Archive for 'Localities'

  

Practicing yoga
One of the most important things that we want when we go on holidays is to really relax and unwind. If you have found a vacation rental in Tuscany and are planning to get away from it all then why not plan to set aside a morning or two for a good yoga session to loosen up, get rid of all of your tension, and start a day of fun and sightseeing right? Breathe, relax your jaw, roll your shoulders, and get ready to enjoy a wonderful holiday in beautiful Tuscany…

Whether you are based in a city or in the country, there are plenty of different options to choose from all around the region. Tuscany is actually quite an up-and-coming yoga destination and there are new schools opening all over. Plus, as a famously relaxed place, Tuscany has a perfect atmosphere for practicing yoga and what better backdrop or setting than the rolling pastures and pretty hilltop towns of Tuscan landscapes and the historic grandeur and architectural gems of Tuscan city views? It couldn’t really get much more idyllic than that!

Here are some of the best places to attend some yoga classes and take a moment’s pause while you are exploring Tuscany.     Read More

  

Tuscany is famous for her food and wine and, as a result, there is no shortage of excellent eateries, bars, wineries, and more located all over the region. We have noted many great wineries before in various parts of Tuscany but if you have found a vacation rental in Livorno, in particular, and are thinking about pulling yourself away from the province’s incredible beaches for a while to go and sample some excellent local wines, then we definitely recommend a visit to Batzella.

Batzella Estate is a family-run winery established in 2000 by Khanh Nguyen and Franco Batzella who left careers in international finance to return to Italy and live out their passion for Italian wine. They chose the West Coast of Tuscany and set up in the prestigious Bolgheri appellation, founding the estate ex novo and planting a brand new vineyard of 7.5 hectares with mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.     Read More

  

While there are plenty of regular beaches, Italy has a particular tradition of paid beaches wherein you pay a fee to access a stretch of coast outfitted with lots of facilities and extras, such as showers, sun beds, umbrellas, restaurants, bars, and more. You can, of course, go to free beaches open to the general public all over the country, but you will often have to do without showers or shade, bring your own loungers or towels to lay out on, deal with larger crowds, and bring or head elsewhere for various supplies like snacks and water. In the famous Tuscan seaside town of Viareggio there is one must-see paid beach that customers rave about on a regular basis: Bagno Maurizio. If you have found a holiday rental with a private pool in Viareggio and are planning on some beach days, spend at least one on this private stretch of the strand and you’ll have nothing to worry about and perfect, stress-free fun on the beach!     Read More

  

Elton John playing Twickenham Stoop in 2017
We have previously mentioned Lucca’s famous Summer Festival, which is a festival in the more international sense of the word than those that are more common in Tuscany; i.e. a music festival rather than a food festival, though it tends to be one concert an evening in the historic centre of the city, rather than multiple stages and acts per day out in a field somewhere. It is one of many the great music festivals that take place in Italy each year but is among those that attract the most amazing of line-ups. This year is no exception with the likes of Elton John, Take That, Ennio Morricone, New Order, and others taking the stage over the course of a month.

The first edition of the Summer Festival Lucca was held in 1998 with a performance by Bob Dylan and, since then, they have welcomed internationally renowned artists and bands such as Eric Clapton, Jamoroquai, James Brown, Green Day, Lauryn Hill, Pet Shop Boys, and The Rolling Stones and popular Italian singers such as Fiorella Mannoia, Pino Daniele, Giorgia and Elisa, and many more excellent acts over the years.     Read More

  

L'Eroica
L'Eroica is the single must-attend event for cycling enthusiasts who were thinking about planning a holiday in Tuscany. Held on the first Sunday of October each year in the province of Siena, this is an annual non-competitive cycling event based around a theme of vintage cycling. As such, participants use vintage (i.e. pre-1987) bicycles, accessories and clothing. Combining a beloved sport with a vintage theme and beautiful Tuscan landscapes, it is a unique and fascinating annual event that can be enjoyed by those who have found a vacation rental in Siena and who are making the most out of the rich gamut of different activities and attractions that this stunning part of the world has to offer.     Read More