Find the ideal holiday home for your adventure in Italy

Holiday Homes Italy – plan your dreamlike getaway

When we think of Italy, we think of images of the beautiful blue sea with an array of colourful houses perched on the shores alongside it, the country's long and fascinating history, its delicious cuisine, unique culture and of incredible, famous architectural works such as the Colosseum and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Whether it's a romantic city break or a week at the beach with the kids you're after, there will definitely be holiday villas in Italy which suit your tastes. Located in southern Europe, the Italian peninsula stretches out into the Mediterranean Sea, giving the country on average a good climate, although it is much colder in regions around the Alps (especially during the winter!), whereas areas along the coastline tend to experience much higher temperatures. Average temperatures in Sardinia, Sicily, Rome and Venice during the summer are in the early to mid twenties, when the warmest months are July and August. It is usually warmer in the south, for example in Cantabria, and slightly cooler in the north of the country.

Head to the Ancient Capital of Rome

Rome, the capital city of Italy, is a city filled with history, as it is one of the oldest in Europe and was also the capital of the Roman Empire. Many famous artists, architects, painters and sculptors lived in Rome, and it is the country with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the entire world. This means that there will be plenty of things to keep you occupied whilst staying in private Italy holiday rentals during your holidays in Rome. Some of the best points of interest in Rome include a trip to view the Colosseum, the great gladiatorial ampitheatre; St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, arguably the most impressive and famous church in the world, comparable only with other greats like the Cathedral in Seville; Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon, as well as many other incredible churches and religious buildings, museums and ruins, which, with a bit of imagination, will allow you to bring the Roman Empire back to life in all its former glory. Go to Vatican City, home to Saint Peter's Square (and the basilica), the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums, which hold collections of some of the most famous art, paintings, sculptures, frescos and mosaics. If you're on a family holiday in Rome, then many of these historical attractions will also provide entertainment for your children, but if you're worried the kids might get bored, make sure you break up the day with a wander through some of the city's piazzas like Piazza Navona and Piazza del Popolo and stop of for a gelato and of course a pizza for lunch! Also places such as Villa Borghese gardens offer lots to keep the kids interested. Once you've had a tiring day exploring the ancient sites of the city, take a dip in the swimming pool at your apartment, or if you don't have one, how about heading to the beach? You can take a train to most of the nearby seaside towns cheaply, and it only takes from 30-40 minutes to an hour, or if you book holiday rentals in Italy nearby in one of the provinces to the west of Rome, it will be even closer! Some of the best beaches near Rome are Santa Marinella, Anzio Maccarese and Sperlonga.

Travel to Italy's Islands – Beaches in Sardinia and Sicily

Located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, just below the French island of Corsica is the Italian isle of Sardinia. If you're looking for an island getaway this summer, book one of the holiday villas in Italy in Sardinia, as this small isle is the perfect place to experience some really authentic Italian culture. Life here is mainly based around the island's crystal-clear water, as there are few big, urban cities and a lot of the coastline is fairly untouched. This means that there are plenty of watersports on offer for adults and children alike, such as sailing and snorkelling to discover the underwater world. An exciting activity is taking a visit to Neptune's Grotto near the town of Alghero. If you're into diving, there's also one of the Mediterranean's largest underwater caves very close by, Nereo's Cave. The island is inhabited by pink flamingos, so go to Molentargius Pond or Santa Gilla Lagoon to see them in their natural habitat. Given that this is an island, there are over 1000km of coastline, meaning that there are plenty of beaches for you to discover. Many of these are wilder, unknown stretches of sand which – if you're lucky - you can have all to yourself for total privacy. Make sure you cook some food in your self catering rental property and head to a quiet stretch of coast for a picnic and that extra luxury paradise-island feel! For another island vacation, head to Sicily, the slightly larger isle situated at the toe of Italy's boot. Visit the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento and the Church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio in Palermo, and of course don't miss out on the beautiful beaches here too!

