Archive for 'Museums & Galleries'

While anyone who is browsing our Tuscany Villas and decides to book a holiday rental in Florence will likely have a list of attractions, landmarks, architectural wonders, and museums that they want to visit devised shortly upon beginning planning their itinerary, we also want to highlight the importance of merely wandering around the city. The birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is not only home to some extraordinary institutions that house works of art but it is also basically one giant open-air museum as well. So, instead of darting from one attraction to the next, really taking your time as you explore will be incredibly rewarding and is an experience and activity in its own right. 

Wine-lovers will already have plenty of great reasons to find a villa in Montalcino and come spend some time enjoying the good life in this part of Tuscany as it is the land of Brunello and home to some of the most incredible wineries, bars, wine shops, and other wine-related establishments and businesses and events in all of Italy. However, if delicious wines are not quite enough of a draw for you on their own, then how about truly remarkable wines in the most gorgeous of settings? Montalcino truly is one of the most picturesque parts of Tuscany and it is well worth coming to deeply explore the area in and around the town – all while indulging in some incredible vintages!

Florence is famous as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance but had long been an immensely important hub of cultural heritage and artistic production before this period and continues to be one to this day. As a result, there is no shortage of galleries, museums, architectural gems, outdoor sculptural displays, incredible examples of city planning, street art, historic gardens, and much more besides to discover. However, those who find one of our Tuscany Villas or a villa with pool in Florence and begin exploring the city will also notice the endless churches throughout the city. As the Church was the most important and powerful patron in the city for much of its long and rich history, art-filled places of worship and temples to the majestic artistic prowess of the city can be found wherever you turn. While many, many examples are well worth seeing and it would be hard to take them all in, one of the most remarkable that is a must has to be the Church of Santa Trinita.

The painter Masaccio was one of the most influential and important painters of the Quattrocento period of the Italian Renaissance, a key figure in moving from the more stylised and decorative aesthetic of Gothic art to something more naturalistic. Vasari, an artist and architect in his own right who was a great writer, historian, and chronicler of the Renaissance masters, notes that Masaccio was studied by all of Florence’s most celebrated painters and sculptors in order to, "learn the precepts and rules for painting well."

So, though his name is perhaps unfamiliar to many, his influence goes far beyond his life and work and his paintings, when viewed today, remain striking and impressive things to behold. Full of dramatic tension, stunning jewel tones, and impressive lifelike figures, his paintings and frescoes are a delight to devour.

If you are browsing our Tuscany Villas and are already a fan of his work, in particular, or are simply interested in the history of art and the Italian Renaissance, then this winter is an ideal time to plan a vacation in Tuscany as the master’s great works are returning to Masaccio’s home town of San Giovanni Valdarno for a very special exhibition!