Spring time in Europe...the weather is warming up and is often fine, the flowers are blooming and prices for accommodation and other services have not reached their summer peaks. In short, it is the perfect time to take your European villa vacation.

Villa accommodation is often cheaper during the Spring shoulder and there is a greater choice of properties. You may be able to choose a bigger villa, greater facilities or a spectacular view. The exception to the cheaper prices is the week of Easter, particularly in well known pilgrimage towns or religious centers such as Rome, when accommodation costs can increase dramatically and the majority of accommodation can be booked out. Local school holidays can also affect the number of properties available for rental.

Traveling in Spring allows you to take advantage of attractions that may have been closed over winter, but are not yet subject to the crush of tourists that will develop in the height of the Summer season. Special exhibitions and concerts, aimed more at the locals, will be on. This is the time of year where exhibitions or performances may be taking place in the parts of museums, or other significant buildings, that are not open during the Summer months when the crowds are too great and facilities have to be geared to deal with the large influx of tourists. Springtime means smaller queues to get into museums and galleries. Consequently it is easier to see and appreciate the various artworks without having to fight your way to the front.

A Villa vacation in Spring means you can take advantage of the many wonderful food markets in European cities and do you own cooking with fabulous fresh produce. Having your own cooking facilities allows you to save the cost of expensive hotel breakfasts and to cook for children and thereby avoid the lack of cheaper-priced children's meals at many European restaurants. Villa accommodation allows you to choose the location and amenities that suit your own particular needs.

For many Australians, it is fascinating to watch the emergence of Springtime in the natural surroundings. You can sit in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris and watch the new leaves emerge from the trees, a little each day. Throughout Europe there are spectacular displays of regional flowers in bloom. The milder temperatures are often ideal for travelers, avoiding both excessive heating costs or the need to secure air conditioning.

The towns and cities you visit during Springtime in Europe will be full of locals who have not yet taken off for a long summer vacation of their own. This is a great time to practice your language skills or just get a real feel for the local people, their culture and regional cuisine and the pattern of their daily life.

Take advantage of the the many reasons to travel to Europe in Spring and book a Springtime Villa Vacation!

Springtime Festivals and Events

Here is a small sample of some of the special events taking place in parts of Europe next Spring.

France
Paris - Voyage à Giverny - de Claude Monet à Joan Mitchell Exhibition at the Musee Marmotta - Monet (14 February -11 May)
Paris - The Cure in concert at the Palais Omnisport de Paris Bercy (March)
Nice - Poet's Springtime in Nice - series of events (March)
Marseille - Marseille Carnival (March_
Nice - The Gourd Festival celebrating the beginning of Spring at the Cimiez Gardens (March)
Paris - Paris Half Marathon (2 March)
Marseille - French Winegrowers and Farmers Spring Fair (March - April)
Amiens - The Amiens Réderie Street Markets (April)

Paris - Paris Marathon (6 April)
Paris - Exhibition of the work of Alexandre Calder during "Les Années Parisienne 1926-1933" at the Centre Georges Pompidou (April)
Paris - ArtParis Exhibition at the Grand Palais - (April)
Paris - Celine Dion in concert at the Palais Omnisport de Paris Bercy (May)
Nice - La Fête de Mais free events in the Ciminez Gardens (Sundays in May)
Epernay - Annual carnival and flower market (May)
Sedan - Medieval Festival (May)

Italy
Rome - Roman Purim Mo'ed di Piombo Holiday (March)
Rome - The Blessing of the cars at the Santa Francesca Romana church (March)
Venice - Venice International Boat Show (March)
Rome - Six Nations Championships - Italy v. Scotland at the Stadio Flaminio (15 March )
Rome - Rome Marathon (13-16 March)
Rome - Lazio v. Roma Football at the Stadio Olimpico (19 March)
Rome - Rome Independent Film Festival (March)
Rome - Good Friday procession up the Palatine Hill (April)
Venice - Up and Down the Bridges Race (April)
Rome - Birth of Rome Celebrations (April)
VeniceFlorence - Scoppio del Carro - the Explosion of the Cart from the Piazza del Duomo (April)
Rome - the Palio of Rome Football Final at the Stadio Olimpico (April)
Florence - ART art and craft Fair at the Fortezza da Basso (April)
Rome - Roma Blues Festival at the Auditorium Parco della Musica (April)
Rome - May Day Music Festival at the Piazza San Giovanni (May)
Rome - Guided Canoeing along the Tiber River (April-May)
Florence - Artigianato e Palazzo Art and Craft Fair at the Palazzo Corsini (May)
Venice - Feast of the Ascension (May)
Venice - The Vogalonga Boat Race - St Mark's Basin (May)
Florence - Annual Display of Spring Flowers at the Piazza della Signoria (May)
Rome - ATP Masters Tennis Series at the Foro Italico (May)
Rome - May Antiques Fair at Via del Coronari (May)

Spain
Barcelona - Barcelona Marathon (2 March)
Barcelona - Fiesta de San Medir in the Gracia District (March)
Barcelona - Sitges Vintage Car Rally from Barcelona to Sitges (29 - 30 March)
Barcelona - Palm Sunday Celebrations (April)
Málaga - Semana Santa Celebrations (April)
Barcelona - Barcelona Poetry Festival (1 week in May)
Barcelona - Formula One Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya (May)
Santa Eulalia - Santa Eulalia Fiesta (May)
Barcelona - Primavera Sound Festival (May-June)

Croatia
Dubrovnik - The Dubrovnik Carnival (February-March)
Dubrovnik - Dubrovnik Annual Film Festival (May)
Split - The Split Carnival (February)
Zagreb - The Music Biennale Zagreb (April)

Cyprus
Cyprus - Green Monday celebrations marking the beginning of Lent (10 March)
Paphos - Ultra Sports Cyprus Marathon (March)
Cyprus - Carnivale - two weeks of celebration before the 50 days of Easter (2-12 March)
Klirou and Kalavasos - Annunciation Day Fairs (24-25 March)
Larnaca - Procession of St Lazarus (19 April)
Larnaca - Concerts of traditional Cypriot music along Palm Tree Promenade (selected Sundays in April)
Larnaca - Anthestiria Spring Festival (May)

Greece
Corfu - Easter Pot Smashing (26 April)
Crete - Heraklion 1821 Memorial Parade - commemorating the uprising against the Ottomans (March)
Crete - Burning of Judas Celebrations in Agios Nikolaos (27 April)>

Portugal
Portimäo - Algarve International Film Festival (May)