Archive for 'Must See Attractions'

Located not far from the town of Castiglione della Pescaia, in the heart of the Maremma, there is a particularly beautiful winery called Le Mortelle. Vineyards and wineries are dotted all over the area but this particular example is especially charming and set within the most extraordinary surroundings. It is an excellent spot to go and sample and purchase some delicious Tuscan wines and learn more about wine and wine-making so, if you have found a vacation rental in the Grosetto-Maremma area and are looking to indulge in some local vintages, make sure to head to Le Mortelle.

Named after the “mortella”, or wild myrtle, that grows all over the surrounding landscape of the area, the winery is on an estate that was once part of an even larger estate called La Badiola that is recorded on the maps of Grand Duke Leopoldo II of Tuscany in the 19th century. La Badiola was a pilot version of a model of an estate that the Hapsburg Lorraine rulers of the Grand Duchy hoped to establish, in which the marshy and malaria-ridden lands of this coastal part of Tuscany would be drained and repurposed for raising cattle. This land, however, has been since reappropriated once more and the 270 hectares of the estate have been planted with 170 hectares of vineyards of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, as well as more recently planted vineyards of white grape varieties such as Vermentino, Ansonica, Viognier, and a small area of Carménère by the Antinori family.

The University of Pisa is one of the oldest universities in the world and it is also home to a Natural History Museum that is also one of the oldest museums in the world. It has a surprisingly impressive and rich collection that could compete with any natural history museum in the world. If you have found a vacation rental in Pisa and you are looking for somewhere to spend a couple of hours out of the sun and learning more about the natural world, this is a fun and educational spot that is perfect to do just that!

Located in the Pisa Charterhouse (the Carthusian Monastery of Calci), 10km from the city of Pisa in the comune of Calci, the Natural History Museum of the University of Pisa (Museo Di Storia Naturale dell'Università di Pisa) was founded in 1596 by Grand Duke Ferdinand I of Tuscany. Originally composed of specimens sent from the Florentine palaces of the Medici and the Uffizi, in particular, it was somewhat fashioned on the German idea of a “wonderland”, meaning that it gathered together a variety of natural curiosities and oddities. This selection of minerals, zoo animals, skeletons, fossils, and more eventually expanded into a proper institution in its own right and became an early example of a natural history museum, which boasted a rich and impressive collection.

The Tuscan Coast is less well-regarded and famous internationally than its inland counterparts, from famous cities like Pisa and Florence to its iconic rolling green hills and lines of cypresses. Yet, despite this, it is an excellent place to holiday, offering unbridled opportunity to explore. With a holiday rental on the Tuscan Coast, you can spend time discovering the different islands (each with their own unique characters), the charming and sleepy little seaside villages, the bustling promenades and bright lights of the larger resort towns, the natural wonders of the Orbetello Lagoon and the Maremma, and the absolutely picture-perfect beaches. The area in and around Monte Argentario, in particular, boasts a lot of exceptional beaches. Just find a vacation rental in Monte Argentario and come discover her many incredible beaches for yourself!

Located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, nestled between Giglio Island and the mainland Tuscan province of Grosseto, Monte Argentario was once an independent island but, around 4,000 years ago, two narrow strips of land called Isthmuses formed with water on either side and connected the north eastern and eastern side of Monte Argentario Island to the mainland, making it into the peninsula and comune that exists today.

We have previously written about the Orbetello Lagoon on several occasions. This coastal lagoon is one of Tuscany’s greatest treasures and is a diverse area of marshland that supports a varied and rich flora and fauna. Consisting of 1500 hectares of marshland separated from the sea on the west and east by two 6km strips of land and by the Argentario headland, it is an area that is both exceptionally lovely and incredibly unique near the coastal city of Orbetello. If you have found a holiday rental in Orbetello, there are lots of reasons to set aside some time to go and explore the lagoon but there is one particularly colourful and charming reasons: it is one of the best places in Italy to see a flock of pink flamingos en masse in the wild.

Off the coast of Tuscany, there are a sprinkling of beautiful little islands that each have something special to offer. The island of Giglio boasts exceptional beaches and the most spectacularly blue and crystal clear waters of the Tyrrhenian sea that might make you get confused for a moment and have you thinking that you’re somewhere much further away, much more exclusive, and decidedly more tropical. All of which goes to show that you really don’t need to go further away or head to the tropics to experience perfect beaches, just find a vacation rental on the Tuscan Coast and head to Giglio Island, where you will find quite a wealth of choice and an array of beaches to choose from.

While there are lots of beaches and hidden treasures to be discovered on Giglio Island, there are, however, four main beaches that are the biggest and considered among the best. These are the beaches of Campese, Cannelle, Arenella and Caldane. All of the aforementioned beaches are pretty readily accessible from Giglio Porto, the main harbour of the island and likely the point at which you will arrive when taking a ferry to Giglio Island. Campese, Cannelle, and Arenella can be reached by car or taxi and Caldane is only accessible on foot or by boat but is just a kilometre away.