Archive for 'Curiosities'

  

Monday, August 24, 2015
New Moon's cast
Countless Hollywood blockbusters have been set or filmed in Italy - “The Italian Job” in Turin, “The Passion of Christ” in Matera and “Demons & Angels” in Caserta and Rome, to name but a few. In 2009, when it was announced that scenes from the film adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight book series, “New Moon”, would be filmed in the beautiful Montepulciano area in the province of Siena, the town gained international attention and fans began flocking to the site. Not only is the town stunning and fascinating in its own right but it now is additionally attractive to fans of the franchise and film-making in general.     Read More
Posted in: Books and Movies, Curiosities

  

Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Tuscany, Off The Beaten Path
Tuscany is our great passion as a company and we are dedicated to finding the best villas, food, sights and attractions for you so that you can have the perfect holiday. Through our blog, we uncover everything that the region has to offer, both famous and lesser-known. Our new ebook, “Tuscany, Off the Beaten Path – 37 Unique Day Trips” (download it here), perfectly complements these aims and will allow you to easily plan the trip of your dreams and is especially focused on showing you the smaller towns and hidden gems that aren't given much time or consideration in other travel guides about Tuscany. Of course, there is information on the likes of Florence and Pisa, but our focus is very much off the beaten track.     Read More
Posted in: Books and Movies, Curiosities, Day Trips, Tourist Attractions, Travel Tips

  

Thursday, July 9, 2015
Haring's "Tuttomondo" on the side of S. Antonio in Pisa
Art and Italy are somewhat synonymous. Those two words so close to each other bring to mind works from the distant past; Ancient sites, Medieval frescoes, Renaissance sculpture, Baroque church interiors. Yet the story of art in Italy did not end with the burgeoning of the Modern era. In fact, clues to her enduring connection to art are sometimes out in the open. It is, of course, Keith Haring's “Tuttomondo” mural that I have in mind. Located in the Tuscan town of Pisa near the station in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, it is overshadowed by the looming, leaning legend of the Tower and less well-known but worth visiting. In fact, why not find a luxury villa in Pisa and see Haring's last public work for yourself?     Read More
Posted in: Curiosities, Localities, Pisa, Tourist Attractions

  

Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Sword in the Stone, Montesiepi Chapel
Galgano Guidotti was born in 1148 to a minor noble. At the age of 32, he had spent most of his life as a self-centred, violent knight. That year he was visited by the Archangel Michael in a vision and told to renounce his ways.

Guidotti then became a hermit and took up residence in a nearby cave. While on his horse one day, he was mystically led to Montesiepi, a hill near his home town, Chiusdino. There he saw a vision of the Apostles, Christ and Mary and was, once again, told to turn his back on his former ways. At this point of the tale, there are a couple versions of what happened next.     Read More
Posted in: Churches & Religious Buildings, Curiosities, Legends, Tourist Attractions

  

Friday, May 29, 2015
Waters of Pianosa Island
Located in the glimmering Tyrrhenian Sea, off the coast of Tuscany, Pianosa Island is one of the smallest islands in the Tuscan Archipelago. It is also almost entirely uninhabited exception made for wildlife, nature, a handful of humans and the ghosts of the past. So flat that it is barely visible, and often described merely as looking like a darker blue line in the sea, it was most recently home to a prison that is now abandoned. Since its closure, Pianosa Island has become a popular spot for diving enthusiasts as there is a huge variety of saltwater fish and vegetation and dolphins often make appearances. Find a villa with pool on the Tuscan Coast and you could spend a day exploring this fascinating island and its stunning surroundings.     Read More
Posted in: Curiosities, Day Trips, Islands, Localities