Attractions in Italy

Italy rentals are very popular in the Campania region. Campania is a beautiful region of Italy famous for its numerous tourists attractions and rich culture. This region is best known for its fertile lands and amazing landscapes. This region also offers The Vesuvius that is one of the active volcanoes of Europe located on the Gulf of Naples. Its Amalfi coast is world famous for the grottoes and high cliffs. Tourists can also enjoy shopping, nightlife and beautiful beaches of this region.

One of the best things to do in Campania is exploring its market. Here tourists can easily explore the fantastic Italy's fashion and its rich culture. The best place of shopping in Campania is Sorrento or Naples, both known for their famous clothes and jewelries. Tourists can avail designer clothes in malls as well as local shops although local shops are less expensive than the malls. Besides fashionable clothes, tourists can also shop for good bottles of wines such as red wine, which is a specialty of Campania. Also, you can enjoy the wine specialties like key chains and shot glasses. This region is also known for its unique art materials and gift items. Above all, journey to Campania is incomplete without shopping.

If you go to this region, then you should not miss the nightlife as it offers various activities such as casinos and bars. One thing which is seen in Campania often is people sitting on the road and enjoying a glass of red wine. One can also enjoy the visits to the bars and clubs. You can spend your nights in cafes and enjoy delicious drinks. This region also offers various theatres and music shows like Opera in the nights. In addition to these, live entertainment shows can be enjoyed. Tourists can also visit the local shops known as piazza and restaurants as these remain open for the whole night.

One must also visit the Pompeii town which is located at the foot of famous Mt. Vesuvius. The interesting feature of this mountain is that it is the only mountain of Europe with active volcanoes. Here, tourists can know about the histories of volcanoes with the help of hired guides. This tour also includes the historical information of Pompeii town and the events during the volcanic eruptions. Another beautiful attraction of Campania is the Amalfi Coastal road known for its long stretch that runs through the various towns of this area. 

Tourists can enjoy the long drive of this coast which involves sightseeing of various landscapes, huge cliffs and ocean view. One can either go for drives by their personal cars or rented cars which is easily available there. Last but not the least, Campania has various beautiful beaches and rivers such as Marina Piccola and Baia di Ieranto. However, the famous among all is Marina Piccola, a beach known for the adventurous water sports and volley ball. Tourists can try surfing and sailing on this beach which makes this place more exciting and amazing. 

One can also enjoy paragliding and banana boat ride as they are the common water sports of this beach. Catch a boat from Sorrento and visit the islands of Capri and Ischia for exclusive shopping and great dining not worrying what time to be back as self catering villas will give you the freedom to explore. Families and couples come to this very beautiful Campania region of Italy to rent a self catering villa, giving them the independence to sample the beautiful foods and culture with total freedom.

Wine clubs love the historic wine regions of Italy, including Campania, Basilicata, and Puglia. The wines from these regions offer a modern day wine from some very ancient vines that still produce grapes today. This article looks at these three historic wine regions along with the culture of the times when these ancient vines were originally planted.

Campania

The capital of Campania, Naples was founded by the Greeks, enlarged by the Romans, and subsequently invaded by the Normans, Hohenstaufen, French, and Spanish among others. Established by the Greeks in the 11th century BC, Naples was the earliest of a cluster of far-flung settlements throughout southern Italy.

Many important figures of the age, including Pythagoras, Archimedes, and Aeschylus lived in these settlements, and today some of the best ruins of the ancient Greek world can be found there. Along with mathematics, architecture, and drama, the ancient art of winemaking also flourished in the hills and valleys of the region as the cult of Dionysus spread. Aglianico and Greco, grapevines that the Greeks introduced, are highly priced today and prized by wine enthusiasts and wine of the month club members. The Greek historian Herodotus called this part of Italy Oenotria, the land of wine.

Basilicata

Along with Sicily, Calabria, and Puglia, Basilicata was part of Magna Graecia in the sixth century BC, when the Greeks planted one of Italy's finest grapes, the noble Aglianico. Later the Romans dominated the region, calling it "Luciana," but Basilicata derives its name from its Byzantine rulers.

Greek ruins, medieval abbeys, Norman castles, and a collection of hill towns grace this wild and remote region, the most mountainous in Italy with only eight percent of its surface area flat. Despite southern Italy's reputation for semi tropical weather, Basilicata's capital, Potenza, is often the coldest city in Italy, chilled by cold winds from the Balkans and the Apennine mountains. The best vineyards have developed on the high ground of Monte Vulture, both on the steep eastern side of the volcano and on the high plains around Venosa. The wines from the Basilcata region are a favorite of most wine clubs.

Puglia

Puglia, the heel and spur of the Italian boot, is rich in art and architecture that reflect the many cultures that have dominated the region over the centuries. The Greeks, Romans, Saracens, Normans, Swabians, and Spainards among others have all left their imprints there. The octagonal fortress in Castel del Monte was built by Emperor Frederick II in 1240. The towns of Otranto and Gallipoli evoke the Greeks. And much of Lecce is Baroque in style, having flourished in the 17th century.

Alberobello is the capital of the "trulli," whitewashed, circular buildings with conical roof tiles, whose origins no one is certain of. In the north, the terrain is hilly and the climate temperate. Red wines dominate but the region produces many white wines enjoyed by wine of the month club members. In the south, the traditional wines of Salento are the powerful reds Negroamaro, Malvasia Nera, and Primitivo, related to California's Zinfandel, a common favorite of many wine clubs. Salice Salentino is the most prominent zone and is noted for its rich reds and its rose. These three historic wine regions of Italy still produce wines today using these ancient grapevines, providing a taste of the past along with enjoyment for today.