Venice – the Floating City

The entire city of Venice is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and no wonder, with its canals, hundreds of bridges and stunning architecture, it is often considered as one of the most romantic cities in Europe. Venice is mainly famous for monuments such as Doge's Palace, Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal and St. Mark's Square, which houses the incredible St. Mark's Basilica whose interior is covered with intricate golden-hued mosaics, as well as the gondolas which glide through the city's waterways. Some other attractions Venice has on offer include climbing to the top of the city's tallest building, the Campanile, for an (almost) bird's eye view of the Queen of the Adriatic, as well as several other churches and many museums such as the Penny Guggenheim Collection and the Ca' Rezzonico. If you book Italy holiday rentals in Venice, you're sure to be won over by its charm and beauty.

Italian Lakeside Getaways

If the kind of thing you're after this summer are Italy luxury holidays, head to the picturesque Italian lake district. Lake Garda is the largest in Italy, and with its beautiful blue waters, the green of its olive and lemon groves and a backdrop of the mountains, is also a favoured holiday destination for many visitors to self catering holiday villas in Italy. There are many towns and villages around the edge of this lake, some of the most popular being Bardonlino (famous for its wine), Desenzano, Riva, Malcesine and Limone. Sirmione is the peninsula which juts out into the south of Lake Garda and is also home to 2 spa complexes. Other stunning lakes in Italy include Lake Como (well known for being the location of George Clooney's lakeside villa), Maggiore, and Trasimeno, both of which have small inhabited islands such as Isola Maggiore on Trasimeno and Isola die Pescatori on Maggiore. The lakes in Italy are the perfect destination for family holidays, as there are plenty of activities avalable on the water (for exmaple sailing, snorkelling, kitesurfing and windsurfing) and alongside it, such as walking, mountain biking, climbing and paragliding. It is possible to swim in the lakes too, and most of them have shingle and some sand beaches scattered around their shores for you to have a lie down and relax, and there are many private beaches if you're looking for something more luxury.

Ski Holidays in Italy

Italy is not just a destination for those seeking sun, sea and sand, as the mountainous regions such as the Dolomites and the Alps which stretch over 8 countries including France, Switzerland and Slovenia provide the perfect slopes for winter sports. Italy has some great off-piste skiing in areas such as Alagna, which is a very picturesque small village, and is more suitable for those who are already advanced skiers, although there are some other nearby resorts which offer more intermediate pistes if you can't hack it! If you're here for a family ski holiday, then perhaps somewhere like Prato Nevoso, Passo Tonale or Cervinia would be better for you, where there are areas aimed at beginners as well as skiing and snowboarding schools so children (and adults) can take lessons if they're not yet confident.

The southern pearl of La Bella Italia: the vacation region of Calabria

A combination of nature and beach paired with a shot of history offers Calabria, the mainland at the southern tip of the boot of Italy. The numerous beaches, like at Faro Capo Vaticano are facing the Tyrrhenian Sea or like Marina di Sibari on the Ionian Sea.

Scenic Calabria impresses with crystal clear water and the granite rocks that drop steeply into the sea, which you can admire from your balcony of the vacation home in Italy. Desto deeper you move towards the hinterland, the more intensively you perceive the dense forests, crystal clear, blue lakes and waterfalls.

But also testimonies of the ancient past make the southern mainland a special destination where you can book a vacation home: The area of Capo Rizzuto is part of a marine nature reserve, which on the one hand attracts with red-orange sandy beaches along the coast and on the other hand has produced archaeological finds from the time of Magna Grecia.

From the southern Reggio di Calabria you already look to Sicily and here to the volcano Etna. You can experience the volcanic Italy at first hand if you take the car ferry from your vacation home to Messina in about 20 minutes.

Italy vacation with children: the most beautiful destinations on vacation

The 50 hectares Gardaland presents itself as a play paradise of superlatives. The largest amusement park in Italy is located near Castelnuovo del Garda on the south shore and thrills with wild water rides and spectacular roller coasters like the Raptor. The 4D cinema appeals to several senses of true cineastes. Small children are pleased in the Prezzemolo country on water games and numerous climbing possibilities in the romantic fairy tale castle.

A highlight for water rats is the trip into the amusement park Aqualandia bei Lido di Jesolo. The 720 feet long tube slide Taluga Sky and Scary Falls with 60° gradient provide thrills. Cozy is the sandy beach of Shark Bay. The oversized pirate ship is the setting for the spectacular Peter Pan Show. Also magicians show their arts in the spacious area.

