Exclusive Places to Visit, Things to do and Experiences in Italy, Greece, Spain and Croatia

It’s the symbol of the city of Florence in the world, portrayed in photographs of millions of tourists, identifiable in the blink of an eye, as wonderful as it looked five hundred years ago. We are talking about the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, one of the most beautiful Italian churches located in the old town center and famous for its enormous dome. But what’s the history behind it? At the beginning, another small church stood in place of the current basilica and it was called Santa Reparata Church, dating back to VII century. At the end of 1200, it was expanded and then totally remade by architect Arnolfo di Cambio. The new church dedicated to the “flower” Madonna needed to look magnificent and spectacular in order to represent Florence grandeur and to compete with the Cathedrals of Siena and Pisa. It was ended by Arnolfo’s successors in 1421, when just the Dome needed to be built. The problems linked to it were many: which shape should it get? Which material needed to be used? And, most of all, how could it bear the huge weight without collapsing? The solution was proposed by Filippo Brunelleschi in occasion of a concourse in 1418. The dome would have had an ogival shape, it would be self-supporting with two cupolas one inside the other separated by a structural space to preserve it from humidity and to allow the passage of workers. The covering is made with red bricks which are heavier in the lower parts and lighter in the upper ones, disposed in “opus spicatum” ("fishbone"). The dome was inaugurated in 1436, it had a 50m height and a 46m diameter. Later, other architectural structures have been added: the “tribune morte” are semi-circular temples next to the tambour, the “loggetta”, a decorative crowning element on one side, and the “lanterna”, a small marble temple on the top of the dome with a bronze ball lifted by Verrocchio. The stunning “cupola” is the symbol of architectural perfection and Florentine genius. It can be admired from many angles of Florence, but one of the most charming places is certainly Piazzale Michelangelo, which offers a 360° view over the whole city. It’s even possible to visit its interiors, walking along the space between its two vaults! the opening hours are 08:30am-07:00pm and the 15€ ticket includes the access to all the monuments of the “Grande Museo del Duomo”. Choose Florence as destination of your next trip to Italy! Book one of our properties in the middle of Tuscan countryside to experience a dream holiday: we suggest our

Florence is famousin the whole world for the beauty of its architecture, its art, its numerous museums and its ancient buildings. There is also a well-known open-air museum between its streets, behind the stunning Palazzo Pitti: the “Giardino di Boboli”. The history of the Garden begins in 1418, when Luca Pitti bought the land to build his palace. Some say that the name “Boboli” derives from the name of the family who owned these property before, called “Borgolo”. The transfer of ownership occurred in 1549, when the Medici family bought the Palazzo and commissioned the Garden realization to Niccolò Tibolo and Batolomeo Ammannati, who succeeded him after his death. Works continued under the Lorena and Savoy families, who adapted the late-Renaissance style to their historical period, adding some contemporary stylistic features. The park was then opened to the public by Pietro Leopoldo di Lorena and it was designated as UNESCO World Heritage in 2013. It is a historical city park covering 45000 square meters. It’s the biggest, most famous and important example of “Italian Garden” and it has four public entrances (Cortile dell’Ammannati, Forte del Belvedere, Porta Romana, Piazza Pitti). The Garden Is structured on two axes and it contains boulevards, statues, fountains, mannerist masterpieces, century-old trees, labyrinthic streets immersed in the vegetation and beautiful ancient buildings. One of its parts is the Amphitheater, an ancient stone mine that presents an Egyptian obelisk in its center. Here, you will find the “Bacino di Nettuno” and the fountain built in 1637, called “la Forchetta” (“the fork”) by Florentines. The street connecting the terraces until Porta Romana is called “Viottolone” and its tunnel made of weaved holm oaks creates a really magic atmosphere. In the Garden, you will also be able to see the “Prato del Cavaliere” designed by Michelangelo, the “Grotta di Madama” by Tribolo, the Medicean “Limonaia” and the “Kaffeehaus”, an 18th century structure pained in Lorena's symbolic light-green color. The most charming spot of the park is probably the “Grotta del Buontalenti”, built in 1583-93 by Vasari and Buontalenti. It’s a three-room space richly decorated with stalagmites, frescos, stalactites and statues. Further to fountains’ water games, the grotto used to contain a large basin with many fishes in it. The first room recreates a natural ambience with many animal sculptures and it also hosted Michelangelo’s “Prigioni”, now conserved in Accademia Gallery. The second room contains Vincenzo de Rossi’s statues portraying Paris and Hellen while the third, darker room presents Giambologna’s “Venus”. The general decoration theme is the secret love meetings between Grand Duke Francis I and his lovers. The artistic style is Mannerist, as it’s based on the fusion between artificial and natural features. What are you waiting for? Plan your visit to Boboli Gardens! The full ticket costs 7€, the reduced-price is 3,50€ and entrance is free for under-18s. The Garden is open every day from 8am, but we suggest checking opening hours on the official website, as they vary from month to month. If you are looking for a property to rent for your stay in Florence, visit our website and look at our beautiful Villa Ancora!

