Archive for 'Central Italy'

  

Friday, October 10, 2025
Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Biagio
Photo credits: Mammaoca2008 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Certain sights in Tuscany become famous and end up photographed endlessly due to the fact that the various elements of the surroundings and a building or town or natural feature come together perfectly to create something utterly picturesque. There are a few notable examples of this but, among them, the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Biagio (or Tempio di San Biagio) is one of the most strikingly lovely. This pretty 16th century domed church is located in the lush countryside near Montepulciano, an area already impossibly charming in its own right but when you add this elegant building emerging as if from nowhere, at the end of a typically Tuscan cypress-lined road, the overall effect is breath-taking. For those who book a villa in Montepulciano and who are looking to get out and explore the natural and scenic beauty of the surrounding landscape, a stop by this church is a must!

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Posted in: Central Italy, Churches & Religious Buildings, Localities, Orcia Valley, Pretty Views, Tourist Attractions, Tuscany

  

Thursday, October 2, 2025
La Boutique del Cardinale

Autumn and winter are when the majority of our guests decide to book their villa in Tuscany for the next summer so we are currently smack in the middle of the booking season – it’s the perfect time to snap up your ideal dates and vacation rental before someone else beats you to it!


A few weeks ago, the summer 2026 calendars for our properties went live, allowing guests to plan ahead and to secure their stay now, while the most choice is still available. These calendars are gradually filling up but are still pretty wide open for many properties… though they won’t stay that way for too long!

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Posted in: Autumn, Central Italy, Events, Travel Tips, Tuscany, Villas and Farmhouses, Winter

  

Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Abetone
Photo credits: Innocenti.rob / CC BY 3.0

Tuscany is unlikely to spring to mind for most who are planning a ski break but if you are considering a winter break in one of Tuscany’s great cities – Florence, Pisa, Lucca, or Siena – you’ll find that one of the best ski areas in central Italy is a short distance away: Abetone. However, this is actually just one of the well-regarded ski destinations in the region. So, if you’ve been considering a ski break this winter but you’d also like to indulge in the rich cuisine, delicious wines, and particularly delightful après ski on offer in Tuscany, then it might be time to book a vacation rental in Tuscany....

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Posted in: Activities, Central Italy, Events, Florence, Localities, Lucca, Pisa, Siena, Skiing & Winter Sports, Tuscany, Winter

  

Monday, September 15, 2025
A road in Tuscany

One of the things that our customers and any visitors to Tuscany can often find surprising is that those romantically winding roads through the region can present more challenging driving conditions than sometimes expected. While we usually recommend renting a car if you are booking a villa in Tuscany in order to make the most of your time in the region, this does come with the big caveat that there are some key things to keep in mind before going ahead...

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Posted in: Central Italy, Florence, Localities, Pisa, Travel Tips, Tuscany

  

Monday, August 25, 2025
Villa La Piana

As we head into the last stretch of the summer, we have already had many customers enjoy a stay in one of our amazing villas in Tuscany for summer 2025. These are the villas that received glowing 5-star reviews – the properties to take note of if you want to get ahead of the curve and book some of the prettiest, best-located, well-equipped, and most charming vacation rentals in Tuscany for summer 2026 before anyone else beats you to it...

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Posted in: Central Italy, Florence, Localities, Pretty Views, Tourist Attractions, Tuscan Coast, Tuscany, Villa Reviews, Villas and Farmhouses