Vacation Rentals in Italy

Italy is a long, boot-shaped Peninsula. Located within the peninsula are the Alps, Po Valley and the island of Sicily and Sardinia. It encompasses a total surface area of 301,340 km2 and shares a border with France, Switzerland and Austria.

There are many mountainous areas in Italy. This is especially true of the south and in Sardinia and Sicily. There are also three active volcanoes in Italy: Mount Vesuvius, Mount Etna and the island volcano of Stromboli

Italian rural areas are as beautiful as its busy coastal hotspots. Palermo, Tuscany, Umbria, Puglia and Liguria are some of the best the countryside areas in Italy and offer a great choice if you are looking for a rural vacation in a rustic villa.

Italy is a great destination if you love adventures. On offer are the Caves in Le Marche, walking or Hiking in the Dolomites or a fun Kayaking trip in Naples. You can do a tour of Rome by bicycle or scuba Dive the Baia Sunken City. Extreme adventure lovers will enjoy Heli Skiing in Piedmont or paragliding.

There are many beautiful beaches to visit in Italy. These include Elba, Rumini, Lampedusa and Ostia. Here you will find some of the best seaside resorts and watersport activities and you can rent a vacation home near the beach.

Italy offers some great locations to enjoy sailing. The Aeolian coastline features beautiful as does La Maddalena, the Gulf of Naples, Capri and the stunning Lake Como area.

Home to Renaissance greats like Michelangelo's David in Florence and Duomo by Brunelleschi you will also find many other important works like Filippino Lippi, Scenes from the Life of St. Peter in Florence, The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci in Milan. The Creation of Adam in the Vatican is one of Michelangelo's most famous works.

The Pantheon was once an important Roman temple dedicated to the Roman Gods. It is located on the site of an earlier temple commissioned by Marcus Agrippa. It is one of the most well preserved buildings in the region and is one of the most visited landmarks in Italy.

The Florence Cathedral is Italy's primary church. It was commissioned in 1296 in the Gothic style from the original design of Arnolfo di Cambio. The Renaissance dome towers over Florence. The cathedral is named for named after Santa Maria del Fiore and was built on the site of the church of Santa Reparata.

The Colosseum is an oval amphitheatre in Rome. It is built from concrete and sand but is, nonetheless impressive as the largest structure of this kind ever built. It was here where famous gladiators battled to the death.

The Amalfi Coast is located along the southern coast. It can be found on the Tyrrhenian Sea in the Salerno Gulf. This visually striking and beautiful area is very popular and each year thousands of people flock to its shores and rental homes. The area became a UNESO World Heritage Site for its cultural significance.

The majority of Italy has a warm Mediterranean climate. In summer, temperatures are hot and dry and often reach 32° C, while winters are cool and rainy. Coastal temperatures seldom drop to freezing during the winter months.

Italy hosts several popular festivals every year. In Rome, New Year's Eve is a national holiday that includes fireworks displays. During Carnevale revellers don masks and dance and run through the streets of Venice. The Good Friday vigil is held by the Pope at Easter in Rome.