Archive for 'Museums & Galleries'

Do you have an interest in learning about the history of places you visit? If so, then perhaps an enjoyable stay in the attractive region of Tuscany would be a perfect holiday spot for you! There are many available vacation rentals along the tuscan coastline and further inland that would be a perfect base for you to explore this fascinating area! Tuscany is a region in Italy whose name was inspired by the ancient Etruscan people known as ‘Tusci’ who thrived here from approximately 800BC until 390BC.

They were a powerful and prosperous civilisation that made their fortunes by exporting metals, mainly copper and iron which they mined from the area. There is a lot of evidence suggesting that the Etruscans dominated large areas of early Italy before forces from Rome began fighting them back within their borders. They eventually absorbed them into their territory during the Roman Republic Movement.     Read More

If you like to learn about the history of places you holiday to then perhaps a relaxing stay at one of many vacation rentals in Tuscany would be the perfect base for your enlightening stay?

Tuscany got its name from an ancient civilisation called the Etruscans who lived and thrived in this region between 800BC AND 390 BC. Although we don’t have many written accounts of the Etruscan civilisation, we’re lucky that they left so many clues behind them in the form of murals, pottery, metal artefacts and buildings to help us piece together how they lived. Tuscany has great many museums dedicated to the ancient Etruscan people; here are a few of the most popular.

The ‘Museo dell’ Accademia Etrusca' in Cortona is home to many ornate Etruscan treasures. It has a beautiful mural called ‘Musa Polimnia’ and includes most of the discoveries found at a tomb in nearby Sodo. One of the few bronze tablets left bearing one of the longest inscriptions in the ancient Etruscan language can also be admired here. There were also three significant tombs discovered here, one of which revealed a grand alter with a sphinx themed stairway leading up to the ‘Melone II’ tumulus. They also discovered a beautiful Etruscan oil lamp chandelier here.     Read More

During your next vacation to Tuscany why not spend a day or two in the glorious Empoli area in the lower Arno Valley of Florence? There are several charming towns and villages here that are of Roman origin which have plenty of things for tourists to see and do! If you wish to stay in the area for a few days, why not look at some superb vacation rentals with great reviews in Empoli town?

The rich fertile soil here has made Empoli into a successful agricultural area where many olive groves and vineyards thrive as well as many fields of healthy crops.

There is a huge range of nature trails and history attractions in the area as well as some fantastic towns to visit like Castelfiorentino, Montelupo, Montaione and Montespertoli.     Read More

Why not take a day to visit the intriguing Roman farm remains called Villa del Virginio in the province of Florence that dates back to the 1st century BC?

Discovered in the 1980’s by a team of local archaeologists, this well preserved structure offers tourists a rare glimpse back into Roman times as they walk around what was once the home of a very wealthy family that ran a huge farming business.

Visitors wishing to stay in this area to explore it for a few days have a fine choice of luxury villas in the nearby town of Montelupo.

Explore the extensive 3,000 square metre area that existed at the meeting point between the Virginio and Pesa rivers. Back in Roman times, this was the ideal spot for building a farming villa as it was close to water which workers would regularly carry and water the crops with under the burning Tuscan sun. History records detail the great importance this area was in terms of agricultural production for all of Tuscany!     Read More