Archive for 'Tourist Attractions'

Chianciano Terme can trace its origins to the 5th century BC, when the Etruscans arrived and built a temple that was dedicated to the god of Good Health, close to the Silene springs. Those springs and the waters of Chianciano have been a tourist destination and an attraction for their medicinal properties since Roman times and Horace himself is known to have bathed in and imbibed the waters.

Chianciano continued to both draw visitors and function as a regular town over the centuries but, in the 20th century, the springs specifically attracted the attention of developers and neoclassical buildings and facilities were built in the 20s and 30s. In the 40s, the then Fascist-controlled state took possession and destroyed and replaced these, drawing up a new plan under architects Loreti and Marchi. This plan was adjusted by the Town Technical Office of Chianciano in 1958 and eventually passed in 1961 and, today, there is the Old Town and New Town where the thermal spring spas were designed.

Tuscany is famous as a part of the world that birthed some of the greatest artists, architects, designers, buildings, works of art and objects in the world. Those who visit are astounded by the grandiosity of Florence's historic centre, enamoured with the sense of style and luxury clothing brands, wowed by the pretty villages, and amazed by the great paintings and sculptures.

This history of design and beauty extends into the present day and into some of our vacation rentals in Tuscany that have the most extraordinarily lovely interiors. This week, we've been discussing some of the best of the best amongst the many on our site and here are a few more of our picks of the most fascinating and incredible interiors:

6. Castello Leopoldo (Available from €1428 per night)

One of the most exceptional properties of all on our website, this 16th century castle is located in an extraordinary position in the hills surrounding Campiglia Marittima.

This week, we're talking all about some of the best interiors among all of our rental properties in Tuscany and celebrating some of the most breathtaking examples.

We all are busy and oftentimes, as a result, our homes aren't quite the picture-perfect dream houses that we imagined growing up but for the duration of time that you holiday in Tuscany, you can live in one of those magazine-ready properties from your dreams. From historic palaces to chic city apartments, we have it all and these are merely a selection of a couple more of the best among them...

3. Cortona Charme (Available from €215 per night)

This striking apartment is located right in the centre of Cortona in one of the lovely stone palazzos that line the street of this historic part of town.

There are certain things that are of vital importance when one is looking for a vacation rental; price, location, views, amenities. For some, however, the key feature in deciding on a rental property is the decor. If you're going to inhabit a space for a period of time and have a dream holiday, it should be a dreamy location too, right? Well, luckily, we have plenty of holiday rentals in Tuscany that will greatly please design aficionados that prioritise interiors. Here are just a selection of the best of the best among them.

1. Casa Farfalla (Available from €965 per night)

This amazing four bedroom villa and two bedroom annex property, located in the hills 6km from Lucca, with views over the surrounding landscape and the city itself, is one of our most beautiful, both inside and out.

The Villa Reale, or Villa Marlia, is one of the many beautiful historic estates located in the Tuscan countryside. There are lots of wonderful villas in the area around Lucca, in particular, and this property in an area called Marlia is especially lovely.

A former royal palace with extensive and stunning gardens, it is filled with surprises around every turn and if you have found a luxury villa in Lucca, it is the perfect place to head off for a day trip.

Exploring the grounds, alone, will take up to two hours and if you want to picnic in the gardens (which we recommend) or visit the villa (although it is currently closed for renovation work), you will need additional time. Off the beaten tourist track and away from intense crowds but full of things to see and do, it is the ideal place to wander at your leisure and truly enjoy your downtime while on holidays.