Mugello is a wonderful part of Tuscany that extends from the city of Florence to the borders with Emilia Romagna. You will marvel at the beauty of its different landscapes, which vary from the transparent waters of Bilancino Lake to luxuriant hills, from green woods inhabited by hundreds of wild animals to typical countryside roads surrounded by sunflower fields and cypresses. Its towns, such as Barberino di Mugello, Dicomano and Firenzula, are rich of culture, history, art and ancient traditions. Scarperia, for example, is a stunning village with visible evidence of its flourishing past, marked out by the Medici family’s dominion and the presence of some of the most important Italian artists. You will have to visit the “Palazzo dei Vicari”, the “Mostra mercato dei ferri taglienti” and to participate to some special events, like the “Giornata Rinascimentale”. Mugello also offers the possibility to visit many interesting museums (ex. “Casa di Giotto”) and natural itineraries for hiking and mountain bike excursions to explore the beauties hidden in this place. If you prefer to participate to an out-of-the-ordinary event and you have the passion of cars and sports, then you cannot miss the “Mugello Circuit”, a very famous track hosting F1, MotoGP and World Superbike races! Located near Scarperia, this modern circuit was built in the 1970s and it is one of the safest, most charming and known trails of the world. Its origins date back to 1914, when the first car competition between Scarperia and Firenzuola took place. Unfortunately, its popularity was limited until the disappearing of “Mille Miglia” race. Then, in 1950-60, the Mugello Circuit started to become famous, it hosted seven successful race editions with some important pilots and a lot of spectators. You will be able to see international champions such as Marquez and Rossi speeding on this 5-km trail! Buy the tickets online, enjoy the show sitting on one of the comfortable stands and benefit from all the facilities offered. If you are looking for an accommodation in Mugello, give a look to our properties, like Casale Giotto!

