Archive for 'Tourist Attractions'

We've previously discussed the small town of Massa Marittima
in Southern Tuscany which is a bit of a hidden gem with gorgeous views due to its hilltop location and a rich cultural heritage. Its historic Etruscan centre and numerous museums, for which it has been nicknamed the “City of Museums” are two of its most distinctive features. However, once you've found a holiday rental in Massa Marittima, you might want to also venture out of the town once you've explored it a little bit. Just a few kilometres away is the beautiful Lake Accesa with its Etruscan Archaeological Park which, like the town, also offers stunning scenery and great historical value that is not to be missed!

Not far outside of Florence, you'll find the charming little town of Fiesole. This has been a favourite holiday destination to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city for the likes of the Medici in the past and continues to be a location for a spot of escapism for the rich and famous. However, it has not always, and not for everyone, been a place for rest and relaxation. While tourists might now visit for the Medici villas, churches, historic buildings and archaeological wonders, a very famous visitor once came to the town with a very special purpose in mind. This visitor was none other than Leonardo da Vinci, who, long before the Wright brothers, was there to test out a flying machine. If you want to visit this charming town for yourself, just find a holiday rental in Fiesole, and be sure to stop by the site of Da Vinci's airport.

Italy is not short of tales of miracles. In fact, it's hard to find a town that doesn't have some site of a miraculous event. However, some tales are more extraordinary than others. Furthermore, they sometimes hide in plain sight in the most understated of places. A good example of this is the Chiesa Sant Ambrogio, or Church of Saint Ambrose, in Florence. Among the gilded Medieval, intensely classicising Renaissance and dramatic Baroque churches of the city, this little building does not particularly stand out. In many ways, it is a very underwhelming church but it doesn't hint at the unbelievable wealth of cultural and artistic treasures inside, including a miraculous chalice and works of art by some of the greatest Renaissance artists. Find a luxury villa in Florence and discover this hidden gem for yourself.

In our last post, we discussed the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata (the Basilica of the Most Holy Annunciation) in Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, one of the most beautiful piazzas in all of Florence which is home to several architectural masterpieces. This church is an exceptional building which was designed by some of the most famous architects of the Italian Renaissance, such as Alberti and Brunelleschi, and is home to artworks by some of the most famous artists of the Italian Renaissance, such as Ghirlandaio and Bronzino. However, it is most famous for one particular work of art and the legend which surrounds it. Find a villa with internet in Florence and you could visit this extraordinary building for yourself.

While there is no shortage at all of beautiful buildings and churches, in particular, to visit once you've found a luxury villa in Florence, there is one that we would definitely recommend making some time for while in the city. This is the Basilica della Satissima Annunziata (the Basilica of the Most Holy Annunciation) which is located in the Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, one of the most beautiful piazzas in all of Florence and worked on by some of the greatest architects of the Italian Renaissance. The square alone is worth the visit but the church is like a magical little jewellery box full of art, beauty and fascinating stories, just waiting to be discovered.