Mediterranean weather makes terraces enjoyable much of the year in Rome which is why finding the perfect apartment with a terrace, or balcony, is at the top of many of our guest’s wish list.

When the weather is pleasant a terrace can be enjoyed throughout the day whether it’s in the morning with a cup of espresso, a long leisurely lunch or at dusk when waves of tiny starlings swoop and dive across the Roman sky.

Apartments in Rome’s historic center with outdoor space, be it an expansive terrace, a petite balcony, a patio or a converted laundry porch, are a much-coveted feature that enhances your enjoyment and gives our guests a true Dolce Vita experience.

Italy Perfect’s curated apartment collection has some spectacular terraces, contact us for more information on how to book your Roman terrace…and the apartment that goes with it!

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The city of Florence has much to be admired. At every turn there are layers upon layers of beautiful views. Here are some of our favorite panoramic views for enjoying the splendor of Florence, whether from a popular tourist site, an off-the-beaten path location or a wonderful vacation rental apartment.

• Piazzale Michelangelo – This lookout point is popular with tourists for its dramatic views. It gets crowded with tourist buses during the day so go early morning to avoid the crowds if you can. Be prepared for a long walk uphill. If you’re not an enthusiastic walker, take the bus or a taxi.

• Boboli Gardens – Enjoy a stroll thru the gardens located behind the Pitti Palace. If you are willing to tackle the gentle hills, you’ll be rewarded with wonderful views of the city.

• Museo Bardini – A steep but rewarding walk on the Oltrarno side of the river, the small Museo Bardini is an idea outing for both the art and spectacular views.

• Top of the Duomo – A hearty climb to the top of dome of Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral, more popularly known as “the Duomo”, gives way to spectacular views of the city and the countryside surrounding Florence. It is about 500 steep, narrow steps.

• Rinascente La Terrazza Café – Piazza della Repubblica, 1
Smack dab in the center of the city, the Rinascente department store has a surprise that is more interesting than its rather generic merchandise. Take the elevator to the top floor housewares department and then up one flight of stairs to the rooftop café where you can enjoy a coffee or sip an aperitivo while savoring fantastic views.

• Café at the Oblate Library, Biblioteca Oblate – Via dell’Oriuolo, 24
Another hidden gem right in the center of Florence, this popular student hangout has incredible views of the Duomo from the outdoor loggia (deck) where you can get inexpensive snack bar type food and drinks in a very casual atmosphere. You have to wind your way upstairs and thru the library to find the outdoor loggia-café.

• The #8 bus ride from Florence to Fiesole – See our Fiesole blog for all the reasons to go to Fiesole, the bus ride views are just one them!
And what better way to enjoy the great views than from an Italy Perfect vacation rental apartments. Here are some with great views:

Italy Perfect Florence Vacation Rentals with Views

1 Bedroom 
Casetta Bonsi – Quaint rooftop views from the little terrace, this house is a perennial guest favorite.

Barsanti – Gem of an apartment with a terrace has wonderful views of the Florentine skyline.

2 Bedroom
Memoria – Arno river views from nearly every window & balcony.

Maestro – Full of the warmth and grace that has long made Florence one of Italy’s most stylish cities.

Mimi & Miravista – Located in the same noble palazzo each has great views and a terrace.

3 Bedroom
Pierino – Designer décor, fantastic location in the heart of Florence.

Photo credits:

Bobolino View
Di I, Sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2809693

Duomo View
By Sailko (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Oblate View
Di Giaccai – Opera propria, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43511336

The post A Feast for the Eyes: Unforgettable Florence Views appeared first on Italy Perfect Travel Blog.

Italy Perfect is delighted to be included in Travel + Leisure magazine’s February 2015 “Guide to the New World of Vacation Rentals”. The February issue includes Italy Perfect’s beautiful Tuscany Bucine property located in a peaceful setting in the hills near the fortified, ancient town of Arezzo.

The accommodations here are very comfortable, a good value and almost resort quality with an onsite restaurant, cooking lessons, window screens and even air conditioning in the bedrooms (hard to find country properties with A/C!) as well as a lovely shared pool. The romantic atmosphere of the property is highlighted by the view of the fairy-tale castle.

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A Day in the Life — Inspections in Venice: The Italy Perfect Team travels frequently around Italy to inspect the properties it offers. It is a fun job, but it is also a lot of work. Here is some insight into a recent day in Venice.

7:00am Prepare to depart for Venice from lovely Giovanna Florence apartment where we stayed. Fueled with freshly made coffee we tidy up and hide our luggage in order to video the apartment and photograph the terrace as soon as the sun comes up. Quick showers, pack up and final check to make sure we didn’t forget anything. Walk to train station.