Yes, we all know that Italy is famous to be the country of pasta, gelato and pizza. A great part of Italian culture is linked to culinary traditions, which are different in every region and appreciated in every part of the world. But what’s the real history of pizza? What is it named after and when was it cooked for the first time? The origin of this dish is primordial: we can talk about “pizza” in the moment when men started to cook narrow slices of unleavened bread on hot stones. The dough was made with water and squashed barley grains, so it took the name of “pizza” as it derived from the Latin “pinsere” which means “to squash”, “to beat”. Egyptians used yeast for the first time and this new type of preparation started to be used as currency of exchange in international trades. The following developments took place in Southern Italy in order to make the “pizza” tastier. Initially, cooks prepared a flatbread pizza with garlic, lard and salt, then it was modified using oil, cheese and some aromatic herbs, such as basil. Moreover, another kind of “schiacciata” called “cicinielli” was born in this period, which contained portions of fish. The tomato sauce was introduced following the importation from America and the distribution by Spanish in Europe. As it is stated by a 1778 document called “Il Cuoco Galante” by Vincenzo Corrado, the sauce was firstly used to accompany macaroni, and not pizza. The first pizza with tomatoes dates back to 1840-50, when it was added to a pizza with buffalo mozzarella. The official launch of this dish occurred in 1889, when Don Raffaele Esposito and his wife Donna Rosa Brandi were invited to the court of the King of Italy Umberto I and Queen Margherita, who wanted to taste their famous pizza. They prepared three well-known types of it, which were the pizza “alla Vasenicola” (with lard, cheese and basil), the pizza “alla Marinara” (with tomato sauce, garlic, oil and oregano) and the pizza “Margherita” (with tomato sauce, mozzarella, oil and basil), that was named after the Queen. The colors of the dish were the same of the Italian “tricolore” flag, so pizza became the symbol of this country in the world. After 1889, the dish became very popular in Italy and abroad, especially in America where emigrated “pizzaioli” imported it at the beginning of the 20th century. Although many varieties of pizza have spread in the last decades, the authentic and traditional recipe is the Neapolitan one, where the dough is soft and narrow with high borders called “cornicione”. So, if you would like to taste the “real Italian pizza”, we sincerely suggest you visit Naples and Campania! Choose one of our properties in the region, near Naples and Amalfi Coastline, and choose your favorite!

A wonderful destination for your next trip is certainly La Maddalena, the biggest of a 62-islands archipelago in Northern Sardinia formed by the well-known Budelli, Spargi, Santo Stefano, Razzoli and Caprera. La Maddalena is located right in front of Palau and of our charming Villa Sole tra i Ginepri, a luxury vacation rental on our website! This 50 km² island presents sweet green hills and a jagged coastline with many coves and bays. The sea is transparent and there are innumerable natural beauties, more than 700 vegetal species and a rich marine fauna. The park authority safeguards this environment and it doesn’t allow the access to some splendid beaches to protect them, like the “Spiaggia Rosa” (Pink Beach) on Budelli island. Here, tourists used to take the pink sand home and this magic environment was risking permanent damages. Visitors can still visit beautiful beaches such as Bassa Trinita, Splamatore, Abbatoggia, Punta Tegge, Cala di Testa del Polpo beaches and the “Spiaggia del Relitto”, where a boat bobbed after a fire. The must-see places are numerous: we suggest spending a day visiting the Compendio Garibaldino and the Memoriale Garibaldi on Caprera island, where Giuseppe Garibaldi arrived in 1857 and decided to spend the last years of his life. You can visit the barn, the private house and the spot where he and his daughters were buried. Furthermore, these islands offer an interesting museum tour between the “Museo Diocesano”, the “Museo del Mare” and “Museo Geomineralogico”, as well as a lot of sea and land summer excursions. The first settlements on La Maddalena island date back to Neolithic Age but it was abandoned until the 18th century, when it became an important military objective because of its strategic position. This is why many defensive (like the “Forte San Vittorio”) and mimetic buildings were erected, in order to protect the island from sea and the following 20th century air attacks. Dedicate a day of your stay to the visit to granite quarries as well, where a high-quality granite is extracted and used to make famous sculptures, like Suez Canal Monument. La Maddalena guarantees a holiday of relax, natural beauties and even a lot of fun. La Maddalena city center truly offers many entertainments to its visitors, with dozens of cafés, fish restaurants, clubs and shops. To get to this island, you’ll need to board a ship in Palau and, once you’ll arrive, the splendid panoramas and maritime landscapes will certainly make your stay unforgettable!

