Archive for 'Architectural Gems'

Palazzo Casali is a palace located in the Tuscan town of Cortona that was built by the Casali family, who ruled over the town in the 13th century. It was only a family residence until 1409 and, thereafter, became the Palazzo Pretorio, which was occupied by the city’s Florentine captains. Today, it houses the City Museum and, on the first and top floors, the library and museum of the Accademia Etrusca. A beautiful building and an excellent and historic museum, it is a worthwhile little visit to pop into your itinerary if you are a culture vulture that has found a vacation rental in Cortona.

The façade that is visible today can probably be attributed to Filippo Berettini and was executed at the beginning of the 17th century and the rear façade, looking onto Via delle Carceri, is particularly lovely. From the main Palazzo Casali entrance, you pass through a 17th century carved doorway, into a large atrium that is decorated with coats of arms and opens into a courtyard. Particular architectural elements to take note of are the two staircases and the 16th century sandstone fountain commissioned by Bettino Ricasoli.

There are many towns, all across Tuscany, that are perfectly picturesque. Beyond the famous cities and well-known towns, there are little villages and borgos all over the region that you could accidentally stumble across and fall in love with. Grosseto is just one of those places but is a particularly beautiful architectural gem.

As we have been discussing in this series, there are many stunning buildings and structures in this town, well off the regular tourist route, that make it especially lovely. Just find a vacation rental in Grosseto, check out this series of articles on the architecture of the town and enjoy the quiet pace of life, the Tuscan atmosphere and the pretty surroundings.

In the last few posts, we have mentioned a lot of the religious buildings in the town and, of course, this is Italy, so many of the most interesting and lovely buildings were built by or for the church. However, there are many civic and private buildings around town that are equally lovely. They include...

The lovely town of Grosseto in Maremma, an area of the south of Tuscany close to the coast, is a lesser-known gem that is positively stuffed full of history and architectural masterpieces. If you are a lover of beautiful buildings and like to try out places that are off the beaten track and far from regular tourist crowds, then it is an ideal holiday destination. Just find a vacation rental in Grosseto and come discover its architectural gems. In the last post, we began our guide to the buildings, structures and monuments of the town and here are more of our picks of the absolute must-see highlights.

3. The Church of San Francesco.

In the last post, we mentioned the Duomo, or cathedral, in Grosseto. However, there are actually quite a few beautiful religious buildings in the town, beyond its distinctive and very charming cathedral. Take the Church of San Francesco, for example.

The lovely town of Grosseto, located in the heart of the Maremma area of southern Tuscany, is a lesser known beauty that is filled with architectural gems and more attractions and things to see than one might imagine.

If you're looking for a charming destination off the beaten track that will appease all of your artistic and cultural yearnings, while keeping you far from the regular tourist crowds of Tuscany, just browse our incredible vacation rentals in Grosseto.

Situated around 14km from the coast on a flat plain, the town is a collection of beautiful and fascinating religious, civil and military buildings, all surrounded by a hexagonal wall that wraps around the historic centre of Grosseto. Architecture-lovers take note because there is a lot to see in this lovely town and here are some of our highlights.

Located between Florence and Siena, in the Chianti region of Tuscany is Montefioralle, one of the oldest towns in the area and one of the most incredibly beautiful villages in Italy.

Still enclosed by its medieval defensive walls, the first records of the city go back to 1085. It flourished throughout the Middle Ages as an administrative centre and fortified outpost and, as a result, still largely reflects this period in its appearance. The houses are made of stone and little streets wind throughout the town to a charming effect. It is an exceptionally pretty and characteristic place that is the perfect spot to escape from your own daily realities and get a slice of rural Tuscan life.

Just before you reach the town of Greve in Chianti in Florence, take the first road on the right that heads up a hill, which boasts views across the beautiful landscape below.