Archive for 'Localities'

Fabbriche di Careggine is a town in the area of Lago di Vagli, or Lake Vagli, in Lucca, Tuscany. You have probably never heard of it before, and for good reason: rather than near Lake Vagli, it would be more correct to say that it is beneath the lake. The medieval town, a long-time home to talented metal-working artisans, was flooded in 1953 in order to create the artificial lake, a hydroelectric basin.

Every decade, the lake is drained in order to perform maintenance and the town emerges from the depths of the water once more, giving rise to its nickname as a “ghost town.” Hundreds of thousands attend every time to watch as it slowly rises out of the lake.     Read More

Villa Demidoff, or Villa di Pratolino, is a park in the Florentine hills. The estate was bought by Francesco I de' Medici in 1568 and he built a beautiful villa and gardens on the site for his Venetian mistress, Bianca Cappello. Bernardo Buontalenti was hired as the architect and garden designer and created the perfect Renaissance pleasure villa set in a wonderland of a garden. Today, however, a very different place exists. Sadly, Medici's home and park, stuffed full of water fountains, grottoes and beautiful gardens filled with exotic plants and flowers, was mistreated and dismantled after his death. Three centuries later its beauty was finally restored.     Read More

Piazza della Signoria in Florence, Italy is the city's main square. It is so-called due to the fact that it is in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, the town hall, which was originally called the Palazzo della Signoria (the name of the Medieval and Renaissance government of Florence). The piazza is a focal point of the historical area of Florence and remains the political heart of the city. For tourists, it makes for a great starting point from which to begin your explorations of Florence and a fulcrum about which you can rotate for the duration of your stay. Find a luxury holiday villa in Florence and you can start your adventure.     Read More

If you love Florence and have an interest in history and museums but can't handle crowds and crazy lines, or merely want to experience things a little off the beaten track, this article might interest you.

We have gathered together a list of just three museums in the artistic and cultural centre of Florence that you may yet to have experience or consider.

Find a luxury villa in Florence and you can explore these little gems for yourself.     Read More