Archive for 'Florence'

  

New Year's in Florence

Shopping for a present for a loved one but really out of ideas? Have no plans to celebrate New Years? Well, why not combine these two needs and book a New Years getaway in Florence in one of our Tuscany Villas? Ring in 2023 in one of the most beautiful cities in the world and in a destination where there are all sorts of events to celebrate the big event! We have a wide array of vacation rentals in Florence and luxury villas in Florence and the surrounding area to choose from at different price points and sizes and there is something to suit everyone! Do not wait a second longer, find the right property for you, surprise someone (or treat yourself) with an amazing gift, and make memories that will last for years to come – sounds pretty special to us.


But what events can you expect over New Year's in Florence this year? 

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It’s already that time of year – the famous and beloved Christmas markets of Europe are being confirmed and the dates are being published, which means that it is time to plan your Christmas market getaway for all of the Holiday spirit, festive fun, and magic memories that you could hope to wish for. While the Christmas markets of Tuscany may be a little less well-known internationally, the region actually abounds with some of the best and most special in the world. Though smaller in scale at times, the scenic settings of Tuscany’s charming and picturesque historic centres as a backdrop to alpine-style market stalls, carousels, twinkling lights, ice-skating rinks, Santa’s houses, and all of the other elements of a Christmas market only adds to the experience and makes them even more special.


Florence and some of the towns in the metropolitan area of the city are home to some of the finest and most numerous examples of incredible Christmas markets and celebrations in Tuscany so find a luxury villa in Florence and you can come and explore the area’s wonderful examples of Christmas markets this Holiday Season. Enjoy hot drinks, delicious Tuscan snacks, handmade crafts and local produce, buzzing excitement, stunning settings, and much more besides at Florence’s Christmas markets in addition to everything else that makes this part of the region a wonderful place to visit, particularly over the Holidays.


But what Christmas markets take place in and around Florence? Where are they found? What do they offer? And when are they open? Well, here’s our guide to visiting Florence (and her close neighbours) and the city’s magic Christmas markets in 2022...


Weihnachtsmarkt/Mercato Natale di Firenze, Piazza Santa Croce, Florence

19th of November 2022 to the 18th of December 2022

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Ghosts

Ghosts may not be the first thing that one associates with Tuscany but if you have been considering an October getaway in Tuscany then you will discover that, naturally, a part of the world with such a rich and complex history is full of tales of spooky encounters and terrible tragedies. History is very much alive (and undead) in Tuscany, with lots of places looking as though they have been left almost entirely untouched by the passage of time for centuries. These time capsules, these preserved historic city centres, ancient palaces, creepy yet lovely castles, and other remnants of times past make for the most atmospheric of surroundings and the most likely candidates for frightening and supernatural experiences. So, if you have always wanted to enjoy the delights, culinary treats, pretty scenery, incredible museums and tourist attractions of the region and much more besides and you are also fond of Hallowe’en adventures and creepy stories, then get browsing our Tuscany villas today! The ghosts of Tuscany’s intriguing past are just waiting to welcome you to this extraordinary part of the country.


But who exactly is it that awaits you? Well, we have compiled a handy list of some of Tuscany’s most haunted spots and famous spooky tales to act as a creepy backdrop to your vacation in Tuscany. These are the ghosts, haunted castles, witches, and devils to seek out as you explore the region...

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Florence

Tuscany is lovely in fall when the lush landscape is made even more beautiful by the transformation of trees as their leaves turn red and gold and rust hues all across those famous rolling hills, the excitement of truffle hunting, the hustle and bustle of food and wine festivals filling medieval city centres all across the region, the cosiness of little houses with smoke-topped chimneys dotted about the place, and the appearance of chic locals beginning to wrap up in woolly layers against the cooling weather. However, much as the entire region has many charms worth discovering that are particular to the season, fall is an especially excellent time to plan a city break in Tuscany. The summer crowds will have begun to disperse, leaving the most famous attractions and sights with far smaller queues and freeing up time to see more, and things will be much calmer and more relaxed, in general. Plus, the cooler weather is more suited to darting all over the place if you’re the type that wants to see it all! So, if you have always wanted to come and see Florence, Lucca, or Cortona – all charming and stunning cities steeped in history and culture – then it is a perfect time to book a Tuscany villa and a city break in Tuscany! Just check out this selection of some of our newest listings in these destinations, all centrally located right at the heart of all the action in each town, and book today to make the fall getaway in Tuscany of your dreams a reality...

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19th century wedding dress

If you are both a fashion-lover and a fan of Tuscany villas then there is no doubt that a luxury villa in Florence is a perfect fit. While enjoying all the city has to offer, you can also spend time exploring the fashion museums of both famous brands like Gucci and Ferragamo and state-run historic costume collections like those at the Museum of Costume and Fashion in the Palazzo Pitti to learn more about the history of Italian design. You can see the business of fashion and traditions of craftsmanship that are on display at artisan’s ateliers. You can simply sit out with a cup of coffee in a piazza and do a bit of people-watching to soak up the local street style. Or you can even head to boutiques, famous shopping streets, local markets, and the flagship stores of some of the most famous brands in the world to find some incredible items of clothing and bring a little bit of that famous Italian style home with you after your vacation in Florence.


However, being based in the city of Florence means that you also have ready access to other towns, cities, and fashion-related attractions if you want to venture further afield and seek out some less obvious or well-known sartorial stars. Among these, the Museo del Tessuto, or Prato Textile Museum.


Located in the charming and nearby town of Prato, this excellent museum is one that we have mentioned before and is known to be one of the best fashion and textile history museums in the country. Currently, it is also playing host to an amazing exhibition that runs into April of next year entitled, “Two Centuries of Textile and Fashion Design,” that will be fascinating to any serious fashion fans or lovers of period costume. 

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