Archive for 'Activities'

The exceptionally lovely Elba is an island located off the coast of Tuscany that is most famous as the place in which Napoleon lived out his exile. It is a great beauty with diverse and lush flora, plenty of interesting fauna, incredible views, and some excellent beaches. As such, it makes for a wonderful place to spend a day if you have found a vacation rental on the Tuscan Coast. If you are interested in hiking, it is an especially good day-trip location as it is home to the Grande Traversata Elbana, or Great Elba Crossing. This is a long circuit of routes and trails around the island that make it an absolute dream for hikers! To get active while you explore Tuscany, come and see it for yourself and try out some of, or the entirety of the route, and feel yourself get refreshed by the majestic beauty of the island!

In the last post, we discussed the beautiful town of Asciano in the Crete Senesi, one of the most undoubtedly scenic and picturesque parts of Tuscany. If you have found a vacation rental in Tuscany and are looking for somewhere to spend a day, it is an ideal day-trip location. Or, if you want something a bit more relaxed, why not find a vacation rental in Asciano itself and spend your time surrounded by the most picture-perfect scenery imaginable. Then, if you're looking for things to see and do, why not browse our list of five excellent things to do in Asciano, continued from the last post...

2. Visit her Museums

Speaking of the fine exterior of the Civic Archaeological and Sacred Art Museum is attractive, the collections held inside are also appealing. It houses archeological finds dating from antiquity and art dating from the thirteenth to the eighteenth centuries. Everything inside is from the surrounding area but the sacred art section is particularly noteworthy quality, boasting a wooden crucifix by Giovanni Pisano, the Triptych of Rofeno by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, and the great masterpiece that is the Nativity of the Virgin Mary by the “Maestro dell’Osservanza”, among others. In addition to this, there is the Cassioli Museum, which was established in 1991 with an extraordinary bequest of artworks by the family of artist Amos Cassioli. It is the only museum in the province of Siena that is dedicated entirely to Sienese paintings from the fourteenth century and also boasts excellent graphics and sculpture sections.

You imagine a certain kind of rather traditional option for restaurants and coffee shops in Italy but, of course, there are more modern and cutting-edge options available and one thing that we love to do is track down all sorts of different kinds of places to eat on our next trip to various cities. With Florence currently in mind, I was looking at lots of places, hunting for something special, when I came across the magical and appealing interiors of La Ménagère.

Florence is one of the fashion centres of Italy, which, as a nation, continues to be one of the trendsetters and fashion leaders. Famous brands such as Gucci, Pucci, Roberto Cavalli, and Ferragamo were all born in the city and it is home to some of the best stores and fashion museums in the world. In addition to this, Florence is known for its high-quality artisanal leather goods. If you have found a luxury villa in Florence and you are a fashion-lover spending time in the city, an ideal souvenir, that will last a lifetime, is a Florentine leather bag, pair of shoes, jacket or some other leather item.

If you are in search of such a piece, head to the Scuola di Cuoio, or Leather School. Located on via San Giuseppe, just by the Church of Santa Croce, the school produces and sells every type of leather good, all of which is the highest quality imaginable. In addition to purchasing pieces, you'll be able to see the incredible craftsmanship in action as the leather school’s artisans are sure to be working while you visit.

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We would all like a taste of the dolce vita while on holidays in Italy but once you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are planning a trip, it may become apparent that the high life isn't easy to achieve. Luckily, we have lots of great bargains to snatch up but, in addition to this, there are also plenty of ways to stretch your budget further. If you've always wanted to pick up a piece from an iconic Italian fashion label while on vacation, then heading to an outlet is a way to do it on a budget. The Space Outlet in Montevarchi, for example, is one such place and a great destination for fashion lovers heading to Florence to pencil in to their trip. Just take half a day during your time in the city and drive out or take one of the public transport options and then indulge in a little retail therapy.