Archive for 'Must See Attractions'

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.

Picture your ideal way to explore the perfect and utterly picturesque countryside of Tuscany? Does it involve a Vespa? It should! What better way to see the pretty hilltop towns, rolling green hills and pastures, and vineyards and avenues of cypresses than from a Vespa as you zip around? You can feel the wind in your hair, take perfect commemorative photos on it, easily hop on and off to get a closer look at things, and you can get a real slice of the Italian experience. Sounds idyllic, right? Well, if you have found a vacation rental in Siena and want to explore the typically Tuscan and beautiful landscape of Chianti, then this package tour is just the thing!

Leonardo da Vinci is, without a doubt, one of the most famous names in the history of art. Throughout the centuries, while other artists have had fluctuating levels of fame and popularity, Da Vinci has remained one of the most globally recognised, fascinating, and elusive figures. His artistic skill, multiple talents in several fields, visionary ideas, intriguing glimpses of his personal life, his long string of unfinished works, and his unique career path are all captivating traits that have ensured the continued interest in the artist and this year that interest is set to only increase as we celebrate the 500th anniversary of his death on the 2nd of May 1519.

Museums, galleries, palaces, restaurants, wineries: these are probably the locations that first come to mind when picturing spending time in Tuscany. However, that beautiful and iconic landscape that Tuscany is famous for needs to be ventured out into and explored. Driving around or heading to outdoor activities like kayaking, zip lining, horse riding, and more are one way to experience it but an excellent way to see the landscape at its most beautiful is by going hiking. One particularly lovely place to go hiking is Pania della Croce.

This mountain in the Apuan Alps is the highest peak in the Panie Group, located not far from the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea and boasts views over Monviso, Monte Amiata, Corsica and the coastline on very clear days. For those who have found a holiday rental in Lucca or a villa rental on the Tuscan Coast, and who are looking to take in the majestic natural beauty of Tuscany, it is the perfect spot for a hike.