Archive for 'Localities'

We've already discussed the Christmas markets in Florence over the festive period but there is plenty of other stuff that you can do if you are going to be in the area during winter. One of the best of these things is a little unexpected; Florence Winter Park is a winter activities park just outside of the city. While you may normally associate that great city with museums and cultural gems and Italian winter sports with the Alps, Florence Winter Park offers the chance to skip the history, heritage and culture for the day in favour of some fun. It also means that a city break can also become a ski holiday – a two-for-one, so to speak! Don't miss out on this opportunity! Once you have found a luxury villa in Florence, be sure to drop by the Winter Park.

It might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of Christmas (somewhere with more snow is probably more likely) but Lucca is a great part of the world to be around the festive season. Between markets, ice-skating, pretty streets made prettier by twinkling lights, food and general good will and joy, it's got everything you could ask for. If you're thinking of spending Christmas away from home, Lucca is a great option as it is so full of Christmas spirit that you won't feel as if you are missing out on anything at all! You just need to find the perfect luxury villa in Lucca for you and yours so that you're nice and cosy and then start exploring the city and everything that is has to offer at this time of year!

Once you've found your perfect villa with internet in Florence and are planning out what you're going to do while you're there, you'll quickly realise that there is a serious wealth of options – too much to do on a thousand trips there, let alone one! The amount of choices might even be a little overwhelming or intimidating. However, if you're going to be in Florence in the run up to Christmas, there's one thing that you will definitely want to pencil into your schedule and make time for – the Christmas markets, of course! Specifically, in order to have the most Christmassy experience possible, you'll want to head to the German Christmas Market, or Heidelberger Weihnachtsmarkt in Piazza Santa Croce.

In our last post, we discussed a very special exhibition of Italian Renaissance tapestries which is currently taking place at the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.

However, there is actually a second unique exhibition that is being housed in that great Florentine institution at the moment which is really rather different. In fact, one could say that it is the opposite.

While the tapestries represent the pinnacle of craft and design of the past and the work of European Old Masters, this new exhibit is characterised by an example of fine art by a great American master of the present.

Placed next to the copy of David outside the entrance to the building, is Jeff Koons' Pluto and Proserpina. Be quick to find a villa with internet in Florence so you can see this contemporary masterpiece in the unexpected surroundings of the epitome of the Italian Renaissance!

Maybe you have visited Florence a few times before and are looking to see it from a different perspective. Maybe you have no taste for the conventional tourist trails but have never visited Florence before now. Perhaps you simply have a fondness for Sherlock, mysteries and history. If any of the above apply to you, then you might be interested in a very special tour of Florence run by Accord. A really fun and unique way to see and get around the city, their Historical Whodunit Tour of Florence involves being given a series of clues by the organisers and being left to your own devices and wits to solve the mystery and guide yourself around Florence.