TRAVEL IDEAS An Alternative To Hotel Bills (NAPSA)—Beautiful Italy is a great destination for vacations in the sun. There are lots of resorts offering long sandy beaches with modern facilities. The mountain- ous regions encourage nature lovers, hikers and mountaineers to plan and enjoy vacationing on their own. In fact, many say avoiding the tourist resorts generally is an excellent way to see Italy as it really is. The Tuscan countryside is a popular vacation spot because of its legendary beauty, that has inspired painters and poets since ancient times. A great way to enjoy it is to rent a villa in Tuscany, convenient to David and the rest of the art of Florence and the famous architecture of Pisa, including the Leaning Tower. Offseason discount rental rates make this option even moreaffordable. The peninsula is also a dreamland for lovers of art and history. You can see everything from Roman ruins to Renaissance paintings. Italy also boasts Michelangelo’s Pietdd and Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. You can also see the famous Sistine Chapel or the Vatican’s highly regardedartcollection. If you have a different idea of fun, you can enjoy the wonderful culinary experiences the country has to offer. It’s best to go off the See thetrue Italy tourists often overlook by renting a Tuscan vacation villa. beaten track, away from tourist resorts, in order to taste all the different foods Italy has to offer. Restaurants will generally expect you to order a full course menu, but a trattoria or a pizzeria can be excellent places to enjoy a snack. One vacation rental company, Interhome, has been renting unique properties in Europe for 35 years by offering a chance to experience the local lifestyle and flavor of the region. Some vacationers will rent a quaint cottage or rustic farmhouse while others will opt for the traditional villa or apartment (chalets are available for those with more opulent preferences). For more information on vaca- tion homes to rent in Italy or around the world, visit www.inter home.com.