Tuscany is a region of a thousand beauties with some amazing beaches, especially in the area near Livorno and Grosseto. One of these is certainly found in the Gulf of Baratti, near the city of Piombino. This strip of sand separates a crystalline sea and a verdant promontory and it has a peculiar reddish color, due to the presence of iron minerals in the soil. It's the perfect destination for families with kids, couples, groups of friends and even for animals, as their admitted in a small trait of the beach. The water is transparent, the sea bottom is shallow and the surrounding panorama is breathtaking. Actually, Baratty is not only famous for its beach, but also for its thousand-year old history linked to Etruscan civilization. The close center of Populonia became one of Etruria's most important centers between IX and VI century BC. The proximity to the sea was fundamental to undertake a commercial activity based on metalworking. Later, Populonia allied with Rome and therefore there are many architectural remains attesting its influence, like ruins of mines, industrial sections and necropolises. Many of these graves are located in the "Parco Archeologico di Baratti e Populonia", an area of 80 hectares reachable through the path of Via delle Cave. Inside it, you will find ancient necropolises like those of San Cerbone, Casone or Poggio alla Porcareccia, dating back to VII-VI century BC. Noble families were buried all together in monumental tombs called “a tumulo” or “a edicola”, looking like small temples and internally decorated. On the other hand, a humblest and simplest type of tomb is “a sarcofago” or “a cassone”, which is individual and not decorated. Outside the park, you will find other ancient necropolises dating back to Villanovan period (IX-VIII century BC), like the one in "Buca delle Fate" or the necropolis of "Le Grotte", dug in sandstone. So here's another stop of your journey across Tuscany, an ideal place to visit during your summer holiday! If you are looking for a vacation rental near Baratti, check out our luxury properties, like “Castello Leopoldo”!

A holiday is definitely the best way to relax and take a pause from work or study. This summer, give yourself a break, book a villa in one of Italy’s finest localities, enjoy your days at the seaside and explore the amazing nightlife of these cities. We propose a list of the ideal destination for a fun and relaxing holiday in Italy along with some suggestions about the properties you might want to book: -Versilia Source: Mountain Leon The cities of Viareggio, Lido di Camaiore, Forte dei Marmi and Marina di Pietrasanta form the “Versilia”, a part of Tuscan coast renowned for its nightlife and loved by thousands of young people. Further to the several shops and cafés on the seafront promenade, here you’ll find some of Italy’s best disco clubs, like “La Capannina di Franceschi”, “Seven Apples” or “Ostras Beach Club”. In summer, there are events and parties everyday with an average price of 10-25€. Moreover, there are many equipped lidos, in some of which you can taste a cocktail on the beach during happy hour. If you are looking for a vacation rental, choose Villa Oliveta! -Salento and Gallipoli Apulia blends the beauty of its crystalline sea with one of Europe’s best nightlives thanks to the amazing “Praja” or “Parco Gondar” in Gallipoli and to their international DJ. Daytime is animated by the famous “Samsara” beach parties under the sun, an ideal entertainment for people between 18 and 30 years old. If you are looking for a vacation rental, choose Villa Cotriero! -Riviera Romagnola The Riviera is never-ending succession of parties and clubs, especially in Milano Marittima and Riccione. These cities offer a thousand opportunities to have a twenty-four-hour fun, on the beach or on the nearest hills where the best-known clubs are located. “Papeete”, “Villa delle Rose” and “Cocoricò” are some historical and glamour locations hosting house, electronic and techno music DJs from all over the world. Here, it’s always time for parties: that’s why many people choose this place for their hen or bachelor celebrations, short stays or weekends. -Tropea Tropea (Calabria) is a popular touristic destination thanks to its beautiful white beaches, but it also assures a fantastic nightlife in its seafront disco clubs. Try “Coiba”, “Suite” and “Casablanca” clubs and enjoy a dream holiday! -San Benedetto del Tronto This locality in The Marches unites the relax on the beach with nighttime parties in its numerous clubs. It’s the most important center of the “Riviera delle Palme”, it has seafront of more than 