Archive for 'Localities'

You've found your perfect holiday rental in Chianti and now you're looking to see what you can do in the area this August. There is, of course, no shortage of things too see or do in Chianti but we might recommend one rather interesting annual event that takes place in the charming town of Castellina in Chianti at the end of August each year: the Watermelon Festival, or Sagra del Cocomero.

Castellina in Chianti is a pretty town, perched on a hilltop, with sweeping views over the surrounding area. It is home to several noble palaces, a grand and large centuries-old castle, a beautiful church and charming cobbled streetscapes. Surrounded by dense woods populated by a rich variety of wild fauna and rolling vineyards, it boasts many great wineries and a delicious local cuisine.

In the last post we were discussing Pisa and why it is such an excellent place to visit...In fact, we began listing just ten of the many reasons as to why you should find a luxury villa in Pisa and plan a trip right away. Here are the other five to complete the set...

6. Palazzo Blu: Palazzo Blu is one of Tuscany's artistic highlights and is an excellent art museum located right in the historic heart of Pisa. Home to both an excellent permanent collection – featuring works by the likes of Artemisia and Orazio Gentileschi, Benozzo Gozzoli and Umberto Vittorini – and important temporary exhibitions throughout the year – Dali, Lautrec and Escher have all been showcased in the last couple of years, it is a wonderful place to get a taste of the great tradition of art in Tuscany.

7. Borgo Stretto: This is a popular pedestrian shopping street filled with charming historic buildings, stores, eateries and cafés. Ideal for wandering, doing a spot of shopping and grabbing a bite to eat, it's an idyllic and typical pretty Tuscan cityscape to spend some time in.

People know Pisa best as home to the famous Leaning Tower but that is not all there is to this charming Tuscan city.

If you find yourself a luxury villa in Pisa, then these are just ten of the things you can expect from your trip:

1. The Leaning Tower of Pisa: Okay, okay, so I said that the Leaning Tower isn't all there is to Pisa. However, it would be remiss of me not to mention it at all. It's one of many great reasons to visit the city. It is iconic. And silly photos are a staple of being a tourist.

2. The Duomo: While you're in the area, the Duomo, next to which the Leaning Tower is located, is a must-see. Special tickets can be purchased to visit multiple sites in the Piazza dei Miracoli and the Duomo is one of the highlights. A truly stunning and richly ornamented building, it features dazzling interiors and will linger in your mind forever after viewing it.

If you are a da Vinci fan that is planning on finding a luxury villa in Florence this Autumn, be sure to pencil a visit to the Uffizi Gallery into your trip.

The Uffizi is to host the Codex Leicester in an exhibition, celebrating the 500th anniversary of da Vinci’s death, from the 29th of October 2018 to the 20th of January 2019, giving you plenty of time to plan a trip that will overlap with the show!

Called, “The Codex Leicester. Water, Nature’s Microscope”, it is to be curated by the Museo Galileo’s director Paolo Galluzzi and has been made possible due to a loan of the object by Bill Gates, who has been its owner since 1994.

The island of Elba, off the Tuscan Coast, is already an exceptionally beautiful place. For those who have found a vacation rental on the Tuscan Coast, it is a must-see.

However, there is something that makes it even more incredible: a butterfly sanctuary that is part of the Arcipelago Toscano National Park, in a natural oasis that stretches from the picnic area of Monte Perone and ends on the slopes of Monte Capanne.