Archive for 'June'

Every year in the evening of the second last Saturday of June and the afternoon of the first Sunday of September, the town of Arezzo in Tuscany holds an event called la Giostra del Saracino, or simply il Saracino, or The Joust of the Saracen in English.

Born in Medieval times as a military training exercise, it is now a great festival in the city which brings together tradition, history, food, music and costumes.

Stay in a nearby luxury villa with a pool and enjoy this exciting festival, full of events for the whole family!     Read More

A precursor to soccer called il calcio storico fiorentino is played annually during the third week of June in Florence. Quite unlike the game that we are all familiar with, calcio storico is a brutal, violent sport intimately interconnected with the city's history, rivalries and codes of honour. It is more like a blend of soccer with rugby and boxing.

Not for the faint of heart, players often refuse to invite their families to games as they find it too difficult to watch. For the sports enthusiast however, it offers a unique experience. Why not book into a luxury villa nearby and come experience it for yourself?     Read More

If you’re wandering through the scenic province of Massa Carrara in Northwest Tuscany then be sure to spare a few hours to explore the charming walled town of Fivizzano! It was part of the Republic of Florence during the 15th century which helped it to get a steady foot in play for the important area of Lunigiana which was a thriving place of trade via land and sea.

There are lovely attractions to see during your visit to Fivizzano. Begin your tour in Piazza Medicea where there is a superbly designed fountain in the centre. Visit the intriguing Fivizzano museum of printing located inside Palazzo Fantoni Bononi which honours the ground breaking work of Jacopo da Fivizzano.     Read More

If you’re holidaying in Tuscany around the 16th of June this year then book into a stunning beautiful rental accommodation in the Pisa area and witness a magical event called the ‘Luminara of San Ranieri’ in Pisa city!

As the sun sets over Pisa, a new light emerges… the city is beautifully lit up by hundreds of thousands of candles to commemorate the city’s Patron Saint, San Ranieri. The tradition is believed to have originated around 1688 when a simple urn containing the ashes of San Ranieri in a local cathedral were transferred to a more decorative modern urn by order of the Grand Duke of Tuscany.


A procession of faithful Christians with candles walked along with the urn’s transfer as a mark of respect. This sparked the illumination festival which transforms the city of Pisa into a glittering paradise!

Special white wooden frames are attached to the frames of Pisa’s building windows, bridges, churches and street lamps, and are lit up by small glass lamps of burning candles or oil called ‘lumini’ to illuminate their architectural magnificence. One of the most mesmerising traditions of Pisa during this celebration is to place floating lit candles in the River Arno which flows through the city.     Read More