Italian Villa Rentals in Amalfi, Rome, Liguria - Cinque Terre and the Lake District

Down the 'boot' of Italy is the lovely Amalfi Coast. As you tour this warm and dynamic coastline your senses will be filled to overflowing. Each area has its unique and fascinating sights, sounds, and tastes. We had some of our best and most reasonably priced meals in small family owned restaurants in the countryside along the way. This is where you find the locals dining, which is a good indication of excellence. The people are warm and friendly, very proud of this area and their heritage, and will make you feel welcome.

While here be sure and take a tour of Naples and the ruins of Pompei in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius. Take one of the modern ferries from Sorrento or Positano out to the garden island of Capri. There are several grottos that are fascinating excursions as well, both on Capri and on the mainland.

We found again that RentaVilla.com has many choice properties on the Amalfi Coast. Everything from apartments in town to lavish villas in the countryside can be rented for your home away from home. All have splendid views of the bay, the island of Capri, and/or Mt. Vesuvius hovering over the city of Naples.

When you rent a Villa in Rome, you'll find so much to see and do! What a dynamic, elegant, elaborately and richly structured city, stuffed full of history and art. The Roman people are perfect hosts, helpful and friendly. And you'll notice a distinctive confidence and pride not found elsewhere, perhaps stemming from their fierce loyalty to the long and illustrious legacy of the Roman way of life. We stayed in a comfortable bed and breakfast offered by RentaVilla.com that fit our budget and was homey and very conveniently located. What a great home base from which to go out exploring each day!
You'll be amazed by the enormous number of elaborate statues and monuments in Rome, many of which feature water. Through the centuries, important public works such as aqueducts and public baths showed the power and wealth of Roman civilization. And Rome became the undisputed ruler of this area because of its ready access to water.

Be sure and visit the many and varied sections of the city. The ancient Center of Rome includes Palazzo Venezio, Palazzo Nuovo, The Colosseum, and more. The Piazza Navona area is captivatingly beautiful. The Piazza itself is considered Rome's most beautiful Baroque Piazza, and here you find the city's financial and political district, as well as their Parliament, government offices and the stock exchange. Don't forget to see The Pantheon! Trastevere is an old and picturesque quarter where the people consider themselves the only true Romans. The Botanical Gardens are a restful change for the busy tourist. The earliest Roman churches include Santa Maria and Santa Cecilia. Villa Farnesina is a fabulous house built by the famous banker Chigi. He designed it purely for lavish banquets, where artists, poets, cardinals, princes and the pope himself were entertained in magnificent style. You'll find many trendy restaurants, clubs and shops in this lively and young-at-heart area.

Vatican City is the world capital of Catholicism and also the world's smallest state. It lies within Rome, to the northwest of the river, separated and adjoined by Trastevere. Completely encircled with high walls, it's where St. Peter was martyred and buried. The Pope lives in a papal palace, and visitors are shown his bedroom window where followers watch for his light to go out upon his nightly retiring. St. Peter's is the most famous church in the Christian world, and the Piazza San Pietro is the square that we've all seen on television where the people amass to wait for the Pope's blessing. We climbed the dome on ancient narrow stone steps that circle the interior (not recommended for those who are claustrophobic), and when we got to the top we were rewarded with a breathtaking balcony view of the entire city of Rome! Here you can also view the Sistine Chapel where you'll see the frescoed ceiling by Michelangelo. Today it is used by cardinals when electing a new pope. The vast Vatican Museums are also a must-see.

Liguria is one of the smallest regions of Italy. It runs along the northwestern coast, washed by the Mediterranean Sea. Mountains separate it from Piedmont to the north, while it joins Tuscany to the south. Genoa, the home of Christopher Columbus, is the northernmost city, and Lerici is the southernmost. This region is most famous for The Cinque Terre Villas.

The Cinque Terre is isolated and unique. Because of high steep cliffs that slope rapidly to the deep sea, covered with terraced hills of vineyards, olive groves and clusters of gaily colored houses honeycombing the rocks, the villages are far removed from the hustle and bustle of the French Riviera and the many famous cities of Italy. Because of the severe terrain, the roads are pretty impassible which accounts for the pristine unspoiled character of the area. Most visitors arrive either by train, ferry or footpath. The train stops in each of the five villages which are only 5 minutes apart from each other.

For 2,000 years the rich and sensitive have come to northern Italy to enjoy the beauty of the Italian Lakes District. Here they built castles and villas on the shores of the many lakes, enjoying the mild climate and typical Mediterranean vegetation against a marvelous mountain backdrop.

This region is mostly a huge valley called the Great Plain of Lombardy and the Po Plain that was carved out by vast glaciers between the Alps and the Apennines. It's actually bordered by five nations including France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia. Historically the area has been under immense pressure for dominance. Being a rich region of resources, kings and rulers over many centuries fought endlessly for power and land here.

The 4 best known lakes in this region are Como, Garda, Lugano and Maggiore, but there are many more. Some are hidden like jewels in dense forest and others support bustling towns. These shores have been favorites of writers, musicians and artists such as Goethe, Hesse, Klee, Toscanini, Hemingway, and Byron. The beauty is truly inspirational!