Spanish Steps Makeover: Isn’t she pretty?
September 26th, 2016Welcome back Spanish Steps! Rome’s iconic Spanish Steps just reopened following a nearly year-long renovation. The majestic steps, which rise from Piazza di Spagna up to Trinita’ dei Monti church, have provided the beautiful backdrop for countless movies, print ads, TV commercials, wedding photos, postcards, marriage proposals, and more selfies and instagrams that you can ... Read More
Florence’s Bridge of Gold: Ponte Vecchio
September 20th, 2016They say that gold is a safe investment because its value rarely depreciates. In Florence, the stability of gold manifests in a different form: the Ponte Vecchio. Forever fascinating, the neighborhoods on either side of the Ponte Vecchio [Old Bridge] are highly sought-after locations for our Italy Perfect vacation rental apartments. While modern travelers know the bridge for ... Read More
Florence: A Tale of Two (Extra) Davids
September 12th, 2016Why has a single statue managed to capture the minds of millions, held gazes enraptured, struck awe in the hearts of admirers? Maybe it is the story: David, the original underdog manifested in marble. The mind’s eye fills in the gaps: The giant Goliath. The sling shot. Desperation because no “real” warriors have stepped forward, only ... Read More
Roman Colosseum Essential Info
September 6th, 2016The center of Rome is teeming with life. Tourists course through the streets in rapid motion, creating a constant influx of energy keeping an ancient city alive and vibrant. It is therefore no small irony that the Colosseum, the most well known icon of Rome in the heart of the city, has a long history of mortal ... Read More
Bucatini all’Amatriciana, Tribute to the town of Amatrice
August 29th, 2016The tragedy of the last week’s earthquake in Italy will not soon be forgotten. The small town of Amatrice was one of the most impacted. While the scars of the devastation, loss of lives and injuries will long remain, there is pride in a global restaurant movement to celebrate the heritage of Amatrice, the namesake of ... Read More
Cool Coffee – Granita al Caffè
August 22nd, 2016Decades before Starbucks and imitators launched cold coffee and frappuccino beverages, Italians have been enjoying cool and refreshing granita al caffè, the great-granddaddy of cold coffee drinks. A cross between a slushy and sorbet, granita al caffè originated in Sicily. It is made from lightly sweetened espresso that is frozen and then crushed, prepared like a ... Read More
Salute! Cin Cin! Essential Italian Aperitivi
August 9th, 2016Relax with a reverie of your trip to Italy while you sip one of these iconic Italian aperitivi (pre-dinner cocktails). An aperitivo is your chance to transition from your day to dinner, lightly alcoholic to relax and with some flavor and nibbles to stimulate your appetite. The classic Italian aperitivo is often based on one of ... Read More
Italy Perfect Earns Prestigious Travel+Leisure Recognition
August 5th, 2016Italy Perfect has just been recognized by Travel + Leisure magazine’s guide to the Best Villa Rental Agencies as one of the best agencies in the world. We are so excited! Thanks to the cheerful hard work of our team, our guests continue to give us top marks. ... Read More
A Feast for the Eyes: Unforgettable Florence Views
July 25th, 2016The 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. ... Read More
Italian Insights: Two Fun Videos That Will Make You Smile
July 18th, 2016Cue the popcorn, sit back and enjoy these videos that charmingly introduce you to the experience of traveling in Italy. We love Rick Steve’s “eyes open” look at the charms and frustrations. And who can resist the whimsy of Italian hand gestures which come as readily to an Italian as breathing. We hope you will enjoy these two fun and ... Read More
Roman Gelato Joy: Top 5 Gelaterie Picks
July 12th, 2016No trip to Rome would be complete without sampling cool and creamy gelato. The origins of ice-cream are steeped in legend, with little hard historical evidence to support any of the numerous tales surrounding its invention. Nonetheless, Italy tends to feature pretty centrally in these stories, so even if the first recipe might be traced ... Read More