santa reparata original mosaic floor
Posted in: Churches & Religious Buildings Florence Localities Museums & Galleries Tourist Attractions
Head downstairs within the cathedral of Florence to come upon a special crypt which marks the site where an ancient cathedral once stood!

It’s estimated that the Duomo of Santa Reparata was constructed during the 6th century and was an early testament of Christianity taking a firm rooting all across Italy.

Rent a vacation rental in Florence and enjoy a few days of touring around this majestic city full of artistic treasures!
lucca city walls
Posted in: Activities Tourist Attractions Travel Tips
Before you jet off to the picturesque region of Tuscany have you thought about what kind of vacation you want to experience when you’re here? If you want the full on cultural experience of randomly exploring Tuscany’s towns and letting the road lead the way then renting a car is the way to go!

Bring the whole family and friends along and book a villa that sleeps up to 15 people in Tuscany

Most cities and towns in Tuscany have a lovely selection of museums, natural, historical and archaeological attractions for tourists to enjoy experiencing and quite a few have their own tourist information office to give you a detailed overview of what each commune has to offer.
The Volto Santo of Lucca
Posted in: Churches & Religious Buildings Legends Localities Lucca Tourist Attractions
The Volto Santo or ‘Holy Face’ of Lucca is a famous wooden crucifix that is housed in the cathedral of San Martino in Lucca city. The Volto Santo is housed in a beautifully built Carrara marble chapel which was designed by Matthew Civitali.

Stay in a pretty vacation rental in Lucca and explore all that this spectacular city and its surrounding area has to offer in terms of culture and beauty.

There’s an interesting legend tied to the beautiful craftsmanship of this crucifix, specifically the carved face of Jesus as the name suggests, ‘Volto Santo’.

It’s said that the crucifix was carved by a man called Nicodemus who was mentioned in the Gospel of Joseph after Christ ascended from the dead.
logo of chianti classico
Posted in: Food and Wine Legends Products & Specialities Tourist Attractions Wineries & Breweries
The famous Tuscan DOCG labelled wine, Chianti Classico is produced in a particular part of the Chianti region between Florence and Siena. One of the super Tuscan wines, Chianti Classico has been made here since Etruscan times and stands out from the rest because of its unique pink logo with a black rooster seal on all of its bottles.

Book a beautiful villa in Chianti with a swimming pool to experience a lavish holiday in comfort while you sip the area's magnificent wine.

The story behind this seal is derived from a comical legend that dates back to the 13th century in this area. Florence and Siena fought bitterly for the ideal grape growing land of Chianti and decided to end their disagreement in a strange way.
Tuscan wine and salami
Posted in: Food and Wine Museums & Galleries Products & Specialities Tourist Attractions
Embark on a delicious gastronomy tour of Tuscany by visiting some of its taste museums! All across Tuscany there are museums dedicated to special food products endeared by the Tuscans such as chestnuts, olive oil, wine, truffles and even milk!

Why not treat yourself to a stay in a luxury villa in Tuscany while you savour the rich flavours of this beautiful region!

To learn all about the art and traditions of harvesting grapes for wine then head to the lovely Museo del Chianti or the Museo del Vino Vernaccia in San Gimignano to name but a few.