Simply Italy Blog
An Artistic Pilgrimage: Best Places To Find Fine Art in Italy
Italy has produced some of the world’s greatest art, and Italian galleries are unsurprisingly filled with beautiful landscapes and iconic portraits that art pilgrims travel miles to see. The celebrated artist Tiziano Vecelli, more commonly known in English as Titian, was regarded as one of the most important members of the Venetian council in the 16th century, and all around Italy you can find his paintings…
Top 10 Things To Do In Umbria
Located right in the middle of Italy’s ‘boot’, Umbria is brimming with history and natural beauty, and is among our best regions for vacation rentals in Italy. Here are our top 10 unmissable day trips for those planning a getaway to this fantastic Italian destination. 1. Orvieto Cathedral (Piazza Duomo, Orvieto) Built on a volcanic ‘tuff’ high above almost vertical cliffs, this cathedral (pictured left)…
Top Prosecco Tasting Vineyards in Italy
There’s nothing better on a sunny summer afternoon than a chilled glass of Prosecco, especially when you’re enjoying it in the lush surroundings of an Italian vineyard. Produced in the areas of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, Prosecco has risen in popularity over the past few decades to become a real rival to France’s famed champagne, and is now savoured by wine and cocktail connoisseurs all…
Best Summer Music Festivals in Italy for Jazz and Opera Fans
Perhaps unsurprisingly for a country with such a celebrated musical history, from Vivaldi to Puccini, Italy has a fantastic range of music festivals that take place during the sunny summer months. We’ve put together a guide to the best Italian opera and jazz festivals to help you soak up some culture during your next trip. Venezia Jazz Festival (Venice) This beautiful Italian city is sometimes called…
WIN a Holiday in a Luxurious Villa
Have you ever dreamed of living the ‘life of a king’ or being ‘lord of the manor’? well now is your chance… Our friends at simplychateau.com have created this fun Quiz that will not only allow you to discover the property of your dreams but could also allow you to stay there with 7 of your friends for an entire week for free! Taking the…
How To Enjoy The Perfect Tuscan Getaway
With its spectacular Renaissance cities and undulating, vineyard-dotted hills, Tuscany is a wonderful holiday destination. For a truly unforgettable Tuscan break, we recommend using one of our luxury Italian villas as a base to explore a few of the following highlights… Florence When visiting Florence, a climb to the top of the world-famous Duomo cathedral is a must, for spectacular views of the city and surrounding hills.…
Top 5 Must-Visit Historical Sites in Italy
As the former seat of the Roman Empire, Italy is a country with a spectacular history, leaving holidaymakers spoilt for choice when it comes to historical sightseeing destinations. But which sites are an absolute must-visit? Here are our top recommendations… Pompeii & Herculaneum There’s little to separate these two fantastically well-preserved Roman towns, both of which fell victim to the volcanic eruption of nearby…
Italian Words and Phrases
When travelling abroad it is important to prepare for everyday conversations and those moments when you might need a hand. Whether you want to equip yourself in case of problems, ensure you can ask for the nearest train station, or you’re excited to chat with the locals, learning a little conversational Italian can be invaluable. Learning a few words and phrases is easy and fun.…
Exploring the Italian Lakes
Italy in my mind’s eye is always beautiful whatever the time of year; Rome with its art, culture and awe inspiring architecture or Sardinia with its emerald green sea. The Lakes are known to be one of the most beautiful places in Italy to visit and attract many famous visitors each year (George Clooney always springs to mind!) artists, poets and musicians have all remonstrated…
Emilia Romagna; Italy’s food capital
Italian cuisine is renowned the world over! Eating some authentic Italian food is naturally one of the first things visitors want to do when they first arrive in Italy. What could be better than eating pizza, pasta, or parma ham right in the heart of where the food was first created? If that sounds good to you then you should consider a trip to the…