an idea. It is a concept. It is a freedom of thought, transcending man made borders and limits. It is ‘THE’ paradise on earth that is best experienced from luxury Italy villas. Located to the east of Central America, consisting of the aquamarine Italy Sea spattered by thousands of islands, boasting of a relaxed welcoming atmosphere and ably augmented by a vast array of Italy vacation rentals, the Italy invites you to live the experience.

A part of Southern Europe, the Repubblica Italiana (The Italian Republic), comprises of Italian Peninsula, Po River valley, Sicily and Sardinia. This boot-shaped seat of Renaissance has a stunning array of Italy holiday rentals to offer. The vacation rentals include posh villas, luxury condos, snug cottages, intimate studios, comfortable penthouses. All of them boasting of exotic views and an easy distance within places of interest, shopping centers, clubs, restaurants, golf courses and amenities like spa.

Italy is a playground for boisterous families, couples looking out for privacy as well as for business people combining work with pleasure and artists on the look out for their muse. The vacation rentals will not be left far behind in meeting individual eccentricities and humor.

Hiring a private Italy condo or a duplex sleeping from 2 to 4 for small groups or a house sleeping more than 8 for a larger one in Northern Italy, which has a touch of the medieval about it, is ideal if you are for exploring lakes and castles and shopping non-stop in Milan and Parma. The hilly Central Italy has a wealth of attractions to offer in the form of Maiella National Park, Abruzzo National Park and Calderone Glacier, hot springs, and many monuments of the Roman civilization like Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Vatican City, sandy beaches and quiet lush countryside. Choose from a chalet or a villa or a cabin, depending on the size of your family and needs and budget. Booking an apartment that can house from 2 to 20 people in Southern Italy, which includes the historically rich Rome, amidst the lush greenery, hills, inviting beaches and picturesque scenery is highly recommended.

A well equipped kitchen, television, sports facilities, access to pools and Jacuzzis, laundry facilities, towels and sheets are some of the amenities most Italy vacation rentals provide.

Italy Monument that stands witness to those times and era that saw art gaining the rich status it deserves, is a not-to-be-missed-sight for any vacationer seeking a true Italian holiday. This is a place where art is revered and whose every street has a story to tell. When you visit Rome, you will find that every corner has a monument steeped in history, wishing you the time of the day. If Rome is the seat of Italy’s artistic and religious heritage, then what is Florence? Visit Florence to embark on a new artistic journey. Milan is the fashion capital of Italy and is a must visit for fashion smitten chicas! If you are a history buff, then look no further than the buried city of Pompeii that has an extraordinary yore to narrate.

For a further insight into Italy and its people, partake in the Italian custom of ‘Passeggiata’. The ‘Passeggiata’ sees the Italians march to the main Piazza in their best clothes and socializing. For those with a penchant for the unforgivably weird, the most famous monument of the world called the ‘Leaning Tower of Pisa’ will more than suffice. This remarkable bell tower was originally intended to be a vertical affair but two hundred years later, it decided to rebel and the rest is history! This inclined piece of marvel is a fascination to behold.

The sun-worshippers can make one of the pebbly lazy beaches of Italy a home for themselves. Italy is Opera and Opera is Italy. You can sample some of it by attending Piccola Lirica’s mini Opera productions. You could wind up a busy day by sitting inside your Italy vacation rental, sipping a wine and listening to the soothing night sounds and murmur of the waves.

No picture, no write-up can do justice to Italy’s charms and artistic splendors that has seeped in to its every street, its every alley, its every building, its every corner, and its very breath so to say…

• The Vatican
• The Spanish Steps, Rome
• Trevi Fountain, Rome
• Ponte Vecchio, Florence
• The Colosseum, Piazza del Colosseo, Rome

Exercising your adrenaline gland by skiing, hiking, fishing, trying your hand at baseball, volleyball, surfing and scuba diving, and through them, discovering different aspects of Italy is an absolutely delicious affair. Those of you who are on a tight schedule and want to make the most of the area's cultural sights and historical monuments, taking up guided tours is the best choice.

• Skiing
• Guided tours
• Biking
• Scuba diving

It is easy to see why golf is a passion in Italy. The terrain, the weather, the range of backdrops - still wondering… Most of the 150 odd Italian golf courses will be found in the Northern part. The other regions boast of good courses too.

The wooded Alberoni on the island of Lido di Venezia is undoubtedly one of the top most golf courses of Italy. Golf here is quite challenging and open on all days. Golf Club Varese is a must visit, at least to catch the spectacular views of Lake Varese, if not for anything else. The first golf course of Italy, the Roma L'Acquasanta is an enchanting golf course, which offers a stunning view of the cupola of St. Peter's. Gardagolf Country Club, Golf Club Bergamo and Pevero Golf Club are some of the popular and best courses of Italy. Like the country, itself, the courses too are pieces of art.

