Holiday houses & apartments in Italy

Stay in holiday homes in culinary and cultural mecca, Italy

The Sistine Chapel, The Last Supper, Botticelli, Giotto... the list goes on. Italy was not only the heart of the Roman Empire, but is home to more UNESCO World Heritage treasures than any other country in the world. Sure, culture vultures will be satiated by the heavenly imaginings of masters like Dante and Raphael, but for fashionistas Italy is all about its couture. Houses like Prada and Versace, and Milan Fashion Week make Italy one of the chicest destinations as well.

Gastronomy and culture at the highest level

Italy is also the home of pizza, homemade pastas dusted with shavings of fragrant truffle and world-famous wine regions. From the surreal beauty of the Alps to legendarily beautiful lakes of Como and Garda, holiday homes in Italy with TUI Villas are your base for sunbathed bliss.

Elevating experiences near your holiday home in Italy

Rome. Capital of the once far-reaching ancient empire whose reverberations are still discernible in western culture. Visit the vast Vatican, with its transcendent Chapel by Michelangelo and incomparable, glittering wealth. Marvel at the largest unreinforced concrete duomo ever built at the Pantheon, a temple-turned-church. Be uplifted by the Uffizi's collection of masterpieces by the likes of Botticelli, Giotto, Raphael, Rubens and Michelangelo. The collection is so vast, you'll have to come back on multiple days if you want to even scratch the surface of the collection amassed by Europe's most famous patrons, the Medici family. Further north in Florence, the Gothic Duomo di Firenze offers views of the hills surrounding the city, which stretches like a terracotta mosaic out to meet them. Brunelleschi was responsible for the design of this unparalleled edifice.

Archaeology near your holiday home in Italy

You'll have heard about the Roman city preserved perfectly beneath Mount Vesuvius' ash cloud. This cataclysmic event froze time, preserving intimate details of life in ancient Pompeii, not far from modern Naples. Wandering the streets is so uncanny, you can almost hallucinate the city's ancient Roman inhabitants back into existence. A millennia may have passed, but the life of the temples, shops and amphitheatres seems as vivid as ever. You'll be moved by the sight of humans (and even animals) preserved by the ash as they cower in their last moments. Visitors can actually get involved in excavating more of the city (two thirds are currently visible) yourself. Return to Rome, and the Forum is another ancient site that seems to breathe. Temples, basilicas and buildings devoted to public life have been preserved in remarkable integrity for a thousand years. As the sun rises and sets over their stately columns, the mystique of this potent and influential ancient society is all the more palpable.

Tuscany's top Italian eats

If gastronomy is the focus of your stay in holiday homes in Italy, contemplate a visit to Tuscany. World-class art meets nature too beautiful to represent in a painting. The latter supports some of Italy's finest foods and culinary traditions. Food is a way of life in Tuscany, a place that has remained in touch with its agricultural roots. Local wines and seasonal produce are a second religion. Try making your own pasta at one of Tuscany's family-run cookery schools, or visit a world-class winery such as Bottega Pecchioli Carmignano, Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico and Nobile di Montepulciano. Dedicated oenophiles will no doubt have already nosed out these champions of the wine world. Discover the delights of the fresh seafood available in the picturesque villages that line the Italian Adriatic Coast's craggy clifftops.

More magical holiday apartment destinations in Italy

There's much more to see in Tuscany too. Explore the glorious landscape by bike or soft top, following in the footsteps of medieval pilgrims, Brits on their 19th century Grand Tours, and Napoleon. Traverse the famous Ponte Vecchio and take your selfie with Pisa's leaning tower. Honeymooners often visit Lake Garda, which seduces visitors with its surreal beauty. Unwind in spa towns like Sirmione and Bardolino, or explore the varied cuisine of the lake's three regions; Trento Alto-Adige, Lombardy and the Veneto. Salty Sardinia melds immaculate beaches with Italian cuisine and style, serving up prehistoric sites along with world-class diving.

Getting to your holiday apartment in Italy

Non-stop flights to 20 cities in Italy take off from London daily. Flight times are often little over an hour, so you can arrive at your holiday home in Italy in minutes. This said, arriving by train can turn your travel to Italy into its own luxurious adventure. Trains also glide from London each day, offering their passengers a level of glamour unequalled by other modes of conveyance. This said, flying is faster and generally also cheaper than travelling by train. Once you arrive in Italy, organising an automobile for your onward journey is effortless, since major rental companies operate outside of all international transport hubs.

When to stay in holiday apartments in Italy

Between April and June and September to October, temperatures in Italy are at their most pleasant. Crowds are also sparser on the beaches and at those mesmerising UNESCO World Heritage sites. Avoid August if possible; most Italians close up shop and head to the beaches themselves during this month. Turin and Milan in particular are especially vacant in this month. October and November are the rainiest months in Italy, while July and August can be scorchingly hot. Though religious festivals fall throughout the calendar, the majority of Italian music festivals take place in the summer. Some of the biggest are the Umbria Jazz Festival, Festival Puccini and the Ravello Festival. You may wish to join in or avoid the Venetian Carnevale and Rome's Good Friday vigil.

Helpful hints for staying in holiday apartments in Italy

If you are travelling from within the European Union, Italy is especially easy. EU nationals will not require a Visa to enter the country, and the currency in the country is of course the Euro. Italian is a bonus, but you will have no problem conversing with Italian locals in English in the major cities and many smaller destinations. If you are travelling with your pet in tow, your furry friend will require a Pet Passport, up to date inoculations and a microchip before being allowed to enter Italy.

Neighbouring countries Italy

• Albania
• Austria
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Switzerland
• Algeria
• Croatia
• Montenegro
• Macedonia
• Serbia
• Slovenia