Archive for 'Lucca'

Tuscany's beautiful landscape goes far beyond her famous softly rolling green hills and is more diverse than many may be aware of: varying from snow-capped peaks to dense forests and glassy lakes to perfect beaches. If you have found a luxury villa in Tuscany and are spending some time exploring the region and all that she has to offer, then you will likely encounter this often undersold and under-represented wealth of natural phenomena and beauties and, if you are interested in different outdoor activities, you will find that Tuscany is an excellent destination for those interested all sorts of adventures and outdoor experiences. In particular, if you have found a luxury villa in Lucca and are looking to stretch your legs and hike in the area then you'll be glad to note the presence of the incredibly lovely Parco dell'Orecchiella.

Tuscany is a region that can be enjoyed to an extent if one is dependent on public transport but is, without a doubt, best explored if you have a car at your disposal because then you can both find the impossibly famous attractions on most people's bucket lists with ease, as well as stumble upon all sorts of other unexpected gems along the way. From tiny towns that most people have never heard of to pretty views that appear around a bend to incredible family-run eateries to wonderful local artistic and architectural feats, there are all sorts of things to be uncovered as you explore the Tuscan landscape. If you have found a luxury villa in Lucca, for example, and have rented a car to ramble around this beautiful province, you might find yourself stumbling across the impressive Fortezza delle Verrucole, or Verrucole Castle.

As populations of young people have continued to leave their hometowns for bigger cities and other countries in search of better job prospects in the past half century, Italy has become home to an increasing number of ghost towns. These fascinating places are intriguing to visit but some are more appealing than others with the more historic and older examples often being incredibly picturesque and hauntingly beautiful. Those interested in history, architecture, and ghost towns, in particular, will have their pick if they plan a holiday in Italy looking for such gems but one of the most famous examples that tops most lists of the most interesting and lovely ghost towns in Italy has to be Isola Santa. This stunning abandoned town in Tuscany is located in the Apuan Alps and, while it remains largely uninhabited, it has been renovated in recent years in an effort to preserve its great architectural and historical value and its incredible beauty.

Located in the heart of the Apuan Alps, on the road leading to the Tuscan Coastline and the town of Versilia, in the commune of Careggine, in the province of Lucca, you will stumble across a little town that looks like something plucked right from the pages of a storybook and a fairy-tale. Built to be perched on the banks of the Turrite Secca river, this medieval town is made up of picturesque stone buildings with climbing vines along walls, lush greenery and trees all around, and the jewel-toned blue man-made lake next to which it now lies. On sunny days, when all of these colours are at their most heightened, it really does look like some unreal scene painted by a rather romantic artist. If you have found a vacation rental in Lucca, you should definitely drop by!

Tuscany is home to imposing forts, impossibly pretty medieval hilltop towns, dreamy country villas, staggering cathedrals, architectural curiosities, and much more besides. It is a place where centuries of wealth and artistic innovation resulted in a architectural language, landscape, and heritage that is matched by few other places in the world. If you're an enthusiast or if you're simply just a casual observer, then you're likely to find yourself impressed and often lost for words at the incredible buildings that you will encounter while travelling in Tuscany. While travel is yet a good way off for most of us, we can dream and look ahead to a time in which it is possible once more. And, in the meantime, we can take a look at just five of the most unique architectural gems in Tuscany and start adding the ones that most take our fancy to bucket lists that are, no doubt, growing by the day in this time of social-distancing. Here are our picks of just five of the most incredible architectural feats that you can find in Tuscany, as we see it:

1. Cappella Della Madonna Vitaleta

Nestled among the iconic winding roads and perfect rolling hills of the Val D’Orcia the Chapel of the Madonna di Vitaleta, or La Cappella della Madonna Vitaleta, emerges like an image too picturesque, too symmetrical, too perfect for real life. This evocative scene has been the subject of endless photographs and postcards and for good reason, it is like an image plucked from the pages of a story book and is an example of a building and setting coexisting in perfect harmony.

We are obsessed with all things Tuscan here and, while we can't plan holidays in the region at the moment, we can read all about her unique traits and think ahead to better days in which a vacation doesn't seem so far away.

Tuscany has an incredibly rich historical and cultural heritage, shaped by shifting rulers, endless battles and wars over land throughout the centuries, influential art movements and artists, and a stunning landscape that both inspires and produces bountiful culinary delights. As such, the region also boasts more intriguing myths and legends and spooky tales than one might be aware of or expect.

If you have an interest in history, folklore, or the macabre, Tuscany is actually a surprisingly excellent holiday destination as it is awash with haunted castles and sites supposedly frequented by witches and much more besides. Today, we have rounded up some of our favourite tales of mystery and the supernatural and intrigue from Tuscany as we find ourselves with the additional time on our hands necessary to ponder the strange and unusual aspects of the world...