cottages4you blog: inspiration for your cottage or villa holiday in UK, Ireland and Europe

Choosing a holiday in Italy can be overwhelming as there are so many must-see cities and regions, one tourism expert has suggested.

Carolyn Spinks, chief operating officer at the Association of British Travel Organisers to Italy, described the country as "a classic holiday destination".

It does not fluctuate according to travelling trends but remains one of the most popular places to visit in the world, she continued.

Britons looking for great beaches should head to Sardinia, Ms Spinks proposed, as it is claimed "to have the clearest, warmest sea in the [Mediterranean]".

Rome, Venice and Florence are always popular choices, while the Amalfi coast is known for its "spectacular coastline", she remarked.

Ms Spinks said the increasing number of tourists coming to Italy's major cities is partly due to the rising amount of cultural experiences on offer, such as art exhibitions and concerts.

And according to GoingtoSardinia.com, the region is a place of hidden beauties, where you can visit many archaeological sites that are usually missed by tourists.

Posted by Matt Smith, cottages4you
 

Those of you jetting off to a holiday home in Italy might enjoy a visit to Rome to see the Baths of Caracalla.

According to an article in the Guardian written by Amanda Ruggeri, the best time to walk around the third-century ruins is at night, when there is an atmosphere that is not present during the day.

"Against the black sky, spotlights emphasise each detail of ancient architectural sophistication, but highlight, too, the sense of loss of each crumbled brick and each fallen-down arch," she continued.

The building is one of an estimated 900 baths built by the Romans and originally covered some 28 acres, comprising an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a library.

It is now open for guided evening tours each Saturday until October 23rd.

Alternatively, people yet to decide on the perfect location for their Italy holiday might like to consider Sicily, as spokeswoman for the Italian State Tourist Board Stefanie Gatta recently stated the island has a lot to offer and is not as expensive as it is thought to be.

Posted by Toby Lawrence, cottages4you
 

Those of you planning your next holiday in Italy may want to consider Sicily as a destination, following the praise it received from one tourism figure.

Stefanie Gatta, spokeswoman for the Italian State Tourist Board, said the island is in fact cheaper than other places in the country, despite its expensive reputation among Britons.

Visitors can eat very well at affordable prices, she continued, which could give holidaymakers the perfect opportunity to sample the local cuisine.

Ms Gatta remarked Sicily has a lot to offer and it would take people at least two to three weeks to see the whole island, but those on a short break might wish to base their trip around Palermo.

"Palermo is a beautiful city with heritage from the Norman conquest and the Arab conquest, so it's got a lot of architecture and nice things to see," she commented.

And while you're there you might wish to make the most of the local dishes on offer, as Italian food was recently voted the best international cuisine by travellers, according to the Lonely Planet.

Posted by Andrew Hill, cottages4you
 

Those looking to rent a holiday home in Italy might wish to consider flying to Brindisi and exploring the region of Puglia.

According to Stefania Gatta, spokeswoman for the Italian State Tourist Board, the area surrounding Brindisi is very interesting and has a beautiful coast.

The region is best explored by car, she continued, before noting there are plenty of places for holidaymakers to visit.

Ms Gatta recommended the baroque city of Lecce and the nearby coastal town of Otrantro, as well as Ostuni, a quaint, white city.

“You can find some very secluded and deserted beaches as well if you have the car. You can find an isolated spot and just enjoy it on your own,” she added.

And the Italian destination certainly seems to be proving popular as recent figures published by ACI Europe revealed Brindisi’s air passenger traffic increased by 41.7 per cent in the first six months of 2010 compared to the same period last year.

Posted by Toby Lawrence, cottages4you
 

Foodies heading on holiday to Italy will always find plenty of delicious cuisine to sample, but some areas in particular will have your tastebuds tingling.

According to Stefania Gatta, spokeswoman at the Italian State Tourist Board, Trastevere, Testaccio and the Roman Ghetto Area are among the best places in the Italian capital to head to.

We understand the lingo on your Italian holiday can be a bit baffling, so Ms Gatta has some meal suggestions to sample.

Gnocchi alla Romana – semolina dumplings in tomato sauce – and carciofi alla giudia – Jewish-style artichokes – are recommended by the spokeswoman.

Her advice comes as TripAdvisor’s third annual European Cities Survey revealed Rome is the best place to head to for cuisine and it is also the most attractive.

Ms Gatta says other Roman dishes to die for are fiori di zucca – deep-fired courgette flowers stuffed with mozzarella cheese – and maritozzo con panna – breakfast brioche with whipped cream.

Yum!

Posted by Andrew Hill, cottages4you

Those of you considering holidays in Italy will probably feel spoilt for choice.

With so many beautiful areas to see, it can be difficult to make a decision on where to stay during your break.

But, wherever your Italy holiday takes you, you should try to visit Naples at least for the day.

There’s no need to just take our word for it, as a travel writer from the Daily Mail is raving about the place.

Claire Gervat has dubbed Bella Napoli "a hotspot of culture, art and food … a vibrant [and] beautiful city with a balmy climate, glorious art, archaeology and Unesco-listed architecture".

She managed to find a quaint cafe – Scaturchio’s – where she enjoyed one of Italy’s famous black coffees with a ricotta-filled pastry.

This year is a great time to visit, as the locals celebrate the 400th anniversary of the death of rebellious artist Caravaggio, with viewings of some of his finest work.

The National Archaeological Museum is also a must-see and is classed as one of the best in the world.

Wish you were there? So do we!

Posted by Matt Smith

Those who have already booked holiday homes in Italy will be able to start planning their days in the Mediterranean country.

Culture vultures will want to check out the new Museum of Art of the 21st Century, known as MAXXI, the first institution of its kind dedicated to contemporary works in Italy.

Opening last weekend, the museum attracted large crowds of new faces to the otherwise quiet corner of Rome, which is neighboured by a small pavement cafe called Il Maratoneta, the Telegraph reports.

However, the big pull will no doubt be the works of Anish Kapoor, Gilbert and George, William Kentridge and Gerhard Richter, among others, which will grace the walls of the new building.

At cottages4you, we think the new building is in itself a piece of art and you can see it here.

It’s definitely worth a visit if you plan to stay at a holiday home in Italy.

If you’re a traditionalist at heart, the home of the Renaissance will still offer views of 16th century buildings and villas, as well as the Cathedral of S Maria del Fiore, which houses works by Donatello and Michelangelo.

Posted by Toby Lawrence, cottages4you