Discover the whole country in miniature with your children in Italia in Miniatura in Viserba di Rimini. Since its opening in 1070, sights recreated on an original scale, such as the Colosseum and St. Peter's Square in Rome, Florence Cathedral or Miramare Castle near Trieste, have delighted visitors. In a particularly leisurely way, gondolas take you through the scaled-down version of the lagoon city of Venice.

If you book a vacation home in Italy near Merano, it's worth taking a ride to the Alpine Bob Merano 2000. On the local mountain of the South Tyrolean city, a 3,610-foot-long rail toboggan run invites you to year-round sledding fun. Families are happy to take a souvenir photo of the unforgettable experience.

Visit these 3 event highlights with a vacation rental in Italy

1st Carnival in Venice

Over two weeks stretches the most famous carnival in Venice. For the first time, the traditional event is mentioned in records dating back to 1094.For many centuries, locals and guests have been donning elaborately decorated masks at the end of February to celebrate together on the canals and streets. Everywhere in the city, such as on St. Mark's Square, stages attract visitors with a multi-faceted program. One of the highlights is the parade on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, where the most beautiful costume is awarded.

2nd Opera Festival in Verona

The Opera Festival in Verona in the province of Veneto is one of the highlights of classical music. From June to early September, classics such as Giuseppe Verdi's Aida, Georges Bizet's Carmen and Giacomo Puccini's Tosca thrill visitors in the historic setting of the Roman amphitheater. The 490-foot-long and 394-foot-wide rotunda can seat a total of 22,000 spectators. The event took place for the first time on the 100th birthday of Giuseppe Verdi in 1913.

3rd Formula 1 in Monza

Italy and motor sports have belonged together for decades. All of Monza is upside down at the beginning of September when the world's best Formula 1 drivers race for the Italian Grand Prix. Car fans here have the opportunity to watch the drivers accelerate around the 3,600 miles circuit. Whether you're there for free practice, qualifying or even the race, lasting impressions are guaranteed.

Visit the 5 best sights during a vacation in Italy

1. colosseum

With the in Rome admire you with the vacation in the vacation home in Italy one of the miracles of the antiquity. In the 79 A.D. built rotunda, up to 50,000 spectators watched spectacular gladiator fights for centuries.

2. St. Peter's Basilica

Also in Rome, explore the largest basilica in the world: the 450 feet long St. Peter's Basilica is known for its 800 columns, the magnificent tiaras and liturgical vestments, as well as the impressive grottoes. In the mystical crypt, 23 popes are buried. Also worthwhile is a climb into the dome, which was designed by the world-famous artist Michelangelo.

3. Doge's Palace

The lagoon city of Venice exudes romantic flair with its countless canals. One of the architectural jewels, the Doge's Palace, dates back to the 14th Jhd. Today, the building with an arcade on the first floor houses the interesting Museum of Modern Art.

4. Florence Cathedral

As a world city of the Renaissance, Florence takes you on an exciting journey through history. Among the most impressive sacred buildings in Italy is the cathedral. You can see the 351 feet high dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi from far away. On the famous 43,000 square feet ceiling fresco you will discover scenes from the "Last Judgment".

5. Pompeii near Naples

You will get a lasting impression of life in ancient Rome in the buried city of Pompeii near Naples. The mighty lava masses that covered the thermal baths, town houses and public buildings during an eruption of Mount Vesuvius made for excellent preservation.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most popular accommodations in Italy?

The most booked accommodations in Italy are apartment rental and house rentals. We search from more than 281,945 accommodations in Italy to help you find the perfect place to stay during your trip.

What does it cost to rent a holiday home in Italy?

With Casamundo, you will find holiday rentals in Italy starting from as little as £26. On average, properties in Italy will have a size of 106 m² (House rentals) and 69 m² (Apartment rental).

Do you offer pet-friendly apartment rental in Italy?

We have the perfect options for you and your furry companions. Apartment rental are the most pet-friendly type of accommodations in Italy and cost an average of £240 per night.

Do you also offer accommodations that are suitable for groups in Italy ?

For your holiday in Italy, we have a great selection of accommodations for groups. The typical apartment rental has space for 5 guests.