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Carpe Diem: Our Top 5 Favorite Experiences in Italy
Villas in the heart of Italy make an ideal base from which to explore
By Heather Whipps
There’s just something about being in Italy that makes an afternoon just people-watching on a trattoria the perfect holiday experience. It’s the same for sipping some of its legendary wine or meandering through the ubiquitous craft markets. At the end of a trip it’s these things that you remember most, despite all the museums or landmarks you’ve seen.
If you’d like to skip the museum and make a day of one of these quintessential Italian experiences, may we suggest our top five favorites:
Biking through Tuscany
 The roads that surround the epic cities of Florence and Siena are a rolling patchwork of vineyards and olive groves, with tiny medieval towns cropping up here and there along the way like patches of unkempt brush. It’s a delight to explore, no more so than on two, slow-moving wheels. Rent a bike and be sure to turn off at least once at the signs announcing vendita directa: the local farmer’s way of advertising his fresh oils, scented honeys and wines.
Villas:Geggianello, Tenuta di Seripa
Seeing the Seaside
 Northern Tuscany boasts some unexpected coastal gems—towns like Livorno that, despite being low on the foreign radar, Florentines know and love as regular weekend retreats. Up the shore you’ll find the Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi, two other beach villages where you can dip your toes in the Mediterranean. Don’t miss the latter’s bustling Wednesday morning market before you settle in on the sand.
Villas: Incantessimo, Villa Capriglia
Shopping in Rome
 The sight leading up along Rome’s Via Condotti, with the Spanish Steps flowering at its head, is a majestic one, especially for the big shoppers among us. Gucci, Valentino, Prada…the stores lining its sides are a roll call of Italian fashion royalty and a trip through the posh boutiques is a must during any trip to Rome. The more budget-conscious can pick up great knock-offs and jewelry along just about any Roman alley, as well. And haggling is a tradition here!
Villas: Collevecchio, San Valentino
Dining Italian-Style
 Three-hour, five-course meals are not uncommon in this land of gourmet delights. No matter how much you love food, no other country on earth can satisfy you with tastes and sheer plenty like Italy. Do it like the locals and stay off the beaten track: smaller, mama and papa-run trattorias are always better than the tourist-geared restaurants in the busiest part of a city. Your best bet is to ask a resident—your villa manager or just someone friendly-looking on the street!—for their recommendation. Just don’t forget the late-night gelato run.
Villas: La Fiorentina, Bellavista
Touring the Ruins
 You can’t walk through an Italian city without tripping over a Roman ruin. They’re everywhere and always interesting. But the most impressive usually require a setting aside of at least a few hours and, without doubt, it’s always worth it. See the Coliseum in Rome or the buried city of Pompeii near Naples and you’ll have a better appreciation for just how much the ancient Italians were able to accomplish.
Villas: Voltarina, Casa de Poggio
Bonus Experience – Riding the Rails
Italians love their Trenitalia—the dependable national rail system that travels between every town and city at all hours of the day. The train is truly the best way to see Italy, whipping through scenery you’d never see on a plane. Don’t miss the chance to pick up some panini and vino and ride the rails as the locals do. |
For more information on villas in Italy or more villas across the world, please contact us:
Call 1-877-993-0100 or E-mail
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