Surprising few things are known for this stable country, which gave birth to one of the first European cities and whose early painters have the merits for the inventing of the oil painting. Probably the lack of passionate nationalist feelings is result from the various cultures that have been melting for centuries. You will enjoy and incomparable vacation if you choose to visit Belgium and have a great stay at any of the vacation rentals here.

Belgium has a population of over 10 million people; it’s bordering with: Germany, Netherlands, France, Luxemburg and the North Sea on North West.

Bruges, Belgium by Coy!

Without even trying to be ostentatious, Belgium is able to enchant the visitors with a number of things: from the historically rich cities and the serene hillocky Ardennes to the wonderful cafes, bars and charming vacation home rentals which will make you feel at home. The official languages are three: Flamand, French and German. The capital of Belgium is Brussels- 80 % of which are French- speaking. Antwerpen is the world’s diamond trade center.

Bruges is the Flanders’s capital. Preserving its authentic medieval architecture, the city is one of the most visited places in Belgium. It has been announced as the European cultural capital in the year of 2002. The city’s central square is a colourful palette of flags, depicting lions and lilies- ancient families’ coats of arms. The square is surrounded by antiques and shops for the world famous needle lace.

Another popular sight is the Notre Dame Cathedral, whose construction took two centuries- from 13th to 15th – with a tower 122 meters high. It is the home for the Michelangelo’s Madonna of Bruges statue made out of white marble, depicting Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus; as well as the sarcophagus of Mary of Burgundy and Charles the Bold. There are plenty of hospitable apartment rentals located near it offering an excellent view of the Cathedral.

The Basilica of the Holy Blood is a unique edifice, consisting of two chapels, built one over the other. It is believed that the legend for the Holy Grail- the grail form which Jesus Christ sipped and which contained his blood after his dead, starts namely from here. Similarly to many other European cities, the City Hall is the oldest building- the Gothic edifice built between 1376-1420, stands proudly impressing with the facade of a stone lace.

Basilica of the Holy Blood, Bruges, Belgium by raider of gin

Bruges’s channels, also called The Venice on the North, offer tourist tours, combining in one splendid panoramas and the encounter with the medieval looking city, being a significant part of the world historical heritage. Let’s not underestimate the chocolate shops at every turn, which fragrance acts like a magnet for the visitors. No matter the occasion, which brings you in Belgium, the season or the vacation rental types accommodation you have choosen for your stay, you will surely enjoy a profound and unforgettable holiday with a scent of chocolate.

Article has been written by https://www.vacation-rentals.com/blog/.

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Dolceacqua / Andrea Puggioni

Dolceacqua is situated in the Northern Province of Imperia and very close to the border with France.  It is a small village, but it has some interesting sights to see for a day trip. The castle on the hill was built back in 1151 by the Counts of Ventimiglia. Since then the castle has been passed down through generations and after years of changing hands, attacks and earthquakes, the castle was formally in ruins. However, the castle was recently restored by the Ligurian government and reopened in 2007. The restoration consisted of repairing the main structure, floors and stonework. A conference hall was added with an extra patio and nowadays the castle is host to many cultural events and art exhibitions, and it can be even rented out for special events.

Another interesting site to see in the village is the bridge in Dolceacqua was famously painted by Claude Monet in 1884, and looking at the oil painting in comparison to the real scenery, it still looks very similar today. One of the best photos of the town is taken from a point before the bridge with the castle to be seen up above – one of the most famous viewpoints of Liguria.

Square in Dolceacqua / Luca Galli

One of the highlights of Ligurian cuisine is pesto, a sauce native to the area. Dolceacqua has a few restaurants on offer serving regional specialities such as two hot pastry snacks of the area called barbajuan and fugasan, the latter of which is suitable for vegetarians.  Liguria boasts garden-fresh vegetables which account for other traditional vegetarian dishes of the area such as stuffed courgette flowers and onion pie. Those looking for seafood will not be disappointed- due to its position close to the coast; the seafood is at its best and consists of mouthwatering fish, mussels and clams.

Dolceacqua is very close to the French border so it’s easy to do a day trip- both Nice and Monaco are less than 1 hour away, so you can soak up a bit of French culture as well. The closest city of Ventimiglia is a mere 15 minutes away and has an old town worth exploring as well as nearby Roman ruins and the exquisite Villa Hanbury Botancial Gardens, one of the best that Europe has to offer.

Liguria boasts 300 days of sunshine a year but also a cool sun breeze so you won’t go crazy in the heat. The whole Province has so much for tourists to see that is worth renting a holiday house in Liguria for a week or two so that you can explore everything that the region – and nearby – has to offer. So don’t delay and book a holiday home today!

Vanessa wrote this article for BlumenRiviera, Liguria holiday rental specialists.

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