Take care to book a tee-off well in advance, along with an appropriate Italy vacation villa. If you wish to take part in tournaments that are usually held during the weekends, make enquiries beforehand. Saturdays and Sundays are also when the fees are on the higher end.

• Music Festivals
• The Stella Maris festival, Camogl
• Carnivals
• Food fairs

Divided in 20 unique pockets of distinct culture, cuisine, history and dialect, it is little wonder that Italy, one of those rare places where differences are accepted and hailed, is a foodie’s and a night lover’s heaven. There is a decided difference between the North and the South. Each has its own specialties. And if you thought that Italy is all about pasta and olive oil, you are about to be proven wrong!

The North is famous for cafés while the South is a Mecca for Gelato (ice-cream) and tiramisu. Padua, Trieste, Milan, Turin and Venice offer comfortable and expansive cafes. Vegetarians would love to visit restaurants in Liguria that offer delightful vegetarian fare. Lombardy is known for saffron rice, poached egg soup, pears with Gorgonzola and polenta. For lip-smacking pasta, Emilia is the address. As for best risotto in the world, no one can beat Veneto and Piedmont. Piedmont is also known for Bagna Cauda and garnished polenta. After a tiring day of sight-seeing in Rome, replenish yourself with semolina cakes with butter and cheese and flake eggs or noodles with cheese and butter. And if you happen to be in Southern Italy, then don’t leave the place until you taste zabaglione, marinated eggplant and the deep fried Mozzarella sandwiches.  For a taste of old Italia, drop in at Antico Caffe in Rome that serves addictive coffee and wonderful custards. Tre Scalini, located in the historical Piazza Navona, is a must-stop for its unparalleled dark chocolate ice cream tartufo. For an Amercan flavor, try Trieste’s Tor Cucherna bar that serves dainty bar nibbles Cocktails, and sweets.

Go to Italy and don’t forget to taste the yummy Austrian pastries with a dash of the Oriental flavor in Venice, and the goulash in Trieste. Drink it down with some excellent wine from L'Enoteca Antica di Via della Croce bar in the heart of Rome.

There are certain ‘first things’ you ought to learn before you decide to hit the streets of Italy and enjoy its awesome nightlife. Know once and for all that there is a lot of difference between Discoteca, bars and nightclubs. Bars are the hangout places for the locals, with age no bar. In the nightclubs, nothing comes for free. Not even dancing! It is only in the discotecas where you can boogie-woogie and drink all you want.

Shop, shop and shop. And shop some more, until the shopper in you gets satiated.

Start with the outdoor markets that redefine shopping entirely! The mammoth-sized San Lorenzo market in Florence will leave you literally speechless with its astounding variety and the unbelievable treasures that lie hidden within its many unpretentious stalls. This is also the place where your bargaining skills will be put to test. Don’t worry if you are a lousy bargainer, you will master the art soon!

Spruce up your home by buying the very famous hand-made, Burano lace home accessories, on the isle of Burano in Venice. The prices are worth it.  The factory outlets and the discount stores that sell factory seconds and items from the previous year are in plenty. If you fancy a Prada, Versace, Gucci or Armani but, your wallet is acting as an obstacle to your high dreams, then do not fret! One of the outlet stores of the high and mighty fashion houses, located mostly in and around Florence, Turin and Milan, will suffice. It’s quite a steal as you can get the branded goods at a discount of 60-70% off the usual price.

Jill Sander outlet, in Cirimido and Bruno Magli outlet, in Bologna will make all your designer footwear dreams come true at cut-price prices! New Marbas in Parre hoard up an enviable collection of sweaters. For denims, visit the Surplus Diesel store in Molvena. It also sells trendy t- shirts, factory seconds and clothing for kids. Glass and crystal ware, jewelry, ceramics, handbags, cases, silk ties and gloves make for great gift ideas.

In your excitement, don’t forget to look in to IVA (VAT) which is a rebate on the shopping a foreign tourist makes in Italy. You are eligible for the rebate only if you make a purchase of 155 Euros or more in the same store. When shopping, look around for shops with ‘Global Refund’ sticker, which stands for tax-free shopping. Make a note that in January and July, you can get the best shopping deals.

If you have decided to have the best holiday of your life, then every time is the best time to visit Italy!

Late summer, autumn and winter will find absence of crowds and insipid noise, while the much needed peace and quiet makes your holiday perfect. January and February are too cold while July and August are too hot. Therefore, the months of September, October, April and May are the best times to say hello to Italy. As this is when the weather puts on her best behavior. If you are one of those lucky people who do not have to worry about prices, then, you can visit Italy during Christmas and Easter, or in the July and August months when the prices go up several notches higher to enjoy all the celebrations. Else, you can plan your trip anywhere from November till March, when the prices are reasonable but some attractions may be closed. This is the time when you can fetch some fabulous discounts on you Italy vacation rentals as well.

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