Archive for 'Architectural Gems'

Siena is one of the less hyped but most beautiful of all Tuscan cities. While it may not compete with Florence in terms of scale or choice, it is an equally lovely town, blessed still by the looming presence of the Renaissance. By day, there is much to see and do – many galleries, museums, architectural gems and more to visit, restaurants to try out, customs to learn about and much more besides – but, by night, the city takes on a different and rather special charm. The best way to experience this is by checking out “Divina Bellezza – Dreaming Siena”. Taking place in the unfinished Duomo Nuovo, part of Siena’s Duomo complex, Divina Bellezza is an immersive video mapping project that sees huge 3D images projected on the Facciatone and on the other two facades of the Duomo Nuovo and is accompanied by tales of the city in times gone by and more. It is an evocative, special spectacle that is unique to the city and is a must-see for those who have found a villa with pool in Siena and are planning to spend time there.

In our last post, we discussed the beautiful Medieval Tuscan town of Collodi and its connection to the creation and tales of beloved character Pinocchio. The biggest attraction in the town is a theme park dedicated to the famous puppet, Pinocchio Park, which is a real highlight of the region for children and adults alike and a great day out.

However, despite the town being relatively small and unheard of, it actually has a couple more attractions that will keep everyone in the group happy and provide a nice break from trips to museums and churches for kids exploring Tuscany and her culture and history. Once you have found a luxury villa in Collodi, these are a few of the things that you will want to check out in the town.

The Natural Park of the Val d’Orcia is an exceptionally beautiful part of Tuscany with pretty scenery and charming towns but one of the most impressive sights has to be the skyline of Radicofani, which is a typical medieval town topped by one of the most impressive fortresses in all of Italy. The Rocca di Radicofani, or Fortress of Radicofani, is an extraordinary building, steeped in legend and rich in history as it is located on the border between Tuscany and Lazio, had considerable military importance and was an important stop for both pilgrims and travelers. The building itself is fascinating and the views offered from its walls and windows are exceptional, displaying one of the best panoramas over the Tuscan countryside.

If you want to take in a real taste of the landscape of Tuscany, just find a villa with pool in Radicofani and discover this exceptional attraction for yourself.

Florence's Duomo and its museums are an important attraction for any culture or art-lovers visiting the city and Giotto's bell tower is one of the four principal monuments on the Piazza del Duomo.

At 84.7 metres tall and executed in the most eloquent example of 14th century Gothic architecture in Florence, it is both beautiful and offers beautiful views across the city. While the trek to the very top is a little grueling and not recommended for those with heart conditions or claustrophobia, it is well worth the effort. Once you reach the top, you'll be rewarded with sweeping views over the other landmarks of the city, its colourful rooftops and the bustling tourist crowds far below.

Just find a luxury villa in Florence and you can embark on this extraordinary adventure for yourself.

The Marino Marini Museum, is a museum located in the centre of Florence, in the old church of S. Pancrazio. Situated between via della Vigna Nuova and piazza Santa Maria Novella, this church was founded before 1000 and deconsecrated in 1809. It was used for numerous different purposes thereafter until the museum was inaugurated in 1988. The museum is dedicated to the life and work of the sculptor Marino Marini, but also houses older works of art and objects from its long past, in the historic and extraordinarily evocative and fascinating setting of this former church. It offers the unique opportunity to experience such a meeting of ancient and modern under one spectacular roof and is sure to impress art-lovers, picture-takers, history-buffs and architecture-fanatics in the group alike. Just find a luxury villa in Florence and be sure to pencil this amazing museum into your schedule!