12:30pm Initial inspection and photo shoot of four small apartments in Cannaregio. What a great neighborhood, so central, so Venetian.

3:00pm Inspection of apartment overlooking Saint Mark’s basilica for which we had high hopes. What an astounding view, but unfortunately the dirty windows were echoed in the dated, worn furnishings and small dark bedrooms with lumpy mattresses. Big disappointment!

The bathroom and cluttered kitchen were last updated 40 years ago, although the collection of artwork was impressive. The owner is comfortable with the state of things and not interested in adding air conditioning either. Sadly, we reject this apartment.

4:00pm Meeting with a local friend at a café for a Spritz Veneziano (Prosecco and Campari) to mourn, as evidenced by our serious faces, the Saint Mark’s apartment that could be so lovely but has so many defects our guests would not be happy. Famished from lack of lunch we devour tiny bowl of potato chips provided with our Spritz’s. (Uh oh, 100% carb/grease/salt/sugar day so far.)

5:00pm Re-inspect a nearby favorite apartment, Serenata, where we found it as nice as always and suggested refreshing the paint in some of the more trafficked areas. This apartment is booking up quickly for 2015 in anticipation of the Biennale, if Venice is in your plans, don’t hesitate! (That’s the Serenata view in the top photo here.)

6:00pm We stayed in a newly renovated apartment that didn’t have Wi-Fi yet so we decamped with our computers to a really nice local bar to check our email. With Marvin Gaye tunes playing in the background, we catch up on emails. A little white wine and a schiacciata (salty crisp pizza bread) to stave off starvation for the use of their Wi-Fi. (150% carb day now!)

7:00pm Returning to our apartment, we found chilly temperatures, realizing that turning on the heat had been overlooked, so a phone call to the apartment owner, and with some remote diagnostics, all was put right.

8:00pm Our first real meal of the day! We chose to dine in a fine restaurant, Boccadoro on the same campo (piazza) as our accommodations and enjoyed mussels, pasta with canoche and squid, seafood gnocchi and grilled breem with a lovely Veneto wine. The preparation was inspired, presentation lovely as was the service. Back to our apartment to call office back in USA. The end to another interesting and fast-paced day on our Italy property inspection agenda.

The post Italy Property Inspections Behind the Scenes! appeared first on Italy Perfect Travel Blog.

A tartufo ice cream treat is a ‘must-try’ for chocolate or gelato lovers travelling in Italy. Legend has it that this decadent sweet was invented for a visiting King by an artisan gelato maker in Pizzo, a small town in Southern Italy. Whatever the origin, it’s a winner!

Quite simply, it is a scoop of gelato, with a fudge-like center, coated in shell with many variations, served with whipped cream and a cookie. The name tartufo, meaning “truffle” is a nod to its striking resemblance to the truffle, but it tastes more like heaven than the earthy truffle.

Tip: This rich dessert is great for sharing. Or if you’re bold, enjoy all to yourself!

Another legend has it crafted out of necessity, when the palace didn’t have enough cups for every guest to be served, so this gelato could be served on a plate. No matter how the story goes in the end the King bestows a title upon the gelato-maker and declares Tartufo to be the “king of gelato.”

Cafes lining Piazza Navona in Rome are known for their spectacular versions of tartufo, and for their competing claims of being the ‘original.’  Tre Scalini on Piazza Navona has always been our pick for a tartufo indulgence. Italy Perfect has several nice vacation rentals near Piazza Navona.

The Pasquino apartment is just steps away from Piazza Navona, allowing you to easily return to the competing tartufo vendors to test their claims. Sleeps 5 with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths.

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The narrow and crowded streets of Florence are filled with delights but you may find, as we do, four nights into our stay, that we need a respite and Fiesole is the perfect solution. On the heights above Florence, the ancient town of Fiesole welcomes with amazing views, a small historical area with an evocative Roman amphitheatre, Etruscan temple and two nice, small museums.

Lisa & Pat study the history of the Roman Amphitheater

Uphill walk to La Reggia degli Etruschi is worth the climb

Villa Medici on the hills overlooking Fiseole

To crown our trip, we had a leisurely lunch at is one of the best restaurants in the area, La Reggia degli Etruschi.

