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You probably think that November is not the best period to visit Spain. This is the country of beaches, sun, sea and summer, isn't it? However, you should definitely rethink your opinion: this month is full of events and nice opportunities to discover Spanish lifestyle and traditions! Also, temperatures are often quite pleasant and warm, so you might be able to enjoy some beautiful sunny days that you have been missing since September. Here is a list of the best tourist attractions and events taking place in Spain in November, to give you an idea of the best things to do and see during your trip. 1) Drink some Orujo at Cantabria’s festival November is the month of Orujo! This typical liquor is similar to the Italian grappa and is the protagonist of a popular festival taking place in Potes, a small town near Santander, at the beginning of November. Musical events and traditional folklore are the soul of this local festival! 2) Enjoy the warm weather and events of Canary Islands Yes, November might be a good period to visit islands such as Tenerife, Fuerteventura or Lanzarote! On November 29th and 30th, Puerto de La Cruz (Tenerife) hosts the amazing “San Andreas Festival”, that also corresponds to the opening of wine season. Chaos, music, drinks and parties is what distinguishes this crazy celebration including the so-called “Arrastre de los Cacharros” (meaning “dragging of pots and pans”) and the “Arrastre de las Tableras (meaning: “dragging the boards”). 3) Visit Madrid in occasion of film and music festivals Madrid is a charming and vibrant capital city with plenty of things to do. Museums, monuments, nightlife events and good restaurants always guarantee a pleasant stay to their visitors… but why don’t you take the chance of visiting Madrid in occasion of the Madrid Jazz Festival, the LGBT Madrid Film Festival and the Madrid Dance Festivals? These events will surely make your holiday unforgettable! 4) Take part to Benidorm Annual Festival Every year, one of Spain’s major tourist destinations turns into a lively, colourful and cheerful celebration in honour of the town’s patron Saints la Virgen del Sufragio’ and ‘San Jaime Apóstol’. This huge festival takes place on the second and third week of November and includes open-air theatres, concerts, music parades and many other events that entertain people of all ages. In Playa de Poniente area, there is also a wonderful float parade with fireworks that marks the end of the Festival and the beginning of another out-of-the-ordinary celebration called “Benidorm Facy Dress”. 5) Participate to the International Sherry Week There is no better way to discover one of Andalucia’s major culinary traditions that taking part to the famous Sherry Festival! This takes place in Jerez and offers plenty of opportunities to taste the newest wines or to discover the beautiful territory where sherry is produced. 6) Discover Granada’s historical centre After the hottest months, Granada turns into a charming destination for your holiday escape. Streets are less crowded, and you can relax enjoying its wonderful monuments, including the imposing Alhambra. Go on a city tour and admire the amazing cultural mix while tasting some excellent food specialties! © Alice Pilastri

