Archive for 'Mugello'

La Marzocco is a factory that makes some of the best coffee machines in the whole world. It opened in 1927 and was originally located in Pian di San Bartolo in Florence but moved to Mugello a few years ago.

Since then, it has put Mugello on the map for serious coffee lovers around the world and become a place that attracts foodies from all over the globe.

If you want to learn all about this factory and the coffee machines it makes, just find a luxury villa in Barberino di Mugello and take a guided tour of the factory during your visit.

In 1939 Giuseppe and Bruno Bambi, the founders of the company, developed and patented the first coffee machine with a horizontal boiler, that is now a standard and, today, these innovators and La Marzocco are synonymous with coffee machines that are 100% Italian made, made by highly skilled contemporary artisans and which are super specialized in making the best possible Italian espresso.     Read More

Our last article outlined the Italian tradition of Presepi, or Nativity Scenes, and their origins and cultural significance. This second installment aims to help you find some real examples if you have found a vacation rental in Tuscany and are planning on spending time in the region over the festive period.

We have put together a long, but in no way exhaustive, list of some of the better Presepi that you can find in Tuscany.

However, as we mentioned in the last article, almost every church and town will have one, though they may vary in scale, style and elaboration. Among these, you may even find some hidden gems that we haven't listed so take this as a rough guide rather than the bible.     Read More

In our last post, we outlined some of the best Christmas markets in Florence and, today, we are going to look at the wider area of Tuscany, where there are plenty of other great markets to be found. Find a luxury villa in Florence and take the time to explore wider Tuscany and these other markets.

Mugello will be home to a market called “Magie Dell'Avvento” (Magic of the Advent) that will take place across four days in December 2016 – the 4th, 8th, 11th and 18th – in Palazzuolo sul Senio, in the upper part of the town.

Many are already drawn to the town for the "1000 Presepi per Palazzuolo" (1000 Nativities/Cribs for Palazzuolo), the one thousand nativity scenes that are put on display until January 6th each year and this market just makes for one more reason to choose beautiful Mugello as your Tuscan getaway destination of choice this Christmas.     Read More

Car or motorbike crazy and planning a holiday in Tuscany? If so, you're going to have to make sure to visit the race track in Mugello. There are constantly events taking place at the track, from Grand Prix races, to smaller competitions, to open days allowing the track to be used. Basically, there's bound to be something happening during your visit. Furthermore, the track is located just outside the small but effortlessly charming town of Scarperia in the Mugello Valley so there will be somewhere to enjoy regional cuisine and take in a bit of the local flavour while you're visiting Mugello Circuit.     Read More