Potato-filled tortellini with sausage, porcini and cherry tomatoes

It’s easy to reach from Piazza San Marco (near the Accademia) in Florence. Take the #7 city bus, purchasing an inexpensive bus ticket at the machine next to the bus stop. It is about a 15-minute ride up the hill with scenic views at every turn. Descend the bus at the end of the line in Fiesole’s tiny main piazza. The amphitheater/ Etruscan temple/ museums are a block away. Or head up a short, steep uphill street to La Reggia degli Etruschi restaurant. If the hill is too steep for you, call the restaurant and they will send a car for you to the piazza below. Our lunch was absolutely delicious, topped only by the magnificent views from our table overlooking the hills of Florence. A most memorable and enjoyable excursion!

Pecorino cheese & tomato bruschetta appetizer

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Veronese Paolo: Feast at the House of Simon

A semester abroad is a dream-come-true for many university students — and their family members who come to visit. We recently interviewed Mike, a recent college graduate, who shares with us his wisdom on “do’s and don’ts” for visiting your son or daughter who is studying abroad in Italy.

I spent an undergraduate semester in Italy and loved that my family visited for a week. Together we had an Italian-style Thanksgiving in a great Florence vacation rental apartment. Visiting abroad is similar to visiting your student at their university, except that they probably miss home like crazy. Study abroad students miss some of the major and minor conveniences of living, like driving a car, choosing from 100 different brands of cereal and, most importantly, spending time with friends and family.

“Together we had an Italian-style Thanksgiving in a great Florence vacation rental apartment. “

Do visit your student abroad, they will be so happy to see you and you will find special insight into “their” Italy. Consider these tips and ease the “nostalgia di casa” (homesickness) that your son or daughter is feeling:

• Bring a poster or picture of home: Something to hang in their room to remind them of home.
• Stock up on their favorite snack: something they crave but can’t get in Italy — whether it’s Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups or mom’s homemade snickerdoodles.
• Bring warm clothes: Although the winters are more mild than in my native Boston, the temperature turns down in November. When my parents visited I asked them to bring an all-weather raincoat.
• Treat them to some really good restaurants: Your student has been eating mostly pizzas, pannini and pasta; make every meal a feast with antipasti, primi, secondi and dessert. My family prepared an Italian-style Thanksgiving in an vacation rental in Florence. We bought the biggest chicken in the market. Surprisingly, the local grocery store was wise to my autumnal cravings because they stocked canned cranberry sauce!
• Let your student be your guide: Let them lead you on a walk through their adoptive city. Visit their school, the market, their favorite café, pizzeria, and bar. Let them set the pace of the tour in museums and at monuments. They have probably seen all the sites in their city and may just want to do the highlights. Let them reel off art history factoids. If they’ve been studying art history they have a bunch.
• Go shopping for their apartment: Rent a car or hire a driver and go to Ikea or a department store and get them situated with the items that aren’t in their apartment. Maybe that’s a lamp for their bedside table, a percolator coffee maker, a dish drying rack, an electric fan or more crucially a Vape (mosquito repelling appliance). My room had no lamp or fan until my parents bought one when they visited.
• Go sightseeing on your own while you student is in class. They’ll probably also be studying for mid-terms or final exams and attending class so give them some space on those days. Take yourself around to the must-see Florence tourist attractions that your student has probably visited several times already.
• There is no drinking age in Italy so if your child is under-age at home; they probably have developed a taste for wine. While that may be worrisome, Italians have a different culture around alcohol than you may be used to; allowing children to enjoy wine at an earlier age and avoiding a lot of the problem drinking by college students. While I was studying abroad, I didn’t play a single game of beer pong. However, I did find myself enjoying a bottle of wine with dinner with my classmates.
• Go for a big grocery shopping run. Load up on basics and goodies alike. You can cook meals in your rental apartment and then leave the extra food with your son or daughter when you leave. Ask your son/daughter to invite their friends and roommates to your rental apartment for a simple home cooked meal.
• Take a day trip to another locale. While my parents were totally content to stay in Florence, I wanted to take them out of town and show them some of the charming spots I’d discovered. So we took a day trip to Bologna and another to Cinque Terre after I had enjoyed both places with friends. If your son/daughter is studying in Rome, hire a private driver for the day to take you to a scenic hill town for some sightseeing and a long lunch in the countryside.
• Rent a nice apartment with a spare bed so your student can spend a few nights. Lounging in the living room is a great way for a family to regenerate together, share stories and maybe your student needs a break from their roommates. Cooking for your student is another great way to show how much you miss them. My folks rented an apartment in Florence that was much nicer than my dorm style apartment and I enjoyed staying with them for the duration.

Together we had a great time and I’m glad they came and stayed in Florence while I studied art history and painting. They said it was a great change from the vacations they were used to and I definitely enjoyed them, and the flavors of home.