November is approaching, and Halloween celebrations are just behind the corner. The popular Disney movie “Coco” has majestically shown how Mexican people usually commemorate the dead ones and what “Dia de los Muertos” is. But what about Spain? Is this celebration popular in the Iberian Peninsula or are there other traditions? Actually, Spain doesn’t present festivals of this kind, as the Mexican "ofrenda para los muertos" is a tradition with Aztecan origins. Here, November 1st is simply known as "Dia de Todos los santos" (All Saints’ Day), Halloween is more like an imported Anglo-Saxon celebration often called "Dia de las Brujas" (Witches' Day) while November 2nd is called "Dia de los Muertos" (All Souls' Day). The souls of the deceased ones rise to heaven and their families visit their graves to bring gifts and to remember them. Families gather to eat abundant meals together and prepare some typical sweets such as “los huesos de santo” or “castañas asadas”. It is a religious celebration that hasn’t been influenced by Celtic traditions, as Spain has always been a Catholic country that wanted to preserve its culture. However, some Spanish regions present unique ways to celebrate these two important days. Let’s discover them together and don’t forget to have a look to our properties in Spain to visit this beautiful country on your next holiday! - Canary Islands: la Noche de los Finaos In the Canarian Islands such as Tenerife or Lanzarote, the grandmother or the mother usually tells stories about their ancestors to the other members of the family while they have a snack with fruits and typical drinks. Today, this tradition is also celebrated in the streets accompanied by music and dances. - Galicia: Samaìn Galician tradition is called “Samaìn” and it has Celtic origins. On this night, the limit between the world of the dead and the world of the alive disappears and people adorn their houses to keep the evil spirits away. Also, families and friends meet to celebrate “magosto”, when they cook chestnuts and tell each other stories in front of the fireplace. - Paìs Vasco: Gaztanerre Eguna This gastronomic celebration is dedicated to cooked chestnuts, accompanied by foods such as “motokil” or “caracoles en salsa”. While it was originally a men’s celebrations, now everybody can take part to it and families also remember the dead ones on this occasion. - Soria: El Monte de las Animas There is a popular legend in Soria telling that on the night of October 31st spirits, skeletons and Templars reunite on the “Souls’ Mount” which has also been described by Gustavo Adolfo Becquér in his famous novel. Usually, people tell the frightening story in front of a fireplace prepared on the top of the mountain. - Madrid: Don Juan Tenorio The annual representation of the play “Don Juan Teorio” by José Zorrilla is one of Sain’s best-known traditions. Thousands of people gather in the open-air square of Huerta del Palacio Arzobispal and it is broadcasted by all TV channels. © Alice Pilastri

Summer’s over and you still have to get used to cold weather and stressful days? Do not panic: we have the solution for you! Autumn can be the perfect period to visit Greece, where days are still sunny, and you can enjoy a late relaxing holiday at the seaside. We do not guarantee that you’ll be able to wear a swimsuit and dive in the transparent sea waters, but you’ll sure get the chance to recover a few of your suntan visiting some of the best beaches of the Mediterranean Sea in a period where they are not very crowded. Discover the best places to visit in Autumn and the best activities that will turn your holiday into an amazing experience! Zakynthos is a beautiful, unique island where nature grows almost uncontaminated. Here, modernity mixes with old traditions creating pleasant atmospheres that charm every visitor. Zakynthos city is the capital of entertainments, while the small fishermen villages situated along the coast are nice places to spend a relaxing day. Then, you can enjoy some stunning beaches pretending it is still August, like the intimate Gerakas beach or the famous Ship Wreck Bay! Autumn is also the perfect period to visit some of the wonderful museums found in Crete, one of Greece’s largest islands. Being the southernmost point of Greece, Crete’s weather is rather good, even in October. That’s why you cannot miss a visit to its best beaches to get some suntan, like Balos or Elafonisi. And what about a romantic boat tour around Santorini coasts? This charming island is a major tourist attraction in Greece and the views that you can admire from its sea are just splendid, especially when the sun goes down. Otherwise, you can decide to explore Corfu, where its plentiful activities will surely fulfil your expectations. Corfu Town is a wonderful UNESCO World Heritage Site to discover, while the beautiful beaches found in the north offer some splendid places to relax. Looking for a holiday rental for your dream stay on a Greek island? Have a look to our properties for rent in Crete, Santorini, Zakynthos and Corfu and choose your favorite one! © Alice Pilastri

