Archive for 'Localities'

Cortona is a famously quaint and scenic historic town located on a hillside overlooking the stunning rolling landscape of the Valdichiana. It is a place where scenes from the beloved, Under the Tuscan Sun, starring Diane Lane were filmed and a spot that made many fall in love with Tuscany. Dating back to Roman and Etruscan times, the town is enclosed by ancient walls and though it is small, it has lots to offer a visitor who has found a villa rental in Cortona!

So, you've always dreamed of a holiday in beautiful Tuscany and you've finally decided to go ahead and commit to it but where to start? Here's our handy guide to help you use our site to the fullest find a wonderful vacation rental in Tuscany and plan a holiday in Tuscany.

1. Head to our homepage. Do you have dates in mind for your holiday? Do you know where exactly in Tuscany you would like to go? How about a luxury villa in Florence? Maybe a villa in Arezzo? Maybe a holiday rental in Pisa. If you have such ideas in mind, put those details into our search bar and you'll get some more specific results. If not, just put in the number of people in your party and hit search. You'll now get several pages of results of properties that can accommodate your party.

Looking forward to your next holiday is often the only thing that keeps us going as the year draws to a close and energies are at a low point. However, the end of the year is also a great time to start thinking ahead and planning and to have something to give you that boost you need. Booking a villa with us now will ensure that you really have the pick of the lot, with most our best luxury villas in Tuscany and villas with pools in Tuscany yet to be snatched up for the next summer season. You may, however, be wondering what kinds of villas and vacation rentals in Tuscany we offer and which one is best suited to you and your needs. Here is our guide to the kinds of rentals that you can choose from on our site.

1. Independent/Private Villas

These independent villas in Tuscany are standalone properties that are not connected to any other buildings, usually with a decent garden or grounds surrounding the property. These are ideal vacation rentals for those looking for space, privacy, and peace and quiet. Some examples of our private villas in Tuscany include: Torre del Cielo in Monterchi and Villa Vigliano near Florence.

Tuscany is home to some exceptional old palaces that were once the elegant dwellings of the wealthy and the nobility of Italy in the past but are now open to the public to explore and are also home to some important and fascinating museums, venues, and other cultural institutions. One particularly great example of this is the Palazzo Chigi-Saracini, also known as the Vestri Palace, which is located in the stunning historic centre of the city of Siena. If you have found a luxury villa in Siena and are spending some time wandering and exploring this very charming Tuscan town, then stopping into the Palazzo Chigi-Saracini to have a look around this exceptional beauty and the, not one, but two incredible cultural gems housed within it is an absolute must.

Built in the 12th century, the Palazzo Chigi-Saracini is an architectural gem that was first erected by the aristocratic Marescotti family of Siena on top of the site of a castle that they owned in Siena. So central were the Marescotti to public life in Siena that before the eventual construction of the Palazzo Pubblico, this building was even used as a seat of the Council of the Republic of Siena. Of this earlier form of the palace, only a tower that stands next to the present palace still exists. Reconstructions, alterations, and additions that came later eventually created the Gothic beauty that is the present Palazzo Chigi-Saracini on the Via di Città in the Terzo di Città, which is composed of two floors: a ground floor in stone and a first floor in brick, with two orders of trifore windows. On the façade, a reminder of the Marescotti family remains in their emblem of an eagle with outstretched wings that is visible on these windows.

There are plenty of incredible museums that one might not even think of visiting as they may seem too niche or not particularly interesting to oneself at first glance. However, when presented well, any topic can be fascinating! A great example of this, and of a lesser-known museum in Tuscany that many inadvertently skip over, is Le Navi Antiche di Pisa, or the Museum of Ancient Boats in Pisa. A museum dedicated entirely to boats may not seem immediately appealing to many but this astounding institution is truly remarkable as it presents full-sized vessels from the past in an old warehouse space that one can admire and be awed by in person. Described as the, “Pompeii of the sea,” this museum presents ships from a period spanning over a 1000 years that were found perfectly preserved. Eerie, majestic, and singular, this is an extraordinary attraction that is a must-see for any history lover who has been browsing our luxury villas in Pisa and is planning on coming to explore this beautiful and ancient Italian city.