Travel Blog

From the canals of Venice to the architecture of Florence to the ancient historic sites of Rome, Italy is land of plenty for travelers. The food is rich, the people warm and the scenery varies from towering mountains to beautiful seascapes. Italy truly offers something wonderful for every traveler.

With so many choices, it can be a daunting task to plan a visit to Italy. Your best course of action is planning a personalized itinerary, listing the top places you want to visit. One choice might be to explore Tuscany, a region synonymous with romance. Perhaps you’ll choose to spend your time exploring Rome, Milan and the Italian Riviera. Another fun choice would be to explore the island of Sicily.

Expert travel writer Karen Brown has created several special itineraries for travelers to Italy, allowing them to truly experience all the fun of this vast country. She also describes some of the best places to stay, and the following hotels are all recent winners of the Karen Brown Readers’ Choice Awards:

Selecting the most romantic place to stay in a nation that is known as one of the world’s great romantic destinations is no easy feat, but Karen Brown’s readers have voted, choosing Locanda dell’Amorosa as the “Most Romantic” spot in Italy. This Tuscan treasure was its own village and has been converted into hotel, restaurant and wine bar. Each of the guest rooms is different, simply furnished in an elegant style with antiques and rustic pieces. Views of the surrounding countryside and vineyards are sure to charm you. The hotel is a perfect home base for travelers wishing to explore Tuscany and Umbria.

Il Falconiere Relais, just a few kilometers outside of Cortona, is yet another Tuscan gem. The hotel, the recipient of the Karen Brown Readers’ Choice Award for Italy’s “Warmest Welcome,” offers an assortment of beautifully appointed, romantic guest rooms and suites. The setting at this hotel is amazing, from the views of the surrounding countryside to the ambiance of the dining room.

Albergo Villa Belvedere is proof that you can eat your cake and have it too. This beautiful villa was chosen by Karen Brown readers as Italy’s “Greatest Value.” While not luxurious, the guest rooms are clean and comfortable with simple furnishings, and some have pleasant views of Lake Como. Breakfast and dinner, both filled with hearty fare, are included in the rates, adding to the value of this lakeside retreat. The Cappelletti Family and their warm hospitality are another huge plus, and you’ll be treated more as a friend than a hotel guest.

Pamper yourself at one of the world’s great resorts on the stunning Amalfi Coast at Il San Pietro di Positano. Everything about this hotel is spectacular, from the unparalleled views from the many terraces to the elegant guest rooms to the gourmet cuisine served at the hotel’s restaurant. The list of amenities is enormous - a full-service spa, fitness center, swimming pool and tennis court. Best of all is a private beach cove where you can lounge and sunbathe to your heart’s content. Il San Pietro was chosen as Italy’s best “Splendid Splurge” by Karen Brown readers.

As far as religion is concerned, North Cyprus remains neutral and this has developed it into a very cosmopolitan region. After Sardinia and Sicily, Cyprus is the 3rd largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and it can be positioned at about 65 km south of Turkey. Other countries close by to Cyprus include Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Israel and Greece.

!974 was the year when Cyprus had to be split into 2 halves leaving the Turkish Cypriots in the North and the Greek Cypriots in the south. In the North of Cyprus you will find virtually the lowest property prices in the Mediterranean as well as cheaper rentals.

The shape that Cyprus has taken has come about through the side pressures formed during different geological ages. This has lead to the creation of Capes where the hasn’t been able to cope with the sea’s erosion and also the creation of Gulfs, where the land was not able to cope with the sea’s erosion.

There are in fact 2 capes being the Zafer Cape; which is situated on the tip of the Karpaz peninsula, and the Korucam Cape which is found in the west of the island. There are also 2 gulfs located in Guzelyurt and Famagusta and with such beautiful natural scenery, North Cyprus has become a very popular tourist destination filling up the villa rental homes throughout the year.

The most prominent feature of North Cyprus is the range of mountains situated in the northern region, known as the Kyrenia Mountains, or Five Finger Mountains. It is a narrow range and is approximately 130 km long. It runs parallel to the coastline and occupies an area of about 260 sq km. This range is composed predominately of limestone, dolomite, and marble. Many North Cyprus Villas can be found to be located around this range. These villas allow one to view the beauty around and they are economical too.

The largest spring in the North Cyprus is in this range near Five Finger Mountains. The fertile north coast is chiefly covered with olive and carob trees. Villas are also located all around over this place. Most of these villas also give the view of the Mesaoria plain, which lies in the centre of the island, between the Kyrenia Mountains and the Troodos Mountains in the south.

Villas are located in the northern and eastern shores of North Cyprus. As an added advantage, the clear, blue, warm waters of the Mediterranean covers these shores. All along the coastline are bays and beaches. Swimming and sunbathing can be enjoyed too. The North Cyprus Villas can also provide with private swimming pool.

North Cyprus is without a doubt the place to choose as your next holiday destination, with all those wonderful views, places of interest and an all year round temperature which puts Cyprus in a league of its own. Check out the villas in North Cyprus and come and discover the different side of Cyprus.