February is the month of Carnival. It’s about colors, joy, music, celebrations and multi-colored costumes that crowd the streets of cities and villages. It’s the moment when “ogni scherzo vale”(every joke counts) and children let their fantasy fly masquerading as pirates, princesses, superheroes, witches and fairies. The most important Carnival celebration in Tuscany is organized in Viareggio (LU), a maritime city located in the Versilia area. Every weekend of February, thousands of people gather in its streets to take part to one of Europe’s best street parades, which is composed by dozens of wonderful floats built by local artists. The first show took place in Via Regia in 1873, when some young men who lived in Viareggio decided to celebrate Fat Tuesday with parade of decorated coaches. This tradition continued for some years, until coaches were replaced by triumphal floats prepared in Darsena boatyard and started to march along the seafront promenade. Though it was suspended during the first world war, it pursued after 1921, when the official hymn “Coppa di Champagne” was composed, the “Viareggio in Maschera” magazine was founded and a marching band was placed side by side to the parade. Artists started to use a new material called “cartapesta” in 1925: it was made with newspapers, water, flour and glue and it was much cheaper, lighter and easier to use. The mask of Burlamacco, the symbol of Viareggio, was ideated in 1930 and it represented the two main features of the city, which are the summer and the “carnevale”. After the second world war, the celebration experienced a sudden boom: it started to be broadcasted live by RAI every year, a special area called “Cittadella del Carnevale” was created to build and to conserve the floats and an increasing quantity of papier-mache giants took part to the parade. Nowadays, allegoric floats of sport, politics and cinema celebrities compose a magnificent procession of satirical masterpieces. As well as the five masked parades (on February 5th, 12th, 18th, 25th and 26th February), the city organizes children activities, workshops, pyrotechnic shows, music exhibitions and guided tours of the “Museo del Carnevale di Viareggio”. The tickets that allow to participate to a single celebration cost between 15 and 18€, but those who wish to participate to more than one show can buy cumulative tickets. Don’t miss this opportunity! Book one of our properties in Versilia and check our Villa Camaiore !

December has begun and you can already smell the scent of Christmas in the air! It’s time for people to take out their scarves, their wool hats, their colored decorations and their small firs to trim them in the sitting room with their family. Even the main Tuscan cities prepare themselves to Advent period with some wonderful initiatives you cannot miss during your holiday Tuscany: one of these is the “Weihnachtsmarkt”, the German Christmas market in Piazza S.Croce in Florence. From November 30th to December 21st, the square in front of one of Florence’s best churches fills up with dozens of small wooden houses, among which you’ll be able to buy objects to garnish your crèche, Christmas tree or your house. However, it’s the culinary itinerary between international flavors that will really be worth the visit and that will astonish you for the variety and the quantity of different foods! They come from all parts of Europe and they’re outstandingly reunited in just one place: taste Italian, German, Hungarian, Polish and French specialties like the famous brezels and wurstels! The atmosphere is made even more magical by its amazing scenery, the ancient buildings and the peculiar beauty of Florence’s old town center surrounding it: now, you just have to visit yourself renting a property in the city to discover it! Moreover every Sunday “Bianca Natale”, Santa Claus’ daughter, will get to the market to meet the children while Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th the lyrical choir “Light Gospel Choir” and the “Bandierai degli Uffizi” company will perform in the square and will offer incredible shows to its visitors.

