Villas for rent in Italy: the advantages of “villa tourism”

Have you ever heard about “villa tourism” trend? Maybe not, because it is one of the latest new trends in Italy. More and more tourists coming from Northern Europe, United States and Australia often choose villas for rent in Italy to spend a relaxing holiday with their friends or relatives. In fact, real estate experts and touristic operators consider it a real phenomenon of 2013, because the business of tour operators in this specific field has generated a 78 million Euros turnover in the last 12 months. According to some recent analyses focused on this business field, more than 1.38 million tourists coming from all over the world have rented a luxury holiday home in Italy in summer 2013. The number concerns 1.800 villas and 300 luxury apartments taken for rent. The 84% of the tourists who take villas for rent in Italy come from abroad and most of them spend about 10-11 nights in Italy.

Villa tourism is registering a great success, because it allows spending a relaxing holiday avoiding hotels’ rules. A villa for rent offers all the comforts of a hotel and the familiar atmospheres of your own home. In this way, tourists can easily organize their “family reunion”: they meet all together in a house taken for rent to spend their relaxing holidays in summer or winter, with many optional services. Many tour operator networks offer visitors the opportunity to rent a villa with many different services. Some of the most requested services are Wi-Fi, solarium and SPA area, swimming pool and private garden, private cook and catering service, personal driver and personal shopper. They also include trips and excursions in the nature, cooking classes, wedding planning, etc.

Places worth visiting

Italy offers a great historical and touristic heritage attracting tourists coming from all over the world. Rome is the most famous destination, but there are many other places to visit, such as Tuscia (an area located in the northern district of Viterbo), Rieti province, with its wonderful countryside, but also Circeo headlands and Gaeta, one of the most beautiful places of Central Italy. Lazio is also famous for its “campagna romana” (Roman countryside). After visiting Rome, that is the main attraction of the region, there is a list of other important destinations in this Italian region. Tuscia, in the district of Viterbo, is one of these. If you take a tour there, you can visit Villa Lante, in the small town of Bagnaia (it is located about 70 km south of Rome). It is a very ancient villa where Prince Charles used to spend his summer holidays. The gardens from the late-Renaissance period are an extraordinary example of naturalistic art. In the charming town of Bagnaia, located just a few kilometres from Viterbo, you can find one of the most beautiful Renaissance parks in Italy, called Villa Lante. Construction started in 1568 based off a design by Vignola, and finished in 1612 by Cardinal Montalto, who constructed the second building and all of the wonderful fountains that decorate the gardens.

Ilaria Sabrini - teacher and blogger. I was born in the United States, but I've spend in Italy most of my life. I'm a language teacher and a travel blogger.