Archive for 'Parks & Gardens'

The Boboli Gardens in Florence is a park behind the Pitti Palace which was once the seat of the Medici family. Some of the first formal Italian gardens, Boboli is made up of fountains, statuary from ancient Rome to the 18th century, semi-private and public spaces, nympheums, temples, planting and grottoes. The largest of these grottoes is by the artist, Buontalenti. Built between 1583 and 1593 for Francesco I de' Medici, it was conceived to complete gardens plans that had been devised by Vasari. Composed of three rooms organised in succession, the grotto is a masterpiece of Florentine Mannerist style. Bizarre, extravagant and somewhat surreal, it is one of the highlights of the garden and a highly memorable place quite unlike anywhere else in the world.

Villa Demidoff, or Villa di Pratolino, is a park in the Florentine hills. The estate was bought by Francesco I de' Medici in 1568 and he built a beautiful villa and gardens on the site for his Venetian mistress, Bianca Cappello. Bernardo Buontalenti was hired as the architect and garden designer and created the perfect Renaissance pleasure villa set in a wonderland of a garden. Today, however, a very different place exists. Sadly, Medici's home and park, stuffed full of water fountains, grottoes and beautiful gardens filled with exotic plants and flowers, was mistreated and dismantled after his death. Three centuries later its beauty was finally restored.

Visit the bustling town of Pescia in Pistoia Province which is situated along the banks of the River Pescia. This area is well known for its flower and olive tree cultivation which adds lots of colour and tranquillity to the scenery here.

Begin your day by walking around some of the structural attractions of Pescia such as the old flower market building, the communal palace and the ornate cathedral.

Be sure to explore one of the frazioni of Pescia called Collodi. This is the birthplace of Carlo Lorenzini who wrote the beloved children’s book, ‘Pinocchio’.

Campiglia Marittima is a beautiful old town in Livorno province with several charming attractions for tourists to visit.

This pretty commune is still partly enveloped by the medieval town wall and would be well known for the Rocca San Silvestro nearby which dates back to the 8th century.

Stay in a luxury vacation rental in Campiglia Marittima with its own pool where you can relax and unwind after your interesting days of exploring Livorno province.

Art lovers would delight in a trip to the stunning Sculpture Park in the Chianti area of Tuscany during their next vacation here!

This haven of outdoor sculptures is tucked in the heart of the Chianti woodlands and can be reached by driving along an unpaved white winding road or walking through a scenic woodland path.

Stay in a charming villa in Chianti where you can visit this artistic haven as well as sampling the famous wines of the region.

The Chianti Sculpture Park is owned by a couple who invited artists and sculptures to pick a space here to create a work of their choice and what you see before you when you visit are these finished creations.