New Year’s Eve is a magic moment that deserves to be lived in the best way. In Italy, there is almost an embarrassment of riches: some people decide to spend it on snowy mountains, some go to the seaside, some celebrate it in private houses with their relatives and some visit the centers of Italy’s best cities. Innumerable places organize parties, open-air concerts and pyrotechnical shows that fascinate thousands of people who come from all over Europe to make their night unforgettable. Here's a list of the cities we suggest you to visit on the next 31st December’s night: 1. ROME Take advantage of this opportunity to visit this amazing city and to admire its spectacular monuments, like the Pantheon or the Colosseum. Each year, thousands of tourists crowd into the illuminated streets and participate to the “concertone” in Circo Massimo and Fori Imperiali, where many Italian singers perform. Even many clubs like "Spazio 900" propose special parties to celebrate the new year. Are you interested in renting a property for your holiday? Choose one of our villas in Rome! 2. ALGHERO Even Sardinia gives the possibility to spend a New Year’s Eve in the name of fun, good music and breathtaking seaside panoramas. As well as photographic expositions and theater festivals, the touristic harbour presents Pago &Stefano Nosei cabaret, fireworks and a hilarious concert by Elio e le Storie Tese. Are you interested in renting a property for your holiday? Choose one of our villas in Sardinia! 3. NAPLES The celebration will have its heart in Piazza Plebiscito, where you cannot miss the amazing concert with Enzo Avitabile & Bottari, Max Gazzè, Nello Daniele and many other artists. Fireworks will start to light Castelo dell’Ovo at 1:30am and you’re then invited to participate to Lungomare Caracciolo entertainment, where djs and various kinds of music will animate your night. Are you interested in renting a property for your holiday? Choose one of our villas near Naples! 4. VENICE Venice is the perfect destination for those who dream about a romantic night and fairy tale atmospheres. Some of the many events in this city are the classic “mass kiss” in Piazza San Marco and the traditional concert in Teatro la Fenice. Are you interested in renting a property for your holiday? Choose one of our villas in Venice! 5. FLORENCE Florence's atmosphere becomes even more magic and spectacular than usual, thanks to its decorations and to the light that reflects into Arno’s waters. As well as being the right occasion to visit the city and its museums, life the Uffizi or the Accademia, you will be able to enjoy the concerts in Piazza della Signoria and Piazza Pitti, where singers like Alessandro Mannarino and Irene Grandi will perform. Are you interested in renting a property for your holiday? Choose one of our villas in Florence! 6. ORVIETO This city is perfect for those who want to spend a New Year’s Eve in the name of music! From December 28th to January 1st, Orvieto transforms into the “Winter Jazz Capital” and it hosts international guests in historical palaces, theaters and restaurants, while street bands perform in its streets. You can take part to one of the numerous initiatives which are organized in these days and you can take advantage of its special atmosphere and beauty more than ever. Are you interested in renting a property for your holiday? Choose one of our villas in Orvieto! 7. VERSILIA Versilia transforms into a single welcoming locality that guarantees absolute fun to all-aged people, especially to younger ones, who are welcome in some of Italy’s most important disco clubs to shout the countdown. The sea will be coloured by firework's bright colors at midnight and the atmosphere will therefore get even more charming. Are you interested in renting a property for your holiday? Choose one of our villas in Versilia! 8. CATANIA The Sicilian city will be animated by a lot of good music on its longest night! Piazza Duomo will host a special concert, while on January 1st you’re invited to take part to the traditional concert in Teatro Lirico Vincenzo Bellini. It’s an unmissable opportunity to admire the typical landscapes, the colorful sea and to taste the traditional flavors of this Mediterranean island! Are you interested in renting a property for your holiday? Choose one of our villas in Catania! 9. OTRANTO If you’re looking for a different place where to spend your New Year’s Eve, then choose Otranto, in Apulia, where you’ll get the opportunity to watch the first dawn of the year. Punta Palascia lighthouse is actually Italy’s eastern spot and it separates the Ionian sea to the Adriatic one. As well as admiring the natural beauty of this place, you'll be able to reach Otranto’s center and to take part to its “Alba dei Popoli” festival, a party until dawn. Are you interested in renting a property for your holiday? Choose one of our villas in Apulia!

We all know that every country has its own customs: this is why each part of Europe celebrates October 31st, November 1st and November 2nd in different ways.

Some weeks ago, Montegufoni castle suddenly transformed into a car meeting location. And those weren’t ordinary vehicles, but cars with capital “C”: dozens of red, gray and black Ferraris were parked along the streets and the unmistakable sound of their engines started to spread in the air. All their lucky owners came from England and stayed in the Castle for one week: everyday, driving their four-wheelers, they’ve visited a different area in Tuscany and they’ve fallen in love with its beauty more and more each day. And who can blame them? The unique colors of Tuscany’s countryside and its art cities are the treasures that the whole world is jealous of. Montegufoni, the ancient castle in Chianti where innumerable events and weddings take place, is situated 20 km far from Florence, 70 km from Pisa and it is surrounded by a breathtaking panorama. No doubt that a vacation in this luxury property is absolutely out-of-the-common and guests experience unique emotions.