Archive for 'Churches & Religious Buildings'

People know Pisa best as home to the famous Leaning Tower but that is not all there is to this charming Tuscan city.

If you find yourself a luxury villa in Pisa, then these are just ten of the things you can expect from your trip:

1. The Leaning Tower of Pisa: Okay, okay, so I said that the Leaning Tower isn't all there is to Pisa. However, it would be remiss of me not to mention it at all. It's one of many great reasons to visit the city. It is iconic. And silly photos are a staple of being a tourist.

2. The Duomo: While you're in the area, the Duomo, next to which the Leaning Tower is located, is a must-see. Special tickets can be purchased to visit multiple sites in the Piazza dei Miracoli and the Duomo is one of the highlights. A truly stunning and richly ornamented building, it features dazzling interiors and will linger in your mind forever after viewing it.     Read More

If you have found a vacation rental in Arezzo and are looking for things to see and do in the area, you might consider heading to the Sanctuary of La Verna. This Franciscan monastery is located on Mount Penna, perched above Chiusi della Verna in the province of Arezzo.

One of the places where St. Francis is venerated, it is an important and beautiful artistic, cultural, historical and spiritual centres. Visitors flock to the site each year for its many charms and as St. Francis is one of the most adored saints in the world.

The mountain was actually donated to St. Francis in 1213 by Count Orlando Cattani of Chiusi of La Verna, who described it as the ideal place for contemplation of the bounty of God's earth, saying, “I have in Tuscany a faithful mount that is named Mount of La Vernia, which is really isolated and wild and perfect for those who want to do penance in a remote place or to those who want to live in solitude.”     Read More

If you have been seeking out the perfect holiday destination in Tuscany, then you might consider a vacation rental in Sorano. This picturesque hill town in the south of Tuscany, is part of a chain of stunning ancient villages including Sovana and Pitigliano and is a beautifully preserved gem that has changed very little in the past hundred years.

It is the ideal location for those looking for an authentic and old slice of Tuscan life, for those who like to holiday off the beaten tourist track and to find something more unique.

The most distinctive feature of the town, clearly visible from a great distance, is the Orsini Fortress, originally built in the 14th and then rebuilt in the 16th century, which is raised on an outcrop above the town itself. It is a crowning glory to the romantic tangle of winding streets and alleys that make up the village itself.     Read More

If you have found a vacation rental in Pistoia and are planning your trip in the area, you're likely compiling a list of things to see and do. One thing to pencil in is a visit to the Chiesa del Tau, or Church of del Tau.

This church was constructed around 1340 by Fra’ Giovanni Guidalotti, who then donated it to the canons of Sant’Antonio del Tau. It is a single nave building with a raised presbytery and a crypt below. It is most famous for the extraordinary Gothic fresco cycle that decorates the walls and vaulted ceilings of the interiors and the sculptures of Marino Marini that are on display on the premises.

Boasting some truly exceptional works of art, it is a must-see gem that one might not expect to yield such incredible cultural value.     Read More