Archive for 'Churches & Religious Buildings'

Certain sights in Tuscany become famous and end up photographed endlessly due to the fact that the various elements of the surroundings and a building or town or natural feature come together perfectly to create something utterly picturesque. There are a few notable examples of this but, among them, the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Biagio (or Tempio di San Biagio) is one of the most strikingly lovely. This pretty 16th century domed church is located in the lush countryside near Montepulciano, an area already impossibly charming in its own right but when you add this elegant building emerging as if from nowhere, at the end of a typically Tuscan cypress-lined road, the overall effect is breath-taking. For those who book a villa in Montepulciano and who are looking to get out and explore the natural and scenic beauty of the surrounding landscape, a stop by this church is a must!

It may come as no surprise to some that Florence is the most visited city in Tuscany. Not only is Florence the capital of the region and the most populous city in Tuscany (with 364,073 inhabitants in the city itself and 990,527 in the metropolitan area as of 2024), but it is also very much the culture capital.

The birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is only overshadowed by Rome due to its incredible age and sheer size but in almost any other place, this would be the uncontested titan when it comes to art, culture, history, tourist attractions, and more. As it stands, Florence is still considered one of the great cities of the world and a must-see. 

For those who book one of our Tuscany Villas and who come to the region, it is an unmissable spot for at least a day-trip or two but if you want to dive in a little deeper – though any one trip will only allow you to scratch the surface of what it is on offer – then you could book one of our vacation rentals in Florence, instead. 

The grand cathedrals of Tuscany’s cities are generally an extraordinary collection of buildings, often with ancient origins, additions throughout various periods and architectural styles, contributions by named and famous architects, gilded interiors full of stunning objects, and artworks by the likes of Michelangelo, Giotto, and more. Those, therefore, who find a villa in Tuscany and visit any given town or city should always make time to pop into the local cathedral but, in particular, if you book a vacation rental in Siena, we really recommend a visit. This absolutely gorgeous church has lots of remarkable details touched by famous and beyond talented hands. Here are just five of its highlights that make it a must-see for those on holiday in Siena.

If you book a villa in Tuscany and decide on one destination – a vacation rental on the Tuscan Coast, for example, or a holiday rental in Florence – but you also want to see the famous city of Pisa on a day trip, then that is pretty easily arranged. Tuscany is a diverse, fascinating, and large enough region but not so big that day trips between different cities or areas is overly challenging. What can be more difficult, however, is if you want to see as much of the region as is possible and you only have a day to spend in any one destination. In this case, what do you prioritise? Well, we’re here to help with our handy guide of what to do if you only have a day (12 hours) in Pisa!

Florence is an amazing city full of wonderful things to see and do from visiting museums to shopping in historic stores and designer flagships, from enjoying coffee in famous cafes to dining in authentic family-run eateries, and from sipping glasses of wine while enjoying the view from rooftop bars to going on guided tours of the city. All of these things, however, start to add up pretty quickly. If you have booked one of our villas in Florence and you’re looking for a way to stretch your budget so you can really splash out on the things you really care most about (whether this is chic Italian clothes to be brought home, fine-dining, good wine, or anything else), why not add some free attractions and things to see and do to your itinerary? Here is our round-up of the best things to do for free on a holiday in Florence: