Archive for 'Must See Attractions'

The Mercato Centrale (Central Market) of Livorno is also known as the Mercato delle Vettovaglie (Market of the Provision) or Mercato Coperto (Covered Market) and is one of the most incredible buildings and attractions that the Tuscan seaside city has to offer. Not only that, it is also a wonderful culinary hotspot for those visiting the city where you can enjoy lots of amazing local delicacies, treats, and specialities. If you are a foodie and have found a vacation rental in Livorno and are planning on spending any time in the city, then it is an absolute must! Just make sure you wear some comfy, roomie pants…

The Medici family have left an indelible mark on Tuscany that is still felt today, centuries after they were at the peak of their powers. Works of art, buildings, and even towns remain as a mark of their incredible legacy but so, too, do stories. One of the most compelling is the story of the mysterious death of Isabella de' Medici, the beloved daughter of Cosimo I de’ Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany. Famously beautiful and free-spirited, she was a well-known Florentine figure who died suddenly and unexpectedly at the Medici villa in Cerreto Guidi in 1576 during a hunting holiday.

According to her brother, "while she was washing her hair in the morning ... She was found by Signor Paolo Giordano on her knees, having immediately fallen dead.” This unlikely and dubious version of events was doubted and, according to information obtained by the Ferrarese ambassador, Ercole Cortile, she was actually "strangled at midday" by her husband in the presence of several named servants. It is thought that her husband, Paolo Giordano, killed Isabella because of an affair that she had had with Troilo Orsini or that her brother, the Grand Duke Francesco de’ Medici actually had ordered her death.

While there are plenty of regular beaches, Italy has a particular tradition of paid beaches wherein you pay a fee to access a stretch of coast outfitted with lots of facilities and extras, such as showers, sun beds, umbrellas, restaurants, bars, and more. You can, of course, go to free beaches open to the general public all over the country, but you will often have to do without showers or shade, bring your own loungers or towels to lay out on, deal with larger crowds, and bring or head elsewhere for various supplies like snacks and water. In the famous Tuscan seaside town of Viareggio there is one must-see paid beach that customers rave about on a regular basis: Bagno Maurizio. If you have found a holiday rental with a private pool in Viareggio and are planning on some beach days, spend at least one on this private stretch of the strand and you’ll have nothing to worry about and perfect, stress-free fun on the beach!

We have previously mentioned Lucca’s famous Summer Festival, which is a festival in the more international sense of the word than those that are more common in Tuscany; i.e. a music festival rather than a food festival, though it tends to be one concert an evening in the historic centre of the city, rather than multiple stages and acts per day out in a field somewhere. It is one of many the great music festivals that take place in Italy each year but is among those that attract the most amazing of line-ups. This year is no exception with the likes of Elton John, Take That, Ennio Morricone, New Order, and others taking the stage over the course of a month.

The first edition of the Summer Festival Lucca was held in 1998 with a performance by Bob Dylan and, since then, they have welcomed internationally renowned artists and bands such as Eric Clapton, Jamoroquai, James Brown, Green Day, Lauryn Hill, Pet Shop Boys, and The Rolling Stones and popular Italian singers such as Fiorella Mannoia, Pino Daniele, Giorgia and Elisa, and many more excellent acts over the years.

Pisa has quite the calendar of incredible events and festivals that are steeped in local history and rich in Tuscan culture, which take place at various points throughout the year. One of the biggest of these events is the Luminara Festival, which takes place in June and is celebrated in honour of San Ranieri, the patron saint of the city. This sees the city get lit up magically by tens of thousands of candles upon nightfall and is a truly majestic thing to behold. The day after, however, there is another fascinating celebration: a historical regatta takes place on the same waters that were illuminated the night before, and the Arno plays host to an exciting boat race. To experience this exciting and colourful festival as a whole, just find a vacation rental in Pisa and plan a trip for the middle of June!

Dating back to 1688, the festival traces its origins to when the Grand Duke of Tuscany ordered that San Ranieri’s ashes be transferred from the simple urn that had thus far contained them to a more decorative and modern urn. As they were being moved from one urn to the other, a procession of pilgrims with candles walked alongside it as a mark of respect and the festival that continues to this day recreates these events in honour of their beloved patron saint.