6 km and it hides some historical and architectural beauties you absolutely need to visit! -Alghero Even Sardinia ensures a great nightlife experience. Alghero, a western-coast city belonging to the “Riviera del Corallo”, is the holiday destination of many young Italians, came here to enjoy its sea and to dance in a wonderful disco club until dawn! Here, you’ll find clubs such as “La Siesta” or “Il Ruscello”. The best period to visit this incredible city is surely July. If you are looking for a vacation rental, choose one of our luxury properties in Sardinia! -Ischia The charm of Ischia’s sea, old town center and landscapes make it an illustrious touristic destination in Italy. Moreover, there are many ways you’ll be able to have fun in clubs like “Riva Destra” or “Valentino”, overlooking breathtaking panoramas and stunning sunsets behind the sea! If you are looking for a vacation rental, choose one of our luxury properties in Campania! -Taormina Taormina (Sicily) is a historical center with splendid beaches and a well-known touristic destination for many young Sicilian and Italian people. The night animates with events and music, so get the most out of it going to “La Giara”, Caparena” or “Morgana” clubs. These beautiful locations organize exclusive events you really don’t want to miss. If you are looking for a vacation rental, choose Taormina Suite! -Isola d’Elba This Tuscan island offers natural beauties, a splendid sea and even some perfect clubs where young people can have fun! Cavoli beach often organizes beach parties, while the best-known disco clubs are “Club64”, “Giannino” and “Tinello”. However, they are not close to each other, so we suggest you to rent motorbikes or cars to visit the island with comfort and ease. © Alice Pilastri

Sicily is an emerged paradise from the Mediterranean Sea which shines with its numerous beauties. Palermo, Siracusa (which is the topic of one of our blog articles) or Agrigento are just some of the marvels you need to visit during your stay on the island. A part that you cannot miss to see is the region with Taormina and Giardini Naxos, in the province of Messina. Taormina is a small but characteristic city on the coast in front of the Ionian Sea. It was founded in the archaic age and it was inhabited by various nations like Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Siculans and Normans. The fusion between different arts and cultures created a magic place, full of ancient buildings which are visited and appreciated by thousands of tourists. The best-known one is the Greek Theater, built in the III century BC by Greeks and renewed by Romans. This enormous and magnificent open space was used for dramas and plays during its Greek period, while Romans transformed it into an arena for gladiators’ fights or naval battles. It is the second biggest Greek theater in Sicily after the one in Siracusa and today it hosts suggestive music shows or important international events such as G7. Taormina’s old town center is formed by hundreds of narrow streets with panoramic sea views. You can even enjoy the panorama on “Isola Bella”, a wonderful island linked to the city with a sand strip which disappears with high-tide. The rich vegetation, the transparent sea and the stunning “Grotta Blu” make this island a mandatory step of your visit! On the other hand, in the city center you will find other important ancient buildings like the “Neumachia” (a century-old Roman architecture), the 13th century Church-Dome, Casa Cuseni and the “Villa Comunale”, known for its beautiful garden. You also have to visit the amazing beaches, like Mazzarò, Spisone, Villagonia or those on the “Isola Bella”. Even Giardini Naxos is a fascinating locality in Sicily located few kilometers away from Taormina. It’s the perfect destination for those who want a holiday of relax, culture and fun, as here you will find dozens of restaurants, pubs, nightclubs and cafés. Visit Alcantara waterfalls, the Medieval Schisò castle, the Archaeological Park and Museum, which contains many ancient findings. If you look for a beautiful beach to go to, we suggest Recanati, Schisò, San Giovanni or Porticciolo Saia. The local specialties which will accompany you are numerous: taste the typical chocolate “granita”, the “brioche con cappello”, the delicious ice-creams, the “pasta alla norma” or a fish dish! In order to enjoy your holiday to the fullest, we recommend participating to an important event like “Taormina Arte” or “Taormina Film Festival” and to book one of our luxury properties. Choose between “Taormina Suite”, “Villa la Boheme” and “Torre Isola Bella”!