The post Top Tips for Visiting your Student Abroad in Italy appeared first on Italy Perfect Travel Blog.

Thank you to Dale R. who stayed at the Venice Marino apartment. Dale gave us permission to share this with all of our Italy Perfect Blog followers.

On our final evening in Venice my wife and I meandered from San Marco to the Rialto bridge, working up quite a seafood appetite. We stopped at nearly every restaurant; I was looking for a specific dish in a place with a view, craving Risotto alle Canocchie and the theater of Italian life.

We found a small osteria south of the Rialto bridge with my favorite on the menu. A table was free in the small outdoor area where an older Italian couple were having a lively conversation while finishing what looked like seafood pizza. It was a good sign.

“Una tavola fuori, per favore” I requested because I want to sit outside to watch the boats and passing crowds.

Canocchie are a crayfish called mantis shrimp in English. About 1/3 the size of lobster, they pack much more flavor. I know; I grew up in New England where I learned to appreciate lobsters and shrimp. Canocchie with risotto is so savory because the stock that is added to the rice is made from the canocchie shells. The creamy risotto with the delicate and flavorful Canocchie meat is a perfect recipe.

I ordered a bottle of Pinot Bianco. As the waiter poured it into my glass I noticed the flash of a camera from the crest of the Rialto. I was sitting in the background of every picturesque photo taken from atop that bridge at that hour and I felt truly blessed.

“Salute.” Cheers. To be with the person I love, in one of the most beautiful cities on Earth.

The waiter arrived with my plate of steaming risotto with five cannocchie laid out in a star. I traded bites with my wife who ordered the Spaghetti alle Vongole (with clams). We noticed a young lovestruck couple walking hand in hand down the narrow calle and my wife and I were reminded of ourselves the first time we came to Venice when we were in our late twenties, when we ate pizza and drank cheap wine sitting with our legs dangling over the canal, traveling on a tiny budget. We still treasure the glass bowl we bought in Murano.

My wife, who speaks better Italian than I, joked with the waiter. He flattered us, saying he recognized us from before and we humored him because I was feeling the wine and enjoyed the flattery in his accent.  When he brought us the bill he told us that the “serivizio e compreso,” which means the tip is included, and brought two small glasses filled with delicious bright yellow limoncello.

We were nearly topped off, but we split a little cup of Frutti di Bosco gelato (wild berries flavor) from the GROM gelateria in the Campo San Barnaba near the Marino vacation rental.  We headed back “home” to our apartment where we enjoyed the sound of a jazz band in the distance, that gradually got louder until it was seemingly right outside our window although actually a few buildings away on the Grand Canal. We leaned out over the canal to see the light reflecting off the waters, making ethereal waving patterns on the buildings while a five piece band on a small boat slowly cruised by with two more party boats in its wake. Ah Venezia.

Grazie Italy Perfect for such a special stay in Venice!

Dale R, Houston TX

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Food traditions are a big part of Italian culture so it’s no surprise that eating well is a tradition of our Italy trips! A highlight of a recent trip was a marvelous dinner prepared for us by Chef in Tuscany at our accommodations near Florence.

Chef in Tuscany Team

Graziella and her staff arrived cheerful and efficient; settled us at the kitchen table with a glass of wine, a crostini sampler, prosciutto and local cheeses served with organic honey. From that vantage point we enjoyed watching her and her staff bustle about, chattering and laughing while we peppered them with questions about recipes, inspirations and preparation techniques.

The first course was a heavenly, buttery zucchini risotto with truffle cream.

Chicken Glazed with Balsamic Vinegar

Sautéed chicken breasts served on a bed of arugula, accompanied by grilled eggplant was a simple and delightful second course

Although we didn’t think we could eat another bite, we managed to find room for freshly made chestnut cake with ricotta mousse light and tasty, and an almond torte served with vin santo.

For this team, no job is too large or too small, whether it’s a cooking class or a gourmet meal for two or an entire wedding party. Chef in Tuscany will travel to your location and can custom tailor to your needs. A family with four young children who stayed in one of our Tuscany properties praised them for rescuing Mom with the preparation

The 3 “C”s: Crostini, Chianti and Cheese

of several meals in advance that could be easily reheated at the end of a busy day of sightseeing. Another group had a cooking lesson for 6. Enjoy a variety of mouth-watering themed menus: Old Chianti Menu, Flavors of Florence, Lands of Siena, Maremma Village. Everything can be custom-tailored to meet your needs or any dietary restrictions.

Reserve now for your feast in Florence and elsewhere in Tuscany.

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