Archive for 'Florence'

You imagine a certain kind of rather traditional option for restaurants and coffee shops in Italy but, of course, there are more modern and cutting-edge options available and one thing that we love to do is track down all sorts of different kinds of places to eat on our next trip to various cities. With Florence currently in mind, I was looking at lots of places, hunting for something special, when I came across the magical and appealing interiors of La Ménagère.

Tuscany, with her rolling, picturesque landscapes, excellent food and wine, pretty villages and impressive cities, beautiful coast, stunning buildings, and truly incredible works of art is an inherently romantic destination. It birthed great poets and writers of singular devotion to one beloved such as Petrarch and Dante. It boasts some of the most spectacular sunsets in the world. It is overrun with gorgeous palaces and cathedrals. The pace of life is perfectly suited for focusing entirely on someone special. Really, Tuscany simply is a perfect place to dash to for a little city break for a long weekend or to escape to for an extended getaway with your Valentine.

If you were considering planning a Valentine's getaway in Tuscany together or surprising your love with a
vacation rental in Tuscany this Valentine's Day, you're sure to make incredible memories that will last a lifetime. Here are a list of some of the most romantic things to get up to in this impossibly romantic location....

Bottega Pecchioli is a highly-regarded family-run winery and vineyard in Carmignano, Tuscany, not far from Florence. If you have found a vacation rental in Florence and are thinking about setting aside a day to go wine-tasting and to learn some more about wine and Tuscan culture, then it is an ideal option.

The history of the winery is long and goes back to when the surrounding area of Poggio alla Malva was a small farming village. The first note of the family institution records the Bottega Pecchioli and its “storage area of salt, oil and wine, corn, candles and coal.” In the second half of the 18th century, it became a precursor to what we know a food store to be today and over the years it has been various kinds of business including a tavern, bakery, milk and butter shop, a post office, and wine bar.

Florence is home to some wonderful eateries, a rich dining and culinary tradition, and some of the most unique and interesting businesses that manage to combine worlds such as the likes of the Gucci restaurant. However, if you want to see two worlds that truly seem incompatible and diametrically opposed and boast tasty treats and perfect beverage, then it's hard to imagine anywhere else that somehow works so unexpectedly well as the Libreria Café La Cité. A bookshop and café that becomes a trendy bar and venue by night it offers very different charms and types of appeal, depending on at what time of day you visit! A really cool spot in the city, it is a must for those who like relaxed vibes and unique venues and bars and who have found a vacation rental in Florence.

Da Vinci's artistic works are featured in museums around the world and Italy, in particular. However, if you are either more or also interested in the archetypal Renaissance man's other fields of interest and practice, then you might want to head to the Museum of Leonardo da Vinci in Florence. Exploring his genius and inventions and gadgets, it is a fascinating space that many will enjoy. Just find a vacation rental in Florence and come pay a visit!