Florence narrates a century-long story to all its visitors through statues, buildings, museums and other incredible beauties. This city founded in ancient times and homeland of world-famous poets and artists was flagellated by a violent civil war for years. Its own citizens sided with one of the two factions called “Guelfi” and “Ghibellini” and the clash soon radicalized producing effects which echoed until today. Think about the rivalry between the cities of Pisa and Florence: it’s simply due do the fact that one was Guelph, while the other Ghibelline! The origin of factions’ name is German, as it reminds how the supporters of Welfen and Hohenstaufen dynasties were called. These families competed to win the vacant throne of the Sacred Roman Empire, which was assigned in 1152 to Frederik I of Hohenstaufen, who reduced the social tension as he was also related to the Welfens. However, his anti-ecclesiastic, anti-roman and anti-municipalities politics provoked a strong reaction of Italian cities in defense of their new communal reality. At the same time, Pope Alexander III linked the personal war against Frederik I to the local battles to safeguard cities’ autonomy. This caused a sharp social division between the new Italian Guelfi and Ghibellini: the first stood for the Pope against the Imperial supremacy and legitimated his temporal power because he had received his authority from God, while the second supported the Emperor and didn’t accept Church’s intromission in politics. In Florence, there was also a further split between Black Guelphs(guided by Donati family and radically siding with the Pope) and White Guelphs (more moderated and gathered around Cerchi family). A fundamental historical moment was the clash for the succession to Henry VI in 1198, when Ghibellines supported Philip Duke of Swabia and Guelphs wanted Otto of Brunswick. Many famous battles were fought, like the ones of Montaperti in 1260, Camaldino in 1289, Montecatini in 1301 or Altopascio in 1325, to some of which even Dante Alighieri took part. Being a White Guelph, even the poet suffered the sort of many other Whites and Ghibellines when Blacks took the power in Florence and condemned to death or exile their enemies. The rivalries between Guelfs and Ghibellines continued until the birth of Signorie, when the war between factions was replaced by the wars for territorial expansion. However, we cannot forget a happening in which thousands of people died, which divided an entire society and which determined the future of Florence. You can still spot some symbolic places of these events in the old town center and we really suggest you look for them during your stay in Florence! You can search the Torre degli Amidei, where the political homicide of Buondelmonte dei Buondelmonti generated the division between factions, Palazzo Donati, where the Florentine family lived, or Palazzo Vecchio, which presents Guelph coat of arms near Ghibelline ones on its façade. If you’re looking for a property for your holiday in Florence, check our luxury vacation rentals in the old town center or on the beautiful surrounding hills!

Walking along the streets of Florence, you will certainly notice that a stylized lily with five petals is portrayed on many coat of arms, statues, paintings and buildings. It is the “Giglio”, the famous emblem of Florence whose name means “the city of flowers”. But what does it represent and what is its origin? To be precise, the flower is not a lily, but an iris or a so-called “fior di giaggiolo”. There are various hypothesis about its origin and we still don’t know the exact reason why the city chose this right symbol. Some historians affirm that it’s due to the iris fields which grew spontaneously around Florence, while others think it’s related to its meaning of pureness and to the important cult of the Holy Virgin in the city. The first theory is the most probable, as in many Annunciation paintings the Archangel Gabriel hold a lily in his hand, not an iris like the emblem one. You can try to imagine how the landscape around the city looked like in the past visiting the amazing “Giardino dell’Iris”, a garden inaugurated in 1957 that contains hundreds of diverse kinds of irises. They blossom in the period between the end of April and the end of May, so if you are near Piazzale Michelangelo you cannot skip this visit! Here, you can look for the “Iris Florentina”, the white flower that inspired the coat of arms. In fact, the symbol was originally white on a red background, but Guelfs decided to switch its colors in 1252 to celebrate their victory. In 1412, the famous “Santa Maria del Fiore” cathedral was dedicated to the lily and it later appeared on the golden florin and on city’s standards. It's important to distinguish the Florentine lily from the French one: the first symbolizes the freedom of the glorious Republic of Florence, it’s red on a white background and it presents two stamens full of buds under three main petals, while the second is golden on a blue background and doesn’t have any stamens. Nowadays, the “Giglio fiorentino” has a significant importance and it’s often used for honorific medals and awards, like the one given to some heroic Florence citizens after 1966’s flood. Moreover, even the delicious “Schiacciata Fiorentina” has the form of a lily made with sugar on it! Plan your trip to Florence now and book one of our properties in the old town center to look for the flower in each corner of the city!