Archive for 'Must See Attractions'

This week, given the time of year, we have been talking about the spookier side of Tuscany. While Autumn is a wonderful time to plan a trip to Tuscany, as the seasonal foods, beautifully colourful landscape, and smaller crowds are all enticing, there is also a rich history that has resulted in a rather large ghost population that makes it all the more intriguing as an October holiday destination. Read on to learn more about Tuscany's spookiest spots...if you dare.

3. Poppi Castle's Ghastly Tales of Murder And Ghosts

Poppi Castle is a beautiful building located in Casentino, a valley famous for nature, art and history, and food and wine tourism, but underneath the charming exterior is a bloody history.

Tuscany might not be the most obvious Hallowe'en destination or spot for spooky adventures but, given how steeped in history and legend it is, it should be no surprise that it actually is quite a fun and fascinating place to spend the season. From creepy legends to haunted castles, there are spooky attractions and sites at every turn. So, why not discover some of the creepiest spots in Tuscany and get planning a vacation for Hallowe'en or, if you're always in the mood for such an adventure, any time throughout the year...

1. The Devil's Bridge and Hallowe'en Celebrations in Borgo a Mozzano

Located in the province of Lucca, this Tuscan town is most famous for the Ponte del Diavolo (or Devil's Bridge).

The Area Naturale Protetta di Interesse Locale del Monteferrato, or the Monteferrato Protected Area of Local Interest, is a stunning protected swathe of the Tuscan landscape that lies within the hilly-mountain system in the Florence-Prato-Pistoia plain. Named for the mountain complex of Monteferrato, it is a stunning area to hike, explore, get some fresh air and well and truly escape from daily life for a moment. If you have found a luxury villa in Florence or a holiday rental in Pistoia, it is a perfect place to go and spend a day of your vacation in Tuscany.

I think the first time I saw topiary in real life my little mind was blown. To me, it was only something I had seen in photographs of grand palaces, cartoons and, most memorably, in “Edward Scissorshands,” which I had been allowed to watch when I was far too young and had deeply imprinted on my brain, as a result. Then, while visiting a country house on an estate near my family home, I saw magical plants shaped like all sorts of animals. It was mind-boggling that such a thing was real.

All of this may be why, to this day, I have such a soft spot for topiary and, when I discovered the topiary art that dotted the Tuscan city of Pistoia, it endeared the lovely place to me even further.

Here's something that you might not be aware of: those who have found a vacation rental in Florence and love perfumes, rejoice, as the city is the scent capital of Italy.

The city's Renaissance courts were a place where some of the greatest patrons funded the creation of some of the world's best masterpieces by famous hands but it was also a fertile breeding ground for the art of perfumery and Catherine de' Medici's passion for scents only furthered the interest in the topic. Still a place where crafts and traditions in craftsmanship of all kinds is alive and well, Florence is home to many traditional and historic perfumeries, pharmacies, drugstores and herbalists. It has long since established itself as a leader in the sphere and there is constantly more specialised in research and experimentation happening in the city.