Archive for 'Countryside'

The last of our amazing romantic villas...

8. Torre Forese

Torre Forese is a charming tower dating back to the 14th century that has been tastefully restored, preserving its original architectural features. This apartment is set on different levels and offers beautiful frescoed interiors decorated with ancient pieces and antiques. Rich, warm and atmospheric, with lots of use of dark wood, plush fabrics and luxurious decorative elements, the place has a rather romantic atmosphere overall. The tower in which it is situated right in the centre of the medieval town of Figline Valdarno, just 30 km away from Florence, which has its own shops and restaurants to offer, as well as frequent trains for Rome and the rest of Italy. With two bedrooms, and sleeping up to four, this apartment will set you back just €139 per night.     Read More

The Fattoria di Celle, or Celle Farm, located just 5km from Pistoia is a stunning attraction and fascinating place. While the property has roots to a building from as far back as 1000 AD, the house was built in the 17th century and present form of the gardens is owed to 19th century reconstructions and were further enhanced in the 1980s. It is this enriching of the gardens, with a sculpture park, that draws crowds of art-lovers, schools and more adventurous tourists to this place each year.

The sculpture park showcases 70 site-specific installations sprinkled across the vast family estate and was created by local businessman Giuliano Gori over three decades ago, yet still displays cutting-edge art installations by the world's top contemporary artists. Selected international artists have been to be invited to create installations in the remarkable outdoor spaces of the Romantic park and farmland as well as inside the historic villa and various farm buildings.     Read More

If you are planning a visit to Florence between April and November and are looking to fill up an itinerary, you might consider looking into attractions that are a little off the beaten track and more varied. Typical itineraries of the area focus largely on culture, art and food and, while these are things that are key to any Tuscan visit, it is not all that the region has to offer.

In fact, there are many surprising adventures to be had in Tuscany. Just find a luxury villa in Florence and spend a few days of your trip trying out some of the more unexpected activities that are boasted by the city and the area around it.

One such option is a trip to Il Gigante Adventure Park.     Read More

These are some cute and funny-looking creatures, aren't they?

Mouflons are a subspecies group of the wild sheep and are thought to be one of the two ancestors for all modern domestic sheep breeds. With red-brown, short-haired coats with dark back-stripes and light-colored saddle patches, sleek elegant bodies, sweet faces and big horns, they are some of the more distinctive and photogenic creatures that you are likely to encounter in the wild in Tuscany.

One of the best activities for those who have found a vacation rental in Tuscany and are exploring the region, is to spend some time wandering the stunning Apuan Alps and spotting mouflons.     Read More